Songdoc

Hi. I'll be going to Universal for one day in January, specifically to see the Harry Potter attractions. When I checked online I learned the attractions are spread over two theme parks. Am I correct that I will need to buy a multi-park pass for the one day in order to see it all? Will I be able to see it all in one day?

Do you think I need the "skip-the-line" pass for a January weekday? It adds more than $100 for the two tix.

FYI, I visited Universal Studios several times before the HP attractions opened, so I don't feel the need to see much else. But if I have to, I could possibly add one more day.

marvelousmouse

Yes. You need a multipark pass to ride hogwarts Express in fact.

Easily. I’d say you can do both HP land plus nearly cover one park. That was with skip the line but I was there in July. I wouldn’t think January would be busy, but I’d probably shell out the money because I don’t like Lines.

gmoney

Yes, you will need two park pass and yes you can see both attractions in one day. There is a train (Hogwarts express) that will take you directly from Hogsmead to Diagon Alley. You need a two park pass to board the train.

gmoney

I really don't think you will need an Express Pass for a midweek January visit (as long as it is not New Years Day).

Brian_in_Charlotte

If you just want to visit Diagon Alley (where most all of the HP themed things are) then you can get by with just one park. If you want to ride both HP major thrill rides and the train, you'll need both parks. I'll admit to being a little unimpressed with the train ride though I understand I am in the minority there. So unless you definitely plan on riding both major thrill rides, I'd just do one park.

Not sure what else has been added since you've been, but there are some pretty impressive newer rides there. We came away as big fans in general of US.

Agree you can skip the express pass if midweek. For weekends, check a couple of the free crowd estimator calendars out there.

gmoney

"If you just want to visit Diagon Alley (where most all of the HP themed things are) then you can get by with just one park."

Absolutely not true. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is in Island of Adventure (Hogsmead) and Universal Studios (Diagon Alley). If you only see Diagon Alley you will miss out on half of the Harry Potter attraction.

chepar

My daughter and I took advantage of one of her college Jan term breaks several years ago to do a combo Disney/Universal/Panama cruise trip departing out of Florida.

We were surprised at the crowd levels in January at the parks - there were a lot of South American tour groups, both regular tour groups and large groups of just teens. I guess that would work out to be their summer break.

The Harry Potter themed areas of the parks are the most popular areas of the parks (IMO) and are the most crowded. It will save you a LOT of time if you can go bagless and not have to mess around with finding a locker to store your stuff if you intend to do either of the two big rides (Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey/Escape from Gringotts). I recall wait times of around an hour for those rides.

If you are mainly interested in only the Harry Potter themed areas, I think you can cover those areas in just one day, but you will need a multi park pass.

Songdoc

Thank you all SO much! This is exactly the info I needed.

DaveS

We spent three days at US in January 2016 and it was quite busy on all of them, maybe a bit more on the weekend but not by much. The express pass doesn’t cover the Harry Potter attractions so if that is your only focus will do you no good.

We stayed onsite so had the express pass and also allows you into the park one hour early. We did Diagon Alley early one morning Wizarding World the other and walked onto the ride in each. By mid morning when we rode again the wait was about an hour, but allowed us to see the things we missed when just walking through the queue earlier. I didn’t get the train ride, but our kids who are big HP fans loved it. Agree with chepar about the bags, locking them up and then retrieving them after the ride is a real pain.

marvelousmouse

express pass does cover Harry Potter now actually. Good point about the queue though.

And yes, January is vacation time for Australians and South American tour groups. From what I’ve been told, the parks aren’t packed but they’re still busy.

wrongfoot

If it's still there, skip "Kong - Skull Island', not worth the wait. Just ride Forbidden Journey until you're sick of it.

Geordie

Personally I see the Harry potter attraction as a blatant way of flogging "every thing you can think" of merchandise

I saw you are going to London, now I would thoroughly recommend you go to HP world in Watford, it's the original film set.

marvelousmouse

Have you been, Geordie? I thought it would be that way, but it’s actually very well done. I’m no Universal fan, but I rode Forbidden Journey until I got a migraine. Totally worth it

How long do you need for HP world? I’m tempted to check it out- I didn’t last time- but it would cut into my British Museum time.

Songdoc

Geordie: I will definitely visit HP World while I'm in London. On my last trip to the U.K. we visited Christ Church College and Gloucester Cathedral that were HP filming sights. They both were fantastic regardless of the HP connection.

nanabee

I didn't realize there are two HP theme parks - one in Florida and one in Hollywood, CA.

marvelousmouse

Yeah, nanabee. The Florida one is the original- the California one only has one part of it- can’t remember if it’s Hogs or Diagon Alley.

Actually, I think there are three- pretty sure there’s one at an Asian Universal, maybe Japan. It’s been a massive money maker for Universal so they’re making the most of it lol.

nanabee

I love the Harry Potter series and so do my two older grandkids (ages 12 and 8) we did a Harry Potter walking tour of London -
various locations where some of the movie scenes were shot.

I have put off taking them to the one in Calif. because I heard it wasn't as good. I would love to go to the one in Florida as it seems a lot more fun. Who knows maybe over the next few years the CA one will improve and expand.

Songdoc

nanabee: Thanks for the recommendation. I will probably do the walking tour in London.