THEME PARK ROPE DROP: Universal Studios Florida | Harry Potter Rides, Breakfast, Best Morning Plan

Rise and shine Mam Fam, we're rope dropping at Universal Orlando! Molly is headed to Universal Studios Florida on a chilly morning to be one of the first in the park! She's sharing the best tips and tricks for how to make the most of your morning in the parks -- starting with an empty Diagon Alley and ending with a great tip for riding the MOST popular ride at Universal!
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[@lesliegallagher2682]

Great tip about getting the butter beer included with Kid's breakfast.

[@susannanoon]

Yes please a rope drop video of the Hagrids rush would be great. “Brrrrrp. Captain’s log.” 😂

[@fourlittlebirds6166]

When we went first week of March it was insane!!! Been many times -we have passes- and I’ve never seen anything like that. Crazy. Nobody knocked down, but yeah. Everyone ran towards Hagrids and Velocicoaster. Sat in line (from a rope drop) for around an hour and a half. They had the line wrapped all the way back into the lost continent and and into the old Sinbad stage show amphitheater.

[@DisneyKathlyn]

Would love to see/hear some advice for those trying to combine a WDW and Universal trip: which days which park, split stay, Uber/other between parks, etc. trying to figure out how best to use my Florida time to my advantage. Thank you so much!

[@TIG5574]

What do you want to know? I did it twice before and just this past January. Ask away.

[@lms_311]

I did this last June. We did 4 full days at Disney, and then switched from our Disney resort to a Universal deluxe resort for proximity to the park and the unlimited express pass. The day we switched was a rest/pool day. We had a late breakfast/brunch at Topolino’s and then headed to the Hard Rock. You can easily Uber from one resort to the other. We did 3 full days at Universal because we had a cabana day at the Hard Rock. With unlimited express pass and a park-to-park ticket, I think two full park days at Universal is sufficient.

[@ye11owflower]

@@lms_311 was 4 days at the park enough? Asking as an international viewer, I feel like I'd need to spend at minimum a week across the 4 parks

[@lms_311]

@@ye11owflower it was for us, having been to the parks before, and now with genie+ and lightning lanes, but it was exhausting doing all four parks in four days. If you’re coming from outside the U.S. or it’s your first time, I would budget at least 6 days for the four parks.

[@ye11owflower]

@@lms_311 Thank you for taking the time to respond. I love WDW (despite that I have never been) but it seems like there is so much planning that has to go towards it let alone once you’re there. Thank god for Molly!

[@stephaniee.2103]

"Captain's Log - great video" You're love for an empty Diagon Alley - 🥺 Thanks Molly!

[@MicheleKlinger]

Another delightful rope drop morning video! Diagon Alley will never get old, and seeing it EMPTY is worth all the tears in the world!!!

[@supersanic1254]

Lol

[@edvaira6891]

As bad as it was having to lose Jaws The Ride, they used EVERY INCH of the land they gained SO PERFECTLY to build Diagon Alley! It’s just Such a Wonderful use of land to have created SO MUCH TO DO in the same space as that dearly missed classic ride

[@tracypitz1433]

Good morning Mam Fam

[@shelle340]

MORNING 🎉🎉🎉

[@lucyvanlipton7433]

Good morning 😃

[@Meeee253]

Morning sadly I have to get shots today so 😢

[@Kimmypurry]

I saw you the other day but didn't want to bother you since you seemed like you were on a mission. Love your videos, and they helped our family plan our first trip to Universal❤❤

[@barbaracosta842]

"the man is acting like the rent is due at his 10 seconds clip"...I was NOT expecting that 🤣

[@angelalane6004]

Allll the feels walking into an empty diagon alley 🥹🥹

[@hpfav101]

at 8:00 when you reached diagon alley, I thought to myself (bc I’m emotional ash too) “wow if I was able to successfully go to diagon alley with EAP, I would like to just immersify myself with no one around and just take in all the sounds and everything and probably come to tears” and that’s EXACTLY what you did and you made me cry tears of joy w you girl 😭🫶🏻

[@tonydee777]

yay love starting my morning with new vids and coffee

[@bensnowdon3]

Florida problems: Molly complaining about 56°!

[@Onniesprairiegarden]

In her defense, Florida cold is cold for some reason!!! It was 60s last March and it was freezing. It was weird.

[@iamjackspyramidshapedhelmet]

Yeah that’s warm for me lol. I’m in Michigan

[@Onniesprairiegarden]

@iamjackspyramidshapedhelmet I'm from Kansas and it doesn't get as cold as Michigan but it was weird when we were there last March. I dressed because I thought it would be warm and it wasn't. Very windy and cold. I was searching for a sweater. I think it's the humidity there. The cold chills you more.

[@PrincessMeggala0913]

Florida cold is a wet cold tho. It’s nooooot fun. And I’m from Minnesota!😂

[@zoot8739]

Not too hot. Perfect temperature

[@lindseyhardy840]

All the feels, if Molly gets emotional, I get emotional. Love to see your passion and joy in each video!

[@stephaniehalpert7003]

Yes! Keep the rope drop videos coming!

[@laurenjohnson9928]

Hey Mamfam! Molly, I really mean it when I say the videos you make for Universal/Islands/well any video really... is always so awesome! Thank you for all of the content! ❤ we appreciate you so much!

[@Anvilarm07]

I love your rope drops videos. They make my day. Please please do an early rope drop as a VIP theme park hotel guest headed for Hagrid. Oh and as a Canadian with snow on the ground right now, I'm afraid I have no sympathy for you and the temperature. :-)

[@BECKsjb]

We have done Universal several times but based on Molly’s recommendation we did the horror makeup show for the first time today. Easily the highlight of the day. They were hilarious and informative. Best show ever! Thanks Molly!!

[@lucyvanlipton7433]

LOVED THIS VIDEO ❤❤❤ any time in the wizarding world is awesome 😊

[@christinabroeker6798]

A new Mam Fam video and a coffee = a perfect start to my day! LOVE that the family of the day was from my hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota! Woo Hoo! 💜

[@disneynutd1609]

Thanks again Molly. I love the rope drop series I didn’t do it last visit and boy did I regret it. Keep them coming 💐

[@deborahkaplan288]

YES!!! Please do an early entry video!!!! You got me through our last Disney trip and now that I'm planning a Universal trip, I need your help again!! 🙂

[@Lulu17525]

Best way to wake up on spring break is to Molly with my homemade shaky jamacy

[@RavenclawTia]

No apologies for being emo in an empty Diagon. I cannot count the number of times I’ve walked through that brick wall, not nearly as many times as you, it still gets me every single time. I don’t know that it ever won’t. Love a morning at Studios. Thank you for bringing us along. Breakfast from Today Cafe while sitting on the steps of the New York Public Library and watching people fly by on Rip Ride Rocket. Perfection.

[@Favorites7792]

I love a Disneyland / DCA rope drop video! We’re are going to cross off another castle off our list in October! 🥳 super excited! So happy I found your videos before our last trip to WDW. I’ve been watching ever since.

[@melanieruawai3363]

First! Hi Mam Fam from New Zealand!

[@feliciamichelle129]

Amazing tips for my trip this summer, thank you! Please do early entry at IOA without any express or single rider lines! 😊

[@smiglig]

i always look forward to your videos when they’re in my subscription box

[@KathytheMama777]

Molly great job as usual!! ❤you always give us soo much information!! And J. K. Rowling you are an amazing author and have the most wonderful & beautiful imagination!! Thank you for your art!! ❤❤❤

[@TerranceCross]

Been watching your videos since you started. Subscribed today. Thanks for the awesome videos, and distraction.

[@Mammoth_Club]

Thanks so much, and welcome!

[@CaraOleary]

I love your Universal/Islands of Adventure videos. I found the caves that you walked thru on your last video. they were so cool.

[@ElenaUnplugged]

Yes, please do another one of these with early park entry!

[@sferrugia]

Best way to start my morning!!!

[@TS-nd7gd]

Thank you for this one! I love when we are shown plans for non resident, non pass holder, no express pass broke folks! Please do more, I really wished for one for HHN

[@lsummers4]

Thanks for the video!! We did universal yesterday and all of your tips were great! We rope dropped Diagon Alley and switched to Islands of Adventure around 11 to ride Hagrids. It was for sure the shortest the line was all day! 😊

[@SaucyMPLS]

We accidentally rope dropped here, not realizing islands of adventure was the more popular side with the early entry. We just wanted our kids to go to Diagon Alley first because that’s what Harry does… it was so magical. ❤

[@juliebuchheit7015]

Your videos are easily the most helpful for people visiting the park. Your strategies are so useful!

[@colinholder5438]

One of my best days ever at US was being the first person into Diagon Alley after rope drop🧙🏼

[@99mamabear]

You guys make me happy, thank you 💙

[@christinevanraalte7734]

Used your tip sbout buying a kids meal several times at Three Broomsticks. Great price and plenty of food. Thanks

[@pamelamallicoat1076]

We’re passholders that come from TN and stay in the resorts every time we go but LOVE getting that little bit of extra sleep, grab coffee and rope dropping US. We do normally hit transformers or minions first before obviously going to Diagon Alley but we also normally have express with a premier resort.

[@jasonsadventures64]

I just did your steps at Universal and wow what a difference. This is the way.

[@Mammoth_Club]

👏👏

[@th3emeparkmom856]

Molly I cannot tell you how much I love your videos. This will help so much Halloween 2024 I'll be there the last week of October and I can't wait

[@sarahdavis6870]

Rope dropping with early entry would love to see that video for islands!

[@cathyholt5215]

Great breakfast tip! Thanks for another excellent video ❤

[@fourlittlebirds6166]

The first time we ever saw Diagon ally it looked exactly like that. We rode the ride, checked everything out. And I do mean EVERYTHING. And we were totally done seeing everything at an enjoyable pace and had a great morning! All by 11:30. And that was in the MIDDLE of the summer. July. Had the best time enjoying all the immersion in a pretty much empty area. We’re season pass holders and haven’t seen it that empty (or been able to get up in time for that) since. Don’t forget about checking out Nocturne Ally!

[@Ingrid-pg1gs]

Great video! I really enjoy the rope drop videos! thanks

[@lizlandes500]

I think I could spend all day Diagon Alley and Hogsmead, and I definitely want to ride the Hogwarts Express!

[@whoiskatlady14]

I love your glasses!! Where did you get them from?

[@Classicvirals]

Molly, You are great! Love the channel and I am so honored to be a Mam Fam member. Hope to see you at HHN33

[@elleBwsr]

I bought a day pass to IOA with the express intent of riding Velocicoaster which I did via single rider and than was able to get on Hagrids in 20 minutes after an extended rain delay 👍

[@stevephillips3253]

Great job Molly you're the best. Not only are you beautiful, but I love the way your eye's light up when you smile. I'm sure Allen tells you that all the time.

[@nannybeadling1227]

Really???? Best ride ever? Maybe we'll have to give it a try. I personally don't see how anything could be better than Gardians, but I trust Molly. Thanks for another wonderful video ❤

[@Reinlegen]

Hi Molly

[@vacationmode6286]

we were there this week - thanks for the tip to stay at premier resort and get express unlimited -- that was soo awesome!!! always 20 percent of the wait time posted. thanks for doing a video on that. we stayed at Portofino which is doing some remodeling but we were always at the parks so not that big of a deal.

[@denissenicotero]

That’s my first time hearing the new Hermione voice! Still had the old one when I went last year.

[@raspburied]

LMAO your chat with hedwig. same!

[@Desbles2009]

Love the series keep doing them

[@tjweddington2311]

I go for the hot butterbeer every time. I do like the others but hot is the way to go.

[@corinneferrarolam5101]

I would be interested in a video of the best strategies to rope drop Islands of Adventure if you don’t have early park admission. Also, Question about the weather - how long ago was this video filmed? What time of year was this weather occurring?

[@th3emeparkmom856]

But why did the family of the day announcement have me in tears? Oh yeah I'm 3 months pregnant 😅

[@halfassfashion]

Congrats!

[@kates7277]

What better place to start the day than Diagon Alley?! 💙🦅

[@supersanic1254]

Literally anywhere else if you aren't into Harry Potter lol

[@supersanic1254]

Fun fact: Hagrids has way shorter lines at the end of the day. Kinda pointless to waste your entire EPA waitng for a coaster when a better one is typically a walk on during EPA. Much bettter to do Velocicoaster first, then do the rest of HP during EPA, then just leave Hagrids til end of the day. This is a much more effective use of EPA time, as I have tested this myself a dozen or so times over the last year. Also, if you stay at Cabana, and walk to the park, Hollywood Way is going to be a much quicker route to the park than the walking path, and hardly anyone takes that path, so you can get to the parks about 10 minutes quicker walking Hollywood Way, rather than the Garden Walk.

[@alexandriafrancois]

I love Molly’s captain’s logs lol. I wonder if she knows that is a text tone on iPhone

[@mollywright6954]

Molly. You gotta try the smoked old fashioned at big fire! Applicable to the last video of yours i watched but forgot to comment 😂

[@maddieladner6849]

I went to universal in December to this park first and I had no problem getting in at 9 and they were doing the photos in the queue for this ride!

[@maddieladner6849]

The ride being gringotts

[@shannonalaspa9869]

I’m from Minnesota! How exciting! I’m much farther north, though, lol.

[@leighhyatt1225]

Any chance you could do a video on Busch Gardens? And/or sea world? Love watching your videos!!

[@blugreen123]

53 degrees is shorts weather here in the Midwest, especially in the spring. 😂

[@andrewormerod7741]

If you go to hhn and go to diagon ally at the start instead of the mazes diagon ally is empty, not only that gringotts was a walkon, we were even allowed to reride the ride without leaving the kart, it was indeed magical. We had fastpases to the horror mazes so we still managed todo all 10 mazes anyway without wasting time.

[@beccab8015]

Hot butterbeer is so frigging good.

[@openupawindow]

Mornin' Mam Fam! 💃

[@deborahryder7521]

Rope dropped universal and was at the front of the queue. I briskly walked to Diagonal Ally and was one of the only people there. It was amazing! Waited 5 mins for Gringotts, then went over to islands waited 30 mins, yes 30 mins to get onto Hagrids! It was the most amazing day of my theme park life. Can’t wait to go back again this Oct!

[@Enchantedkai21]

I cried with Molly at an empty Diagnon Alley. I can't wait to see it for the first time.😭

[@cindykopf5407]

Wonderful vid as usual

[@PotterFreak22]

Oh yeah. Early Park Admission is pretty sweet. We did that when we were staying at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort Hotel in 2018. Got EA for a whole week! And we all hate getting up that early on vacation. It was pretty strange to see a mostly empty Diagon Alley. And a mostly empty Universal tbph. I’m glad the hotel had buses to and from the park and I’m still hoping they have that whenever we go next. We’re gonna have that darn wheelchair to use cuz of all the physical problems I have now that I did not have in 2018 when we went the first time. So we’ll see how that goes if we ever go back. 1:56 I definitely remember seeing the Voodoo Donuts there and I think someone got a picture in the fancy chair. We didn’t go in cuz it was hot and donuts are not a good idea for sensitive stomachs. And we don’t like them anyways. 9:28 I hear the grumblings of the Monster Book of Monsters! And yes, the dragon is epic. Funny story about that, me and my mom had just gotten off the Gringotts ride and were standing outside talking when all of a sudden it got really hot and we heard a huge growling noise. Turns out we were standing EXACTLY UNDER THE DRAGON AS IT BREATHED FIRE and we were both quite surprised and a bit scared. Idk how we managed to get directly under but we did. The inside of Gringotts is SO COOL! They got every detail as close to the material as possible! The ride was amazing as well, that drop after the trolls was so exciting yet kind of terrifying because you really felt like you were going to fall! And don’t even get me started on how EPIC the Ollivanders experience was! Holy cow it was amazing! And we didn’t even get picked first go around! Which I was really disappointed by cuz it was our birthdays but something really special happened right as we were leaving! I guess the lady must’ve seen our birthday badges or something cuz she was like “What about you two? Come here for a moment.” So we did and she grabbed a few wands to let us try out which wilted flowers, started thunderstorms inside, pulled out drawers. Then she told us to switch wands and OH MY GOSH! The lights came up, the wind started blowing, the music happened! WE WERE BOTH SPEECHLESS! And that NEVER happens to me with Harry Potter stuff! So the lady looked at the wands and said they were “very rare and quite special indeed” cuz they both had a Dragon Heartstring core FROM THE SAME EXACT DRAGON! My mom was crying at this point, my mind was blown and I was just utterly gobsmacked. The lady put the wands back in the cases, showed us the door outside and that was that. I asked my mom why she was crying and she said “Because I’m so happy for you! I know you’ve always wanted to do that!” And it was true that ever since I had started reading the books in 1998/1999 then seen the movies, I had ALWAYS wanted to go to Ollivanders! That was certainly a day for the books and the best birthday ever hands down!

[@michellem9583]

Hi guys! Could you make an experiment on which days are better to visit each park? I'm traveling on mid August and all I can find about the topic is incredibly mixed opinions 😅

[@kristinfonte]

If you ride Hagrid’s single rider, do you always get stuck with the sidecar seat?

[@laurasponaugle9637]

I would love to see you rope drop AK with Flight of Passage and then Navi right after in the AM. ****BUT the music you played for Hagrid's ride was absolutely perfect!!!!!!!!!!! Wish they had it on the ride. Thanks!

[@Mammoth_Club]

We’ve done rope drop at AK! 😊

[@Neitherherenorrthere]

Would love to see this is Disneyland ❤

[@DLFH]

WOW totally worth early rope drop to get into WW with little other foot traffic will be my goal. Another excellent how to/what to do video! Molly what is your all time favorite Universal Studios snack and drink?

[@Zac629]

Hey, mamoth Club, yall are awesome!! I love your disney videos!! But universal is pretty cool . It's just that half the rides are motions simulators that left me more sick than happy

[@galgathor6817]

mama molls, let me give you some camera advice. Open up your f stop on your camera if you can, that lets in more light so you wont have to drop your shutter speed and you wont get that dragging effect in low light conditions. Set your shutter speed to shoot about double your frame rate.

[@johngosbee5574]

I wonder if its even possible to do all you did in "reverse" (assuming Hagrid would have had 45-60 min at 10AM). Starting EPA at Hagrids, then train, then Diagon (but, but then might already be a crowd in Diagon)

[@edvaira6891]

Pity you don’t like donuts-VooDoo Donuts are WONDERFUL!!

[@tinabean0205]

I have the same Slytherin shirt that you have!!

[@alexisbk9576]

I never rope drop, but LOVE Universal Orlando! Especially the Orlando Informer meetups 💛

[@PotterFreak22]

23:16 We didn’t have the Park to Park when we went in 2018 so we didn’t get to ride the train. Very sad and bummed about that. Even more sad now that Robbie Coltrane is gone (RIP) and I see Hagrid on the platform. I really wanted to meet him, he seemed like a very nice, funny, friendly chap. And Alan Rickman. I really wanted to meet him to cuz my mom really liked his movies before HP and the HP movies. Oh well. I don't think the Hogwarts Express is wheelchair accessible so even we did get a PtP the next time we went, I wouldn’t be able to ride anyways. We did have to walk to Hogsmeade the last time and it wasn’t too bad. Didn’t see near as much as we wanted to even with a whole week we were there! Tons to see everywhere! All the details! Needs at least 2 days, if not 3 to see everything! Diagon Alley needs that much time too! They didn’t have Hagrids Motorbike ride when we were there. I think they might’ve been working on it since the year after we went (2019) I believe the ride opened. I was quite irritated at that as well. Everything will certainly be very different the next time we go, if ever, since I have the wheelchair now and people can be jerks about wanting to walk in front of you, being rude to get past you, all those lovely things. Add a wheelchair and it’s not much better. Worse actually. I might just need to get an air horn or something to “help” people get out of the way and not be jerks like they’ve been at other venues we’ve been to before. This has been a very interesting video and some very good tips for the next time. Although I’m still not sure if we’d all want to get up that early. It is vacation you know, time for sleeping in and doing whatever you want. Like staying in bed all day or going to the pool.

[@charlafrederick1245]

I find Minion Mayhem the first ride people go to, actually. Warning: Because of the extremely slow ride loading it will take 10-20 minutes even if you are in one of the first groups. Unless in the first 30 people, i suggest going to other attractions.

[@AlpineKindOfMind]

Can’t wait for the ministry at epic universe!

[@jenniferfaux-campbell8175]

Hi! Thanks for a great video! Can you please do a video like this at Disneyland?

[@ndwarfs1]

Please do Disneyland 🤞🏼... Trying to plan a trip for this fall.

[@raython2272]

Morning everyone ❤

[@marcuspedersen49]

Hey Molly! We're doing the Harry Potter vacation package April 22-25. Is there a chance we could get to meet with you?

[@Newchannels9u]

Ya heard of Carowinds before Molly it's a theme park crossing north and South Carolina and is the best place in the world owned by cedar fair please come open on March 29th through April 7th and open on weekends

[@User78129]

Love the sweatshirt! Anyone know where it’s from?

[@sarahw-k]

I’m awake, I’m awake!!!

[@jessb.ETfamilytravel]

Our VIP tour guide told us that to see if the dragon will breathe fire, they check the wind 2 ways - the chains on her neck (if they're moving too much it's too windy) and there are lots of smoke stacks high up around Diagon Alley - if you can't see the smoke coming out of them, it's too windy! If either of those things happen, she will only growl!

[@paganwheels1]

Let's go!

[@castrocrewadventures1982]

I need to know what lip product you’re wearing in this video!

[@jenisedai]

I would love to see a "what if you don't want to watch fireworks" series.