2 hr waiting for Hary Poter today! It is insane!

[minniemosa]

And I do not know that we can not acces any pasrt of HP area.We must do the line to enter also to the dragons rollercoaster.I though today will be lees people,,,,wrong....

 

[Metro West]

And I do not know that we can not acces any pasrt of HP area.We must do the line to enter also to the dragons rollercoaster.I though today will be lees people,,,,wrong....

WOW...where are all these people coming from?

 

[Luv2Roam]

We were there this morning -- first timers in that area. (And it has been over 2 years since we have been to USO/IoA.) We figured it should not be as crazy busy being it is after the first of the year and a weekday. (As good as it will get anyway.)
We were planning to arrive around 10 am. But were there probably between 9 - 9:30.
We walked down the Suess side, and once we got near to HP, then it became a Haunted Mansion entrance type crowd.
We easily got in and DH was a walk on for the dragon ride.
Meanwhile I waited for Butter Beer. They ran out and after probably 10 minutes I gave up on the refresher to be available.
When DH got off the dragon ride he said it was PACKED with a sea of people. He called me and once he reached me that is when I gave up on the Butter Beer for then.
The wait line in the castle ride was ridiculous with no real line and no control in the end of the mass area. But again made it through that in probably an hour.
About 11:00 seemed it would have been a good time to arrive as the crowd thinned out. But that was VERY brief, or maybe just the timing.
It again turned into a bad day crowd in Fantasyland.
After being smacked with numerous backpacks, people blocking all areas snapping photos every minute, we finally just left.
Couldn't even move around in stores. No way would have stood in those long lines to buy anything.
Glad we went. But it was like NYE in MK. I can't imagine it on a hot summer day. Couldn't pay me to go there then. Just seemed like an out of control over crowded area.
And thank goodness neither of us had a bag. That wait line was real ugly in the castle ride.
We would have taken the single riders line but we never saw it. There was a 5 minute wait on that.

I was talking to a neighbor who said they went the day before Thanksgiving. They even had to wait in line to leave the area.

 

[MEBT315]

That is not good news! Hope you had a good visit anyway!

 

[Luv2Roam]

It was a nice visit, considering the crowd. They really could have done a MUCH better job in crowd control and make it more enjoyable. The "lines" were often just a free for all, except places that were truly roped off.
Glad we went. Glad to leave. Sure did not want to linger though, even with beautiful weather today.
DH was surprised at how little is in that area. (Basically three rides, three shops and a counter service restaurant, correct?)
But I was expecting that.
I cannot imagine they do not expand that area.
The profits alone on the Butter Beer must be CRAZY! (Which is good stuff, BTW.)
Wonderful theming though! Great job.

In the castle que area they really need to keep the guests moving or have areas people can step to the side and snap photos. Could not hardly walk 5 steps without coming to a dead stop for photo ops. And of course none were quick. It was really annoying to have constant FLASH in front from multiple people. Felt like it was a paparazzi que.

 

[Pumbaa7287]

There are rumors that the Lost Continent area will be taken over to make more Harry Potter attractions... Also, there is a separate queue for a 'castle tour' where people can take pictures without holding up people in the actual line.

 

[Metro West]

There are rumors that the Lost Continent area will be taken over to make more Harry Potter attractions... Also, there is a separate queue for a 'castle tour' where people can take pictures without holding up people in the actual line.

That's a great idea.

 

[Luv2Roam]

We were in the bagless que. And thank goodness we had no bags. The regular line looked horrendous and chaotic from what little we saw.
I did not see a hotel tour sign. But was not looking for it either.

I assumed all the flashers in our que were able to fit their cameras in a pocket since there was no bags, etc, allowed.
I thought PotC was bad with constant flash photographers. PotC is nothing compared to what we experienced today. I have never seen it that bad anywhere. It was ridiculous.
We really meant to take the single riders line, but never saw it.
We saw the Express pass entrance.
And entering the bagless que I was in front of DH, and we walked into a dark room, with metal que dividers painted black. (Which made no sense to me.) A team member was yelling, "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" (Talk about feeling like cattle.)
I suspect the single rider que was somewhere in the dark Hurry room , as we did not see it anywhere along the way to the ride.
Whenever we do return, I want to find out before entering where the single rider line is. And I forewarn others to do the same, if that is what they want.
Could be I just did not see any signage due to the dense mass of people.
Although when riding a ride for the first time I like to go through the que, if the line is not God awful long, to see the surroundings.
And admit to not being well versed on this area. We were not in a hurry, so did not research in advance.

Great ride, and DH and I were both pleasantly surprised at the length. We were expecting a shorter ride.

Overall the area is done very well -- hence the popularity. The downside really stems from lack of crowd control and flow in the area. I cannot imagine when the crowding is worse in there. And I am sure it is.
Believe me we have been in horrible crowds for HHN. Once we had to go with the crowd only because you could not move enough not to just follow the mass of bodies. It was not that bad today. But I would hate to be there when it is any worse than what we experienced.

I was just pleased we did not have to stand in a long wait line to enter.

 

[damo]

Go in the castle and go left up the stairs for single rider, go straight for the normal line. It is so dark in that first area that it is impossible to see anything.

If you want to do the castle tour only, you need to ask a TM.

 

[LSUwest]

We were there today also. It was crazy. We had tried yesterday but the crowds were too large. Went to US today with plans to hit wwohp late afternoon evening. Got to wwohP at 4. Waited 25 minutes for a buutter bear and finally sucked it up and waited 75 minutes for FJ at 5pm. Crowd control was bad and can second that lines were a free for all. Lived in new Orleans and would compare parts of the village to bourbon street on mardi GRAS day. Sorry for typos. Typed on my iPhone from wdw

 

[the Dark Marauder]

WOW...where are all these people coming from?

Seriously. The first week of January is fickle, but wow!

 

[debbiemomto4]

Just came back. WWOHP was definitely crowded. We stayed at HHR so we did get in an hour earlier that helped. The first day there which was 1/1 went at like 7 and there were less crowd. Waited an hour. On 1/3 we were there and the line was ridiculous in the evening but then we went up to the cm at gate and asked them how long the line that snaked around and he said if you don't have bags you can go into the line in the castle gardens. The line was for lockers! I don't think the people working there are doing a good job controlling the line at all.
The ride itself is fantastic though!

 

[ducky_love]

I can't believe the crowds are still this heavy! The first 2 weeks of Jan are normally a prime time to go!! I have been giving ppl bad advise...

 

[damo]

I can't believe the crowds are still this heavy! The first 2 weeks of Jan are normally a prime time to go!! I have been giving ppl bad advise...

Amazing how many people have listened to you and gone now. It must be all your fault!!!

 

[alohamom]

yikes - I'm getting scared here...we are thinking to go early May but now I dont know what to do!!!

 

[ducky_love]

Amazing how many people have listened to you and gone now. It must be all your fault!!!

But it sort of tells you that all bets are off for this year. We just won't know about crowds until the dates get here.

And it is "advice" not "advise" - I hate it when I type too fast and make dumb spelling errors.

 

[wdwprncess77]

I just got back from IOA. Figured it's first week of January so couldn't be that bad. Went around 11 am over to park. Only wanted to ride FJ, buy a gryffindor scarf and go on my merry way. Definately expected to wait on line but I've NEVER seen anything like what I just experienced.

Got into park, went through seuss back to Hogsmeade and then was sent across a bridge to enter from Jurassic Park side. Over there was told to get on this line for 60 minutes or get a return time ahead for my party. I specifically asked if the 60 minute wait was the wait time to enter Hogwarts or until I got on the ride. Employee said "it's 60 minutes!". ok Great - Got return time for 12:20 (it was 11:30 so went for a walk). Went back around to other side of hogsmeade and told them I just want to go buy my scarf before coming back for my time. THERE is where I was told that the return time was the time I was allowed to enter the land. Only then I could stand on the 90-120 minute line for FJ. I'm sorry, I pay and then have to make an appointment to get in to stand in line????

I left. Universal is receiving a letter from me requesting a refund for this ridiculousness. I gave away my return time to some lovely people at the front gate so by the time they made it there they could go right in. At least it worked for someone.

Note to Universal - give out return times in the front of the park so people can disperse and not crowd in the one tiny section waiting to get in. Also, tell your employees to be clear that the return time is to get in not to get on the ride. I can only imagine how annoyed people were that waited on that line thinking it was a ride.

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

I'm guessing some of the craziness was due to Christmas being so late this year that some schools were still on break. My nieces in Colorado just went back today (Wednesday). I'm really hoping that is the reason because we are coming in February and I am NOT a big crowd type person.

 

[aburns84]

We went on the 10th of December. The lines were not bad. It was around a 20 minute wait for most of the harry potter rides. Everything else on the Isle of Adventure side was virtually walk on with 5 minute waits. Anyone going to Universal for Harry Potter should go there first. I went back trying to have a second attempt on the Forbidden Journey Ride in the afternoon and the wait was over an hour. It really depends what time you can go. It does not help that the Harry Potter area is super popular still. It is well worth the wait. If you have an extra day while visiting Orlando I would highly recommend checking out the Harry Potter section at Isle of Adventure. Also, the Grinch breakfast is awesome! I love Disney and the main purpose of our trip was a week stay at Disney World but near the end it was nice to be somewhere a little less cutesy and adult.

 

[crostorfer]

It has to be the last of the Christmas break people coupled with the foriegn people on holiday. I was there in September and we got there at opening and walked on everything. Had to wait about a half hour for Ollivander's. Waited about 15 minutes for Butterbeer and walked into 3 Broomsticks about 11:30 am for lunch with no wait. Never waited for a bathroom. This crowd will die down later this month and then surge again over President's Day and through March and April for Spring Breaks and Easter. By early May it will lull again until closer to Memorial Day.