Universal FAQ's

[Boatingmom]

Is it necessary to see a HP movie to appreciate WWOHP? If so which one?

 

[glocon]

My in-laws went without seeing any of the movies first, and said it was their favorite part of the park anywany. But I think that seeing at least the first movie (there are parts of the first four movies in the WWoHP) would make it all more magical.

Besides, the movies are pretty good (not as good as the books though).

 

[macraven]

Is it necessary to see a HP movie to appreciate WWOHP? If so which one?

i always hit the parry hotter section of the park on my visits.
even go there every day of my vacation stay.

i have never read the books.
i tried very hard to watch one of the movies.
i gave up after an hour.
just wasn't my thing.

tried another one of the movies a couple years later but only made it through 30 minutes of it.
just didn't appeal to me.


i don't have the knowledge from the books or movies but still truly enjoy parry hotter.
you don't have to read the books or see the movies in order to appreciate that portion of IOA.
once you are there, it all fits together and makes sense.

i do ollivanders, the rides, hit the shops, visit with the TM's, take pictures for my friends, eat at the 3 B's and spend a good amount of time there.

nothing is taken away from me since i am not familiar with the background.
you catch on to the whole theme once you are there.




it is a fun place to be!

 

[lam]

Hi we are coming over to Disney for 14 days from Ireland.
Mum just loves Harry Potter and as a surprise, I got all 3 of us 1 day tix for IOA.

I'm trying to 'juggle' ADR 's etc for vars restaurants and shows and basically we can now only visit IOA on Easter Sunday 31/3 or the Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday thereafter.

We are staying on-site in Disney hotel but have NO transport. We read we can get a Mears Shuttle or a cab.

I read on Undercover Tourist crowd calendar that visiting IOA on Easter Sunday would be best BUT another 'busy day' guide tells me to avoid Sunday & go Monday

Mum really only want to see HP (but my son will love Jurassic too)
I'm confused about which day to go
How to get there
What time to get there.

Help?

Thanks

lam

 

[Metro West]

I read on Undercover Tourist crowd calendar that visiting IOA on Easter Sunday would be best BUT another 'busy day' guide tells me to avoid Sunday & go Monday

Mum really only want to see HP (but my son will love Jurassic too)
I'm confused about which day to go
How to get there
What time to get there.

Help?

Thanks

lam

It's hard to guess because that's right around Spring Break and the parks will be busy. I would suggest going on which ever day fits your plans better and make sure you get there early. Both parks are open until 10PM so you should be able to do whatever you want without too many issues.

IoA opens at 9AM either day and unless there are many people waiting to get in, the gates will not open early. However, there should be a sufficient number that the gates might open early both days. So...I would plan on arriving around 8:30AM or so...just to be sure.

 

[Thumper_Man]

i always hit the parry hotter section of the park on my visits.
even go there every day of my vacation stay.

i have never read the books.
i tried very hard to watch one of the movies.
i gave up after an hour.
just wasn't my thing.

tried another one of the movies a couple years later but only made it through 30 minutes of it.
just didn't appeal to me.


i don't have the knowledge from the books or movies but still truly enjoy parry hotter.
you don't have to read the books or see the movies in order to appreciate that portion of IOA.
once you are there, it all fits together and makes sense.

i do ollivanders, the rides, hit the shops, visit with the TM's, take pictures for my friends, eat at the 3 B's and spend a good amount of time there.

nothing is taken away from me since i am not familiar with the background.
you catch on to the whole theme once you are there.




it is a fun place to be!

Sorry raven, but I have to laugh at this and your location tag. You're in Tom Felton's house yet you haven't' seen a complete HP movie. I bet that goes over well with him.

 

[englishrose47]

I haven't watched a movie or read a HP book and I still LOVED Harry Pooter World !!Could be the English comong out !!!

 

[keishashadow]

wanted to take GD for her first visit to U for one day next January pre- or post-cruise. She'll be lucky to hit the 36 inch mark so it won't take long to tour. Cannot believe I forgot to check this year's January park hours in attempt to figure out which days might have more park time next year.

Options are either the first Saturday of the month (1/4/14) or either Thursday, Friday or Saturday the following week.

Trying to figure out which date might have longest hours and what that time park closure is traditionally those dates in January: 6:00 pm or 7:00 pm? Any guesses?

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

wanted to take GD for her first visit to U for one day next January pre- or post-cruise. She'll be lucky to hit the 36 inch mark so it won't take long to tour. Cannot believe I forgot to check this year's January park hours in attempt to figure out which days might have more park time next year.

Options are either the first Saturday of the month (1/4/14) or either Thursday, Friday or Saturday the following week.

Trying to figure out which date might have longest hours and what that time park closure is traditionally those dates in January: 6:00 pm or 7:00 pm? Any guesses?

Generally, early in the month the park is open later. However, I would strongly advise against going on Saturday the 4th. The parks are packed! I would stick to Thursday the following week. The hours may be shorter (probably 7), but you won't be packed in like sardines.

There weren't any 6 PM closures in January or February this year for IOA, I believe. Right now the parks close at 7. Next week it goes up to 8.

 

[keishashadow]

Generally, early in the month the park is open later. However, I would strongly advise against going on Saturday the 4th. The parks are packed! I would stick to Thursday the following week. The hours may be shorter (probably 7), but you won't be packed in like sardines.

There weren't any 6 PM closures in January or February this year for IOA, I believe. Right now the parks close at 7. Next week it goes up to 8.

is it busy because it's the weekend after New Years or is there something else going on i'm missing?

know there's a marathon the following weekend at WDW.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

is it busy because it's the weekend after New Years or is there something else going on i'm missing?

know there's a marathon the following weekend at WDW.

Because of New Year's. The crowds will not have had time to die down yet. The later on in January you get, the quieter the parks become. The only bothersome thing is that it is a big time for Brazilian tour groups! But I would take them over 2+ hour waits, any day.

 

[Dis*Mom]

My family and I are planning a Universal/Disney trip in June. We have been to Disney many times but this will be our first time to Universal. We are planning on staying at one of the Universal onsite hotels for the first 2 nights. I have 2 questions;

1 - We will be arriving on Sunday evening to check in - if you book a package, can you get your tickets at the hotel when you check in?

2 - Can we go ahead and visit the parks that evening?

 

[englishrose47]

My family and I are planning a Universal/Disney trip in June. We have been to Disney many times but this will be our first time to Universal. We are planning on staying at one of the Universal onsite hotels for the first 2 nights. I have 2 questions;

1 - We will be arriving on Sunday evening to check in - if you book a package, can you get your tickets at the hotel when you check in?

2 - Can we go ahead and visit the parks that evening?

When you say evening ,how late do you mean ?? The parks prolly close between 8 and 9p . We had to get our tickets at the park , we had a voucher for them so I am not sure about getting them at the Hotel, we couldn't get our vouchers exchanged for actual tickets at the hotel !!

 

[damo]

My family and I are planning a Universal/Disney trip in June. We have been to Disney many times but this will be our first time to Universal. We are planning on staying at one of the Universal onsite hotels for the first 2 nights. I have 2 questions;

1 - We will be arriving on Sunday evening to check in - if you book a package, can you get your tickets at the hotel when you check in?

2 - Can we go ahead and visit the parks that evening?

Have you booked a package yet? It really isn't the best way to go. Book your hotel here http://www.loewshotels.com/en/booking/uo?hotel=UEPBH,UEHRH,UERPR and get your tickets through undercover tourist.

That way you can make any changes easily without penalty and you don't need to pay in full until you check out. Tickets are cheaper at undercover tourist also. They will send you actual tickets that don't need to be exchanged.

 

[Dis*Mom]

Thank you Englishrose and Damo for the information. We hope to arrive around 5:00 p.m. and we have not booked a package yet - just wanted to know our options. I will look at the link for the hotel. One more question, my husband is military. Do you know if the hotel would offer a military discount? Thanks again for your help.

 

[damo]

Thank you Englishrose and Damo for the information. We hope to arrive around 5:00 p.m. and we have not booked a package yet - just wanted to know our options. I will look at the link for the hotel. One more question, my husband is military. Do you know if the hotel would offer a military discount? Thanks again for your help.

Yes, use the code MIL in the link http://www.loewshotels.com/en/booking/uo?hotel=UEPBH,UEHRH,UERPR It is a very nice discount!

 

[HarleyGirl514]

How about a law enforcement discount? Does the Royal Pacific do a discount like that?

 

[keishashadow]

How about a law enforcement discount? Does the Royal Pacific do a discount like that?

no, however, OT since you ask...do you know of any hotels in Orlando that do offer this sort of discount and care to share?

 

[macraven]

Sorry raven, but I have to laugh at this and your location tag. You're in Tom Felton's house yet you haven't' seen a complete HP movie. I bet that goes over well with him.

i missed reading your post............



well, long story short...........
i was complaining that parry hotter was coming to town and got zapped with a Tom Felton tag.


i believe the tag fairy was trying to 'put me in my place' for bad mouthing a very much loved person.



any hoot, i still have not seen the movies or read the books.
i tried to watch 2 of the movies but turned it off early.
wasn't my thing.



but, i do really enjoy parry hotters section at IOA.
it is a fun area to do on each trip.

i tell posters that even if you have never seen the movies or read a book about parry hotter, you still will enjoy the section in the park that most others worship.

 

[kimmyann]

I'm sure this has been asked & answered somewhere... If we buy something (like a wand, which we plan to do first thing) will they hold it or can I pick it up later at the front of the park? I just know that my DD will want a wand & I don't want to have to get a locker just for it since we plan on riding all day. Thanks.