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In response to
"staying off site. 3 day pass, 2 kids, 12 and 9 -- nm"
by
Beaker
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Okay some details...
Posted by
MDH (aka MDH)
Jan 3 '15, 13:57
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I'm assuming that they are into Harry Potter, and that you have Park to Park tickets.
The Harry Potter Gringotts ride is the longest wait in the park, with the Escape from Hogwarts close behind. You really need to ride these rides first thing in the morning, as the line just grows and grows for hours. You could also hit them late at night, but I wouldn't necessarily wait/rely on that. That said, be at the park before it opens. The people who stay on property get in an hour early, so they will already be in the park. When the regular opening time hits, it's a mad rush to "London," so be in line already with the tickets.
When the gates open, head right to the Escape From Gringotts ride. Do not stop in shops, do not buy wands, just go right to the ride. Ride it (required to use the free lockers). Once ridden, hop in line for the Hogwarts express and ride it to Islands of adventure. Get off the train and then hit the Castle for the ride. Both are simulations. Now that you've seen the two main rides, you can do as you please.
Your kids (if into HP), are going to pressure you immediately to go into the shops and get wands, do the little wand circle things. Don't do it until you hit these rides first.
Thoughts on HP World:
If the kids get wands, they are going to want to wait at every single "wand stop" in the park. Basically they put little gold circle on the ground, and when you flick/move the wand, it's LED tip activates something in a window etc. Kids love doing it. You'll spend hours doing this.
Diagon Alley: You'll spend hours here. Go to Knockturn alley, go in all of the shops, walk around etc. Very very neat. It was the second HP area to open, but blows away the first part.
Leaky Cauldron: Food is fine, but the wait can be very very long.
Ollivander's: You can walk in and shop, or line up for the show, where one kid gets to "test wands" to see which works best. That line gets crazy. Wands are $45 btw. Robes are $120.
Butterbeer is good.
Universal:
Note: I had the fast pass, and the longest lines I waited in were about 10 minutes. The normal lines can be longer, and I've tried to note below.
Despicable Me: 3-D simulation (longest wait in park besides HP) Ride is meh, but all the kids loved it.
Shrek: 4-D ride, lots of build up, so it takes a while.
Transformers: simulation ride. Second longest line behind Despicable Me. Gave me a headache though.
ET: Old school Universal ride. Oldest ride left. If the kids have never been, it's worth just seeing it to show what old rides used to be. Never a line.
Twister: Basically you just see a water funnel and some signs blow ever. Being torn down in 2015.
Disaster: Takes 30 minutes, I was not interested.
RockIt Roller Coaster: Awesome. If you like coasters, do it a few times. The music is kind of fun.
The Mummy: My favorite ride in the park. (Rode it 6 times in 3 days). It's an indoor roller coaster, and some of it is in the dark. Very very fun.
Men In Black: Alien shooting game, very tame, but very fun ride, and a great break from all of the simulations etc.
Simpsons World: If you all like Simpsons, you'll love this. You can take pictures with the various characters as they have plastic figures everywhere. The Lard Lad doughnuts are great. You can drink at Moe's, and eat at the various place. The simpsons ride is another simulation.
Terminator 3d: Obviously dated, but it's got actual people in it too which is different from most 3d simulations now a days.
Island of Adventure:
SpiderMan: Simulation ride.
Hulk: Awesome roller coaster. Very fast and really only for coaster fans.
Dudley Dooright Ripsaw Falls: Fun log flume ride.
Jurassic Park: Basically splash mountain.
River Rapid ride: They are always fun, you'll get wet though.
There are two additional rides in the Harry Potter area. Both roller coasters (they're old and have been themed to HP now). The hippogriff is very tame and even non-coaster fans will be fine. The Dragon Challenge ride is great. A very fun coaster.
Is this what you were looking for? I hope it helps, but if you have any other questions, let me know.
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