Which park gives best HP experience?

[Alb572]

I will only have one day for Universal and can only visit one park. I am leaning towards Universal studios instead of IOA because of the rides we like, but my daughter is a HP fan, so I'm trying to decide which park has the best HP experience as well. Any suggestions?

 

[macraven]

go to www.universalorlando.com
check out what potter stuff is in each parks and read what is listed about it.

maybe that will help you make a decision since you are planning on one park only.


also read up on the eateries and non parry hotter entertainment meaning other rides, and see what is best for your family.


if you can't make a decision, flip a coin.

 

[bumbershoot]

Knowing nothing about your daughter, I say Hogsmeade (IOA). I adore just *being* there. I, so far, do not enjoy just *being* in Diagon, because it's noisy and echo-y and cobblestoned, and just not as comfy as Hogsmeade.

 

[Amsonia]

I lean toward Diagon Alley which has a bit more to actually do/see. I saw a thread on another board where a woman took her daughter and started in London/Diagon in order to do the "HP experience" in the order that Harry did -- ie shop for school. Visits to Hogsmeade by the kids come later in the story line.

 

[damo]

It is really hard to say and I bet you'll get really mixed responses. At Diagon Alley, there are fewer rides but I adore that area and I like the ride more.

 

[bumbershoot]

I lean toward Diagon Alley which has a bit more to actually do/see.

Hmm. Gringott's (which disappointed me so much I can't really imagine riding it again, and I nearly cry to see the movie with the Gringott's/dragon scene because it's like she had a *proper* rollercoaster in mind while writing it, and Uni ruined it). The train. Weasley's shop. The dark wizard shop where someday I might buy the $300 replica of Bellatrix's dress (I actually wish they had Narcissa's outfit b/c I like her). Butterbeer, ice cream...and you're done? Oh the wand shop, wand kiosk, and the beer place. The rest of it, to me, is watching people watch the dragon, watching people do the spells, and avoiding the singers and their over-loud PA system.

That's MY experience of Diagon. And I like the place, LOL.

Oh and Leaky Cauldron has nothing for vegetarians that you don't have to modify, and it's insanely expensive for bread and cheese. So I don't even think about the place anymore.

I saw a thread on another board where a woman took her daughter and started in London/Diagon in order to do the "HP experience" in the order that Harry did -- ie shop for school. Visits to Hogsmeade by the kids come later in the story line.

You actually have to go back and forth and back. Start in DA, go on the train. Do the Hogsmeade stuff. Take the train. Ride Gringott's.


We prefer to do it in the way that matches Ron's experience. With all those siblings at Hogwarts, he no doubt had been to Hogsmeade before (for graduation perhaps?). I mean, it's just a town. So you start there, then you go to Diagon, and you can go back and forth as you wish.

(DS has red hair and is tall, and it took ages to convince him that he could love his hair and not yearn for black hair, and afterall Ron is one of the true heroes of the books and movies (it was all thrust upon Harry, he has no choice, but Ron and the other friends make choices every day to help Harry), and DS might as well embrace that...and that goes along with following a Weasley path, not the Potter path...that's where that came from)

 

[princesskimberella]

My children are big HP fans and enjoyed Diagon Alley much more. I think due to the fact that two of the three are not big riders. They did ride Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippagriff but only once over on the IOA side. They felt there was more to explore and do with their wands. They also loved the puppet shows.

 

[illinidp]

I like the rides in IoA much more, but other than that I enjoy Diagon Alley over Hogsmeade by quite a bit. I agree that there is much more to do in DA. Plus, the Simpsons area is really neat too. The downside is that several attractions in US recently closed leaving mostly simulators.

 

[Amsonia]

The London bit of Diagon Alley doesn't take long but has some nice touches -- talking to the Nightbus Driver, the phone box where you can call the ministry of magic, the house elf at #12. More shops to see in DA, though it is too crowded to really enjoy shopping I think. Animatronic creatures at the pet store, the talking mirror at the robe store, trying to open the door with the eye on it and seeing the talking shrunken heads in Knockturn Alley, talking to the goblin at the Money Exchange, puppet shows and singers in the weather protected space, watching people at all the wand stations (there seem to be more but I can't confirm), the Olivander wand experience goes a bit quicker there. The big Dragon. That said, Forbidden Journey is my favorite ride but my stomach can't handle riding more than twice in a row. I guess it depends a lot of age of the folks/kids and how much you are into the rides and roller coasters versus shows and just looking around and absorbing the experience stuff.

 

[Jess30]

I prefer the rides in Hogsmeade better. But Diagon Alley is so immersive. Can you get park to park to do both? And that way you can ride hogwarts express.

 

[bumbershoot]

To be totally fair, I wanted to update with my family's feelings about this. (I expected them to back me up, to be honest!)

DH totally disagrees with me. Says Diagon is by far the better experience. And he can't even ride Gringott's! (I'd say "yet" but he has big tree trunk legs that might forever keep him off Mummy and Gringott's due to their difficult leg arrangements with the restraints)

DS leans towards Diagon but says that my argument for Hogsmeade has merit as well. (OK he didn't say those exact words)

 

[DisneyOma]

We loved FJ much more than Gringott's. Being in Gringott's is cool, but Hogswart is special

The shopping is better at DA, IMO. The food is similar in both places - but can you get butterbeer ice cream in Hogsmeade now?

 

[disneyseniors]

We just returned from a one day trip to Universal, while staying 10 days at WDW. We only went to the Studios side this time. When Forbidden Journey and hogsmeade opened, we went to IOA. While we loved hogsmeade, the FJ was a bit much for us. I am not bothered by wild rides, but was queasy while on it. I think that Universal has now changed it up a bit to make it milder?
This time, we went to studios side, and LOVED it. The Gringotts ride was amazing, The queue areas and animation were amazing, as was the inside of the bank, and the underground area. We also loved wandering through diagon alley and the shops. The architecture of the whole area was very immersive. We ate at the leady cauldron and were very satisfied with the food, service, and atmosphere. Knockturn alley was neat too.
I can only speak for myself, but my husband and I loved the studios side much more than hogsmeade. So, I hope this helps you somewhat! It'll be a fun day whatever you decide.
We also like the rides more on the studios side; ie, Minions, men in black, etc.

 

[kohlby]

I prefer IOA for HP- but we've only been for one trip since both sides were open, though we did spend 6 days in the parks. Some of it might just be us used to the IOA side. I don't think you can go wrong with either though! I agree to look at the other rides that you like and decide based on that. Outside of the HP areas, IOA used to be my kids' favorite parks but it's switched to the US side in the past few years.

If you aren't coming back for a while, I'd suggest springing for a park-to-park ticket so you can take HE to the other side and do both. The train makes it so easy to go back and forth that we did it several times during our trip - sometimes several times in one day.

 

[kelleybean]

For us, Diagon Alley by far. We love the Celestina show, the dragon is amazing especially at night. FJ makes me nauseous so I strongly prefer Gringotts. And it is so much easier to get into Ollivander's at Universal. Almost always a very short wait time, and the line for it at IOA is out in the direct sun. And Butterbeer ice cream of course.

 

[Jetta8300]

I have not yet been to Daigon Alley, but overall if we were only doing one park we would do Universal. iOA is about a half day park for us and overall we enjoy Universal better. If you're looking for the Harry Potter experience only Hogemeade is great, but the rest of the rides at universal is better in my opinion.

 

[Planogirl]

I was going to say Diagon Alley but the ride is better in Hogsmeade (even though I like both) and the castle is a sight to see. And yes there is that Butterbeer ice cream in Diagon Alley to consider.

We also far prefer the Studios to IOA but that is subjective.

 

[dixonsontour]

Can you add the park to park. With 1 day you would be able to do both potter areas and ride the train. I can't imagine doing one not the other but if I had to pick i'd say Diagon alley.

 

[macraven]

The shopping is better at DA, IMO. The food is similar in both places - but can you get butterbeer ice cream in Hogsmeade now?

Butter beer ice cream is sold at both places

 

[Planogirl]

Butter beer ice cream is sold at both places

Where is the ice cream sold in Hogsmeade? Yum, this is great news.