Harry Potter advice & counter restaurant suggestions

DisneyFan1979;2447704 wrote: I'm planning a day at Universal in April and have a couple questions:

(1) My main focus will be on seeing Diagon Alley as I haven't been since it opened. Is my best plan to head to the Gringotts ride first? We are splurging on a park-to-park pass so we'll be able to go to Hogsmeade too, but I've been on Forbidden Journey twice already so if the line is too long I'd be willing to skip it.

(2) How does Gringotts compare with the Forbidden Journey ride--meaning if I've been on Forbidden Journey can I likely handle Gringotts? I've heard it's kind of like Spiderman? I've been on that and liked it.

(2) Can anyone suggest good counter service options for lunch at Universal? I know that Leaky Cauldron is supposed to be good, but if the HP areas are too crowded, what would you suggest in the other areas? Or, put alternatively, are there any counter service restaurants to avoid? The last time I was at Universal for multiple days, I was not impressed with the food and mostly ate our hotel (Portofino).

Go to Diagon Alley first to experience the ride you haven't experienced yet... Take in the shows and the surroundings of Diagon Alley, and be sure to check out Knockturn Alley... Then hop on Hogwarts Express and visit Hogsmeade...

As for the ride, I haven't experienced it myself but it has been described as Spiderman on steroids... It isn't as jerky and doesn't toss you around like FJ does... If you can handle FJ, you should be able to handle Gringotts...

As for food, hmm, that's a tough one... Universal's counter service hasn't always been the best... In October 2013, my brother and I ate at Mel's and I enjoyed it for what it was, a quick serve burger... My friends, however, hated Mel's... I have heard good things about the food court in the Simpsons... I'd try to eat at Leaky Cauldron or Three Broomsticks... Or, try a sit down... I understand Finnegan's is fantastic... And Mythos in Islands of Adventure is very good too...

The Leaky Cauldron is fantastic. As is the Three Broomsticks at Hogsmeade. Both have some of the best CS food I've ever had at a theme park. Both also operate very efficiently and can seat a huge number of people. I recommend one of those two for a great meal.

Another vote for Three Broomsticks, perhaps you could hit both. But as others have said, counter service at universal is only ok, nothing to write home about

I should have posted it, but I do agree with Nat... If it is counter service only that you seek, Three Broomsticks is fantastic... Can't comment on Leaky yet since I haven't been there...

Forgot to add, definitely go to Gringotts first because it breaks down a lot so you will have more chances to get on if you start trying early in the day.

Also, Gringotts is quite tame actually. More so than FJ for sure. I might say it is like a mashup of Mummy + Spiderman.

I disagree about the counter service at Universal not being that good.

The hamburger joints ....Mel's, Richter, The Burger Digs....are just regular burgers and fries, nothing out of the ordinary.

But what I like about Universal is there are a lot of places that are "made to order" opposed to Disneys pre made. Beverly Hills Boulangerie has fresh made sandwiches and a great selection of desserts, Blondie's also has made to order sandwiches that are made fresh. I thought the pizza at Cafe4 was really good...like from a pizzeria (not cardboard). We also had pizza in the Simpson area that was good....I don't remember the name of the place. My son and his friends ate in the Simpson area a few times at different counter service places and they said it was all good.

Those are the places off of the top of my head in addition to the HP section of the park.

They used to have the International Food Court that had great hot food, but that closed down a few years ago.

Thank you all for your responses. :mickey:

The food is ok at both parks. The problem that I see is that all the bad attitude/unmotivated food workers are near the front of the parks. I wanted to get a pizza combo with salad and drink and the girl in charge of salads didn't want to acknowledge anyone in line. Weird experience. I just walked out in disgust. The Potter area's have most of the great employees.

JT71;2450387 wrote: The food is ok at both parks. The problem that I see is that all the bad attitude/unmotivated food workers are near the front of the parks. I wanted to get a pizza combo with salad and drink and the girl in charge of salads didn't want to acknowledge anyone in line. Weird experience. I just walked out in disgust. The Potter area's have most of the great employees.

I have never encountered any employees with a bad attitude , but I'm sure it can happen. I have to say whether I am at Disney or Universal, I really am not that critical of the employees as long as they are not outwardly rude. I don't care if they are friendly or interested in making conversation as long as they wait on me as quickly as possible and get my order right.

JT71;2450387 wrote: The food is ok at both parks. The problem that I see is that all the bad attitude/unmotivated food workers are near the front of the parks. I wanted to get a pizza combo with salad and drink and the girl in charge of salads didn't want to acknowledge anyone in line. Weird experience. I just walked out in disgust. The Potter area's have most of the great employees.

I encountered this at opening time. I just wanted a soda. I was exhausted from lack of sleep the night before and I needed some caffeine. It was like pulling teeth to get a soda. The girl working the stand was SO slow and disinterested. It seriously took like 5 minutes to complete the transaction.

Other employees working rides OUTSIDE of the Harry Potter areas were equally disinterested. What I found odd was the round of applause as we returned to the loading/unloading area of every ride. It was odd because you could tell it was something they "have" to do but it was completely unenthusiastic and robotic. My friend and I were laughing about it for days. We were doing it at the end of every Disney ride later in the week. We would clap and say "yay" in a monotone with completely straight faces.

BrerGnat;2450405 wrote: It was odd because you could tell it was something they "have" to do but it was completely unenthusiastic and robotic. My friend and I were laughing about it for days. We were doing it at the end of every Disney ride later in the week. We would clap and say "yay" in a monotone with completely straight faces.

This is the one HUGE difference I've noticed between Universal and WDW. Although I have noticed a couple of Disney CMs seeming less than enthusiastic at times, it is definitely the exception rather than the rule. Though I have never had an issue of a Universal employee being rude exactly