Orlando - Upgrade to Universal ticket - worth it for the 21st for Harry Potter, etc?

I'm going to Universal on Monday. Is the upgraded ticket to get the fastpass worth it? The family mostly wants to see mostly Harry Potter, but we'll probably poke around other parts of the park.

I'm told that fastpass doesn't apply to Harry Potter. Is the $50 worth it? Any input appreciated.

Im planning to go to Universal and islands tomorrow and am now worried it's going to be a zoo. Check this out..

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/slideshow/ALeqM5iXhloA_BivdzRntxcFifPNTwdVhgD9GDRM300?index= 0

:eek:

Yikes.... that's a place to keep away from for a while... far far away.

I seem to recall reading that people may be disappointed because it's just a normal size attraction. I know I got the impression it was almost a "land" (ala disney world).

But, to answer the OPs question, when we went to universal we stayed 1 night and had the front of the line access for the entire next day. It was a Memorial Day weekend, and we still managed to get on every single ride we wanted within that day. We went to our Disney hotel for dinner and spent the rest of our time there.

So, it may be worth it to you. I know it was definitely worth it for us.

Is it $50 for your family or $50 each? If it's each, well, pay for a room and you can enjoy it :)

This is probably an accurate preview of the next few days (or weeks, or ?)
http://www.wesh.com/news/23948485/detail.html

To that, I would also add in (almost) daily thunderstorms! If you come, come early and be prepared.

You may also find the special coverage in today's Orlando Sentinel helpful:
http://tinyurl.com/3y7y5tm

I'm told that fastpass doesn't apply to Harry Potter. Is the $50 worth it? Any input appreciated.I'm not sure about the Harry Potter section, but I will say that when they first opened the Mummy Roller Coaster ride, the fast pass didn't help any (at least for the first week or so. Its great now though.)

First, what type of "upgrade" are we talking about? A VIP ticket which will get you Fast Pass entrance as many times as you want to any of the rides? Or an Express Pass Plus booklet which I think for the month of July are $49.99? Those will only get you one Fast Pass entrance to each ride. You don't get multiple Fast Pass entrances to each ride. Getting an onsite hotel room gives Fast Pass privileges similar to the VIP ticket (i.e. multiple ride entrances.)

As for if the $50 is worth it. First, I'll say that Fast Passes in general are well worth it. With a Fast Pass, you can ride virtually every ride in a park mulitple times in one day. It's great walk up to the Spiderman ride and get on in just a couple of minutes when the normal line says there is a 90 minute wait. And then run around to the entrance and ride it again in just a couple of minutes. :cool:

With that said, Mary2e's suggestion about an onsite room is a very good one. How many "upgraded" tickets will you have to pay for? One night at an onsite hotel will cost somewhere around $250-$350 depending on which hotel and whether you can get base level room or not. Also, with an onsite hotel, you get TWO days worth of fast passes. So if you want to go two days (one at each park), you can have full Fast Pass privileges for both days. So if there are 4 of you, then $200 (4 X $50/person) for an Express Pass Plus will only get you one Fast Pass entrance per ride for one day only. $250 or so can get you unlimited Fast Pass entrances per ride for two days.

I'm waiting to take the family there in October. I'm hoping the initial crowds will die down a bit. But even so, I'm paying for an onsite hotel to get two days of Fast Pass access. ^

Yes, the Fastpasses are useful. Especially now as the summer crowds are starting to pick up. But if your goal is to see the Harry Potter section, that's going to take up most of the day right there due to the long waits to get in. There's waits to even get into the stores there and yesterday I saw a photo showing the line to get into the HP area stretch all the way past CityWalk. The park as a whole is going to be insanely busy for the next couple of months.

I'm curious.. and as per original question.. does the fast pass either by payment or by hotel, get you into the front of the line Harry Potter?

I'm curious.. and as per original question.. does the fast pass either by payment or by hotel, get you into the front of the line Harry Potter?Both. If you buy a "fast pass" there is a separate entrance you get to use and bypass the line once for each attraction.

If you stay in one of their hotels, it's unlimited for essentially 2 days. The day you check in and the day you check out.

Makes it very easy to see everything in a short period of time, and IMHO, is worth every penny it costs for the hotel room.

Also note that the Fast Pass is just for the rides, not any of the stores (where I've read there are lines for the moment as well.)

Given that most every existing ride in both Universal Parks have a Fast Pass entrance, there is a very high probability that the Harry Potter rides (three of them I do believe) will also have one.

My son and I were there Friday for the opening of HP. It was an absolute zoo (see the pictures at orlandosentinel.com, especially the overhead helicopter shots) and I suppose it will stay that way for at least a couple weeks.

The crowd waiting to get in the park filled the entire area from almost the turnstiles past the NBA restaurant and over to the front of Universal, then across the bridge and filled the entire area back to about the AMC theater, someone told me.

The line just to walk into Hogsmeade once you got inside extended all the way through Jurassic Park and around past Spiderman and the Hulk and to the main entrance plaza and then doubled back some. I am sure it took 6 hours minimum in the wilting 95-degree heat.

However, we had been there a few days earlier (Monday or Tuesday, I forget) for the "soft opening" and got to see everything, including taking a ride on the big HP coaster/attraction, whatever it's called. Quite amazing, and the whole place is fun; got lunch at 3broomsticks and got to see the wand shop show. I think they've done a pretty good job on this HP-land, but probably they will have to build more, as it's not all that big.

Heat was almost unbearable last week. 90-100 each day.

That wesh.com article that said 5000 people were there WAY WAY underestimated the crowd.

I'm curious.. and as per original question.. does the fast pass either by payment or by hotel, get you into the front of the line Harry Potter?

No, Harry Potter is specifically excluded from Express pass. However, if stay at their hotel, you can enter the park 1 hour early to get in line for the attraction.

No, Harry Potter is specifically excluded from Express pass. However, if stay at their hotel, you can enter the park 1 hour early to get in line for the attraction.

How long is the wait for Harry Potter if you get into the park early? Do you actually have to line up before the 1 hour early opening to get in pretty quick?.. or is it a zoo too?

How long is the wait for Harry Potter if you get into the park early? Do you actually have to line up before the 1 hour early opening to get in pretty quick?.. or is it a zoo too?

I haven't been there...I am researching my own vacation and saw the notice that Harry Potter is excluded.

Opening week had 3-4 hour lines is what I've read. I suspect it will dip to maybe 1-2 hours soon enough. The tourist magazines do say to take advantage of the 1 hr early opening and go straight for that attraction...

The FastPass is not applicable to the Harry Potter ride, nor can you use it to get into any of the stores on site. Best times to go are either early early in the morning or late in the day near park closing times. "Single Rider" lines are much quicker.

Not sure how much the lines have died down now that school is back in session.

The FastPass is also not available at the Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket.

Hope this helps!

reports lately that it's possible to do HP area mid afternoon with 1/2 hour to 45 min wait...i hope it's much shorter by my travel dates mid Oct...will report back

1/2 hour or 45 minutes seems reasonable compared to 2 or 3 hours when it first opened.. I wonder how long the lines at Universal will be come Christmas?

I wonder how long the lines at Universal will be come Christmas?I have no desire to have any first hand experience on that. :eek: Though I'm going down with the family in about a month and I'm hoping the lines won't be too long in the middle of October.

I have no desire to have any first hand experience on that. :eek: Though I'm going down with the family in about a month and I'm hoping the lines won't be too long in the middle of October.

Hi,

Me too!

Will be at Universal on 4th and 5th October before going to Sea World and WaltS Disney world!:D

Regards

TBS

Will be at Universal on 4th and 5th October before going to Sea World and WaltS Disney world!:DWe'll be there a couple of weeks after you. So definitely provide an update on how crowded things are at the park.

1/2 hour or 45 minutes seems reasonable compared to 2 or 3 hours when it first opened.. I wonder how long the lines at Universal will be come Christmas?

Will let you know - we'll be there the week of Christmas, in addition to WDW. :eek:

So will he, and I think you're both nuts :D :D

So will he, and I think you're both nuts :D :D

:D Haven't booked mine yet..:D talked to my neighbor.. she, her husband and her kids went Christmas Break last year, and she said she would do it again.. absolutely loved it.

I was toying with Maui or Big Island because of really good rates.. that idea is in the gutter now though. California and Disney Land was an awesome flight rate and right dates (no school missed for my 4 year old).. dates and rates have changed since though.. and my wife has no desire to be in California for Christmas.. So outside chance maybe for Orlando and Disney World.. sounds more and more like an awesome idea. But, we're in no rush to book anything at the moment.

Mary2e.. what do you usually do for Christmas break?

Mary2e.. what do you usually do for Christmas break?Celebrate the holiday with my family, oh, and go to work.[/quote]

I won't waste vacation time to go anywhere at the most crowded and expensive time of the year.

Any update on the wait for HP? Can you advise which hotels are on-site hotels? Are any chain related (SPG, HH, PC, etc).

Much thanks.

Any update on the wait for HP? Can you advise which hotels are on-site hotels? Are any chain related (SPG, HH, PC, etc).

Much thanks.

Have you looked at the Universal site? They are all Loews hotel. They have their own loyalty program. They list the hotels there.

http://www.universalorlando.com/OverviewPages/Hotels/3worldclass.aspx

Any update on the wait for HP? Can you advise which hotels are on-site hotels? Are any chain related (SPG, HH, PC, etc).

Much thanks.

Hi,

2 weeks ago ( 4th-6th October) the queues at HP rapidly built up to 40mins by 10am or so and peaked at least at 60mins in the afternoon( at park opening it appeared that the vast majority headed towards HP and the rest of the park as relatively quiet)

Regards

TBS

I stayed at the Doubletree ( Hilton) which whilst not an on site hotel was 15mins walk to the parks

The major benefit of staying at an onsite Loews hotel is that your room key gets you unlimited front of the line access for participating rides/attractions.

It works for all day the day you check-in to all day the day you check out. So if you stay one night you can get two full days of front line access. Check in at 8am and they will give you your room keys even if your room is not ready. When you check out the next morning you keep your key and can use it till park closing that day (the room key is dated).

This could be a big plus during peak times.

We just got back late last night from a nice long weekend trip to the parks.

If you want to actually walk around the Harry Potter section and ride the rides there, I would strongly suggest staying at one of the onsite hotels. We stayed at the Royal Pacific. The Islands of Adventure park (the one with the Harry Potter area) opened to the public at 9:00am, but being onsite allowed us access to the Harry Potter section at 8:00am. And within minutes after 9am, the HP area will become one big mass of people with lines everywhere. Even the stores have lines to get into them. The new HP ride, which is a very nice ride BTW, will have well over an hour wait by 9:05am. :eek:

My suggestion would be to get up and do the HP area from 8 to 9am every morning. At 9am, move to the other park areas, or to the other park (Universal Studios) and spend the rest of the day away from the HP area.

A way to save some money when staying at the onsite hotels is to purchase an annual pass. I was able to save about $80/night by using the annual pass discounted rate. Note that everyone doesn't have to buy an annual pass. Only one person in your party needs to have one.

2 weeks ago ( 4th-6th October) the queues at HP rapidly built up to 40mins by 10am or so and peaked at least at 60mins in the afternoon( at park opening it appeared that the vast majority headed towards HP and the rest of the park as relatively quiet)The lines at HP were much longer this past week. There were around 1.5 hour waits at just after 9am and they were up to 2+ hours a bit later in the day.

And while the rest of the park areas weren't nearly that bad, there were some decent waits for other rides as well. The Spiderman ride had about a 45 minute wait yesterday afternoon. And the Hulk roller-coaster had more than an hour wait. (Of course with our hotel key "fast pass" it took longer to walk up to the ride than we had to wait in a line.) ^

Go ahead...no to busy as in july/august. Great attraction...a must see!

Front of the Line pass from Loew's Hotel still doesn't work on the Harry Potter ride.. correct?

You can use the Fast Pass on the Flight of the Hippogriff and the Dragon Challenge roller coasters. There is no Fast Pass for the Forbidden Journey ride or Ollivander's Wand store.

So all the fuss over Harry Potter is not over one ride.. but three plus a store? So to be clear, there are three lines to different rides, and one line into the store?

There is a whole Harry Potter area. It includes the Forbidden Journey new ride, the old Dueling Dragons rollercoaster and the old kiddie Unicorn rollercoaster (now the Hippogriff). There are a few stores plus Ollivanders. You don't necessarily have to wait in the line to get into the Wand store. The line is to see the 5 minute "sales" pitch about wizards (i.e. kids) getting the right wand for them. Basically if you watch the very first Potter film where Harry gets his wand, a group of about 15 or so get to see a similar show. Out of the 15 or so persons in the room, one kid will be chosen and go through getting the "right" wand chosen for her/him. And of course, if that kid gets chosen by the "right" wand, the parent will be on the hook to buy it for them. :eek:

And yes, each ride has it's own line and there is a separate line to watch the Ollivander show. Also, at the entrance from the Lost Continent side, there is the Hogwarts Express Train there. It isn't a ride, but you can get your picture in front of the train and you can even get the train conductor in for the picture as well.

Cool.. its the Forbidden Journey New Ride that's drawing all of the attention.. Ah-so! By the sounds of it, I thought there was three different rides drawing crowds.. so spend 2 hours waiting, go to the next, and go to the next. Do they have parent swap?

Do they have parent swap?The Dragons rollercoaster and the Forbidden Journey ride do.

The Dragons rollercoaster and the Forbidden Journey ride do.

How does Parent Swap Work at Universal?

They can be a little different, but for the most part, everyone waits in line together. When you get to the front, let the person know and there is usually a waiting area that you will be directed to. One adult and the child(ren) can wait there and the other adults can ride. Then you can switch out once you've ridden.

I've noticed that most ride operators don't seem to be too strict on whose riding the 2nd round. In the Forbidden Journey, we had 5 adults (and older children) plus two kids who couldn't ride. One adult waited with the kids, and the other 4 rode. Then when we swapped out 4 again rode with one of the other adults waiting in the wait area. So 3 out of the 5 adults got to ride it twice with only one wait. :cool:

They can be a little different, but for the most part, everyone waits in line together. When you get to the front, let the person know and there is usually a waiting area that you will be directed to. One adult and the child(ren) can wait there and the other adults can ride. Then you can switch out once you've ridden.

I've noticed that most ride operators don't seem to be too strict on whose riding the 2nd round. In the Forbidden Journey, we had 5 adults (and older children) plus two kids who couldn't ride. One adult waited with the kids, and the other 4 rode. Then when we swapped out 4 again rode with one of the other adults waiting in the wait area. So 3 out of the 5 adults got to ride it twice with only one wait. :cool:

I heard that qualifying kids can reride as well at Disney World.. So I may do the swap with my wife, and likely my 5 year old son can accompany once again. Does Universal hand out passes? I imagine if you stay onsite you can combine front of the line fast pass with child swap.. won't mean much, but a total score as the rest of the public waits.

Does Universal hand out passes?Universal no longer has the Fast Pass Kiosks at the rides. If you stay onsite, then you use your room key as a Fast Pass. (And your kids will be given keys with their names on them as well.) If you are not staying onsite, then you can buy a Fast Pass booklet. It will come with one Fast Pass for each ride in a park.

I think Universal now has an even more expensive Fast Pass booklet that acts similar to an onsite hotel room key giving you unlimited Fast Pass access to all the rides. I've never purchased a Fast Pass booklet as I find the room (which can give you up to 5 persons unlimited Fast Pass access) to usually be cheaper than buying the fast pass booklets for everyone.

I meant does Universal hand out child swap passes? Thanks for the tips on Fast Passes.. I imagine the more expensive fast pass gives you access to rides multiple times, rather than a booklet that lets you access only once?

No child swap "passes" were handed out that I ever saw.

Per Universal Express Plus Passes (http://www.universalorlando.com/Tickets/special_offers/UniversalExpress/expresspluspasses.aspx), you can purchase a "VIP" ticket that will work similar to an onsite hotel room key for unlimited Fast Pass access. If you have more than 2 people you are paying for, staying onsite will probably be cheaper than purchasing "VIP" tickets, but they are an option.

No child swap "passes" were handed out that I ever saw.

Per Universal Express Plus Passes (http://www.universalorlando.com/Tickets/special_offers/UniversalExpress/expresspluspasses.aspx), you can purchase a "VIP" ticket that will work similar to an onsite hotel room key for unlimited Fast Pass access. If you have more than 2 people you are paying for, staying onsite will probably be cheaper than purchasing "VIP" tickets, but they are an option.

Cool.. So child swap must happen when everyone lines up and gets to the front. One parent stays back while the rest of the party goes on the ride.. when the party gets backs, the other parent stays back, and the rest of the party rerides. Is this how generally child swap goes?

Is this how generally child swap goes?Seemed that way to me.

At Disney, you can get a fast pass and get a child swap pass.. the second parent doesn't need another fast pass.. they just use the child swap pass.. Can you do this at Universal, where one parent buys say the fast pass book, and the other parent swaps?

I'm not sure as I've never tried that. If I had to guess though, I wouldn't think it would work. To even get into the Fast Pass line, both adults would need their own Fast Pass ticket (be it from the booklet, a VIP ticket, or an onsite hotel room key.)

I'm not sure as I've never tried that. If I had to guess though, I wouldn't think it would work. To even get into the Fast Pass line, both adults would need their own Fast Pass ticket (be it from the booklet, a VIP ticket, or an onsite hotel room key.)

One could say.. go into the fast pass line.. obtain a child swap ticket, and when finished, come out, and hand the child swap ticket to the next parent. The next parent goes in like a fast pass.. just a theory..

One could say.. go into the fast pass line.. obtain a child swap ticket, and when finished, come out, and hand the child swap ticket to the next parent. The next parent goes in like a fast pass.. just a theory..

I doubt that would work. The express pass lines are manned by a person with a scanner. They scan whatever means you are using (express pass, room key) to access the express pass line. Each person must have their own express pass to even get past this person.

I doubt that would work. The express pass lines are manned by a person with a scanner. They scan whatever means you are using (express pass, room key) to access the express pass line. Each person must have their own express pass to even get past this person.

The question becomes now.. if you are handed a scannable parent swap pass that is scannable, and it was part of Universal's system, would work.. Disney World has child swaps that happen outside the lines as well as at the front of the lines.. A scannable parent swap pass at the entrance would probably be the only solution I can think of, if Universal does hand out parent swap passes.

nevermind

nevermind

A comment on your original response.. Child Swap passes act like an express fast pass at Disney World.. so I'm trying to figure out whether, the child swap fast pass acts like a fast pass at Universal?

I do not remember seeing any "child swap passes" at any rides. You walk up to either the normal or Fast Pass line (each rider will have to show their valid Fast Pass instrument). You will all then wait in the line together. Once you get to the front of the line, you tell the attendant there and they will direct the adult staying behind where the waiting area is. That adult will take the kid(s) with them to the waiting area and wait until the other adults finish the ride. Then, from my experience, any one in the party that wants to ride a 2nd time will be allowed to ride it with the adult that waited the first time through.

I guess if you were of a mind to try, after the 2nd ride, you might be able to "swap" adults again. It probably all depends on how observant the ride attendants are in noticing that you were riding it yet again. (But if you have Fast Passes, it doesn't really matter as you probably won't have much of a line to wait in anyways.) I've never tried this, so have no idea whether this would work or not.

Thanks hhoope01.. What ages are your kids?

Thanks hhoope01.. What ages are your kids?My kids are in high school. But when I last went down to Universal and Disney (a little over a month ago), I went with a number of relatives. My niece has younger children and we used the child swapping for them.

My kids are in high school. But when I last went down to Universal and Disney (a little over a month ago), I went with a number of relatives. My niece has younger children and we used the child swapping for them.

A couple out of California is joining us for part of the trip at Disney World.. Seems like a budget buster for them to do Universal, and Disney World as well..

My kids are 5 and going to be 1 on Christmas eve. My 5 year old is ready, but the 1 year old probably wouldn't get much out of anything anyways. We'll see how it goes.. I'll monitor ticket deals for Universal and see if its useful to go. We'll be down in Orlando for 3 weeks beginning Dec 15th, and got the 21 day ultimate ticket for Disney World. So we can be at Disney World everyday.. so it'll have to be a screamin ticket deal to Universal, and the child swap seems friendly enough.