Park Strategies

[mom2morgan]

I've never stayed onsite at Universal before, so I'd love advice on strategy for next May. Since we are onsite we'll have those unlimited express passes (so excited about that) and early entry to Harry Potter (where I guess I can't use the express passes at all, right?). So...HOW would you do this? Which park would you start with? I'm not sure how to fit the Harry Potter TRAIN in to this.....so should I start in one park, do Harry Potter for that first hour, then take the train over and do the second park for the rest of the day, and then vice versa? Or is that overthinking it? I'm afraid if we do all one park on one day the lines for the train will be incredibly long. We've never park hopped at Universal before, but obviously want to do the train ride :-) ALSO - what are your views on touring in the early part of the day, then going back to the hotel for a few hours, then coming back to the park? We've done that at Disney a few times and I honestly don't like it that much because I find you spend too much of your day on busses, and then the parks are usually too crowded to enjoy in the evening.

[Genie1953]

When we were there in November we were told that the Harry Potter rides weren't included on the Express pass so we did not add it on since we were going only for one day and only for the Harry Potter stuff.

[bleen3162]

If you are staying on property at Universal they offer early entrance to a park one hour early. You are funneled back thru the park to HP area. There you are free to ride the rides before park opening. Do that area then ride the train over to the other park. Depending which park is open early you will need to adjust your park touring accordingly. I would work my way forward thru the park to the front. If you are staying multiple days, then go back to the park that you initially went thru and see those attractions you missed the day before.

[DebK]

At the beginning of July the Harry Potter attractions were added to the list for Express Pass....Let's hope it is a permanent move!

[MizMissy]

At the beginning of July the Harry Potter attractions were added to the list for Express Pass....Let's hope it is a permanent move!

Forbidden Journey and Gringotts?