Thank you board. Just back, excellent advice helped quite a bit

[Planogirl]

I found some cargo shorts with pockets that buttoned. I can't even wiggle a finger in the pocket openings once they are buttoned so I was happy with them.

My only problem was where to put the butterbeer mug.

 

[ducky_love]

My only problem was where to put the butterbeer mug.

I've heard people buy clips and clip them onto their belt and ride with no trouble. Never tried it myself.

 

[phamton]

This is especially true at Rockit. The vertical lift is notorious for making phones slide out of pockets!

And car keys and wallets and even a few dentures.

 

[Bluer101]

And car keys and wallets and even a few dentures.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

And car keys and wallets and even a few dentures.

Track walks at both Rockit and ROTM have had interesting results. Wigs/toupees have been found as well.

 

[ducky_love]

Track walks at both Rockit and ROTM have had interesting results. Wigs/toupees have been found as well.

And remember - if something falls out of your pocket you don't just go pick it up after the ride. You have to wait and see if it shows up at lost & found. Most electronics don't survive the fall, though.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

And remember - if something falls out of your pocket you don't just go pick it up after the ride. You have to wait and see if it shows up at lost & found. Most electronics don't survive the fall, though.

This is true. I've found many busted phones/cameras. Some were lucky and got barely a scratch. Most---RIP.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Thank you all!! I think I'll try to find some zipper cargo shorts for the day!

 

[Metro West]

Thank you all!! I think I'll try to find some zipper cargo shorts for the day!

 

[Asm]

Last week I planned to pick up some spring/summer things for the grandkids. DGS soon to be 7 reminded me, " Nana, be sure and get me cargo shorts. I need them for Universal." Apparently he heard us talking about letting the guys carry our stuff in their pockets.

 

[OrcaPotter]

A note on the lockers--the "free" status is only good for one go on a ride. After a certain point, they charge a fee. My best friend and I last year, before WWOHP opened, used the lockers to ride Dueling Dragons. We pretty much walked right on, and so decided after doing Ice to walk back and do Fire. This was all within the 45 minute window the computer indicated. Much to our dismay, we somehow expired our "free" time in the locker and had to pay to open it up ... though all our money was inside. We had to get an attendant to open the locker and then we forked over the crazy $5.

Universal still has traditional rentable lockers at the front of the parks if you want to just stash your stuff and walk around bag-free.

I'm there at least once a month thanks to my AP, so all the advice so far is the best I can agree with. A few other notes:

- Ollivander's is neat, and worth seeing IF the line is short. The show is quick, though cool, and they only choose one person for the wand Choosing. Otherwise? You can purchase the same wands in any of the other Universal shops featuring HP. I would not want to wait more than 20 minutes at most to see it, personally. My latest trip the line was finally short enough to justify waiting, and I was even the one chosen for the Wand Choosing! The fact it was my birthday made it even better, but this fact was NOT mentioned or advertised to the team members, so it was just coincidence.
- You may actually have a shorter wait in The Three Broomsticks quick-service restaurant if you want Butterbeer. The outside stalls tend to have ridiculous lines. Also, stick with the traditional kind. The frozen version isn't as good. Pumpkin juice is worth the hefty $6 price tag, too.
- Go find the Howler outside Dervish & Banges. I won't spoil the surprise by telling you exactly where

 

[mesaboy2]

- You may actually have a shorter wait in The Three Broomsticks quick-service restaurant if you want Butterbeer. The outside stalls tend to have ridiculous lines. Also, stick with the traditional kind. The frozen version isn't as good. Pumpkin juice is worth the hefty $6 price tag, too.

Obviously a matter of opinion. I've seen many others post the exact opposite, plus DW much prefers the frozen. To each his own!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

- You may actually have a shorter wait in The Three Broomsticks quick-service restaurant if you want Butterbeer. The outside stalls tend to have ridiculous lines. Also, stick with the traditional kind. The frozen version isn't as good. Pumpkin juice is worth the hefty $6 price tag, too.

I disagree. I the frozen butterbeer. The regular kind was meh. I have some friends who have tried both and hated them both.

Pumpkin juice is tasty, but you can buy it on tap (and for a lot less!) in the Three Broomsticks. I prefer pumpkin juice on tap to in bottle.

 

[Planogirl]

We loved the frozen butterbeer! I've mentioned this before but I also loved a bottled raspberry tea sold on the outdoor cart where the bottled pumpkin juice is. But to each their own.

 

[macraven]

still voting for the frozen............

 

[celerystalker]

Thanks for the bag tip! I'll be at Universal on Saturday!
I'm going with three non park commandos - so I'm mentally preparing myself not to wig out on them if we're not at the gate at 8:45.
I just keep telling myself that the wait for FJ will make the anticipation even greater, plus allow me to check out more of the castle.

 

[twinmum]

Thank you for the tips! Here's a question: one of our sons will be in his manual wheelchair. I still need to research more, but I think he can go through most if not all of the queue for Forbidden Journey (please confirm if you know). We usually put a knapsack on the back of the wheelchair with extra layers (sweatshirt etc) and a few medical supplies but nothing terribly valuable. It's a good place to stash hats and basic sunglasses before loading onto a ride...but not a solution for cameras, phones and wallets. Anyone see a problem with this at FJ?

 

[SmallWorld71]

Just wanted to add a couple tips. Didn't read all replies so apologize if I am duplicating.

1) If you must bring a bag, DON'T WAIT in the bag line. Go through Filch's Emporium and into the lockers that way. There will be lockers there that you can use. (These lockers are in the back and most people that get let in from the long line out front don't bother to go back there.) I double checked this lots of time on our trip and even when the bag line was 1 hour +, there were plenty of lockers sitting empty.

2) You can get butterbear at the Hogshead bar. If the main door is shut (I assume for AC) just go to the left of the bathrooms, down the alley way and in the back. We were never more than third in line even when the cart had a huge line. There are also nice picnic tables out back that were never crowded, quiet and had a great view of the castle. The perfect place to relax for a little while.