Universal Orlando - Harry Potter plan of attack

[Bear]

Planning our summer trip to Orlando and would welcome advice from anyone who's been to the new HP rides at Universal. We last went before they opened and used our extra hour in the park to hit the Forbidden Journey ride before the queues.

This time around we're also in an on-park hotel, so we'll have the extra hour and the Universal Express FOL passes.

So what we'd love to know is the best order for getting the most of the Gringotts ride, the Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley. So far as I can see, it'd be best to race straight for Gringotts once the park opens, then once we've done that join the queue for the Hogwarts Express through to the Islands of Adventure. Then we can come back to the Studios park and visit Diagon Alley at a more leisurely pace later in the day - or if it's likely to be heaving, maybe the following day do the Gringotts ride first thing again and then explore Diagon Alley while it's still early? Hogwarts Express looks like fun judging by the YouTube videos we've seen, but maybe not something you'd do more than once.

We're not so fussed on doing the Forbidden Journey ride in the IoA side again, the queues at any time of day other than the hour before opening were horrendous.

Tips from anyone who's been and run the gauntlet most welcome. TIA

I haven't been since Gringotts opened but you are spot on to think of doing that first thing, as soon as the hotel guests are allowed in. I'd save Diagon Alley until later because as far as I know there isn't anything to queue for there.

Gringotts first! The whole early entry line was headed that way when we went last summer - hopefully 2015 will be a little calmer. Read orlandoinformer.com for the inside track, it is excellent.

By the way Gringotts has taken the place of forbidden journey for worst queue by a long shot!

Alpaca, is there a big queue for the Hogwarts Express? Am a bit at only IoA being open - I was relying on US being open too, so that we coudl do Gringotts then!

Have you got children going with you? If they are older consider the single rider lines. Usually much shorter wait times. We went with teenagers and it worked brilliantly for us. On some of the rides we were able to come out, go back round to the entrance and ride again almost immediately. Haven't been since the new ride opened though.

brilliant - exactly what we wanted to know. I think I'd read somewhere that only IoA opened early, so interesting to see it confirmed. We're only in Orlando for a couple of days, so I guess we need to go and get our tickets sorted out the evening we arrive, then early to bed for the super early (but with jet lag in our favour, not soooo bad) start to get in line for the 8am doors. Will take a look at Orlando Informer. Thanks again!

We were there last summer, a week after opening day - It was crazy! When are you going? I think in peak times (school holidays) they have early opening at both parks, but non-peak just IOA.
Last summer park opened at 8, early park admission started at 7, people were queuing from 5am! Seriously! We did that twice and were first on Gringotts which was awesome! If US is open for EPA head straight to Gringotts then spend the rest of your extra hour in Diagon Alley. The queue for Hogwarts Express never gets more than about 20-30 mins and that's only at the crazy time (11am -3pm - we always avoid all theme parks for those 4 hours!) Dont waste your EPA on it. They usually open Minion Mayhem and sometimes transformers about 15-20 mins before the park officially opens so I would say do Gringotts, have a wander around Diagon Alley then go to Minion Mayhem or Transformers to beat the queues there.
Also absolutely check out orlando Informer - best info on all of Universal you can get!

We'll be there at the end of July - so über-peak time I guess!

Are the interactive wand bits any good, Alpaca? I was SO excited for me the DCs to try this but I've read that it's quite hard to get the movements right and I don't want DS to get frustrated with it.

We had a great time with the interactive wands! They can be tricky, but there are plenty of wandering 'Wizards' who will step in with tips and advice if you're struggling!
We used one of our early admission mornings just doing magic, it was wonderful as we had it practically all to ourselves while all the other early admission guests were on Gringotts or HE.
We stayed on site for 2 weeks though, so were lucky enough to have plenty of EPA mornings - some to ride Gringotts, some for Hogsmeade and FJ etc, some just to experience both areas (interactive wands, shops, taking photos!) while half empty. It was hard work getting my DH and Dds 12 and 14 up at 5am nearly every morning, but so worth it!