Harry Potter- Wizarding World FAQ

[Agent24601]

i miss it already....

 

[vleeth]

I found an old thread that said the ATM shows up as Grignotts on the reciept. I'd like to do this, but first I want to know how much in fees I have to pay to use it. Anyone know?

Also, we're getting there early for our early-entry, taking the short-cut to wwohp and hitting Olivanders first. Where is the best/quickest place to park the stroller? I'll looked on youtube videos and I don't see a stroller parking area. Should I leave it under the shaded area near the owl post?

Thanks for all your help...sooo excited!

 

[disneyjr77]

We are planning one day visit to Universal, mainly b/c of WWHP. I think kids in our party all read the books and watched the movies so it was a must for them. I am planning of taking them on Aug 27,Mon. I know that southern schools have started at this point and I wanted to avoid the weekend crowd. We'll try to get there supper early and hit WWHP first thing and plan on spending rest of day at both parks. The kids aren't really into big roller coaster rides. They could do Thunder Mt sort of ride but no more scary than that. So we are naturally planning on watching shows and mild rides.
Do we need express pass?

We were there the last week of august 2010 and bought the express pass at the entrance to IOA only to find that we didn't need it. I def recommend waiting to see how the crowds are and DON'T buy them as you're walking in. The girl told us that we better buy them then because as the day goes on and it gets more crowded the price on them goes up...is this the case who knows, but we fell for it and wasted a chunk of money.

 

[Muslickz]

lol they will tell you anything to get the extra buck I guess sometimes

-M

 

[Somnus]

I love HP and I want to know what to expect in the lines in the first week of june. I travel with a bunch of non-Potter-fans with low patience.

I'm calculating like and hour for the FJ and to eat in the Three Broom sticks and 40 minutes per store (except Ollivanders) Am I too optimistic?

 

[luvleedeas]

DO YOU NEED ADVANCE RESERVATIONS FOR THIS RESTAURANT?

 

[alexensmom]

We leave for WDW Friday and plan to hit IOA one day next week so DD can experience WWoHP. I have started to panic though, because I dont know a thing about Universal. Would love some help:

We are planning to go 1/2 hr before park opening, hit HP area and then leave that area when it gets busy. Probably leave the park 2-3:00 so DS can take a nap in the car then plan to head back at 6:00 to hit WWoHP while the crowds are lower. I have read to hit Olivanders first, then FJ. Is there any other tips here? It will be me with DS (too small for FJ) and DD (HP geek.)

Which other attractions would DS like in IOA? He is just over 40" and all boy. Likes coasters (Goofys Barnstormer.) Universal's site keeps showing "down for routine maintenance" today . Can anyone tell me if FJ is the only ride DS isnt tall enough for?

Does anyone have a fav place to park their stroller while in WWoHP or the other areas? DS doesnt need it frequently, just like to have it when he is really tired in the afternoon and evening. Nothing like carrying a cranky kid to the car.

Thanks!!!!!

 

[mesaboy2]

DO YOU NEED ADVANCE RESERVATIONS FOR THIS RESTAURANT?

Don't exactly understand why you're shouting and stirring, but....

You do not need a reservation for lunch or dinner. Breakfast is generally reserved, but you may be able to get in by waiting outside the restaurant.

 

[Sandy321]

Don't exactly understand why you're shouting and stirring, but....

You do not need a reservation for lunch or dinner. Breakfast is generally reserved, but you may be able to get in by waiting outside the restaurant.

we went during spring break and ate 2 different days for breakfast - without a reservation, there were plenty of people coming up to the TM holding a clipboard that had reservations, we just asked if we could eat without reservations - no problem.

We also went in one night to get the butter beer and a dessert - and yes, we went in just to get the butter beer - shorter line! (shhhh don't tell anyone! ;-) )

 

[Magistra]

We leave for WDW Friday and plan to hit IOA one day next week so DD can experience WWoHP. I have started to panic though, because I dont know a thing about Universal. Would love some help:

We are planning to go 1/2 hr before park opening, hit HP area and then leave that area when it gets busy. Probably leave the park 2-3:00 so DS can take a nap in the car then plan to head back at 6:00 to hit WWoHP while the crowds are lower. I have read to hit Olivanders first, then FJ. Is there any other tips here? It will be me with DS (too small for FJ) and DD (HP geek.)

Which other attractions would DS like in IOA? He is just over 40" and all boy. Likes coasters (Goofys Barnstormer.) Universal's site keeps showing "down for routine maintenance" today . Can anyone tell me if FJ is the only ride DS isnt tall enough for?

Does anyone have a fav place to park their stroller while in WWoHP or the other areas? DS doesnt need it frequently, just like to have it when he is really tired in the afternoon and evening. Nothing like carrying a cranky kid to the car.

Thanks!!!!!

Sounds like you've got a good plan for WWoHP -- the advice to hit Ollivanders first is good. We went during a pretty uncrowded time and though the lines dropped in the evening to nothing for nearly everything, Ollivanders still had a half-queue wait, and that line moves slowly. I paid for a subscription to a website that had lots of WWoHP and IOA information and I found it worth it. If it's something you're interested in, a search engine will probably pull it up.

If you've never been to IOA (I hadn't), you might want to study the park map in advance so you can get to WWoHP quickly - I found the park very overwhelming and would probably have gotten off track if I had not studied in advance -- you really want to get in that Ollivanders queue as soon as possible, you can go back and see other things later.

Our kids loved the rides in the Seuss area and the play area in Jurassic Park, called Camp Jurassic Park -- there is a water cannons area that can be a lot of fun if it's a hot day.

Can't help you with stroller parking.

Have fun!

Best, Marjorie

 

[Metro West]

DO YOU NEED ADVANCE RESERVATIONS FOR THIS RESTAURANT?

Counter service restaurants do not take reservations.

 

[damo]

I love HP and I want to know what to expect in the lines in the first week of june. I travel with a bunch of non-Potter-fans with low patience.

I'm calculating like and hour for the FJ and to eat in the Three Broom sticks and 40 minutes per store (except Ollivanders) Am I too optimistic?

I don't think you aren't being too optimistic at all. In fact, it probably won't take that long.

 

[CarolineB]

I love HP and I want to know what to expect in the lines in the first week of june. I travel with a bunch of non-Potter-fans with low patience.

I'm calculating like and hour for the FJ and to eat in the Three Broom sticks and 40 minutes per store (except Ollivanders) Am I too optimistic?

I would just plan a meeting time and place around lunch time and meet back up with those non-Potter fans. I wouldn't want to be stressed about having to rush through my HP experience.

The last day of school for Orange County is June 7 so mid week should be better than say Friday.

 

[tootsie562]

Have a question. I'm sorry if it was already covered but I didn't see it. I am going to and staying at Disney the end of June but we were going to Universal for a day. Is there a shuttle to get you back and fourth? I think when I booked my trip about 6 months ago, that someone said it was included when you bought a ticket to Universal.

Help.
Ellisa

 

[damo]

Have a question. I'm sorry if it was already covered but I didn't see it. I am going to and staying at Disney the end of June but we were going to Universal for a day. Is there a shuttle to get you back and fourth? I think when I booked my trip about 6 months ago, that someone said it was included when you bought a ticket to Universal.

Help.
Ellisa

Dreams Unlimited (who run this site) have a ticket with transfer.

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/universal/

 

[wildekatza]

Hello, just joined today and am already asking my first question:

I have a weak lower back. I was told by several friends recently (who really are wishy washy on certain information items) that the FJ was too rough to ride and that the DD ride in WWoHP would actually be smoother on my lower back? I try to baby my back as much as I can so am checking to see what the general concensus on this is. Also, son and I are going for the first time EVER to US and IOA the week of the 21st of this month. Any suggestions? Crowd calendars show mostly red. We are staying on site so that will help. Surely kids are still in school during the week??? Any other suggestions on rides to def avoid that would be jarring to the lower back?
Thanks in advance all!

 

[damo]

Hello, just joined today and am already asking my first question:

I have a weak lower back. I was told by several friends recently (who really are wishy washy on certain information items) that the FJ was too rough to ride and that the DD ride in WWoHP would actually be smoother on my lower back? I try to baby my back as much as I can so am checking to see what the general concensus on this is. Also, son and I are going for the first time EVER to US and IOA the week of the 21st of this month. Any suggestions? Crowd calendars show mostly red. We are staying on site so that will help. Surely kids are still in school during the week??? Any other suggestions on rides to def avoid that would be jarring to the lower back?
Thanks in advance all!

I don't find FJ jarring at all. There is a lot of movement but it is smooth movement.

 

[wildekatza]

Thanks,Damo! That was music to my ears! Was looking fwd to this first trip and am already missing out on a number of the rides I think for my back.
Good thing DS isnt a fast coaster type of boy!

 

[alexensmom]

Sounds like you've got a good plan for WWoHP -- the advice to hit Ollivanders first is good. We went during a pretty uncrowded time and though the lines dropped in the evening to nothing for nearly everything, Ollivanders still had a half-queue wait, and that line moves slowly. I paid for a subscription to a website that had lots of WWoHP and IOA information and I found it worth it. If it's something you're interested in, a search engine will probably pull it up.

If you've never been to IOA (I hadn't), you might want to study the park map in advance so you can get to WWoHP quickly - I found the park very overwhelming and would probably have gotten off track if I had not studied in advance -- you really want to get in that Ollivanders queue as soon as possible, yoYu can go back and see other things later.

Our kids loved the rides in the Seuss area and the play area in Jurassic Park, called Camp Jurassic Park -- there is a water cannons area that can be a lot of fun if it's a hot day.

Can't help you with stroller parking.

Have fun!

Best, Marjorie

Thanks for the advise! We are actually in Jacksonville on our way to WDW!! Didn't have any more time this week for planning since we were packing and DD had three softball games, so I'm throwing caution to the wind. I have been studying the IOA map. DS is too small for many of the rides so DD said she will gladly do Spider Man and Cat in the Hat area since we are going to wwohp just for her. She said she doesn't want to buy a wand at Olivander's so if we hit it first, it won't be taking up much time.

Thanks again!!! Two more hours!!!

 

[Magistra]

Thanks for the advise! We are actually in Jacksonville on our way to WDW!! [snip]
area since we are going to wwohp just for her. She said she doesn't want to buy a wand at Olivander's so if we hit it first, it won't be taking up much time.

Thanks again!!! Two more hours!!!

This may be too late for you, but thought I'd post it for other readers - lots of the HP merchandise is also sold in the big trading post in the port of entry area so if the crowds are too much in the WWoHP shops, you can get a lot of items at the port of entry shop. They have Pygmy puffs and crookshanks and several character wands (but maybe not as many as Ollivanders). I was pleased to see we didn't have to go back to Filch's Emporium outside of FG to get a cat for dd as they had them at the port of entry trading post.