PHOTO: With a little bit of planning you'll be tackling all the attractions at Universal Orlando in record time. (Photo by Barry Kaufman)
The clock is ticking, folks. Labor Day is fast approaching and summer has officially been given its two-minute warning. Which means there isn't much time to get the whole family together for one last hurrah.
If you've been following all the Harry Potter hullabaloo, you'll know that Universal Florida unveiled Diagon Alley this summer. The response has been so overwhelming that within a few months of its opening, more than a million people had ridden the Hogwarts Express, linking the two Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter areas - Diagon Alley at Universal Florida and Hogsmeade at Universal's Islands of Adventure.
This remarkable popularity means two things: your kids will hold it against you forever if they don't get to visit Diagon Alley this summer, and the lines are going to be formidable to say the least. During one recent visit, the wait for the new Escape From Gringott's ride hit three and a half hours.
But you only need wait in that line if you fail to plan. After all, fail to plan and you plan to fail.
Follow this itinerary, and you'll find yourself walking right on to every ride not only at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but at all of the areas within Universal Orlando's parks. It simply isn't possible to hit everything both parks have to offer in a day or even two, no matter how precisely you plan, but this schedule should let you see as much as possible in a 15-hour span.
Pay attention.
Before you begin
The first essential item you'll need is a park-to-park pass. It not only gets you into both parks, it's also the only way to ride the Hogwarts Express.
The second essential item you'll need is a Universal Express Pass. A two-park Express Pass will run you $39.99 per ticket, but it's worth every penny. When you consider that's the cost of a couple of souvenirs, it's worth it to essentially cut line once per ride per day. You can get an Unlimited Express Pass as well, which lets you cut through the line multiple times per ride, starting at $189 including park admission. Your best value depends on how many days you're staying, so crunch some numbers.
It's important to note that neither Express Pass is valid at the Harry Potter rides - Escape from Gringotts or Forbidden Journey. This is where we must get strategic and utilize our third essential item, a stay at one of Universal Orlando's on-site resorts.
A stay at the Loews Royal Pacific, Loews Portofino Bay or the Hard Rock Hotel not only gets you an Unlimited Express Pass, you get one-hour early admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort doesn't grant you an Unlimited Express Pass, but it does get you into the park an hour early and this is crucial. (It's also the more affordable option for families and has an awesome water slide; just throwing that out there).
PHOTO: Seriously. I watched my kid go up and down that thing non-stop for about two hours. (Courtesy of Universal Orlando)
Plan your journey
Now armed with park-to-park pass, Express Pass, and early admission, we're ready to hit the best of both parks as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Islands of Adventure opens at 8 a.m., meaning you can set an alarm, grab a shuttle and be inside Hogsmeade sucking down a Butterbeer for breakfast at 7 a.m. before the crowds. But drink it down quick (PROTIP: Always go with the frozen Butterbeer over the unfrozen); being the first into Hogsmeade means you can be the first in line for Forbidden Journey.
PHOTO: Hogwarts Castle at first light. This is what successful planning looks like. (Photo by Barry Kaufman)
Enjoy your stroll through Hogwarts at your leisure without worrying about holding up the line, or blast past the holographic movie characters and hold on for your life. (PROTIP: There are four seats to a car on this ride. The second seat from the left as you face the seats is the best seat in the house).
You'll exit from the gift shop around the time your fellow early arrivals are waiting to board the Hogwarts Express. Never fear, there's still time for one whip around Flight of the Hippogriff or Dragon Challenge. Your call, but note that the height requirement for Dragon Challenge is 54' so if you have younger kids you won't get on. If you have time and they happen to be there, stick around for a performance by the choir from Hogwarts. They put on a great show.
If you do go on the Dragon Challenge, go for the Chinese Fireball. I've been going on this ride since before it was part of Hogsmeade and it's way more intense than the Hungarian Horntail.
With just a few ticks before 8 a.m., it will be time to board the Hogwarts Express for Diagon Alley. You may not be the first to embark (remember that people were waiting in line while you were enjoying the ride), but the train operates fairly efficiently and it shouldn't take you too long to board.
PHOTO: The Hogwarts Express, the hardest-working train in Florida. (Photo by Barry Kaufman)
Enjoy the show (PROTIP: During the darkened portion of the ride just before Malfoy Manor, keep your eyes on the cluster of trees that get struck by lightning for a frighteningly cool cameo) then disembark at King's Cross Station.
There will be plenty of time later to take in all the sights (PROTIP: Keep your eye on the second floor window on the right at No. 12 Grimmauld Lane). Right now we're looking to get that wait time down for Escape From Gringotts.
This will be your first and hopefully only real wait in line. Fortunately, the attention to detail throughout the queue is amazing, with an elevator ride that is worth the wait itself and a humorous intro from "Bill Weasley" actor and future Star Wars star Domnhall Gleeson.
We won't spoil too much of the ride. Suffice it to say, it's pretty amazing. (PROTIP: The music playing during the ride is actually from the Whomping Willow scene in Prisoner of Azkaban. There's not really a tip here, I'm just a giant nerd).
Once you're thrust back into the daylight of Diagon Alley, you'll hopefully now see that the wait time for Escape From Gringotts is considerably longer than it was when you went in. Pat yourself on the back for being so clever, then head for OIlivander's.
PHOTO: Mind the dragon out front, though. (Photo by Barry Kaufman)
The show they put on inside Ollivander's is one of those must-see attractions. One kid out of a group gets picked by Ollivander himself to have their wand "chosen" for you. It's luck of the draw, but if your kid gets picked you can pretty much count on that "World's Best Mom/Dad" mug heading your way in the spring.
Wand in hand, you can now mill about Diagon Alley as the regular-hours park admission crowd starts flooding the lines for Escape from Gringotts. Chuckle at their rush to get through as you enjoy a leisurely stroll around this amazing living set piece. Have another frozen Butterbeer and take in a show, either a troupe of actors performing an amazing multi-media rendition of "The Three Brothers" or a toe-tapping rendition of "You Stole My Cauldron But You Can't Have My Heart" by Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees.
PHOTO: Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees. She's still got it. (Photo by Barry Kaufman)
This would be a great time to try your wand out - these interactive wands employ some seriously cool technology to activate a series of magic tricks throughout Diagon Alley. Your wand came with a map, but look for the plaques on the ground marking where they all are. (PROTIP: There are at least two unmarked "secret" spells in Diagon Alley. One at Slug and Jiggers across from the Wand Shop and one at Scribbulus Writing Instruments to the right of Gringott's by the potion stand).
Be sure to visit Knockturn Alley as well. Don't leave without having a friendly chat with a dark witch or wizard (I can't say enough about how well these guys stay in character), trying out a few spells (the incendio spell with the parakeet is a little cruel, but funny and very in-theme), listening for the bird in the vanishing cabinet at Borgin & Burkes, and trying out your best dance moves with the troll skeleton that mirrors your movements.
Once you've had your fill of Diagon Alley (which, admittedly, could take some time. There's a lot to see.) you can now exit back to Universal Florida.
Where you go from here is up to you. The trip back to Hogsmeade on the Hogwarts Express is a completely different show then you caught on the way there, so it could be worth heading back and tackling Islands of Adventure. If you do, bear right out of Gringott's and you can hit Jurassic Park River Adventure (PROTIP: You will get wet on this ride, with moisture levels ranging from slightly sprinkled to hilariously sopping, so plan accordingly), Toon Lagoon, the revamped Spider-Man ride and the Incredible Hulk coaster in one swoop.
PHOTO: You will get wet on the Jurassic Park River Adventure as the author, pictured center with fists raised, can attest. (Photo by the author's wife, who tried to warn him)
Or you can stay at Universal Florida and hop right onto the Simpsons Ride just a short stroll to your left. If you're feeling hungry, swing by the food court adjacent to Moe's Tavern for a bite from Cletus' Chicken Shack or the Frying Dutchman. Keep going, bear right at Hollywood Blvd. and you can hit Transformers, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and RockIt in fairly short succession.
PHOTO: Or just blow off this whole family vacation thing and belly up to Duff Gardens. (Photo by Barry Kaufman)
Whichever option you take, the majority of the crowds will probably have made their way straight to the two Harry Potter areas. Meaning you, clever theme park warrior, can use your Express Pass to get right onto every ride and not have to fight as large a crowd to get there.
There's still so much more to see at both parks. But if you've followed this agenda, you should have around 13 hours to see as much as you can.
It still won't be enough, but it's 13 hours you don't have to think about Labor Day's inevitable approach and the end of another summer. Make them count.
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