Harry Potter World - Florida

[dietcoke]

I would like to plan a trip to see/experience all of the Harry Potter attractions in Florida this next spring.  It would just be DH and I. 

We have a direct flight from where we live that would arrive at 9 p.m. on a Thursday night and we would have to leave on a flight at 3 p.m. Sunday.  Is that doable?  Anyone have recommendations of where to stay/what to see/restaurants/timetable/reservations to make? 

We'd like a decent hotel, that's not super kid oriented. We love food and drinking, so restaurant recs are appreciated as well. 

TIA!

[TBM]

This post might help you.

pandce.proboards.com/thread/546183/universal-training-resort-pics

[curbsideprophet]

That should be enough time. We focused on Harry Potter and were able to do all in one day(this was in Oct). There was obviously a bunch of other park things that we skipped but we did get a few other things in.

[dietcoke]

Thanks ladies.

I would like to stay onsite just for convenience sake.

[Amy]

Hey! I just got back from doing travel agent training there. That's plenty of time. I'd second Royal Pacific. We had a good meal at Cowfish (the rest of the places the group ate weren't exciting - Margaritaville etc) - I'd try the new chocolate emporium, the Dis vlog on it looked really good.

[Amy]

Aug 24, 2016 14:24:22 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Aug 24, 2016 14:15:27 GMT -5 Amy said:

Hey! I just got back from doing travel agent training there. That's plenty of time. I'd second Royal Pacific. We had a good meal at Cowfish (the rest of the places the group ate weren't exciting - Margaritaville etc) - I'd try the new chocolate emporium, the Dis vlog on it looked really good.

Cowfish is one of my favorites!

It was sooooo good, a couple of us broke off on our own and went. So glad

[dietcoke]

Do I just book a hotel/park-to-park tickets package through the universal website?

[dietcoke]

And do we need dinner resrvations for Cowfish? The menu looks perfect for us! DH- burger. Me - Sushi.

[Amy]

Aug 24, 2016 14:31:42 GMT -5 dietcoke said:

Do I just book a hotel/park-to-park tickets package through the universal website?

You can book packages online or use a TA. Make sure you get park to park tickets or you won't be able to ride the Hogwarts Express.
It's not like Disney as far as dining reservations go but it wouldn't hurt.

[Amy]

There's a also a shuttle from the airport you can hire for about $35 per person.

[dietcoke]

So, we could maybe do both HP parks Friday, eat at the park that day (Leaky Cauldron or Three Broomsticks (are reservations recommended for that?)). Then Saturday, have a day at the hotel/pool, maybe book a massage or something and go to City Walk? Or should we do 2 days park-to-park passes?

Thanks Amy!

[Amy]

Aug 24, 2016 14:41:41 GMT -5 dietcoke said:

So, we could maybe do both HP parks Friday, eat at the park that day (Leaky Cauldron or Three Broomsticks (are reservations recommended for that?)). Then Saturday, have a day at the hotel/pool, maybe book a massage or something and go to City Walk? Or should we do 2 days park-to-park passes?

Thanks Amy!

No reservations for either. You could certainly do it all in 1 day. I'd be tempted to do a 2 day ticket in case you miss anything or want to go again. You could do a half day even. Not sure when you are going but the lines can get pretty long for both 'big' rides (1 in each park) so I'd plan on hitting one of those early the first morning and one early the second. If you don't get to it the fist day. Feel free to PM me anytime too. I'm on my phone headed home from meetings so I'm probably forgetting stuff.

[dietcoke]

Not going until probably April of next year, so plentyyyyyy of time.

Just the price of 2 days versus 1 is something I don't want to waffle about. I would be ticked if I bought 2 days and only used 1. lol. That's a lot of loot! Thanks for your help!

[Amy]

Aug 24, 2016 14:48:19 GMT -5 dietcoke said:

Not going until probably April of next year, so plentyyyyyy of time.

Just the price of 2 days versus 1 is something I don't want to waffle about. I would be ticked if I bought 2 days and only used 1. lol. That's a lot of loot! Thanks for your help!

Yeah you can certainly do it all in one of you truly only care about the HP stuff but if you get rained out or one of the rides goes down its nice to have a second day. Tough call.

[dietcoke]

Okay, definitely sold me on that when considering the weather and if we want to do some of the other stuff which looks fun too. Thanks ladies!!

[curbsideprophet]

I would probably get a two day ticket just to give you flexibility.

[just]

dietcoke ,So I'm cheap and even though a HUGE HP fan, I wouldn't be scared of only getting one day. It's not cheap and if the other day in play is a pool day - if it rains one day, plan to go the second day and vice verse. WORST case scenario and after the first day you want a second - then you buy a 1 day ticket - you don't save a ton on just 2 days anyway.

If you stay on site, you'll get access to one HP area early, take some photos of that area empty, and then go right to the big ride (Gringotts for Universal and Hogwarts for IOA) When you're done with that, some more empty photos and then aim to be at Hogwarts Express for the first run to the other side, and get right in the line for the other big rides. Honestly if you don't want to do ANY thing else in the parks, 1 day going back and forth is awesome.

But I'm (Orlando trip) poor so an extra 65$ for another day is a whack for me. Additionally, I stayed at Cabana and loved it! And you got early entry - just in case you're looking for a cheaper option. (ETA saw you're looking for non-kiddy, and Cabana as the budget option is pretty family friendly, but I (kidless) stayed there with my (kidless) sister and funneled that money into cocktails and loved it.)

Here's my Post on DA - m.pandce.proboards.com/thread/525061/wwohp-diagon-alley-recap-heavy

Finally - Ditto on CowFish - amazeballs!

[just]

Aug 24, 2016 13:58:06 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

That would be enough time!

Are you wanting to stay onsite or nearby?

We have stayed at Royal pacific previously and are staying there again next month. Staying onsite lets you have express passes for most rides, and early entry.

Express passes don't work (currently) for either of the two big HP rides. You do get early entry to one park which is 100% worth it.