Harry Potter world questions

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Are you talking about comparing LA to Orlando or comparing both worlds in Orlando (Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade)?

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Well, I thought I was talking about LA to FL...but now I guess I'm asking about all 3! (Is it feasible to do both FL ones in one trip?)

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Yes, absolutely. Neither of the Orlando parks (Islands of Adventure or Universal Orlando) are full day parks for us. Hit it early, break in the afternoon and go swim or do something else and either head back in the evening, head to City Walk, etc.

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How much of HP world has one standing outside in brutally hot lines? (And are the lines at least shorter in the middle of the summer?)

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Oh yes...most definitely. Each world isn't that big and only have a few attractions combined between them. Theres alot of other stuff do but each world is doable over a couple of hours. You can easily do them both and all attractions including the Hogwarts Express in one day so definitely doable over a trip consisting of multiple days.

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And all of that - in July - is preferable to California?

Get a park hopper pass and do both in Orlando. They are awesome. I know a couple universal posters on here say you don’t need the express pass but I highly recommended it. It’s expensive as hell but unless you go often id splurge for it if you can . Makes for a much better day and lots of more riding rides as opposed to standing around waiting.

So on may 23rd, I do a quick google search of universal Orlando. I decided that day to make a quick getaway later in that week. We decided to do one day at islands of adventure.

Little background. Last time we were at universal was in 2002 and we have never seen any of the Harry Potter movies.

We took advantage of the early park admission for universal hotel guests. Was at the gates shortly after 7. They let us in right at 8. Went straight to hagrids. The wait time and riding took about 34 minutes. We then got a butter beer and got in-line for the other potter attraction. It didn’t open till 9, but they let us in to get in and get in line. Was done about 10 after 9. Didn’t ride the hippogryph ride. Stayed in the rest of the park until about 2. Started lightening and a lot of the rides were closed. Went back to the resort till about 4. Then come back and stayed till park close. It close at 10. Got in line for hagrids about 945. Took about 45 minutes.

We stayed at surfside. Transportation was always fast and it’s a small resort, so everything was very convenient.

The hopper pass is to give you access to both parks in one day. You either have it or not, neither park is in competition with each other.

When you purchase a ticket to Universal Studios; you have the option where you can go to either park per day, or you can purchase a ticket that will allow you to visit both parks in one day (park hopper). This also allows you to ride the Hogwarts Express. If you don't have the park hopper, you can still ride the train I believe, just for an extra cost.

Get the park hopper pass in Orlando (which is needed if you want to ride the Hogwarts train). Be the first people in line at the park opening and start on the Island of adventures side - this side is always less crowded. You will walk through Hogsmeade and then go do Hagrid's ride first (which is awesome, so do it twice before the lines). After that, hit the Harry Potter ride that is in the castle. Next, take Hogwarts express to Universal Studios Park and do the escape from Gringots ride. Afterwards, you can slow down and walk around Diagonal Alley and into the shops. (This is the best part of the Harry Potter “world” imo). If you get there at park opening, you can probably do all of that in 3 hours or so and then you will have the rest of the day to hit up other rides inside of the two parks or do the Harry potter ones again.

No the line skipping is the express pass.

Thanks, all. Sounds like FL is the answer - with a full day in each park + the most comprehensive express pass available.

So basically get a 2-day park hopper pass + express pass and that will give you completely flexibility to do all HP stuff in those 2 days? Is there time left to do other stuff (and is there other stuff even worth doing)?