Universal Studios Orlando
 

Rather than resurrecting this thread from 2010, I thought I would create a new thread.

10 year daughter voraciously read all 8 Harry Potter books and wants to go to Universal Studios Orlando during her fall break in October. Has anyone been lately and have any good tips, or just bend over and enjoy?

Thanks,
Neil

be prepared to spend $60 to $100 for a plastic wand.... the game itself is really cool

Glad my kids are grown. Took them one time when they were young. Pay a fortune to walk through the gate to spend the rest of the day standing in lines sweating for a 40 second ride that dumps you off in a gift shop....see Osidak post above. Repeat many times.

We're only 2 hours away, so some friends of ours go on a fairly regular basis. They said something about a Wii remote working in place of a wand to do some things... when we both have power again I'll get details.

You can spend a bit more money and wait in a slightly shorter line.
https://www.undercovertourist.com/blog/universal-express-pass/

6 years ago when my oldest started school down there, he, my daughter and my wife insisted on going for that (newly opened). It sounded horrible to me.

The younger son and I dropped them off. We went for an airboat ride and we went go carting.

Good luck.

I guess it's been too long since I was in school or had kids in school. WTH is "fall break"?

Anyway, it shouldn't be too bad in Oct heat-wise compared to the summer. I wouldn't think the lines would be nearly as bad as they would be in the summer or something like spring break time.

I have an annual pass, live 10 minutes from there... go weekly and will respond in detail tonite......

The Harry Potter world is incredible. I'm not into potter at all, but it is really cool the way they made it.

Thanks for the tips. Mid-week in October shouldn't be too bad.

I went to Disney when I got off work early on a client visit the week after Thanksgiving, there were no crowds. I can't imagine doing a theme park in mid-August. The long lines and crowds must be torture.

Take advantage of early access and fast pass.

Early access is only available if you stay on property.

Be at the park gates 30 minutes before early access open.

Head straight to the Potter rides.

You do the Universal Studios ride one morning, the Islands of Adventure ride the next morning.

Yes it sucks getting up at the ass crack of dawn but it beats the hell out of standing in line half the day for one ride.

You'll get the big Potter ride out of the way then you can wander the rest of the Potter attractions and park.

By noon you'll be shot so head back to your hotel and hit the pool or take a nap.

You'll miss the hottest part of the day that way and be refreshed to head back into the park for the evening activities.

Trust me on this one.

Oh, and you don't need a park hopper for every day.

If you are doing 3 days you only need it one day.

stomach nailed it...... but to add....
there are only 3 universal resorts iirc that include the free express pass......so ask when you book..... hard rock/ portafino/ and another one....you will wait in some lines.... but the earlier it is the shorter they are..... my advice is also do Harry potter first in islands of adventure, that area gets very congested ad the day goes on....
they usually also have one park or the other open early for resort guests..... so check the hours.
imo get a park hopper for every day, there are days where one park is busy and the other is not randomly, it's easy to get between parks.... the hogwarts express which goes between the 2 is also a different experience in each direction, you can only ride with a park to park ticket.
in the studios of you like the minions do that first..... line grows fast and long.
there ate some cases where the lines are short so don't waste the express pass..... not sure if you're limited to one use of express pass per attraction...... my pass includes it after 4pm.... but once per ride.

food.......mythos is awesome, refillable popcorn buckets are the cats meow and uber cheap. get a refillable mug....8 bucks all day refills every 10 minutes..... powerade/ soda/tea etc at the coke freestyle machines....you can have get them with your meal plan if you get that or get it separate.
there are free lockers available for when you go on a ride but won't fit big bags generally....

we can usually do both parks by noon if we get there at opening.
you'll also want to check what nights the horror nights is going an at the studios..... those days the park closes early and you'll need a horror night ticket to attend....i HIGHLY recommend getting the express pass for horror nights of you plan on doing more than 2 houses.....

Fast pass has no limits on useage per ride.

Best lunch is the pub in Universal Studios directly across from The Mummy.

Great food, good prices, tasty beers.

i know it has limits with my premier pass..... but good info.... unlimited... sweet.....
second finnigans across from the mummy...... have had many many pints there lol
and diagon alley is imo one of the best most immersive attractions any park has ever built...... period ��

The big platter at 3 Broomsticks was pretty good as well.

7 of us shared it, 4 adults and 3 teens, and it was plenty.

And yeah, everything about the Potter experience is ****ing outstanding.

Even if you have lived in a cave under a rock in the middle of the Amazon and not heard of Potter you'll be blown away.

but definitely check the horror nights schedule.... if only coming for 3 days it may affect your plans as studios will close at 4/5pm....i would say get park hoppers for the duration of so as it'll open up options....
fyi during horror nights diagon alley is the only non scare zone.... it's usually nearly empty during the event.... my wife hides there when im doing houses lol

I can only add that most of the advice here is spot on. Cashflyers link shows you which hotels allow you fast pass access just by staying there.

If the budget allows stay at the Hard Rock Hotel, the pool is great, it is a very short walk to the parks and the experience there is pretty cool.

If you like craft beer, Universal has a few that are only sold in their parks and brewed just for them. They have Duff beer on tap and Duff light on tap. They also have Duff Dry which is a Stout and only comes in bottles.

There are also various Harry Potter themed beers.

In case you have not figured it out yet, you can drink your way around the parks.

This link has a lot of good info.

Party Through The Parks - Universal Studios



Having been to Disney and Universal in the same weekend I have noticed a big difference in the typical park attendee. Disney seems more hectic to me, the travel paths are narrow and they have a lot more people in motorized wheelchairs at Disney taking up space.

There are plenty at Universal too, but they travel ways are much wider in most places so it does not feel as claustrophobic.

At Disney the new thing to do is to send the kids running to the next ride to get in line or to send the kids to get concessions while part of the group hold a place in line, there is a constant flow of people pushing their way past everyone to catch up to the group. It is annoying and goes unchecked.

I saw none of that at Universal.

Going early is the best plan the parks tend to fill up around noontime.

I, for one, cannot go on the Harry Potter ride at 8 in the morning on the Islands side. I almost puked last time on it.

The one over in Universal is fine it does not toss you around as much. I typically opt out of the Islands ride, go find a hot pretzel and buy a Beer sit and people watch.

I have taken a multi year break from theme parks, I was a season pass holder at Universal for 3 years straight up until 2 years ago. I am burned out on theme parks.

One thing to add, do get a park hopper ticket, the Train ride in Harry Potter land runs from one park to the next, you need a park hopper to ride it.

Plus you may want to just work over all the Harry Potter things in one day. Then see the Rest.

The Kong ride is OK... a lot of rides now are 3D glasses and screens through out the ride.

You can easily spend entire days exploring the Harry Potter worlds on both sides, but, like Bell said, Diagon Alley is really well done and very immersive.

and spend the 50 bucks on an interactive wand.....your harry potter fanatic will go nuts......you can just but one there or wait in line to have the wand choose your kid....