Tips on getting to Ride Gringotts

[DisneyLover1217]

We're going to Universal/IOA April 3 - 5, Easter Weekend. I know it will be super crowded.

Was wondering if anyone had any tips as to the best time to try to get to US in order to ride Gringotts and HE. I know only IOA has early entry now. I was counting on US having that too, figuring not as many people would be there at 7. So how early do I need to be at US for an 8 o'clock opening or would it be better to come back much later at night to try and ride it, like 9:30 or so? Parks close at 10 at that time.

Thanks in advance

 

[johde]

One thing to remember about Universal is nothing stays the same. Right now, IOA has Early Entry next week it could go back to USF. During extremely busy periods, summer, Christmas, etc. both parks have been having early entry. I would expect Easter weekend to also have Early Entry at both parks.

If USF has Early Entry, I would take advantage of it to ride Gringotts (and Despicable me especially if you're staying at Cabana Bay). If IOA is the only park with Early Entry the only time I'd avoid Gringotts is mid-afternoon. When Gringotts is running well, the lines move quickly. I would plan a couple of time each day to head into Diagon Alley to check out Gringotts line, or check the app (although the app doesn't seem to update quickly at times)

 

[SeanTomorrow]

Another question about USF: If there's no early entry, does an actual "line" form before the park opens? Or is it more like a mass of people milling around?

 

[mhake01]

Another question about USF: If there's no early entry, does an actual "line" form before the park opens? Or is it more like a mass of people milling around?

Yes a line forms at all the turnstiles. Sometimes you get lucky and they let you through the gate but hold you just inside the park, but then sometimes they are strict and no one gets in until the operational hours for that day.

EE and opening times have seemed to have no fluidity and are very unpredictable as of late.

 

[ladybugx]

Keep in mind that Gringotts does have unexpected downtimes every once in a while. From what I read, they're nowhere near as frequent as they once were, but when I was there just under 3 weeks ago, the ride was shut down from the time the park opened for early entry until around 2 p.m. We intended to ride first thing in the morning, but that plan went out the window. For that reason, I would probably try to ride earlier in the day just in case an extended shutdown occurs at night. I've read about that happening to at least one group, where they planned to ride at the end of the day but didn't get to because the ride broke down.

 

[damo]

I'm wondering if IOA has early admission these past couple of weeks to allow Diagon some extra hours to prepare for the big Harry Potter celebration coming up. I wouldn't be surprised to see it go back to Universal after that is all done.

Don't forget that the single rider line is generally shorter too.

 

[nkereina]

Even if the stand by is too long for you at Gringotts, I highly recommend using single rider worst case scenario. We're just two adults and don't normally like to use the single rider at WDW, but we did it at Gringotts since there was no other option (other than waiting 120 minutes stand by). We were in single rider for about 30 minutes, and that was only because there was a good 15 minute mechanical delay when we neared the front of the line. DH and I were in seperate ride vehicles but riding at the same time, we left together. One didn't have to wait for the other.

 

[johde]

Keep in mind that Gringotts does have unexpected downtimes every once in a while. From what I read, they're nowhere near as frequent as they once were, but when I was there just under 3 weeks ago, the ride was shut down from the time the park opened for early entry until around 2 p.m. We intended to ride first thing in the morning, but that plan went out the window. For that reason, I would probably try to ride earlier in the day just in case an extended shutdown occurs at night. I've read about that happening to at least one group, where they planned to ride at the end of the day but didn't get to because the ride broke down.

Of the 5 days I was at USF/IOA over that time, that day was the only one I was with extended downtime for Gringotts. But, it is possible. That's one reason why I recommend 2 swings through Diagon Alley once midmorning after riding a few of the other rides like Despicable Me, Transformers, Mummy and MIB with walkon. And then, try and swing by again in the evening. That gives you 2 shots to hit Gringotts with short lines and if you get lucky ride it twice.

 

[DisneyLover1217]

Thanks everyone.

Just a couple of other questions.

How about Hogwarts express? Is there usually long lines for that or does it hold so many people the lines are never that long?

Also, Forbidden Journey; are the lines still very long for that?

 

[ladybugx]

Thanks everyone.

Just a couple of other questions.

How about Hogwarts express? Is there usually long lines for that or does it hold so many people the lines are never that long?

Also, Forbidden Journey; are the lines still very long for that?

Hogwarts Express varies a lot throughout the day. The first time we rode it, we waited maybe 10 minutes. The second time, I want to say we had about a 20-minute wait. The third time, we waited a good 45 minutes.

Forbidden Journey lines can still get pretty long, but it depends on your idea of long, I guess. They seem to usually be in the range of 30 to 70 minutes. Not the insane wait times that there were when Hogsmeade first opened but long enough to eat up a fraction of your day.

 

[lborne]

How do you find out in advance which park(s) will be open early for resort guests?

 

[nkereina]

Thanks everyone.

Just a couple of other questions.

How about Hogwarts express? Is there usually long lines for that or does it hold so many people the lines are never that long?

Also, Forbidden Journey; are the lines still very long for that?

HE and FJ still see long lines, at least when we were there in November they did - and we were there the week before Thanksgiving which is relatively slow. HE going from DA to Hogsmeade had minimal waits whereas Hogsmeade to DA saw 20-30 minute waits. Sometimes longer mid-day. FJ was only doable first thing in the morning for us, to avoid the long stand by waits.

 

[DisneyLover1217]

Thanks again for the info.

30 minutes is definitely doable, 70 will take a lot of convincing for my DH and kids lol.

I have another question. We will be staying onsite so we will have the FOTL pass. Since it is Easter weekend, will the pass really get us on very quickly or can we expect 20 - 30 minute waits or maybe even longer.

 

[DCPmom2014]

Thanks again for the info.

30 minutes is definitely doable, 70 will take a lot of convincing for my DH and kids lol.

I have another question. We will be staying onsite so we will have the FOTL pass. Since it is Easter weekend, will the pass really get us on very quickly or can we expect 20 - 30 minute waits or maybe even longer.

I don't believe the FOTL pass works for the Harry Potter rides/attractions.

 

[damo]

Thanks again for the info.

30 minutes is definitely doable, 70 will take a lot of convincing for my DH and kids lol.

I have another question. We will be staying onsite so we will have the FOTL pass. Since it is Easter weekend, will the pass really get us on very quickly or can we expect 20 - 30 minute waits or maybe even longer.

Express pass does not work on Pteranodon Flyers, Forbidden Journey, Gringotts and the Hogwarts Express.

 

[DisneyLover1217]

I know it doesn't work for those rides. I wanted to know for the other rides in general does the EP give a really short wait during a peak time like Easter or will the wait be more like 30 minutes or even more.

 

[kbelle8995]

I have to say that early entry is a plus sometimes. Also the time of year when you go helps greatly. Go early

I was there yesterday morning. I had early entry only for IOA. It was great. Because it was Wednesday and chilly there was not a lot of people there. I walked around, rode the Hippogriff ride, FJ was 10 minute wait and the stores were empty. It was great to walk around and not be in others way. Then I got on the train at 8:30 and headed to Diagon Alley. Same thing. Gringotts was 10 minutes practically a walk on. It is timing sometimes.

I think that morning I timed everything right.

 

[festus105]

I agree with Kbelle (was there yesterday myself)... I will say that if IOA is the only one with Early Entry, going to IOA then getting on the first HEXP trip to UO seemed to beat most, if not everyone coming from the UO main entrance. Seemed like we were in Diagon Alley by 8:45 - 8:50am...

- Ken

 

[keishashadow]

I know it doesn't work for those rides. I wanted to know for the other rides in general does the EP give a really short wait during a peak time like Easter or will the wait be more like 30 minutes or even more.

easily for many attractions, still better than not having it.

my guess is it depends on how many of the passes they 'sell' to day guests out of the set number maximum they state they offer per day.

over the last year or so, many of the EP wait times have been substantially longer for the same time periods we tend to visit (only 'holiday' period would be week pre-Columbus Day weekend).

did you check the crowd calendars for your dates yet?

 

[DisneyLover1217]

easily for many attractions, still better than not having it.

my guess is it depends on how many of the passes they 'sell' to day guests out of the set number maximum they state they offer per day.

over the last year or so, many of the EP wait times have been substantially longer for the same time periods we tend to visit (only 'holiday' period would be week pre-Columbus Day weekend).

did you check the crowd calendars for your dates yet?

No, I haven't. Can you post a link?