.02
We regularly have annual passes so we know our way around.
If the goal is saving money, getting the most bang for your buck I think you are taking a good path. Don't try to save money as much, try to get the most for your money (just my opinion). Saving time = everything IMHO. Saving money = less experience, just need to know whats worth it.
1. Stay on property. The fast pass is worth it. Especially the room key one that lets you ride whatever you want as many times as you want. (OTHER THAN THE NEWEST RIDES). You can only pass these lines by buying a STUPID expensive VIP package. I can't image why the VIP program would ever be worth it.
2. You get early access to diagon alley with your hotel stay. Go as EARLY as you can, seriously, because its nothing for the line for the new ride to be 3 hours and you will not want to miss the ride. If you see the line at 60 minutes or less, take it, its not going to get better. The line alone is worth it once you get inside.
3. If you GF doesnt know about the dragon breathing fire, try to stand by the front of gringotts for a bit while reading the map. The fire from the dragon will surprise the hell out of her and its pretty cool. You can only be surprised once, so its cool to get the full effect.
4. After that, go get the new wands, THE RF slightly more expensive ones. You only need one wand for the two of you unless you are a big fan. They come with a map, there are spells to do in both worlds and it is a shitload of fun. DONT got to Olivanders, unless you want to do the whole wand choosing experience. If you do go to the wand choosing experience stand as far to the right of the room as you can, the person chosen is almost always on that side of the room. If you dont want to do the experience, the wand shop around the corner (to your right) NEVER has a line. NOTE - Before you go, lookup hidden diagon alley spells, you will look like a stud if you know where these are, no one knows where these are.
5. Each Harry Potter world has their own food and drinks. The fishy green ale is a pretty cool non alcoholic drink, everyone will wonder what you have, most people dont know about it. The quickest butter bear line is usually in the drink place to the right of the ice cream shop. If you like beer, drink the two beers here. The two at Hogsmede are different. The food at the leaky cauldron is british food, not so great, if you arent starving its not really worth the adventure. Get a butter bear here, sit down, get the leaky cauldron experience, head out.
6. Don't miss nockturn alley, the giftshop there is the best in the park IMHO. Lots of cool stuff here you cant get elsewhere, espcially death eater stuff.
7. Jump the train to hogsmede. There is rarely a long line here. 10 minutes in wait = 1 train full, so it moves faster than you think. Make sure you dont miss the walking through the wall part at platform, cool photo opp. Lots of people miss it.
8. Hogsmede, the best butterbear shop is the bar to the right of the main dining hall. There is NEVER a line here. Lines are everywhere for drinks, you can usually walk right up here, its awesome. If you like beer, grab the beers here and try them out. THey are exclusive to the park and to this specific world.
9. Go to the castle for the ride, head right to the lockers, vs being sent back to put your stuff in later. The ride is great, i believe they take fastpass now. Personally I find the gift shop here to be the least crowded, so i do my shopping here.
10. The Dragon Challenge. This ride is never packed, with fast pass you can literally ride both sides over and over again without stopping. Its fun to wait once for the front row.
11. Go eat at Mythos. This is south of Hogsmede in the "Lost Continent" island. Its the best food in the park bar none. Its not the best food in the world, but for themepark food its really worth it. If you dont get too crazy exploring you should be here just after lunch rush so getting a table shouldnt be hard. ONLY order strait bar drinks, all their specialty drinks are 99% mixer and really over priced. Or drink beer.
Couple of other tid bits.
- Take a photo at the bus, talking to the talking head. Its fun.
- Go to the phone booth, type in the number that spell MAGIC. It connects you the ministry of magic, its a fun treat.
- at 12 Grimmlaud place Kreecher (the house elf) is in the second story window on the right hand houses. He shows up every 5 minutes or so.
- Watch the movies before you go, especially the first of the Deathly Hallows, give you some idea of cool questions to ask the Goblin at the money exchange in Diagon Alley.
- Say Voldamort around cast members, it freaks people out.
Other than that, while you are in the area, eat at Victora and Alberts at the Grand Floridian. Prepare to dress up. I dont think you need a jacket, but you might. The best dining experience in the area, bar none. Its spendy (easily $500 for 2 people) They bring out a little tuffet for the girls purse (i dont know why but the girls always talk about this one feature after, anytime they explain it), have a coffee service that is really special. Go on a SLOW night. Weeknight. Less people = more attention. The upgrades (kobe, cavier) are worth it if you are not from the area and only are going to get here once.
Nightlife, IMHO neither downtown Disney or universal city walk are where its at, lots of tourists, not a lot of subsance. I would adventure out to Downtown Orlando on a Thursday Friday or Saturday, not sure where you are from but Orlando shuts down at like 2am. Lots of good lounges and bars in downtown orlando right now. If there are events are hardrock or the groove it may be worth it.
Have fun. As you may be able to tell Harry Potter is a guilty pleasure and if your girl loves it she will be thrilled as hell to see it. Its like walking into the book.
