universal

[vacamper 6]

i know i know its not disney BUT we are planning a day there for our daughter. She is a Harry Potter fan. So any tips or advice? Its been years since we have been there,

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

The line for The Forbidden Journey moves pretty fast even when it looks like it's long. When we went the line said 45 minutes but we didn't stop moving the entire time, and it actually took us more like 20-30 minutes to walk through the queue (including stopping to take in all the cool stuff inside the building). And bonus... there's usually a beverage stand about halfway through the line that also has beer.

They won't let you ride with ANY sort of loose bag or item at all, and there's a detour partway through the queue to the lockers. That tends to be what clogs up the works and it's a bit of a nightmare getting in there afterward to retrieve your stuff. If you can possibly avoid having anything loose to carry before you get in line, that helps.

They're still pretty strict about rider size, and the shoulder harness has to be able to click all the way down. That means that even if you just have really broad shoulders, it can be tough. They still have the sample seats out at the queue entrance so you can check it out. DH has very broad shoulders and they put him on the end seat, which apparently is a bit roomier, and he squeezed in just fine.

The wand show at Olivander's still has a ridiculously long line, so be prepared to wait if you want to experience that. We were there on a not-so-busy day in November and the wait was 90 minutes.

There are a few carts that serve Butter Beer so if the first one you come upon is mobbed, keep walking. Oh and if you haven't tried the frozen version yet - it rocks!

Take time to check out all the nooks and crannies, and especially the shop windows. The area isn't very big so it doesn't take a long time, and there are some pretty awesome details to see.

[vacamper 6]

Thank you so much!