Universal / IOA -wonderful

[LuvOrlando]

So we just got back and I wanted to pop in and say that anyone who is on the fence about visiting should totally just go for it. The new Wizarding World of HP is amazing, the Forbidden Journey is now my entire families all time favorite ride (don't go through the castle too quickly or you will miss all the little touches, we did it twice and saw more the 2nd time) and the Three Broomsticks was a fantastic place for lunch. Don't miss Olivander's, it was a short but amusing show!

I solemnly swear I am up to no good ; ) LOVE my new Marauders Map mug!

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Two weeks and five days and we will be there. Glad you enjoyed your trip. I am really looking forward to ours.

 

[bumbershoot]

So glad you enjoyed it!!!

 

[SnapesGirl]

Great to hear that you enjoyed it! April will be my third time going (this year, yikes) and I still haven't done Olivander's. I haven't really heard good things about it and as there are no kids in our party, I'm not sure it will be worth it. Did you have to wait long?

 

[schumigirl]

It is wonderful isn`t it

Glad you had such a nice time, and yes there is so much to see in the castle alone, it needs more than one look.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I agree it really was wonderful which is why I thought I'd pop in and say so. Its so hard to make those sorts of decisions because to be honest the extra $ was a bit heavy (2 parks/1 day was about $511 for 4 adult tickets compared to only $40 or so for the 4 of us to add a day to the Magic your way base ticket) so I was very pleased when my entire family was raving about how great it was for them.... whew.

Olivander's was charming. It was short but a neat experience for anyone who is familiar with the movies, I don't know that non-fans would be wowed by it though so I'd keep that in mind and maybe let little ones see at least a bit of the first movie (pre Voldemort) before they go. My only gripe was that the line sits in the full afternoon sun, which is sort of odd since they should have considered how the sun moves when they planned it. A canopy might help, I guess they weren't expecting the lines, which aren't too bad because 25 people are let in at a time every 20 min or so.

I was also a huge fan of the Butterbeer & got one of the memento plastic cups that I really should have gotten earlier in the day because refills were cheap and soda refills would have been under $1.00 if I remember right. Live & learn I guess. My daughter loved the frozen kind and I loved the regular kind, we all shared at 2 sittings and went through about 4. At the moment the cup is being used next to my bed for overnight drinking water & makes me smile every time I use it.


I hope everyone headed there has a fantastic time!

 

[AJA]

I totally agree OP.

 

[denisela29]

We will be there in exactly 2 weeks! I'm excited. My kids are 9 and 13, and I'm afraid Disney is getting to "young" for them since they like big, scary coasters. So we decided to shell out the big bucks and do IOA one day of our trip. I'm thinking next trip may be the opposite, most of our time at US and a day or two at Disney! Glad you had fun and thanks for letting us know how it went! I can't wait
D

 

[SimplyGoofy]

Did you spring for the Express pass? Do you think it's necessary to have one in order to fit in most rides on the 1 day/2 park ticket? I'm still debating whether or not I should pay the extra cost... I'd love your opinion!

I'm glad you had a great time! I'm REALLY excited about my US/IoA day!

 

[Anne_Aus]

Thank you for posting this, I have been going back and forth about whether or not it would be worth the effort when I am there in January, I will make sure I work out a day to make it happen now

 

[LuvOrlando]

Glad you guys appreciate it, I figured if I was having a hard time deciding even being there 10+ times other people probably would be too.

We were there off peak so the crowds were low, we went mid week the 2nd week of Nov and got on everything in minutes. On the other hand, we have been there when the place is mobbed even before HP so if you check the websites and they say it'll be crowded then I would totally take steps to prevent the trip and $ from being wasted.

My opinion after 10+ trips sharing WDW time with Uni/IOA. I know people like that express thing but comparing it to the perks of staying on site I think it falls short. First, it's expensive & second, it only lets you go to the front of each ride once (unless that's changed but I doubt it). On the other hand, staying at one of the on site Universal hotels for even just one night , which we have done many many times, gives each family member a room key with free unlimited front of the line access for 2 entire days, the day you get there and the day you leave. All you need to do is present your room key to the sttendant at each line and you get a line all to yourself. Personally, I love staying on site there and if it wasn't off peak we would have kept our reservations at the Portofino. We've stayed at all 3 resorts, the Hardrock, the Portofino & the Royal Pacific and all were equally lovely.

Nothing better than strolling right up to the front when the line is hours deep over & over again for my families favorite rides, that's why I'll pay a little extra whch really isn't that much extra if you add up all the express fees you'd be paying realizing you don't even get the full perks.

If the hotels are totally out of your budget then I would probably do the express thing if you expect to be there on a crowded day. Just do yourself a favor and get to The Wizarding World of HP at park opening and head straight there without stopping anywhere else first, even on a quiet day the place was mobbed by about 11. By then I was looking to escape