Staying @ Hard Rock...how do I know which parks open early on which days?

[mala55]

We are going to Universal for the first time in April. We are staying at the shard Rock. One of the benefits of staying at the Hard Rock is 1 hour earlier admission to one of the parks. How do I find out which park is going to be open for us an hour early on the dates we are there?


Thank you

 

[bchbetha]

They eventually post them on the website but since they do big chunks of dates at a time, it could be a while. The info will also be posted in the lobby.
I wouldn’t expect to have the info until a lot closer to your dates.

 

[macraven]

Info also on signage in the hotel

Also on the hotel tv channel which you can check in your room

 

[mala55]

Thank you! I guess I'm just used to planning for Disney vacations and try to put an itinerary together. Maybe Universal is a more a go with the flow type of trip.

 

[bobbie68]

Yes totally different type of planning to do for Universal. Honestly, you don't need much of a plan especially since you are staying on-site with EP. Universal is such a nice relaxing trip to do theme parks. You can decide the night before or that morning what you want to do without a problem. I love the limited preplanning needed to.

 

[xuxa777]

They will also tell you at check in, and only the Harry Potter rides for that park are open for early entry. With the express pass lines for those rides now, and with you have express passes early entry is not that important anymore. I prefer not to have to rush to get in the park for early entry now. This is especially the case if the early entry park is IOA as it is a hike from the Hard Rock and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriiff express pass lines are not that long at all.

Extra Hard Rock tip, always walk unless you catch the boat at the dock, walking is always faster.

 

[macraven]

Besides the potter ride, 2 other rides will be open during EE

 

[bumbershoot]

Extra Hard Rock tip, always walk unless you catch the boat at the dock, walking is always faster.

Maven if you can get right on the boat, since the walk is on the same side as the parks, but you have to get to and cross a bridge from the boat, I’d bet it’s even or longer to take the boat still.

 

[macraven]

Nice thing about staying at hrh is walking to the parks

You don’t need the boat especially for going to the studios

 

[mala55]

Thank you all! We will more than likely walk to the parks. We enjoy walking.

Harry Potter is the biggest reason my 11yr old daughter wants to go to Universal, so I'm sure getting to the park a bit earlier will be worth it, although I imagine it is packed at that time. We only have one night and one full day/night before leaving for Disney. I would love to sleep in a bit at Universal, as I know Fisney is a working trip, but with such limited time at Universal, we will need to optimize our time. I'm exhausted already just thinking about it!!!

 

[macraven]

The sticky quick access links has a section of current info for early entry dates, etc

You can check that calendar map daily as changes are made to it when UO makes changes or adjustments with park hours or ee, etc

 

[pattyw]

@mala55 - enjoy the HRH! It's our Orlando home- we LOVE it there.

 

[GoldmanTrust]

Thank you all! We will more than likely walk to the parks. We enjoy walking.

Harry Potter is the biggest reason my 11yr old daughter wants to go to Universal, so I'm sure getting to the park a bit earlier will be worth it, although I imagine it is packed at that time. We only have one night and one full day/night before leaving for Disney. I would love to sleep in a bit at Universal, as I know Fisney is a working trip, but with such limited time at Universal, we will need to optimize our time. I'm exhausted already just thinking about it!!!

Getting in early is not only about the rides in my mind. It is also about walking through the park with (relatively) few people in it. To see the parks wake up is a thing of beauty. It also helps that the heat is not unbearable, sometimes it is nice and cool. I definitely recommend using EE at least a couple of times.

On planning for Universal. It is definitely a go with the flow type of vacation. Just do what you feel like. You will have Express Passes, so you can do all the rides easily.

Enjoy your trip. And if there are any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

 

[elaine amj]

If u do early entry, make sure u actually go early. Once we went a little later ( I think about 20-30 mins after early entry started during busy spring break) and faced a 45 min line for Forbidden Journey. We have gone before about an hour before close and it is usually a walk on then.