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Hogwart's Express will be closed for refurbishment 2/9/26-2/23/26. Our trip is in the middle of that. Anyone park hopped without the train before?

12:11am on 12/31/25 by Kracinda

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Honestly we RARELY use the train for park hopping. Literally walking all the way to the gate from back in Hogsmede or DA is almost always faster than waiting for the train! The train is certainly fun but I've only seen it save time maybe 1-2 times for us.

12:29am on 12/31/25 by browndalmatian

We use the train as transportation from IoA to US if we're already at the back of IoA. The wait for US to IoA is long so we only go on HEx if we want to do the ride. It is absolutely doable to go to the gates to park hop.

7:21am on 12/31/25 by TenMileMom

We ride the train if we are in the area AND the wait isn't super long. It doesn't usually save a lot of time just steps depending where we are in one park and want to be in the other.

7:27am on 12/31/25 by Buckeye86

The train is strange in terms of wait times. I've seen it say 20 minutes and then we hop in EXP line and it's taken WAYYYY longer. I do like the ride, it's fun, but 95% of the time we just walk to the gate to park hop.

4:47pm on 12/31/25 by browndalmatian

I REALLY wish they'd leave that area by Seuess/Hard Rock open all of the time. That was much faster! I don't know why they don't leave that open year round!

4:48pm on 12/31/25 by browndalmatian

I agree. Only time we got to use it was Christmas 2020 when park was at capacity and social distancing was a "thing." It would be so helpful.

6:41pm on 12/31/25 by Buckeye86

The line has always seemed long, even with EP. While the ride is cool, I don't mind the walk at all, seems faster than waiting for the train.

9:51am on 1/1/26 by WendyMarie

Usually we ride it once each way just for the ride experience but as far as saving time, I agree that it rarely does even with EP.

9:04pm on 1/1/26 by Buckeye86

I think we only used that "secret shortcut" 1 or 2 times other than during 2020/Social Distancing too. It should be open year round!

12:56am on 1/3/26 by browndalmatian

So where do we go for the fastest walk from park to park?

10:23am on 1/20/26 by Kracinda

Fastest is if the secret gate is open (between OFTF and McGurkus in IoA to near the stage in USO (very unlike that will be open). Next is front gate at IoA to the gate between DMMM and the big US store at the front of US (not likely). So usually just . .

5:57am on 1/21/26 by TenMileMom

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. . . front gate to front gate. You would walk on the Hard Rock Cafe side of the lagoon/pond/body of water. I know of no shorter way.

5:59am on 1/21/26 by TenMileMom

What is DMMM?

11:05pm on 1/21/26 by Buckeye86

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem :)

11:30pm on 1/21/26 by sneezy93

Why would IOA be an 8 on January 24? Curious on rationale

1:10pm on 1/21/26 by Ginette

I was wondering that true why islands of adventure is always an eight on Saturday and the other parks are like threes

11:07pm on 1/21/26 by Dplymesser

Oh no @brer- they are closing F&F supercharged... https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTvbkpakV7z/?igsh=MXkyZzg1Y25wYXg0OQ==

3:55pm on 1/20/26 by hodg

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Nope def F&F drift coaster

8:13am on 1/21/26 by hodg

I can live with the drift coaster. I just hope they do something great with supercharged. Its already better when its closed!

9:29am on 1/21/26 by brerbeer

I read they are using the f&f area as part of new coaster. I have no facts on this but I thought they might keep the f&F queue which was the best part of the ride and use it as the queue for the new f&f coaster.

11:04pm on 1/21/26 by Buckeye86

Saw that battle of ministry reached capacity at noon today and no one would be admitted "in the standard line." This seems to imply that the express pass would still be allowed. Is that right?

5:13pm on 1/21/26 by jesterb

Sounds like it but I have been in IOA when EP was also closed bc of capacity. No one could get in line and they wouldn't let u wait nearby.

11:02pm on 1/21/26 by Buckeye86

At Epic 9:12, e everything delayed except Darkmoor. Terrible!

9:13am on 1/21/26 by hartcruise

So sorry to hear this. We leave today. It's been so busy these last few days. Hopefully it's better for you. Go to customer service and ask for help. They try and be generous.

10:10am on 1/21/26 by koi1217

10:15 Mario, Hiccups, BatM still down

10:16am on 1/21/26 by hartcruise

Customer service was helpful. Thank you! We made the most of the day but was so bummed

5:19pm on 1/21/26 by hartcruise

What did customer service do?

11:00pm on 1/21/26 by Buckeye86

Terrible day for bad weather at Epic. Holiday crowds and Stardust, Hiccups, and Dragon Racer's are still down after some bad rain/wind. 0/5 stars for this park today.

3:19pm on 1/18/26 by Dpj731

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And mine cart is down again.

3:34pm on 1/18/26 by Dpj731

And stardust is closed for the rest of the day! So sad.

3:50pm on 1/18/26 by jenandryanburke

Stardust is down for the day. Tough lesson to learn, don't come to epic on a holiday weekend. Definitely don't come on a holiday weekend when bad weather is in the forecast.

4:09pm on 1/18/26 by Dpj731

Oh no! I'm sorry. I feel like it's supposed to lift though

4:17pm on 1/18/26 by hartcruise

I'm leaving the park for a bit to reset and grab some warmer clothes. It's the GFs first time here and I wanted to make it special. Trying to remind myself there are things in trip planning we can't control.

4:22pm on 1/18/26 by Dpj731

I am reading that both Stardust trains got stuck on the track in dead zones when the weather came through.

5:12pm on 1/18/26 by PrincipalTinker

There is video floating around of both trains valleying. I wonder if this is why the other rides are still closed?

6:01pm on 1/18/26 by Dpj731

Are people stuck on the trains on SR? That would be awful

6:47pm on 1/18/26 by Buckeye86

Epic is a hard park to be in when it's raining. Not much to do.

6:47pm on 1/18/26 by Buckeye86

Luckily the trains were empty. DK, Hiccup, and dragon racers didn't come back up until after 9.

10:55pm on 1/18/26 by Dpj731

We are here now. Epic was very disappointing but crossing fingers for a better day. Staff don't know when SD will reopen as may take a few days. I read some material from rally flew onto the tracks at hiccups (or vice versa) and they needed a crane

6:42am on 1/19/26 by koi1217

To clear which is why it took forever. Happy to see it opened yesterday (we left about 8) so cross fingers for today.

6:42am on 1/19/26 by koi1217

Eric seems rough to enjoy these days.

5:51am on 1/20/26 by RileysBirthday

I agree, that Eric is a jerk. ;)

1:14pm on 1/20/26 by popupcamper

He's a right Eric

4:27pm on 1/20/26 by hodg

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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTthymqgY2b/?igsh=bTV4ZTN1NjJpZjl4 From yesterday.

4:28pm on 1/20/26 by hodg

Oof!

7:41am on 1/21/26 by ladyortramp

SD still closed today.

10:10am on 1/21/26 by koi1217

Does anyone know if as a current UOAP holder, I can purchase the 3 month free deal and not activate until after my renewal date? Not sure if they will generate another pass holder number if I currently have a pass number. Thanks

9:59am on 1/16/26 by clyde4242

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I would definitely call and ask since you haven't activated it! That's worth a phone call for sure!

10:24am on 1/18/26 by sneezy93

Let us know your results, I'm interested in doing this also!!

10:36am on 1/18/26 by ladyortramp

I called guest services and they said new purchases or renewals only, but that I could try to have it converted when I go to guest services in the park to activate it.

6:34pm on 1/20/26 by jesterb

We are staying at Cabana Bay and I am unsure how to return to the airport that isn't $$$. There are four adults and a one year old. We are taking a Mears bus to our Disney resort but just found out Mears doesn't work with Universal. Any suggestions?

5:43pm on 1/15/26 by TinkerNanc

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For carseat transportation we use Away We Go. Mears does work with Universal to MCO. Maybe check with Guest Services. I have read that it's not that reliable. You could also talk with the rental car desk at Cabana Bay and try to rent a car with a carsest.

10:14am on 1/16/26 by hartcruise

How are you getting from Disney to cabana bay? We Uber but didn't need a car seat . You can fly with your car seat or booster seat and then you will have it with you . My DD did that for Disney Land.

2:46pm on 1/16/26 by burfe1501

We are doing away we go (private van service). $109.47 includes gratuity from Cabana Bay to MCO

10:36am on 1/20/26 by Kracinda

Is there a way to make a touring plan with AAP for Epic? I can't seem to figure it out.

8:18pm on 1/18/26 by Hoagie55

There's an advanced options on the desktop version where you can enter in additional return times. Then optimize and it will factor in the return. But since you can only have one at a time, it doesn't help with planning much.

10:28am on 1/20/26 by Kracinda

Also if you switch to minimize walking, it will make the plan a bit more by land rather than having you crisscross the park. You can then just get a return time for one of the longer waits while you explore other areas nearby

10:30am on 1/20/26 by Kracinda

UOAP 3 extra months for the price of 12 - did I read that right? Are they doing like they did in the past and giving current Passholders another 3 months for free? I'm looking at the fine print now and don't see anything about it...

9:58am on 1/19/26 by browndalmatian

If they are I would love to know that @brown! Would be nice since we've re-upped ours for a few years now :) ours expires end of Feb

12:58pm on 1/19/26 by sneezy93

I called UOR and asked. If you are within the renewal period, and the promotion is active, then you can get the renewal price AND the three free months. But they will not let you renew early. This is for paid-in-full AP. Not sure if different for flex pay

1:30pm on 1/19/26 by jmarriner

Also on the UOR website: "What's better than another 12 months of awesome at Universal Orlando? Renew your 2-Park Pass now and get 3 extra months free*. That's 15 months of thrills and good times!"

1:37pm on 1/19/26 by jmarriner

Thank you! I think my renewal date is somewhere around this month or next. I will have to give them a call! Sounds like this might be promising!! :)

10:21am on 1/20/26 by browndalmatian

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