Last minute Universal tips !?

[Guest]

Hi guys

Moving tomorrow morning from Villa to staying at RPR to 2 nights, anyone got any last minute (basic) tips for getting the most out of staying on site for 2 nights ? Which park would you do first ? And where would you head first ?

I know most people try and get there super early to make the most of the FOLP, but OH & 2 DS aren't brilliant first thing, would it be the end of the world if we didn't try and get there fo 7 am ?

Thanks in advance!

Max

[tiggr]

Hi, we were there 18, 19 and 20th of May. 4 adults and 2 granddaughters aged 4 and 6. First morning we drove up from the villa and didn't enter the part til around 9:30. We did the whole of Universal studios apart from Diagon Alley and were back in the pool around 4 I think. Next Day we were in the park at 8:45and did Diagon Alley for a couple of hours. (Escape from Gringotts was a 10 minute wait at just after 9). We then caught the Hogwarts express to IOA and did Suess Landing and back to the hotel early afternoon to the pool. last morning both parks opened at 8 so early entry at IOA was 7am but we made it for just after 8 went straight to Wizarding World and walked on to Forbidden Journey twice. We spent a couple of hours here on the rides and shops and then did the rest of the park and left around 4:30 pm to go get the car and head back to the villa. I was worried that we weren't going to be there early enough but we managed to do everything we wanted to do easily enough. Our little ones were quite young so we didn't have any late nights but if you were staying in the park later we were recommended to go back to the HP rides an hour before park close for short wait times. Hope this helps:smile

[Gill H]

The earlier you get to the park the better.

We got a taxi 6.30am to Portofino Bay, arrived, checked in, our room was ready so went over with the case. (If it's not ready you just leave luggage with concierge). Then we had to get our passes sorted at the machine. Then nipped to Starbucks for coffee and muffins and grabbed a rickshaw to the park. (The rickshaw drivers do not get paid but work for tips. We had no idea how much to tip so we gave them $10.) We could have got a boat (and we did the rest of the time) or walked but we wanted to get there quickly!

We were at the gates 7.45 and there were only a handful of people there. I've read reports from people who got there 8am or 8.30 and found it much busier.

In our case, Universal Studios was open early (it varies depending on time of year). We all went straight to Gringotts which had a 10 minute wait. It was just amazing wandering round Diagon Alley when it was so quiet, lots of time to explore.

Then 9am we took the Hogwarts Express which was superb.

By about 10am we were starting to droop - we both had colds and hadn't slept much. So we jumped on a boat back to PBR and had a sleep in the room for an hour.

Then we got some pizza from Sal's Deli and sat by the lagoon, listening to music and watching the boats bob about. If I could go back to any moment of that stay, that is the moment. So peaceful and relaxing, you would never know we were near a park!

Enjoy your stay.

[Guest]

Thanks a lot guys ... Both make good points so now equally confused as to what to do !

Oh well let's see how we feel in the morning !

[thebig40]

What did you do in the end?
We go next month (that is exciting writing that! ) so need the tips!

[Guest]

We have gone for the later checkin ... Just about to leave the villa for some breakfast at ihop and then get there for 9 ... I'll let you know the outcome later !

[thebig40]

Have a great day! I am dead jealous, it is freezing, wet and windy here today!

[RobertWestwood]

Originally Posted by thebig40

Have a great day! I am dead jealous, it is freezing, wet and windy here today!

See more...

someone seems to have turned the UK upside down. Lovely and sunny and warm in Scotland and horrible and wet in the South of England

Have a great time. With the FOTL passes, all you are really missing out on for early entry are the Harry Potter rides.

Remember to swing by Kong to check if those walls are down yet

[Bouncing Tigger]

Originally Posted by RobertWestwood

someone seems to have turned the UK upside down. Lovely and sunny and warm in Scotland and horrible and wet in the South of England

Have a great time. With the FOTL passes, all you are really missing out on for early entry are the Harry Potter rides.

Remember to swing by Kong to check if those walls are down yet

See more...

It's beautiful down in Devon today.

Have loads of fun!

[Smilesonfaces]

Originally Posted by RobertWestwood

someone seems to have turned the UK upside down. Lovely and sunny and warm in Scotland and horrible and wet in the South of England

Have a great time. With the FOTL passes, all you are really missing out on for early entry are the Harry Potter rides.

Remember to swing by Kong to check if those walls are down yet

See more...

We were there yesterday...no sign off Kong unfortunately !
The queues for Harry Potter were longer during early opening than they were in the afternoon, it was 70 minutes during early opening and we went on early afternoon in 20 ! You can check wait times on the app.