Strategy for Hagrid?

[Surgie2]

We have express passes through the hotel for our one-day visit next week. Even though we can enter IOA one hour early, does it make more sense to spend the extra morning hour waiting in line for Hagrid or going to do Forbidden Journey and then getting in line for Hagrid?
Can you likely get on Hagrid after waiting the hour and then go get right onto Forbidden Journey with express pass?

 

[Captain Morgan Sparrow]

I would not use the time for forbidden journey. Save it for park opening when express passes are active, but thats just me

 

[macraven]

Ditto to what the Captain said

 

[gharter]

Similar question. We are there in April. For Hagrids, would you get in line early or do other rides and try and get in line before the park officially opens?

 

[springtime]

Get in line early at Hagrids. We made the mistake of doing a bit of exploring before getting in line. About 45 minutes before official opening, barriers went up and the line formed very quickly. The beginning of the line was back in Lost Continent.

Forbidden Journey had multiple points during the day when the wait time dropped below 30 minutes. We were able to walk on several times with Express Pass. Hagrids never dropped below 60-80 minute posted wait time.

We were able to get on Hagrids in 45 minutes first thing in the morning, and 45 minutes just before closing…but then you risk it going down at the end of the night,

 

[gharter]

Before the ride opens, where does the line start? I have read reports of people standing in line where they thought they should be and were in the wrong area.

 

[springtime]

When we were there, the line started past Poseideons Fury theater. There were metal barriers marking the area off. There was a separate line for Hogwarts Express. That line was on the left side of the barriers

 

[asuburbanman]

Just got back and I rode Velocicoaster at 8 and was off by 8:30. Got in line for Hagrids at 8:30 and was off at 9:15. The line started near the Sinbad theater. The line looks VERY long but that’s because they don’t fill in the Hagrids queue at all until it opens. At 9 the wait jumped to the highest point of 90 minutes and hovered between 55-75 for the rest of the day.

 

[princesscinderella]

I would do Hagrids first if it was a choice between that and Velocicoaster the only other non express ride. Hagrids appeals to a much wider audience since it’s not nearly as wild and doesn’t go upside down so that line fills up quickly and is usually longer all day as compared to Velocicoaster. Forbidden journey line is easily accomplished any time of the day with the express pass.

 

[Unclelude]

Rope drop for sure.

The line forming outside the main entrance gate can be crazy, splits and such. I'd try to get there early so you are near the front.

You can make good time if you take the fastest route thru Seuss... Stay left but tight from the green eggs to the juice shop... You will see what I mean on a map... Basically straight line thru, don't go right it's longer.

Walk fast

Have fun!

 

[Westerner]

Hagrid's is not technically open for early park admission currently. Can you still get in a formal line for it during early hours, or is it going to be a "running of the bulls" situation once the park officially opens?

 

[sandyplayer]

Just got back and I rode Velocicoaster at 8 and was off by 8:30. Got in line for Hagrids at 8:30 and was off at 9:15. The line started near the Sinbad theater. The line looks VERY long but that’s because they don’t fill in the Hagrids queue at all until it opens. At 9 the wait jumped to the highest point of 90 minutes and hovered between 55-75 for the rest of the day.

This is so helpful! TYSM!

 

[Westerner]

Hagrid's is not technically open for early park admission currently. Can you still get in a formal line for it during early hours, or is it going to be a "running of the bulls" situation once the park officially opens?

Bump +1 question: Is the line for Hagrid's mostly indoors or outdoors?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

The official queue for Hagrids is mostly indoors. The queue for Hagrids before being allowed into the official queue is entirely outdoors (before the lockers, but you're only in this extended queue in the AM before the ride opens, or if the entire regular queue is full & it spills out past the lockers). Once you go past the lockers and into the actual queue, I'd say maybe 1/4 is outdoors if the entire queue is in use - all switchbacks. But usually the outdoor portion is shorter with a few of those switchbacks closed.

Once you get indoors, you stay indoors until you're on the ride - you don't see the outdoors again until the coaster leaves the loading platform.

 

[gharter]

Just got back and I rode Velocicoaster at 8 and was off by 8:30. Got in line for Hagrids at 8:30 and was off at 9:15. The line started near the Sinbad theater. The line looks VERY long but that’s because they don’t fill in the Hagrids queue at all until it opens. At 9 the wait jumped to the highest point of 90 minutes and hovered between 55-75 for the rest of the day.

Thank you so much! Good to know.

 

[blabadie]

Our only early entry priority is minimizing our Hagrid's wait. (We have express pass and won't be riding velocicoaster or spending time on HP spells.) What time do you recommend getting in line for Hagrids? 8:30am? or earlier?

(We will be there on Feb 28th.)

 

[blabadie]

Hagrid's is included again in early entry starting March 1st.

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/early-park-admission
How early should we arrive to be the near the front of that line? Is it possible to get in 2 rides on it during early entry (on average crowd days)?

 

[jenniferahardin87]

Hagrid's is included again in early entry starting March 1st.

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/early-park-admission
How early should we arrive to be the near the front of that line? Is it possible to get in 2 rides on it during early entry (on average crowd days)?

I’m so happy about this! I go March 7th. From what I’ve read online I plan on being at the gates 7:20-7:30.

 

[gharter]

Great news for our trip if they keep it that way into April.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Oh that's amazing news! ETA: Excited that the last 3 days of our trip in April will have Early Entry for Studios as well. Hopefully the kids will get to do a lot of spells in Diagon Alley that first hour before the crowds really hit.