Harry Potter- Wizarding World FAQ

[mesaboy2]

Does the Wizarding World open at 9AM like the the rest of the park? Should we head there first in the morning?

It opens an hour earlier than park open for resort guests, and at park open for all others. Early in the morning or late in the day are typically the least crowded times at any theme park.

 

[macraven]

hey mesaboy, good to see you back posting on the darkside.


got a trip planned soon?

 

[mesaboy2]

hey mesaboy, good to see you back posting on the darkside.

got a trip planned soon?

Thanks, mac! I'd come over here more often but I worry that my info would be out-of-date and steer somebody wrong. So I mostly lurk. Will definitely be back, but nothing in the immediate future. Patiently waiting for that badly-kept secret in the Studios to finish up and open next summer I guess.

 

[LittlePoca]

Touching on the subject of the HP Expansion...

What do you think Universal is going to do with HP now being in both IoA AND Universal? Will it be required to have a park-to-park pass to use the train (since you're technically going from one park to the next?)

Yes you will need part to park tickets to visit both lands... They will have a ticket window similar to a real train station for guests to upgrade

I'm a little confused Does this mean that the new HP attractions are being built in the main US park, rather than IOA? Or will you only need to buy tickets to both parks if you want to see the train station at the other end?

 

[nemofans]

The new HP stuff being built will be in Univ Studios park, not IOA, w/Hogwarts Express running between the 2. If you want to see both areas, then you will need tix for both parks. If you want to ride the train between the 2 areas, then you will need park to park tix.

 

[LittlePoca]

The new HP stuff being built will be in Univ Studios park, not IOA, w/Hogwarts Express running between the 2. If you want to see both areas, then you will need tix for both parks. If you want to ride the train between the 2 areas, then you will need park to park tix.

Thanks for clearing that up for me!

That seems a really bizarre thing to do!? Do you know why they've chosen to do that? Is it just to make more money with the extra ticket sales?
Also, when I was there last year, I rode Dragon Challenge and saw construction going on right beside it. Anyone know what that could have been??

I'm going to WDW/IOA in 2014 and was looking forward to seeing the expansion, but there's no way I can afford park to park tickets, so I'm pretty bummed by this news

 

[mesaboy2]

Thanks for clearing that up for me!

That seems a really bizarre thing to do!? Do you know why they've chosen to do that? Is it just to make more money with the extra ticket sales?
Also, when I was there last year, I rode Dragon Challenge and saw construction going on right beside it. Anyone know what that could have been??

I'm going to WDW/IOA in 2014 and was looking forward to seeing the expansion, but there's no way I can afford park to park tickets, so I'm pretty bummed by this news

It is a very unusual arrangement for sure. I'm not sure there's another attraction anywhere that straddles two parks with separate admissions.

While I suppose a case could be made that this is partly a money-grab, I think it has more to do with spreading crowds more evenly across the two parks. The train is a natural fit between the two HP lands and is an innovative concept for the theme parks. The train route will border DC, so it seems likely that is the construction you saw.

If I may, it doesn't seem to me that park-hopper tickets are that much more cost-prohibitive than standard tickets, especially with a year or so of advance planning on your side.

 

[LittlePoca]

Ah, the train route, that makes sense!

And thank you for mentioning about the tickets, I had just assumed in my head that park to park tickets would be twice the price of a normal ticket, however I just looked it up and now see that in reality it's only about £30 more. That sounds a bit better for sure!

I'm panicking a little about funds for this trip, as we originally had it planned for this year, but had to postpone it due to lack of money But I guess I should check in future before I start to panic too much!

 

[MommaBearof4]

My friend and I are big Harry Potter fans but not that into coasters.

At first we were just going to skip over the Dragon Challenge ride but then I heard that there was some things to see in the line itself. Now I'm wondering if there is enough interesting things there that it would be worth it to take a walk though the line if the wait is short enough?

Moonwolf, the staff at dragon challenge are awesome. They let me walk up and take pics without going on the ride. We had the express pass, so I had ridden the coaster earlier and there were so many fabulous things I wanted pictures of that I went back just for the pics. When I got to where the express line entered on the right and the regular line entered on the left, I thanked him and turned to leave. That's when he stopped me and told me that I wanted to go thru the regular line because there was a lot more to see that way.

Having said all of that, I am not a fan of roller coasters and only did it, both sides because it was HP. It wasn't too scary. I enjoyed it and have done it numerous times since then

 

[babynala]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the great information on this thread. We are headed to Universal in about a month and my DD is a big HP fan. With all the advice on here I know she will have a great experience.

 

[schumigirl]

Ah, the train route, that makes sense!

And thank you for mentioning about the tickets, I had just assumed in my head that park to park tickets would be twice the price of a normal ticket, however I just looked it up and now see that in reality it's only about £30 more. That sounds a bit better for sure!

I'm panicking a little about funds for this trip, as we originally had it planned for this year, but had to postpone it due to lack of money But I guess I should check in future before I start to panic too much!

Have you looked at the UK tickets for Universal?

The 14 day Unlimited park to park is around £99....works out cheaper and better value than most of the tickets offered for us.

Even if you don`t use every day on it, it`s a fantastic price.

 

[spima3]

I was so very excited when I checked back here and found the expansion for HP. I was planning a trip for early this summer, but will probably wait now for the expansion to be finished.

I think the train between the two parks will be awesome! It will also give me more time to save $$. With DD18 starting college this year, there is going to be a less $$ now to put towards an expensive vacation.

 

[Aljo]

My daughter went in 2011 and we will be going this August.

Is the locker line still on the right and the ride line on the left?

The castle tour is actually the queue before the ride itself or something else entirely?

If i want to take photos inside the castle, can I do that, or do I need to check my camera, it's a point and shoot but a bulky one, almost looks like an SLR

Thanks so much!

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

My daughter went in 2011 and we will be going this August.

Is the locker line still on the right and the ride line on the left?

The castle tour is actually the queue before the ride itself or something else entirely?

If i want to take photos inside the castle, can I do that, or do I need to check my camera, it's a point and shoot but a bulky one, almost looks like an SLR

Thanks so much!

1). There's no separation between locker and ride lines anymore. Everyone goes down the left side (or, if it's really busy, into an outdoor queue and then into the castle).

2). The Castle Tour has its own portrait gallery that is different in layout than the portrait gallery in the regular queue (this one has stairs), but runs parallel to the regular queue starting in Dumbledore's Office.

3). If your camera doesn't fit in a pocket, it will need to be stored in a locker. If you go on the Castle Tour you'll be able to bring your camera with you.

 

[Aljo]

2). The Castle Tour has its own portrait gallery that is different in layout than the portrait gallery in the regular queue (this one has stairs), but runs parallel to the regular queue starting in Dumbledore's Office.

thank you! If I'm understanding correctly, I should get on the "ride" line first and after riding, I then can go back to the "castle tour only" line so I can take my time and take photos walking throughout the castle. I've read that sometimes the "castle tour" line is closed, especially during peak season, is that true? We are going in August. I would love to do both the ride and the castle tour.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

thank you! If I'm understanding correctly, I should get on the "ride" line first and after riding, I then can go back to the "castle tour only" line so I can take my time and take photos walking throughout the castle. I've read that sometimes the "castle tour" line is closed, especially during peak season, is that true? We are going in August. I would love to do both the ride and the castle tour.

Generally, when the wait is 90 minutes or more they will shut down the castle tour line. However at the end of the night there's usually a short wait and the tour should be open

 

[igo4yellin]

Thanks for clearing that up for me!

That seems a really bizarre thing to do!? Do you know why they've chosen to do that? Is it just to make more money with the extra ticket sales?
Also, when I was there last year, I rode Dragon Challenge and saw construction going on right beside it. Anyone know what that could have been??

I'm going to WDW/IOA in 2014 and was looking forward to seeing the expansion, but there's no way I can afford park to park tickets, so I'm pretty bummed by this news

Really? There's "no way" you can afford two park tickets? I'm nobody to judge another person's financial situation - but perhaps if taking a vacation is within ~$40 of breaking the bank, you need to re-prioritize and not take the vacation in the first place.

 

[LittlePoca]

Really? There's "no way" you can afford two park tickets? I'm nobody to judge another person's financial situation - but perhaps if taking a vacation is within ~$40 of breaking the bank, you need to re-prioritize and not take the vacation in the first place.

No, you're not anyone to judge. And if you actually read what I said then you would realise that I thought it would cost much more than an extra £30 until I checked. Please don't give advice that isn't asked for. It's not appreciated.

 

[mbrou24]

No, you're not anyone to judge. And if you actually read what I said then you would realise that I thought it would cost much more than an extra £30 until I checked. Please don't give advice that isn't asked for. It's not appreciated.

To answer you're other question. The construction on the side of dragon challenege is for the hogwarts express hogsmeade station

 

[snoopboop]

No, you're not anyone to judge. And if you actually read what I said then you would realise that I thought it would cost much more than an extra £30 until I checked. Please don't give advice that isn't asked for. It's not appreciated.

Hey, YOU said you couldn't afford park-to-park tickets. This implied that you'd checked prices. (Otherwise, how would you know whether or not you could afford it!?) Yes, you said later that you'd made an assumption... but this poster was replying to your original post (and QUOTED the exact section to which they were replying, even!).

You came here asking for information/advice. They gave it. Why get snarky about that? Sheesh.