Trip is in May, also doing WDW - planning for 2 full Universal days.

[2EVacations]

My fiancé, myself and our 11 yr old son - we're definitely HP fans, but looking forward to more than just that.

We did the buy 2 get 2 deal, so while we plan for 2 full days, we have the availability to pop in on two more days. All days are park to park.

One of the full days my inlaws will be coming with us, and one of the full days my step dad is coming with us.

We plan on doing our rope dropping at WDW and taking universal a bit more relaxed. I'd like to not rope drop either of those days. Does anyone recommend strategies for later starts?

 

[2EVacations]

Sorry, probably important for crowd factor - we are NOT doing Epic universe, we are coming down 5/7-5/14.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Download the Universal App for wait times, show schedules, maps, menus, and mobile ordering.

I would try to hit Hagrids either around lunch time, or early/mid afternoon for shortest non-early-entry waits - or hop in line last thing right before park close.

Try to aim for later in the day to explore Diagon Alley & Hogsmeade with the lowest crowds. You can also continue to do spells after park close, but will not be able explore shops after close. Hogsmeade is particularly effective for after-close spells because you usually have a solid hour while the Hagrids line clears out, thus they don't care if you linger.

Note there is a Grad event on Fri 5/9, you likely won't be able to linger as long and may also not be able to jump in the Hagrids line right before close on that day.

Take a mid-day break (this can be a few shows and/or a long relaxing AC lunch) so that you can make it through to park close. The last few hours will have the shortest waits; take advantage of them.

Last Feb, parts of Studios didn't open until 10am. I'm not sure if that is typical? Hadn't noticed it before, at least. But if they're still doing that, you can meander in and head to Simpsons / Dreamworks / ET areas around 10am with no lines.

Don't miss the Bourne Stuntacular!

The 2 water rides Popeyes Barges & Dudley Dooright flume will get you soaked. Plan accordingly. Jurassic Park River Adventure will splash you to varying degrees but primarily the top half, not wring-out-the-panties wetness like the other two.

 

[2EVacations]

This

Download the Universal App for wait times, show schedules, maps, menus, and mobile ordering.

I would try to hit Hagrids either around lunch time, or early/mid afternoon for shortest non-early-entry waits - or hop in line last thing right before park close.

Try to aim for later in the day to explore Diagon Alley & Hogsmeade with the lowest crowds. You can also continue to do spells after park close, but will not be able explore shops after close. Hogsmeade is particularly effective for after-close spells because you usually have a solid hour while the Hagrids line clears out, thus they don't care if you linger.

Note there is a Grad event on Fri 5/9, you likely won't be able to linger as long and may also not be able to jump in the Hagrids line right before close on that day.

Take a mid-day break (this can be a few shows and/or a long relaxing AC lunch) so that you can make it through to park close. The last few hours will have the shortest waits; take advantage of them.

Last Feb, parts of Studios didn't open until 10am. I'm not sure if that is typical? Hadn't noticed it before, at least. But if they're still doing that, you can meander in and head to Simpsons / Dreamworks / ET areas around 10am with no lines.

Don't miss the Bourne Stuntacular!

The 2 water rides Popeyes Barges & Dudley Dooright flume will get you soaked. Plan accordingly. Jurassic Park River Adventure will splash you to varying degrees but primarily the top half, not wring-out-the-panties wetness like the other two.

This is super helpful, thank you! For the Grad event on 5/9 - does that start up during operating hours, or is it an after close event? That was the day I was planning one of the days for, but might switch it with one of my Disney days if that makes more sense.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Gradventure:
WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF THE EVENT? The Gradventure event runs from 7PM to 12AM. Groups can start arriving as early as 4PM at no additional cost.

I have absolutely no direct experience. Technically it's an after close event. But based on some of the other after close events (ie Orlando Informer Meetups), they may close the line for Hagrids early. Even if they don't, the line doesn't really get much shorter towards close, like it does on "normal close" nights. Regardless, I wouldn't chance trying to get in the Hagrids line during the last 2 hours of this day. Other ride lines are not likely to be affected, except that the waits won't dip as much as normal in the last few hours.

The parks are also likely to be busier, and busier with really-excited-not-necessarily-well-supervised-preteens, after 4pm. Both parks will close by 7pm that night. It shouldn't be much busier than normal before 4pm. And might even be quieter than normal (maybe?). You could also use it as an extra day on your ticket - half park day, half rest day, leave the parks by 4pm. Or do Disney that day, like you said.

 

[skramer100]

Where are you staying? Stay at one of the premiere resorts for unlimited express and you can easily knock the parks out in 2 days multiple times.

 

[2EVacations]

Where are you staying? Stay at one of the premiere resorts for unlimited express and you can easily knock the parks out in 2 days multiple times.

We're staying offsite at Holiday Inn Orange Lake this trip. We're plotting for Universal onsite next year (trying to plan for going after the initial hype of Epic Universe dies down a bit ~ hopefully haha ~) I'm also planning to not get the express pass this trip - which I am hoping wont be a mistake, but I'm feeling the squeeze now as I map out all of our dining and other extras planned. I still might change my mind on this, but I'm definitely leaning towards forgoing it since I know people who have said they never get the express and don't have an issue.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Treat it as an introduction trip. There's a lot to do, and a lot of it that Express Pass doesn't even help with. When you're exploring the Wizarding Worlds, that's a bunch of spells, stores, nooks & crannies, details, Florean Fortesque's ice cream, a few shows - all with no EP. The queues are interesting, so even if it's a 40min wait, you're checking out innards of Hogwarts or Gringotts, seeing little preshows, little easter eggs throughout the queues.

*Generally* the non-Harry Potter ride queues are also interesting. Simpsons has TVs showing clips, MiB is loaded with preshow / props / sets, Spiderman walks through the whole Daily Bugle office and also has a preshow, ET has a preshow and goes through the forest, Fast & Furious is a whole garage with muscle cars then some preshows, Kong has animatronics & creepy theming, Velocicoaster animatronics & props & preshow, etc. Most queues are air conditioned. Boring outside queues include Rip Ride Rocket, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Seuss Trolley, Kang & Kodos, Storm Force (teacups).

No doubt you'd do more with Express. But you're looking at a reasonably quiet time of year, with several days to do stuff. Morning (even not early morning, but before 11am) and evenings you have reasonable lines for most stuff. You might have to be more selective in the 11am-3pm range. Shows, non-headliner rides, leisurely refreshing lunch, check out stores, meet characters, enjoy street entertainment. Watch the App for shorter lines. Do Hagrids during this time, the line around lunchtime can be among the shortest of the day for Hagrids. Pick a ride with an interesting queue and suck up a 40min wait, maybe with a butterbeer in hand.

If you miss out on a few rides, you will have them to look forward to the next trip.

 

[keishashadow]

We're staying offsite at Holiday Inn Orange Lake this trip

That’s a solid half hour drive, non rush hour.

Allow another half hour @ the garage/getting into the parks.

Suggest leaving your resort by 9 am if possible. However, you may decide to rope drop your 2nd day if the first doesn’t flow as you expect.

As mentioned earlier here, early morning & closing out the parks tend to have less crowds.

Since you do disney, a touring plan may be in your wheelhouse. Google, many of the big ticketing sites have them posted.

 

[erinch]

You might want to watch some universal videos to see how various people plot out their days

 

[Tigerlulu]

When we don't rope drop, we either start on the IOA side with Forbidden Journey or we get distracted in Suessland by the pizza tots at Green Eggs and Ham. But we always target Hagrid about 11-ish (give or take an hour) because the wait times drop some after the initial morning rush. We try to head over when it's 80 min and we usually get through in an hour or less. Not all the time! But often. So we find it a better use of time to do it that time of day.
If we start at UO side, we love the Mummy first. Gringotts would be a priority though. We don't really plan out our day like we do for disney. We are UO pass holders and have mostly let disney go. It's so much more laid back. You'll do great with the time you have during that time! We will be there too then--it's cheer comp week at Disney.

 

[2EVacations]

When we don't rope drop, we either start on the IOA side with Forbidden Journey or we get distracted in Suessland by the pizza tots at Green Eggs and Ham. But we always target Hagrid about 11-ish (give or take an hour) because the wait times drop some after the initial morning rush. We try to head over when it's 80 min and we usually get through in an hour or less. Not all the time! But often. So we find it a better use of time to do it that time of day.
If we start at UO side, we love the Mummy first. Gringotts would be a priority though. We don't really plan out our day like we do for disney. We are UO pass holders and have mostly let disney go. It's so much more laid back. You'll do great with the time you have during that time! We will be there too then--it's cheer comp week at Disney.

Thank you! This makes me feel a little more comfortable taking it at a more relaxed pace lol. Much appreciation for the Hagrid's tip!

Wishing your cheerleader luck at the D2 Summit!