Trip question

[getmemickey]

I'm a first timer also. We are not staying onsite. And we will be there oct 17 and 18. My question is this. Even if I get there 30 min before park opens there will already be a long wait for Harry Potter Forbidden Journey because of the people that get early entry? Should I go ahead and do that ride first?

And would it help if I bought the express pass for other rides or is that time of year slow enough that I shouldn't need it?
Thanks!

 

[Skip]

I'm a first timer also. We are not staying onsite. And we will be there oct 17 and 18. My question is this. Even if I get there 30 min before park opens there will already be a long wait for Harry Potter Forbidden Journey because of the people that get early entry? Should I go ahead and do that ride first?

And would it help if I bought the express pass for other rides or is that time of year slow enough that I shouldn't need it?
Thanks!

You should be fine for HP if you come that early. The ride has a monstrous capacity and doesn't develop crazy lines until late morning - and that's on a busy day. I'd go explore the Wizarding World and then hit the Marvel rides.

Express may not be necessary, but they do sell it in park if the lines turn out to be crazy.

 

[getmemickey]

Thanks so much for the info. Makes me feel better about not staying I site

 

[Annielkd]

This may sound stupid... but, you do know that Harry Potter is at universal... right?

 

[twebber55]

went last summer (late June)while staying at Disney and my son and i showed up about 25 minutes before park opening... soon as we got in we headed for FJ and waited maybe 10 or 15 minutes which in reality was good because you need to walk through the castle and take it all in.. rode it three times that day the next two we used single rider

 

[getmemickey]

This may sound stupid... but, you do know that Harry Potter is at universal... right?

That's not a stupid question . Yes I know it's at universal. I know there are
A lot of people who don't know the difference. We are actually doing Disney the rest of the week! Can't wait !

 

[FLYbyNITE]

This may sound strange, but HP’s Forbidding Journey is the only ride that I actually don’t mind an hour wait. It moves pretty quick and once you enter the castle you want to take your time and take some pictures and enjoy the experience. Of coarse this doesn’t help when you want to ride the ride again, but the first you do go, you will see that the time will just fly by.

 

[Timekeeper]

You'll be visiting during a great time of year for the parks. The weater isn't quite as hot as mid summer, and the parks aren't as crowded.

Be sure to check the Halloween Horror Nights event calendar, too. The event will likely take place on the second day of your visit, October 18, which means that Universal Studios (and/or Islands of Adventure, depending on which park(s) the event takes place in this year) will be closing around 5:00 PM.

Aside from the change in park hours, you might want to actually attend the event. It's EXTREMELY popular and heavily enjoyed, especially by the local crowd. If it sounds like something that you might like, definitely check it out; if not on the evening of your second day at Universal Orlando, maybe on the evening of one of your Disney days. :wave:

 

[Stitchaholic84]

This may sound strange, but HP’s Forbidding Journey is the only ride that I actually don’t mind an hour wait. It moves pretty quick and once you enter the castle you want to take your time and take some pictures and enjoy the experience. Of coarse this doesn’t help when you want to ride the ride again, but the first you do go, you will see that the time will just fly by.

I agree with this. Plus you are never standing still for longer than a minute and are continuously walking, albeit slowly, through the line.

Now if you were plannin on also doing Ollivanders, I would suggest doing this first. The queue is always long and very boring and also has no shelter from the sun so getting it done early when it is cooler is best..........or even last thing in the afternoon.