Staying at Portofino..what time do they actually let you in to Harry Potter World???

[Alpha Jeanie]

We are staying at Portofino bay and realize that they let you into Wizarding World of HP 1 hour earlier than the general public. Do they let you in the main gate of IOA one hour early or do they let you into the park earlier than that, but make you wait outside of Wizarding World entrance until the 1 hour mark?
Also, I know it will depend on crowds, we will be there May 31st & June 1st, but how long will it take to get from Portofino to IOA. This is our first trip to Universal and I'm not familiar with how far things are or how long a usual wait for a boat is? Can you also walk there or do you have to take a boat or bus?

Thank you for any info.

[Kenny1113]

The rest of the park is not open earlier only Wwhp. There will be employees directing you in that direction. At least that's how it was the weekend we went. (it was also a HP event weekend)

[MizMissy]

Our experience was that they let you through the gate about 15-20 minutes earlier than opening, then lined everyone up on main street and walked/guided the crowd through Suessland side around to WWOHP.

One of the best tips I was given before our trip was to have a lanyard to hold your room keys (you have to show it multiple times through express pass lines) and I had a small wristlet purse (that attached to a lanyard) that held a phone, credit card, cash, and a couple of bandaids that fit into a pocket so no need for lockers.

Have a great trip!

[NJGIRL]

One of the best tips I was given before our trip was to have a lanyard to hold your room keys (you have to show it multiple times through express pass lines) and I had a small wristlet purse (that attached to a lanyard) that held a phone, credit card, cash, and a couple of bandaids that fit into a pocket so no need for lockers.

Avoiding the locker system is the best tip you can be given! I think it also shows us that we really don't need all of that other stuff we have been carrying into the parks for the last 10 years. lol.

Your walk to IOA I would estimate at about 15 to 20 mins depending on your pace. You can also take one of the passenger bikes to the end of the walk way of your hotel. That will cut down your time alittle. I have never taken the ferry because we like to walk off our breakfast. We have even walked while eating our breakfast on some days.

[tinksmom02]

We stayed at Royal Pacific and walked over...we were in the park by about 7:45 and were walking into WWOHP by about 7:55.

The lanyard tip is a great one--I actually find that I prefer the one I got at Universal to our Disney ones And I'm going to TRY to go without a purse on our next trip--if I can clip a wristlet to the belt loop of my pants I think I'd be OK. The lockers can be definitely be a time-vacuum.

[NJGIRL]

We stayed at Royal Pacific and walked over...we were in the park by about 7:45 and were walking into WWOHP by about 7:55. )

The Royal Pacific is the closest hotel to IOA. The Portofino is the farthest from IOA. We stayed at the Hard Rock one year (the Portofino is on the other side about 5 mins away) and it took us about 10 mins to get to IOA, walking at a good pace.

They are not in a straight line , of course, but here is the order: The Portifino, The Hard Rock Hotel, Universal Studio, City Walk, IOA, Royal Pacific

[tinksmom02]

The Royal Pacific is the closest hotel to IOA. The Portofino is the farthest from IOA. We stayed at the Hard Rock one year (the Portofino is on the other side about 5 mins away) and it took us about 10 mins to get to IOA, walking at a good pace.

They are not in a straight line , of course, but here is the order: The Portifino, The Hard Rock Hotel, Universal Studio, City Walk, IOA, Royal Pacific

Oh, yeah, I know that we were closer, what I was trying to get at (I guess it didn't come through, sorry) was that by the time we got to IOA (around 7:45am), they were allowing guests in. We weren't guided by anyone, either, we just kind of followed everyone else.

[NJGIRL]

Oh, yeah, I know that we were closer, what I was trying to get at (I guess it didn't come through, sorry) was that by the time we got to IOA (around 7:45am), they were allowing guests in. We weren't guided by anyone, either, we just kind of followed everyone else.

Since I wasn't there exactly at opening, I can't say for sure, but from what I have read by others is that a staff member leads the way at the very front of the line. I guess the rest of the people just follow, like we did. I did see other staff members along the route. I guess they make sure you don't wonder off to other closed areas.

[Sunshine1010]

I have one of those small purses that goes around your neck through your arm...and hangs to the side on your hip. It's small. Do they 'make' you go to the lockers?

[MizMissy]

I have one of those small purses that goes around your neck through your arm...and hangs to the side on your hip. It's small. Do they 'make' you go to the lockers?

On big rides - such as FJ, Dueling Dragons, Hulk (?), Spiderman, Rip Ride Rock it, Mummy (and others, I can't remember because I did not carry a bag to need a locker), you have to use a locker for any bag that does not fit in a pocket - no loose items at all (actually on some of the rides, I worried about losing sunglasses, flip flops, and even loose change in a pocket). I had a wristlet on a lanyard, but I to put it inside my pocket or I put it on the lanyard and tucked it inside my shirt or the employees would stop you and make you put it in a locker. Even with fanny packs, they will make you put it in a locker. You have to be careful because one employee may okay you to get into the line, but another can stop you later in the line (there are multiple check points in every line) and make you leave the line to get a locker ... and no holding your place to return.
They provide you "free" lockers, but they are only for length of ride, even if it says an hour, if the ride time is less than an hour and you try to ride again, the locker goes to pay ... be careful. However, I hated the idea of having to get out of line, slow down the family, and remember locker numbers and codes, so I only carried in the wristlet size purse to hold phone, cash, credit cards and a couple of bandaids. However, we did usually have one person in our group who did not ride the big rides and she acted as "bag lady" for the group.

[Sunshine1010]

Good to know. I think my purse will fit in my husbands pocket (if squished). Thanks!!!

[NJGIRL]

On big rides - such as FJ, Dueling Dragons, Hulk (?), Spiderman, Rip Ride Rock it, Mummy (and others, I can't remember because I did not carry a bag to need a locker), you have to use a locker for any bag that does not fit in a pocket - no loose items at all (actually on some of the rides, I worried about losing sunglasses, flip flops, and even loose change in a pocket). I had a wristlet on a lanyard, but I to put it inside my pocket or I put it on the lanyard and tucked it inside my shirt or the employees would stop you and make you put it in a locker. Even with fanny packs, they will make you put it in a locker. You have to be careful because one employee may okay you to get into the line, but another can stop you later in the line (there are multiple check points in every line) and make you leave the line to get a locker ... and no holding your place to return.
They provide you "free" lockers, but they are only for length of ride, even if it says an hour, if the ride time is less than an hour and you try to ride again, the locker goes to pay ... be careful. However, I hated the idea of having to get out of line, slow down the family, and remember locker numbers and codes, so I only carried in the wristlet size purse to hold phone, cash, credit cards and a couple of bandaids. However, we did usually have one person in our group who did not ride the big rides and she acted as "bag lady" for the group.

This is very accurate advice! You don't want to get into line only to find you must get out and start all over again. Don't bring anything into the park that won't fit into your pockets if you don't have a person in your party to hold it while others ride. I know I keep saying it, but can't stress it enough.

[LVT]

I made my sons wear those short with giant pockets. Water bottles even fit in those.