Where to start?

[cmfitz14]

Hello everyone! With all the great advice on this board, I've been able to plan one previous trip to WDW and I'm now in the planning stages for a WDW and USF/IoA trip this summer. We will be in Florida for 9 nights total. Technically have a 9 night reservation at WDW, but we are heading over to Royal Pacific for one night in the middle of our stay (did this bc it was cheaper to stay a night than to purchase the express pass - great tip thanks to this board). We'll wake up early from Royal Pacific and head to Universal to take advantage of the Early Entry and to attempt to attack both parks throughout the day (leaving our overnight bag at the desk of the hotel for them to hold onto for us!). Financially, we can only afford one day on this trip, so we want to fit in as much as possible. The primary focus will be all things Harry Potter and some Simpsons and other rides mixed in as well. We will have 2-park tickets and are fully aware of the summer heat (our last WDW was also in August), but we literally want to go until we drop that day!

So... my question is: where do we start? I've read so much, and it's all starting to blend together and I'm confusing myself. My understanding is that because we are on-property guest, we'll have early entry - the calendar isn't out yet, so I don't know if a certain park will be open for it, but the Universal agent I spoke with confirmed we'll be able to take advantage of Harry Potter Wizarding World during this time - does EE include Diagon Alley and Hogesmeade or just one of the two?
Does it make sense to head directly to Olivanders upon arrival? I know the wands are a must for my two kids, and I've read the lines for Olivanders can be lengthy in the summer (we are going in late August), so I'm thinking we should get those first. I know theres a slim chance they will be picked for the interactive show - not counting on that at all! But I'd like them to see it before picking a wand Plus I know they'll want to use the wands throughout the day. After that, should we attempt to take in as much of the Harry Potter scenes as possible? Should we mix in rides - are rides even available during that time? We will have the Unlimited Express Pass, so getting on rides I'm hoping won't be problematic as the day progresses.
Any tips for how to plan out our day are GREATLY appreciated. I know some people will tell me to read the boards - trust me, I have! But I am having trouble keeping up on the most recent info and tips/suggestions. Some of the older info that is out there has caused me some confusion... and to be honest, I do not have all the abbreviations of the Universal rides and attractions memorized, so I get highly confused!!! I have a touring plans subscription and have developed some plans, but I have no idea what is realistic and what isn't.

Thanks in advance!

 

[gotomu212]

Start in whichever park has EE (there’s a CHANCE both might). You can stroll around and check out the HP areas (rides will also be running in that park). Olivanders in Diagon is better (bigger and moves more people through) but if wands are your #1 thing and you go there first there shouldn’t be a bad line regardless of which park you’re at. I’d do spells over rides at EE just due to crowds. Then I’d save the wands until later in the afternoon evening when the areas clear out again.

After main park open I’d ride Hogwarts Express to the other side (right at park open) and you can see a little before it gets packed. Then I’d go and ride other rides- with EP you really can see most everything. Checking out Simpson’s as part of lunch is fun since the Simpsons Food Court has a lot (ride the ride BEFORE eating since it’s one of the few motion killers for me).

Then once you’ve seen what you want, ride Hogwarts Express back to the other side (show is different each way and check out the other park. Going back to HP later.

I will warn you that the water rides will leave you soaked! I might skip Blutos specifically if I was trying to pack everything into one day since you might literally be dumping water out of your shoes. Jurassic was always fine for us-wet. It we’d dry quickly.

 

[cmfitz14]

GREAT suggestions! Thank you so much!

 

[macraven]

Ruthie has a sticky for touring potter
Read the rpr hotel sticky to gain more info about the hotel

The stickies are kept current
They are tweaked as much as possible when there are changes

Hope you have a great day at the darkside

 

[bobbie68]

Hi I agree with gotomu212 on the Potter areas first. Usually by later in August they are back to one park with EE and HP worlds are the main thing opened with EE. You won't know till the month before which one it will be. In fact we start with Diagon Alley then take Hogwarts Express over to the other park at opening. Both of them can get crowded by late morning and stay that way through the day. The areas are very narrow so it can feel like people are on top of you. Also both HP lands are neat to seat lit up at night. If you have a chance to end your night in one or both would be good. The light show in Hogsmeade might make it more crowded at night. Diagon Alley should be lighter crowds an hour or so before closing.

The interactive wands are great and fun to use. It is nice to use them when the HP lands aren't as busy so getting them first then using them is a good idea.

I think with EE and EP you will be able to do all the stuff you want. Once you finish with the HP lands in the morning and Simpsons then anything else is a bonus. Just look at all the attractions ahead of time and have your list. I would try and put in a few more family favorite rides that you think.

other attractions in the studios Minion Mayhem is a favorite, as well as Mummy and Transformers.

Other attractions in IOA Spiderman, Kong and Hulk are popular.

Enjoy!

 

[xmansmom]

Start in whichever park has EE (there’s a CHANCE both might).

If they both do then which park would you start with?

 

[gotomu212]

If they both do then which park would you start with?

ARRRR this is so hard for me! We’ve done it both ways, but we feel like starting at Hogsmeade works better. DA seems like it handles crowds a little bit better. Hogs just gets packed once the park opens so we like to see it early. Plus the castle is just more magical for me (compared to Gringotts which is awesome but just not the embodiment of HP- I know lame haha). The shops in DA are better though so I like ending there when there’s more time to sightsee and casually walk around looking at all the nooks and crannies (and we like to end with ice cream right outside Gringotts).

 

[heidijanesmith]

If both parks are open for Early Entry and Olivanders is your number one priority, I would start at Hogsmeade in IOA. Going to Olivanders 1st thing, you will not have much of a line. I think I was the second group to get in-5min wait. Hogsmeade can get more crowded as it's smaller, then Diagon Alley.

The Hogwarts Castle is just amazing! It's where we always start the day. If you can, go through the regular queue when it's not crowded. The queue is fantastic, we like to spend time in the queue and let others just go by us. If they have the castle only tour, it's worth going on, as you can really take your time.

Your Express Pass will make going on rides so much quicker, so after our HP plans, we just kind of go on what ever suits us as we are walking around.

Diagon Alley is great, you could tour here until it's lunch and then head over to the Simpsons area. Agree with the poster above, eat your lunch before riding Simpsons. I get a little motionsickess from this one. It's awesome, but I take Bonine a head of time.

 

[xmansmom]

ARRRR this is so hard for me! We’ve done it both ways, but we feel like starting at Hogsmeade works better. DA seems like it handles crowds a little bit better. Hogs just gets packed once the park opens so we like to see it early. Plus the castle is just more magical for me (compared to Gringotts which is awesome but just not the embodiment of HP- I know lame haha). The shops in DA are better though so I like ending there when there’s more time to sightsee and casually walk around looking at all the nooks and crannies (and we like to end with ice cream right outside Gringotts).

Thanks you!

The Hogwarts Castle is just amazing! It's where we always start the day. If you can, go through the regular queue when it's not crowded. The queue is fantastic, we like to spend time in the queue and let others just go by us. If they have the castle only tour, it's worth going on, as you can really take your time.

That's two votes for IOA so I'll start there. What is the castle tour? I couldn't find anything about it on the US website. I have a little HP fan who isn't tall enough for the ride but will want to see it. It looks like child swap requires everyone to stand in line but we'll have EP. I'd hate to waste a lot of time in line if we don't have to.

 

[heidijanesmith]

Thanks you!

That's two votes for IOA so I'll start there. What is the castle tour? I couldn't find anything about it on the US website. I have a little HP fan who isn't tall enough for the ride but will want to see it. It looks like child swap requires everyone to stand in line but we'll have EP. I'd hate to waste a lot of time in line if we don't have to.

They used to offer a Castle Only Tour, now that there is an EP line, I am not sure if they still offer this line.

It's been a while since I went through the Castle Only part, but from what I remember. It takes you through out the castle, you get to take your time in all of the rooms. Before the ride loading area, you take an exit out of the castle. I really enjoyed it. We are huge HP fans and I like spending time in the different parts of the castle with out hurrying through.

When you enter the castle, ask an employee if the castle tour is open.

 

[xmansmom]

When you enter the castle, ask an employee if the castle tour is open.

Thanks. Hopefully it's still possible..

 

[imprint]

I've never needed to try this, but can a group use the express line and still utilize child swap? As long as the riders only ride once, I don't see why they wouldn't allow it, but I'm just curious.

 

[macraven]

Yes, they can still use the child swap

Tell the TM when you are in line for the ride.

 

[imprint]

Just to take it to the next step, could a group of 3 (2 adults and 1 child) utilize the Single Rider Line and ask for Child Swap? As long as no more than 1 person rides at a time, I assume this would be okay too, but again I've never needed to try it.

 

[macraven]

Well, the single rider lines is to fill empty seats on a ride.
So not sure how child swap would be done in that line.

Probably send a note to guest services as they would have current info for that.