Hotel question

[Sophia818]

Also, even if like me you don’t normally use travel agents, use a travel agent from here to book the Universal hotels.
They’ll know when the AP rates come out and can try to switch to them. Of course, you only want to book a hotel if you think you could stomach the booked price. But a Liner TA will give you your best chance of getting an AP rate.

[bebe80]

@heathernoel

It sounds like jumping in line for Hagrid’s at the end of the night is the way to go

Agree, I had shared this earlier:

@bebe80

Out of curiosity, I researched the average actual waits for Hagrid’s when hopping in line shortly before park close. I looked back over the past 12 months and grabbed the data from all the user submitted waits 1 hour or less before park close. For some reason, TP doesn’t really predict the lower waits. So this is good news.

Average CL: 6
Average minutes entering queue before official park close: 30
Average posted wait time: 73
Average actual wait: 35

There is a pretty high risk of Hagrid’s being delayed in the morning, after rushing to the gate 45 minutes before opening!

[Shmebulock]

@heathernoel

. I personally think we would love to use early entry to explore the Harry Potter spaces before the crowds arrive.

That’s a great use of EE and means you can arrive at the taps later too!

[heathernoel]

@Sophia818

Of course, you only want to book a hotel if you think you could stomach the booked price

Hopefully I could work with them and fiscuss the split stay vs. Discounted price. I was just thinking a TA would probably be the way to go. I typically know when a Disney deal drops, but we don’t cover universal as thoroughly here.

[Shmebulock]

@bebe80

There is a pretty high risk of Hagrid’s being delayed in the morning, after rushing to the gate 45 minutes before opening!

It’s such a great feeling when it’s running though

[heathernoel]

@Shmebulock

means you can arrive at the taps later too!

My family is already happy about this

[darkmite2]

@AccioVacation

I’m feeling like @darkmite2 over here! Total universal convert and will be going on my 4th trip this year in a couple weeks.

@AccioVacation

I love that I can roll into Universal with my EP and ride what I want when I want instead of modifying, setting timers q2h, clicking for VQs at 7a etc. It’s just become a far more relaxing trip for me!

I don’t think I can go back to WDW/DLR with all this in place. Not after being able to side-by-side compare the two experiences. I have a Disney Visa w/ a bunch of points. I’m cashing that out net year and walking away for a long time!

@Shmebulock

This describes me too!

DH mooted the idea of going to DLP in the summer and I was entirely meh about it. Then we checked the prices and it was a firm no. Legoland will do!!

I’m so glad to have more people are breaking out of the bubble with me though!! I know that means UOR will be busier when more people have finally had enough of WDW’s operational games & hoops to jump through! (Of course, my AP is done, for now, so won’t bother me!! )

And thanks for making me feel special today! I do take a bit of pride in how much I’ve learned about UOR and being able to share it!!

@AccioVacation

It will be my last one on this AP and I’m bummed but also can’t rationalize doing it again until epic universe opens.

Welcome to my last two weeks of depression! j/k…mostly!!

@heathernoel

Do they always run AP specials? We will be staying over spring break. I thought about getting an AP to help save money but I thought we might not ever get the discount.

The earlier you look the better. If anyone with an AP can check your dates for you (or even ask a TA for a no obligation AP rate to see if it offered.)

Is there anyone on here that you can ask? I’d do it, but my can’t anymore… I’m mean I guess I could renew and find out! I’m sure my wife wouldn’t roll her eyes and not talk to me for a few days!!

I’m playing catch-up and scrolling through the posts. It seems like @AccioVacation has covered everything!

I’ll second a vote that if doing spells are important to your family that RD is the absolute best time! 99% of people are rushing to a ride - no joke or hyperbole. As a “Visiting Professor” from Ilvermorny I often “test” each spell during RD before new students show up! There’s no one around. Because of my practice I can lap DA/Hogs doing spells before most people are through with doing their first ride.

For a new groups of students / families… this is the best time to do this. You won’t have people huddle behind you impatiently staring at your child to finish. Also, “magic” hates sunlight bouncing off glass windows! The later in the day it can be harder to do spells as the sun hits certain locations!

I like to tell people that since my Ilvermorny house isn’t represented at Hogwarts that the Sorting Hat placed me in the most relevant house over here!

(TMs are students, wizards and witches depending on where they are located in WWOHP. I’ve had more than one TM say, “OH! You are a student you can’t give detention or house points!” That’s when I spit out my Ilvermorny spiel and they usually laugh and “behave” like a good student!)

If you ever want to have fun with the TMs… All the TM’s in the gift shop of FJ - which is Mr. Filch’s detention room - are all there as a punishment for breaking a Hogwarts classroom rule. When checking out ask your TM at the counter, “What did you do to get detention?”

They always have a fun answer!!

(Alright, “Mr. Self-Appointed Knows-It-All About UOR” has to actually do a bit of his paid job now!! )

[motherofdaughtersthree]

@darkmite2

All the TM’s in the gift shop of FJ - which is Mr. Filch’s detention room - are all there as a punishment for breaking a Hogwarts classroom rule. When checking out ask your TM at the counter, “What did you do to get detention?”

Great tip!

[darkmite2]

I’ve done it frequently! I’ve only ever had one TM not get into it. (She looked tired that day already. I thought a bit of “play” might help, but she wasn’t into right then. Not rude at all…just “meh”.)

Most often the TMs are thrilled that someone knows to ask and really will play with you!

[motherofdaughtersthree]

Curious! Do you remember any of the answers they have given?

[darkmite2]

I wish I could!! Typically “basic” classroom antics like setting off a spell / prank or sneaking around…

[Shmebulock]

I love that you get so into your own backstory @darkmite2

[ryan1]

@Shmebulock

your own backstory

I wear a T shirt that says “Muggle Dad” which could be taken two ways. I am a dad who is a muggle, or I am a dad OF a muggle. I generally go with the former.

Surprisingly, this has gotten me some TM attention at times.

[Shmebulock]

Well the mudbloods need to come from somewhere

[kara_nc]

I, too, have a very similar plan in the works for this August (short WDW stay first, then a split stay at Universal to maximize EP days but minimize hotel costs). I was able to snag 2 nights at Portofino at an AP discounted rate, though I don’t (yet) have an AP.

So my very niche question is, should I get buy-3-get-5 day tickets from UT and then upgrade to an AP at the parks? Or should I just buy the AP online? We would have time to make the upgrade at the park (or hotel) before checking in to Portofino. I’ve made lots of calculations and it seems like a wash, financially, depending on the exact cost to upgrade.

Adding in my thanks to @darkmite2 and others for sharing such detailed knowledge so I even know all of these options exist!

[darkmite2]

@kara_nc

Or should I just buy the AP online?

If you are realistically considering getting the AP go ahead and buy them now. The price is going up soon. You can pick up your passes right in the lobby of your hotel at the Vacation Planning desk…

The Buy 3 - Get - 2 Free deal is a few bucks cheaper. If you don’t think you’ll come back you will save cash now.

It’s really about do you want to return within the next 12 months…

@kara_nc

Adding in my thanks to @darkmite2 and others for sharing such detailed knowledge so I even know all of these options exist!

and OMG!!! All of you are gonna make me blush!! (Please don’t stop though!!! )

[bluebird32]

@sanstitre_has_left_the_building

I then headed to VC. Everyone goes to Hagrid. So unless you are at the front of that pack, you still have a big wait on your hands, assuming the ride is actually running — apparently it is not always ready to go first thing.

VC was a walk-on. I then went to FJ, which was a walk-on. I then headed to 3B for breakfast, which had a bit of a line: maybe 15 mins?

Having analysed the data, I waited until around noon for Hagrid. There is a noticeable drop in wait times at lunchtime and the wait was posted as 70 mins, which was the lowest I saw it that day.

Thanks, this is great advice! Ever since I heard that the opening crowds at UOR run like the bulls, I decided we’d find a way to have a calmer start to our day and zig when they zag. We’ll be getting wands and casting spells first thing in the morning.

@heathernoel

Thank you for these perspectives! The RD plan sounds more like my family’s RD style. No matter how hard we try we generally arrive around the times the tapsyles open, but before the park opens. Basically we RD EE, not FOP and PP not 7DMT. We are also excited for VC having ridden a sister coaster at Busch Gardens.

I suspect we will also want to explore Diagin Alley while it is empty, so perhaps this would be our goal for day two after a trip to Ollivander’s day 1. Jumping in a line before the park opens to everyone.

So I’m curious, when you RD EE, do you still have time to get to Safari before all the Pandora RDers make it over there?

Is it just a rumor that VC is moving to EP or has that been announced?

[darkmite2]

@Shmebulock

I love that you get so into your own backstory @darkmite2

I admit that I cheat! I’ve been using the “I’m a visiting Wizard from America” since I worked/interned at Warner Bros. MovieWorld in Queensland (Yeah… I’m bragging again…sorry!)

We had the very first Harry Potter theme park attraction - The Harry Potter Movie Magic Experience. I wish smart phones were a thing during my theme park days. I would’ve had so many videos of my attractions and performances. However, in the 90’s - early 200’s it was still flip phone era!!

We gave guided tours through the “first” WWOHP!! I had to explain to all the Australian locals why I didn’t have a “British” accent. (Oh! As much as I love performing I can’t do any “realistic” accents… You want a “funny” voice, then I’m your guy!)

I’ve been visiting Diagon Alley as a visiting wizard and now Professor for a long time!

[motherofdaughtersthree]

Love it!!

[darkmite2]

Oh! To humble me a bit…my accents are soooooooo bad that in the mornings the other performers would gather everyone in the common cafeteria (100’s of ppl!!) together and haze me by making me do my best Australian accent. They always said I sounded like a deranged pirate!

I had to go through that most mornings…you love & hate it…

It’s like…“Awww…C’mon…not today!!” or “Ok! I’m gonna finally get it right today!!”