Should I go to Universal for EPA, or go straight to IOA for Hagrids??

[ClapYourHands]

Does Hagrid's die down towards park close?

Are you asking if they open up standby again in the evening? No. After the initial rush to standby, it’s VQ all day long. Also, the ride goes down periodically, so if it was a particularly bad day, those with later ride times might not get on at all if the wait would be too long after close. During the peak spring break periods when the parks were open until 10, they sometimes added another VQ drop around 6 for evening spots, but not a new SB line.

 

[crazycatlady]

From what I can tell, Hagrid's tends to be a virtual line only unless there is EPA at IOA, BUT things change all the time so it is a moving target. As far as EPA, if you are staying at a premium hotel and have a fast pass, we have not found a benefit to early admission - we prefer to have a more leisurely morning and not get there so early. Especially with UO EPA where almost nothing is open and everything that is open is super crowded and long lines, whereas with a fast pass you could breeze through The only reason to go early would be if you only have one day to see both parks, then maybe you would want an early start.

That makes sense about longer lines at the UO EPA than there would be normally with an EP. I didn't even think of that. Last time we went to Universal, Gringotts was the "run to" ride during EPA because none of the HP rides had EP and Gringotts was in it's first year. We are lucky enough to be on-site for 10 nights, so I am not too worried about getting on anything multiple times, other than Hagrid's. My daughter was just at Universal last month and said Hagrid's is the best ride she has ever been on, and that is saying a lot since she is a former Disney College Program CM and absolutely loved every minute of it.

 

[Gatrcruzer]

Hagrid's is great but very fast!!! It really accelerates. It's a wonderful roller coaster if you like roller coasters. If you have 10 days, then for the love of all that is holy take your time and relax in the morning and don't rush over for EPA! You can try to get your virtual line right from your hotel if you are staying at a UO resort.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Hagrid's is great but very fast!!! It really accelerates. It's a wonderful roller coaster if you like roller coasters. If you have 10 days, then for the love of all that is holy take your time and relax in the morning and don't rush over for EPA! You can try to get your virtual line right from your hotel if you are staying at a UO resort.

I agree with this. When EPA is in IOA, it makes sense to get up and try to get a standby spot. But with EPA in US, there's not much point in being the first one there if you have EP and a long stay. With 10 days and multiple drops per day, the chances are very, very good that you'll get to ride Hagrid's that way.

The only thing you might want to rush for is if you want to do the wand experience at Ollivander's. With them only doing one family/group at a time, the waits can get very long. But you could also do that at IOA's regular park opening (though the Hogsmede line moves more slowly due to Diagon Alley having more experience rooms).

 

[Pooh's World]

How many days in advance can you book Hagrid's Virtual Ticket?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

0. Same day only at certain times when they are released, while you're onsite.

 

[michbaron]

Does the virtual queue work even from the hotels including dockside inn? When does the queue typically become available? We’re going in a few weeks and I really hope to get my kids on at least once

 

[TikiTikiFan]

The only thing you might want to rush for is if you want to do the wand experience at Ollivander's. With them only doing one family/group at a time, the waits can get very long. But you could also do that at IOA's regular park opening (though the Hogsmede line moves more slowly due to Diagon Alley having more experience rooms).

Oh I didn't know this! Just one group for the show at a time? So this means one person in your group is always "chosen" right? My son wants a wand and this might be worth heading to first.

So the consensus is if there's no EPA- try to rope drop Hagrids to get standby? If not, just go for the virtual line?

 

[ClapYourHands]

Oh I didn't know this! Just one group for the show at a time? So this means one person in your group is always "chosen" right? My son wants a wand and this might be worth heading to first.

So the consensus is if there's no EPA- try to rope drop Hagrids to get standby? If not, just go for the virtual line?

You get to choose who the "chosen" person will be, so if you want to do this with your son, you can guarantee he will be the member of your group that experiences it. Please note that the wand that "chooses the wizard" in the ceremony will always be one of Ollivander's Originals, not one of the named character wands. Of course, you don't have to buy the wand from the experience, but it's good to know in case your son has his sights set on a particular model. My boys got Holly and Birch wands when they did it.

One morning, we decided to skip doing Hagrid's for EPA, only to discover that Forbidden Journey was down. So I thought we'd get in line for Ollivander's. There were only about half a dozen groups in front of us, but the TM said that represented about a 90 minute wait. The Diagon Alley line moves faster, as there are, I believe, 3 experience rooms, in contrast to Hogsmeade's 1.

So, if you want to do Ollivander's, I would say make that your priority at rope drop, either for EPA or to be at the front of the line for the other park's opening. I would do it on the first or second day so your son can use the wand throughout the trip. You have EP for most of the rides, and VQ for Hagrid's, so you should be all set otherwise. You can even use RD or EPA time later in the trip to use the wand. My favorite morning was the morning we went to RD at the non-EPA park, and went directly to the magic windows while everyone else jumped into lines for rides. It was really magical not having to wait in line at each stop on the map.

 

[mom2mikel]

I'm confused! I went in late January and we went to Hagrids as soon as the park opened and were off by 30 minutes after park opening. (We were at IOA about 45 minutes before the park opened).

I'm going again in mid May. We will be doing 2 days of Universal with one night at Royal Pacific. I planned on skipping Early Entry at US and instead getting to IOA 45 minutes early again so when the park opens, we go straight to the ride and wait to get on.

OR -- is it only virtual lines now? I don't want to skip EA for Hagrids if we can't go straight to the line and wait to get on.

Can someone clarify for me? Sorry if I'm asking an obvious question - I'm just confused reading some recent posts (but also know that it's been Spring Break crowds so not sure if that is the reason why its different)

THANKS SO MUCH!

 

[Mr. Drauer]

I'm confused! I went in late January and we went to Hagrids as soon as the park opened and were off by 30 minutes after park opening. (We were at IOA about 45 minutes before the park opened).

I'm going again in mid May. We will be doing 2 days of Universal with one night at Royal Pacific. I planned on skipping Early Entry at US and instead getting to IOA 45 minutes early again so when the park opens, we go straight to the ride and wait to get on.

OR -- is it only virtual lines now? I don't want to skip EA for Hagrids if we can't go straight to the line and wait to get on.

Can someone clarify for me? Sorry if I'm asking an obvious question - I'm just confused reading some recent posts (but also know that it's been Spring Break crowds so not sure if that is the reason why its different)

THANKS SO MUCH!

nothing different - still open for standby at park open unless it is not working and then open is delayed it might only open at VQ.

 

[Loudbmw]

Our Hagrids experience this past Wednesday. We wanted to do Hagrids Monday and Tuesday with Early Entry but heavy rain delayed the opening both days.

Wednesday morning, posted start time for Hagrids was 9:00am so we didn't rush - big mistake. We left Cabanna Bay around 7:15 am and there was a long line for the bus so we walked to Islands of Adventure. The line to enter the park was backed up past Margaritaville. By the time we joined the line for Hagrids at 8:30am, it was backed up to the talking fountain.

Posted wait time was now 120 minutes and they stopped letting people join the line just behind us and it switched to virtual. Virtual slots were gone in minutes.

The 120 minute posted wait actually ended up being 90 minutes.

 

[NicholeB630]

I think we're just going to have to wait and see what they do when EPA switches over from IOA to US. I think it's been a few months since EPA has been only at US, and no guarantee they'll make the same choices this time.

Also, Hagrid's is prone to malfunctions. Last week, we went to EPA, and they weren't letting anyone into Hagrid's because it was down. Some people formed an unofficial line along the outside of the queue space from around the Hogwart's Express back to Lost Continent, and different TMs gave conflicting answers as to whether or not that would be the official line when Hagrid's came back on, or if there was really, truly no line. Then some CMs told the crowd of people waiting around the fountain area in Lost Continent that they had to disperse and couldn't loiter there and there was no line. Some people left, some refused. Then a few minutes later, the TMs reversed course and allowed people to enter the queue. The people who had dispersed were out of luck, and the people towards the front of the unofficial line had to double back to the Lost Continent to get in the real line. The kicker is the ride was still down. As far as I can tell, they opened the line purely as a crowd control measure because it was EPA so most of the park was closed and Hogsmeade couldn't handle the crowds without funneling some off into the queue space.

My guess (and it's only a guess) is that if Hagrid's is up and running well, it will be SB at rope drop until the queue is filled. If Hagrid's is being glitchy, they'll hold off on opening it and drop VQ for their best guesstimate of when it will be ready.

All of this is very confusing to me we are going in June and we have two universal days Wednesday we are planning Islands of adventure in the park opens at nine and Thursday we are going to Universal with early park hours starting at 8 AM!! I have read that getting into US for EPA does not get you to Hagrid‘s any quicker. So I am planning on just being at Islands of adventure an hour prior to that park opening. So should I assume that we need to just go straight to the ride and get in line and not worry about a virtual pass or should I be checking the virtual queue as well once the park actually opens?

 

[MomOTwins]

All of this is very confusing to me we are going in June and we have two universal days Wednesday we are planning Islands of adventure in the park opens at nine and Thursday we are going to Universal with early park hours starting at 8 AM!! I have read that getting into US for EPA does not get you to Hagrid‘s any quicker. So I am planning on just being at Islands of adventure an hour prior to that park opening. So should I assume that we need to just go straight to the ride and get in line and not worry about a virtual pass or should I be checking the virtual queue as well once the park actually opens?

You should check the app for VQ right at 8am. Without the early park admission, it might be VQ all day.

 

[NicholeB630]

You should check the app for VQ right at 8am. Without the early park admission, it might be VQ all day.

OK so if Islands of adventure opens at nine I should check the virtual queue at eight? Or do I check when the park actually opens?
Also I read prior that if other people in my party have a app they can also join the virtual queue so if my daughter has an iPhone with the universal app can we both try to get in the virtual queue, if she has no park tickets link to her account how does that work and knowing how many people?

 

[MomOTwins]

OK so if Islands of adventure opens at nine I should check the virtual queue at eight? Or do I check when the park actually opens?
Also I read prior that if other people in my party have a app they can also join the virtual queue so if my daughter has an iPhone with the universal app can we both try to get in the virtual queue, if she has no park tickets link to her account how does that work and knowing how many people?

Sorry, so used to an 8am open. Should check the app 15 minutes before the park opens, and then again at park open time.

 

[MamaKate]

Sorry, so used to an 8am open. Should check the app 15 minutes before the park opens, and then again at park open time.

Does the virtual queue only open at park opening? Or do they have additional drop times throughout the day?

If so, are they usual times or is it random?

 

[DoryGirl1963]

We were there last Sunday 5/9/21-Thursday 5/13/21 & it was always Stand By only every day - no Virtual Que - not even after being delayed one morning.

 

[MomOTwins]

Does the virtual queue only open at park opening? Or do they have additional drop times throughout the day?

If so, are they usual times or is it random?

11am, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm -- though spots can also open up at random times throughout the day.

 

[MamaKate]

11am, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm -- though spots can also open up at random times throughout the day.

Great, thanks! I'll keep this in mind if there is only VQ during our Memorial weekend trip.