WWoHP Day Trip

[DznyDreams]

I am planning our visit to WWoHP on Thursday, Sept. 30th. We are staying at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, which means we will take a cab to get to IOA. Can someone help me make a plan of attack, including suggested times to leave our WDW resort, etc.? We have never been to IOA before.
TIA!

 

[Planogirl]

I haven't been since WWoHP was opened but I'm getting the impression that people are arriving as early as 7:30 to line up for that area. I'm not sure if it's necessary to get there that early or if we will be able to but I keep seeing that.

You'd obviously want to ride Forbidden Journey first and then see the other HP attractions. I'm told that the lines for Olivander's Wand Shop are even worse so if that's an interest you might want to go there first.

Once you get done with HP, I would go to Marvel Island and ride Hulk if you have coaster lovers and definitely ride Spiderman. Spiderman is an incredible ride. There's also the falling ride Dr Doom which I gladly skip (hate falling rides). The water rides can get busy but keep in mind that some of them will get you drenched. Jurassic Park won't get you all that wet and I think that it's a not to be missed. Another not to be missed attraction is all of Seuss Land.

As far as food, we usually walk over to Citywalk a bit before noon just to escape the crowds for a while. If you stay in the park, you might want to try the new Three Broomsticks or go to Thunder Falls Terrace nearby. Mythos is full serve and is supposed to be quite good.

I hope that you have a great time!

 

[Purseval]

IOA hours for that day are 9am to 6pm. You should get there by 7:30am which means you want to leave CSR 6:30-6:45. Because hotel guests get early entry you will have people in front of you but it won't be too bad. Remember that school is back in session so you won't have as many families. The nice thing about getting there early is that if the TMs determine that most of the hotel guests who were going to arrive early are already in they will let you in early also.

The main choke points for WWOHP are Ollivander's and Forbidden Journey. You have to decide which is more important to you. If you choose Ollivanders remember that the show and the store are 2 different items so you can watch the show then leave the store and come back later in the day through the back entrance. That way you don't waste valuable early time shopping.

Forbidden Journey has 2 lines, the regular one which tours the castle and the singles line. I would call the castle line a don't miss. Even if you don't know a single HP character the detail and technical level of the castle is stunning. Once you've gone through you can hit the singles line as many times as you want. I rode it at least half a dozen times and could have done more. The ride itself is about 4 minutes long. There isn't even anything in WDW I could tell you it is similar to so you'll just have to experience it for yourself.

That is enough to get you through opening times and the early lines. You really have to let us know what else you are interested in if you want a plan for the rest of the park.

 

[Asm]

Purseval-
Do you have advice for me? Adult ds and I will be at IoA Sat and US Sun. This is a quick visit in advance of next year's big family trip. We have RD to 2 or 3 Sat and RD to 1 Sun. Staying offsite and planning on using taxi. WWoHP is our top priority. We'd also like Spiderman, Mummy, MIB, anything else we can fit in. Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[Swank]

Taxi is flexible, but you may want to try and get a transportation and ticket combo which will save you the price of the taxi. I think DreamsUnlimited can hook you up.

 

[Melnalala]

Can any of the quick pass options help in this area? We would be staying at an on site hotel.

 

[Planogirl]

Can any of the quick pass options help in this area? We would be staying at an on site hotel.

You'll have Express for everything except Forbidden Journey, Rip Ride Rockit and Pteradon Flyers. Of course Ollivanders being a shop won't be impacted by Express. Otherwise, Express helps a LOT!

 

[lilpooh108]

How much is the cab ride generally from WDW resorts to Universal?

 

[Melnalala]

Thanks good info

 

[Melnalala]

Wondering about getting from Universal to Disney with 5 people - is a cab the best way to go.

 

[Melnalala]

Interested in the cost of Universal to Disney by hotel as well.

 

[Deb in IA]

Purseval-
Do you have advice for me? Adult ds and I will be at IoA Sat and US Sun. This is a quick visit in advance of next year's big family trip. We have RD to 2 or 3 Sat and RD to 1 Sun. Staying offsite and planning on using taxi. WWoHP is our top priority. We'd also like Spiderman, Mummy, MIB, anything else we can fit in. Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.

I'm not Purseval, but I was at US/IOA last weekend.

If you only have the mornings to be there and are staying offsite, I would definitely pay for the Express Pass, and use it for most all of the big rides (Spiderman, Mummy, MIB).

Go to FJ first. You will probably have a 60 minute wait, even with the rope drop, because all the onsite guests will already be there.

 

[Purseval]

How much is the cab ride generally from WDW resorts to Universal?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2494908

 

[Purseval]

Purseval-
Do you have advice for me? Adult ds and I will be at IoA Sat and US Sun. This is a quick visit in advance of next year's big family trip. We have RD to 2 or 3 Sat and RD to 1 Sun. Staying offsite and planning on using taxi. WWoHP is our top priority. We'd also like Spiderman, Mummy, MIB, anything else we can fit in. Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.

WWOHP and Spiderman are in IOA, MIB and Mummy are in Universal so you would plan them on your 2 different days. If you get to WWOHP early enough you will be through the area before most other guests arrive, which means that while they are heading over to WWOHP you can go to Spiderman. If the singles line is open use that, the queue for the ride isn't really that interesting anyway. Of course if the line is short and you want to get the story behind how you end up in the city with villians trying to kill you then by all means use the regular line.

Universal doesn't have early entry like IOA does so if you do get there early you won't have to worry about a crush of hotel guests being in front of you. They generally open between 8:30 and 8:45am with 2 rides, Jimmy Neutron and The Simpsons. If you ride The Simpsons first it will let you out closer to Men In Black. If you choose to ride Jimmy Neutron first that will let you out near Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit or The Mummy, whichever you want to head to first.

Wait to see what the crowds are like before you decide on an express pass. It may not be necessary. Of course if time is short and it is crucial for you to get on all of the rides then it could be worth it, small crowds or not.

If you go to the Universal website and look at the maps for the parks you will see that both parks are essentially circles. Once you know this you can see the rides, decide on a priority and then choose which direction to go in knowing that eventually you will be right back where you started. Most of all have fun.

 

[Asm]

Thanks, Deb. I did get the passes. I plan to be there early and try FJ first (hope I fit!). After WWoHP I guess it's play it by ear?

 

[Asm]

Thanks, Purseval. That makes sense. I did get the passes just because I have such a short time there.

 

[Deb in IA]

Thanks, Deb. I did get the passes. I plan to be there early and try FJ first (hope I fit!). After WWoHP I guess it's play it by ear?

You will probably have at least 30 min + waits for FJ, Ollivanders, and maybe 15 min + for the shops (Dervish and Banges, Honeydukes, Zonko's). Maybe another 15 minutes for the butterbeer cart. Since you are going after most schools have restarted, these waits may be less.

I would say after WWOHP, it really depends on what you want to do. If you want roller coasters, do Hulk (with Express) next. And don't miss Spiderman, which is right next to Hulk (also Express). We've never done Dr. Doom Fear Fall or the Storm Force Accelatron, so I can't tell you anything about them.

If you want to do wet rides, go to Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges and Dudley Do-Right. You will get soaked, especially on the Bilge-Rat Barges.

River Adventure is fun at Jurassic Park, and you can use Express on this as well. Pteradon Flyers is more for little kids and there is no Express. In fact, I think at one time you had to ride with someone less than 40 inches tall.

If you want to go to Suess Land, I'd recommend the Cat in the Hat. It is like the Winnie-the-Pooh ride at WDW.

There is a stunt show, Eighth Voyage of Sinbad, and a special effects show, Poseidon's Fury, that I think is not nearly as "special" anymore since the water vortex that you walk through is gone.

One other thing to keep in mind is that most of the attractions in IOA are outside, and may be affected by weather, such as lightening and thunderstorms, while most of the attractions at US are indoors and will stay open. FJ is indoors and should be OK.

 

[damo]

A little tip...don't wait inline for the Butterbeer Cart. Go into the back entrance of Hogshead and get your butterbeer at the bar.

 

[Deb in IA]

A little tip...don't wait inline for the Butterbeer Cart. Go into the back entrance of Hogshead and get your butterbeer at the bar.

True, but I think that if you want a souvenir plastic mug, you have to get it at the cart.

At least, that's what the CM told me last week.

 

[MrShiny]

The park is set to close at 6 that day, so I'd suggest getting there around opening (say leave CSR about 8).

Upon arrival, if they are handing out WW passes, snag one for later in the morning. Otherwise, avoid the crowds and go to the left, into Super Hero island. Do Spiderman for sure, and Hulk (if you like coasters). Don't bother with Dr. Doom's Fear Fall. Not nearly as interesting as it looks!

Make your way around the park clockwise. If there is still a crowd by WW when you finish Jurassic Park (or if it is getting around 3), go into WW. For best effect, enter from Suess Landing & Lost Continent (which is probably not where you are if you followed my advice, but walking back around is not that bad!). Enter WW around 3 and spend all the time until closing there. Gauge the lines - anything around 60 minutes posted for FJ is great and the line moves FAST (too fast once you are inside!). Olivanders lets in 25 at a time, so see how long htat is - note that they will cap thatr line about a half hour or so before closing. Don't wait at the Butterbeer cart, just walk around the back of 3 Broomsticks and into Hogshead - feel free to sit on the bench below my air conditioning vent if it is hot! BTW, frozen Butterbeer can easily take regular Butterbeer in a cage match of Butterbeers!

Dragon Challenge and Fight of the Hippogryff should be walk ons. The queue of Dragons some neat stuff, but unfortuantely the theming stops. Still worth walking through even if not riding.

Queue for FJ well worth it even if you won't fit (like me!)

Owl Post sometimes forms a line too. Most things can be gotten at other shops though. The actual post is outside, so you can get your mail stamped without waiting.

3 hours should be plenty to see the whole area with smaller crowds.

If you want a sit down meal. Mythos in the Lost Continent is very nice.