What park to start at for Harry Potter focused day and Hagrids?

[TikiTikiFan]

We have a 1 day/2 park ticket for next week on a day that both parks have early entry and we don't. We do have Express Pass.

It appears Hagrids isn't doing a virtual queue as often now and mainly only has a standby line?

Which park would you start at? Harry Potter is our priority but my son also is interested in doing velocicoaster which I won't ride so he can do single rider.

This is the rough plan I had....

We were going to start at Islands of Adventure in Hogsmeade:
-Rope drop Hagrids OR Ollivanders depending on the wait time at Hagrids (is this a wise choice?)
-Do the spells in the area
-Ride the rest of the HP rides with Express Pass
-Ride velocicoaster in the single rider line
-Hit must do rides with Express Pass and hop to other park and finish out must do rides there.

OR

We could start at Universal Florida, rope drop Olivanders there and do the spells before hitting rides. Then hop to Islands of Adventure in the afternoon.

What do you think? If Hagrids is going to be a killer wait all day- does it really matter when we do it? Same with the velocicoaster ride.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

Do they let you in before opening or not until right at 9am?

 

[J'aime Paris]

We have a 1 day/2 park ticket for next week on a day that both parks have early entry and we don't. We do have Express Pass.

It appears Hagrids isn't doing a virtual queue as often now and mainly only has a standby line?

Which park would you start at? Harry Potter is our priority but my son also is interested in doing velocicoaster which I won't ride so he can do single rider.

This is the rough plan I had....

We were going to start at Islands of Adventure in Hogsmeade:
-Rope drop Hagrids OR Ollivanders depending on the wait time at Hagrids (is this a wise choice?)
-Do the spells in the area
-Ride the rest of the HP rides with Express Pass
-Ride velocicoaster in the single rider line
-Hit must do rides with Express Pass and hop to other park and finish out must do rides there.

OR

We could start at Universal Florida, rope drop Olivanders there and do the spells before hitting rides. Then hop to Islands of Adventure in the afternoon.

What do you think? If Hagrids is going to be a killer wait all day- does it really matter when we do it? Same with the velocicoaster ride.

Since both parks have EE, they should be equally "busy". Recently, the parks have been busy, plain and simple.

That said, for the "authentic" HP experience go to Studios first. You enter the HP area from 'London' and go through Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. Do/ride all that you wish, then ride the train over to Hogsmeade and see the castle. After seeing/riding all here, don't forget to ride the train back!
It is 2 separate experiences and quite enjoyable!!

 

[TikiTikiFan]

Since both parks have EE, they should be equally "busy". Recently, the parks have been busy, plain and simple.

That said, for the "authentic" HP experience go to Studios first. You enter the HP area from 'London' and go through Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. Do/ride all that you wish, then ride the train over to Hogsmeade and see the castle. After seeing/riding all here, don't forget to ride the train back!
It is 2 separate experiences and quite enjoyable!!

Thank you, great advice! I've been watching Hagrids on the app a lot and seems like it's always right at 75 minutes so probably doesn't matter if we go there first? Since we don't have EE I imagine the line will be that long when we get in.

 

[marymouse1987]

I’d personally rope drop Hagrid’s or velocicoaster and explore Hogsmeade first before taking the train over. Even though story-wise, Diagon Alley is first, I think the theming at Diagon Alley is so incredible that you will be underwhelmed by Hogsmeade if you hit it second (which is really saying something because Hogsmeade is also stellar). You also have the added bonus of a shorter line for Hagrid’s.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

I’d personally rope drop Hagrid’s or velocicoaster and explore Hogsmeade first before taking the train over. Even though story-wise, Diagon Alley is first, I think the theming at Diagon Alley is so incredible that you will be underwhelmed by Hogsmeade if you hit it second (which is really saying something because Hogsmeade is also stellar). You also have the added bonus of a shorter line for Hagrid’s.

We've done Harry Potter a few times at Universal Studios Hollywood- seems like both Hogsmeades are pretty similar?

Is the wait for the velicocoaster a bit better in the morning? My son can use single rider which helps too!

 

[J'aime Paris]

I wouldn't worry too much about VC. It isn't a ride that everyone can or is willing to ride. People under 4'3" cannot ride. And many taller than that simply won't.

According to the app right at this moment, Hagrid's is at 90 min and VC is at 50.min Single rider will help a lot for your son!

 

[cfoxga]

Take a look at this plan for touring HP: https://www.disboards.com/threads/wizarding-world-touring-plans-and-details.3666427/. There is a lot that is easy to miss if you don't know what to look for...