I am a long time Disney World visitor, but I will be making my first visit to Universal late in October. I am traveling for a conference at Universal. My wife and I are coming in a couple of days early to do MNSSHP and on one day at Universal. Mostly interested in Harry Potter, but likely to try to take in as much as possible except VelociCoaster.
Any tips or tricks? Will have early entry and express pass.
Thanks for the help in advance!
Hagrids doesn’t accept EP, so your best times to ride that are at the start of EE or at park close.
Otherwise, your EP means that you can do whatever you want to do whenever you want to do it 
Have a blast!!
Universal’s Express Pass (UXP) is truly the best. Typically, you’ll wait about only 33% of the posted wait or less. Rarely more than 50%. You can get so much done in a single day!
Don’t skip the shows! In WWOHP my personal favorite is Tales of Beedle the Bard in Diagon Alley.
Also, the Bounre Stuntacular is THE BEST SHOW IN ORLANDO! It’s incredible!
You hadn’t mentioned it, but to go to both parks you need a “park-to-park” ticket. (Park Hopper)
You can take the Hogwarts Express to travel to either park. It’s not a only an attraction with a show, but a shuttle! If the queue is ever more than 40 minutes it’s often better to just walk - even if you have UXP. It’s a slow loading train that gets really busy later in the day.
I’m assuming, since you have UXP that you are staying at a Premier Resort. These offer boats that will take you directly to the parks with little to no waits.
You can get a refillable Coke Freestlye cup and there are self serve locations all over the parks & in every eatery. You can also bring your own bottle and each Freestyle station serves ice & chilled water for free!
UOR does do a number of attractions that may cause motion sickness. Bring your Drimane or other medicines to prevent this!
It may still be warmer weather in October, but go inside either The Three Broomsticks or Leaky Cauldron to get a HOT butterbeer. This is the epitome of what butterbeer is supposed to be.
Frozen butterbeer is refreshing & a crowd favorite. However, IMHO, nothing beats that warm toffee & marshmallow goodness of HOT butterbeer!
Other “don’t miss” attractions outside of WWOHP - Revenge of the Mummy, The Adventures of Spiderman, Jurassic Park River Adventure and the Raptor Encounter character meeting…
If you like tator tots with meat & cheese then stop by the Green Eggs & Ham tots QS. My favorite QS in all of UOR!
I prefer eating at Three Broomsticks more than Leaky Cauldron. LC serves more traditional British food while 3B serves ribs & chicken
Be aware that this is Halloween Horror Nights season and Universal Studios will close at 5pm Wed. - Sun. for the event. If you are going on one of those days prioritize USF / Diagon Alley to start your day.
If you can stay until after sunset, Hagrid’s is simply “epic” after dark. It was designed to be ridden that way as there are no lights out there expect on your motorbike. Try to get in queue right before IOA closes as the last ride.
There are many good eateries in CityWalk and the hotels. Let us know your likes / dislikes & we can steer you to the best options. I have found that the Premier hotels have the best restaurants!
I can talk about Universal all day, so ask any questions!! 
Great stuff! Thank you!
I had been planning on the frozen butterbeer, of course, but I will make sure to try the hot as well!
-Brian
No worries! I had to cut myself off before I wrote a whole travel guide book about Universal!! 
I am a WDW veteran too! After COVID I started going to UOR as I hated all the reservations, genie + and more that Disney put in place. Now, I’m an Annual Passholder at UOR and go every chance I get. It’s as good as WDW - IMHO. It’s only going to get better once Epic Universe opens!
Try them all!!
Cold Butterbeer is the best!!
@darkmite2 is a UOR expert, but knowledge can’t outrun bad opinions 
Please show me anywhere in the entire HP series that Butterbeer is served cold! 
Plus, this is the only version that doesn’t have carbonation! I’m a diet soda addict & even I hate the way the carbonated BB flavors taste.
I have come around on frozen though. It’s now my second place version of BB. I will always take a Pumpkin Juice, Otter’s Fizzing Orange or Tongue Tying Lemon drinks over any carbonated BB though!!
Don’t Fred and George use the tunnel by the one eyed witch to sneak into Honeydukes and bring back bottles of Butterbeer for a party in Gryffindor common room?? 
Pretty sure that’s neither frozen nor hot 
Tongue Tying Lemon Squash is my number one favourite HP drink. Even over Butterbeer 
They used magic to keep it hot or an insulated cooler - which is like magic.
Btw - I’m totally making that up!
I feel that way about Pumpkin Juice! Before COVID you could get bottles of it shipped to your home!
Yes. I know
I’m gonna link a post I previously shared that may be helpful. HP stuff, attraction info, and the locker system which is important to be aware of ahead of time.
Oh!! Universal doesn’t allow bags and items on most rides. You have to use free lockers to store your items while you ride. They are small though. They will not hold a big backpack. Also, they are not very vertical. If you have a water bottle make sure the lid or cap is on tight!!
This is my sling bag that fits perfectly
I am able bring my phone, Coke Freestyle cup, backup phone battery with charging cable (that has a special opening to hold the cord (also good for earbuds cords), sunblock/meds/misc and a couple extra items.
https://www.amazon.com/Waterfly-Crossbody-Backpack-Travel-Daypack/dp/B07TJQ6Q3H
TIP - Bring a 1 gallon ziplock bag to hold your Coke Freestyle cup. This will prevent spills inside the bag if you don’t snap the lid to the Freestyle cup shut well!
The screw-on lid to Talenti ice cream perfectly fits the freestyle cup, Although we did like a plastic bag too to keep the straws clean. We keep reusing our straws from past years.
The only problem with the Talenti lid is that after that DD thought we should keep buying that. Way too much $$$ for a small bit of ice cream
One more thing! Everybody wears a lanyard with a clear pouch to hold your tickets.
You can bring your own or get a themed one there. You use your tickets as entry to lockers when you have to store your phone too
You can ask for a paper ticket at each locker area. You’ll have to flag down a TM each time
Lanyards make it all easier!
Try not to miss Bourne as @darkmite2 suggested. Im still blown away that I cant tell the live actors from the projected crowd in the fight scene.
Same!!
Yum!
Hot is so good.
As a frequent WDW visitor we thoroughly enjoyed our UOR trip two summers ago. My kids talk about going back. Such a great experience.
