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

[Jason71]

I'm really hoping that is the reason because we are coming in February and I am NOT a big crowd type person.

If you are coming the Presidents Day weekend or that week, you might be in trouble. Otherwise, I imagine it will be back to normal--which is still on the crowded side.

One tip--during crowded times when IoA is open late, lines for everything but Olivanders and FJ seem to drop in the late afternoon, then disappear after dark. Sunday night my friend and I walked right up to the bar in Hogs Head, then had the patio to ourselves. None of the non-wand shops had lines, had a private train on Hippogriff. And the land looks even better after dark.

 

[Luv2Roam]

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.

Great info! Will definitely keep that in mind. I did not see nor hear that info anywhere and the knowledge of the magical stairway would have been great.
I heard some guests yell to one another to "keep left". So we did and did not see anything to our left. We figured we missed it in that dark room.
With the dark room in a castle and someone yelling "HURRY!" repeatedly I thought maybe we time warped into a HHN house.

 

[Timmy Boy]

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.

Sorry that happened, but they are working as hard as they can. BTW, you waited for your return time, went in, and it sounds like they were letting you in. You could have gone in, done FJ single riders, came out, bought your scarf and left. Also, by giving your return time to someone else will just get them in the area, not on the ride.

 

[damo]

Sorry that happened, but they are working as hard as they can. BTW, you waited for your return time, went in, and it sounds like they were letting you in. You could have gone in, done FJ single riders, came out, bought your scarf and left. Also, by giving your return time to someone else will just get them in the area, not on the ride.

I don't see the issue either. Fastpasses at Disney are the same thing. You pay your admission and go to a ride. You either choose to wait in line which could be a few hours, or you get a fastpass to access the ride at a later time. It you only want to ride Toy Story Mania and do nothing else, for example, your experience wouldn't be much different that it was at Wizarding World. You still have to walk to the ride to get the fastpass. They don't give them out at the front of the park.

 

[kalamazoo]

We were there same day as OP. Totally agree, what a nightmare! Spent hours in lines - lines for tickets, lines to get into Harry Potter area, lines to go on FJ, lines for the bathroom, lines for the restaurant (which was the only game in town and if you wanted to eat somewhere else and then go back to see the rest of Harry Potter - too bad - back in line). Lines, lines, lines, lines, LINES!

Totally turned off. I know that crowds were bigger than expected but if I had known how it was organized (very poorly, IMO) I would not have come within 10 ft of Universal/IOA. Imagine having to wait hours in line to get into one of the "lands" at MK and then get back into line for 1+ hrs to ride each ride. Maybe some people are fine with this but not me.

BTW when we were there they were not giving out return time tickets (I would have been happy to go off to do something else rather than stand in line).

Obviously U/IOA has many fans but we were truly exhausted and disheartened from our experience there. And we paid a fortune for the "privilege". Not looking to repeat any time soon.

Oh well, more room for the true U/IOA fans and the unaware, uninitiated.

 

[flfun]

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.[/QUOTE


I agree. Many schools in FL (and across the nation) didn't go back until today, it is an unusally late return date this year and hopefully is what's causing the extended heavy crowds. I was there mid-December and had a wonderful time with low to moderate crowds with a 10 minute wait for Ollivanders, 5 minutes for FJ and no lines shopping or eating. Hopefully, we'll see the heavy crowds disappear by next week.

 

[fairyprincess88]

Im honestly surprised at how surprised people are with the lines and the crowds. It's Harry Potter, the most popular franchise in the world and this "land" is probably the most dreamed about reality for it's fans. Everybody wants in and obviously everyone can not get in at once. Hence lines.

I went 2 weeks after it opened and I knew what it would be like being as I've have stood in 8 hour lines to buy one of the books at midnight. I was pretty certain getting into Hogsmeade was going to be more insane then a book release. So with that in mind I was there at the crack of dawn and prepared for lines. Getting into the land at park opening was easy but by the time I was off FJ the lines for the stores and everything else were huge. So I got in line for each thing I wanted to do and waited my turn. Yes there were lines for everything, including a 3 hour line to get into WWoHP by 10 AM (my late sleeper realitives got stuck in that one) but I expected nothing less. It's Potter, the line for popcorn at the Deathly Hallows release was 45 minutes long. I pretty much figured I wasn't going to stroll into the WWoHP without waits and a lot of patience needed.

Personally I found the staff at Universal to be on top of things to the best of their ability. Especially with a whole lot people thinking that they could just stroll in and play and the constant comments of "if this were Disney..." I wanted to applaud them for their self restraint at not rolling their eyes. I didn't find the lines unorganized, there were big signs that said "WWoHP Standby Entrance" and the stated wait time. Just like any other attraction. The lines were roped off and they always had plenty of TMs stationing the line. Same with the stores and FJ. Lots of people makes thing chaotic period, there is nothing to really do about it but try to keep everyone safe and peaceful.

I am truly sorry for anyone who got caught in the crowds and had an unenjoyable experience, but I just can't understand that people are shocked that they had to wait in line to get into the land. You can not compare Potter to Adventure/Frontier/Fantasy ect Land. It just doesn't measure up, no matter how you spin it. Generic themed lands versus the biggest fantasy franchise in the world. It's apples and oranges. Again, Im sorry for those who had a bad time(as a Potter nerd, I want everyone to experience the joy I did in that amazing area), but the lines, I just can't bring myself to be upset or surpised about.

 

[ChrisFL]

I think IOA is becoming a victim of it's own success with Harry Potter. Honestly ANY time an attraction is that successful, there will be people disappointed with the crowds.

I too am surprised that it's still crowded this week, but it's good for US/IOA

Anyway, I think that Universal should at least make arrangements to clear out some of the un-necessary buildings in front of Hogsmeade (*cough*carnival games*cough) and make some more HP themed things just for people to experience while they wait to enter the main sections or something...all with the approval of J.K. Rowling of course

Just a reminder about the crowds when it first opened:

Disney hasn't seen this kind of crowd for a new attraction since Star Tours opened at DL in 1987

 

[caroli]

Today I went to Universal Studios and the crowds going to IoA were just crazy. We waited like half an hour at morning only to pay fro parking. I Thought things would have slowed down a litlle by now, but I was wrong. Tomorrow I hope I can finally visit WWoHP

 

[tarrbear]

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.

Thats my only complaint about the WWOHP, lack of crowd flow!

But I LOVE your avatar... just saying...

 

[damo]

I think IOA is becoming a victim of it's own success with Harry Potter. Honestly ANY time an attraction is that successful, there will be people disappointed with the crowds.

I too am surprised that it's still crowded this week, but it's good for US/IOA

Anyway, I think that Universal should at least make arrangements to clear out some of the un-necessary buildings in front of Hogsmeade (*cough*carnival games*cough) and make some more HP themed things just for people to experience while they wait to enter the main sections or something...all with the approval of J.K. Rowling of course

Just a reminder about the crowds when it first opened:

Disney hasn't seen this kind of crowd for a new attraction since Star Tours opened at DL in 1987

I agree. If Universal has learned anything from this, it is that an expansion of WWoHP would be a good thing.

 

[Puncek]

I'm getting freaked out now - we leave on Saturday and have plans to go to Universal two days next week. I have the tickets and Express Passes, but I don't know if it's worth it to get a taxi over from Disney two days just to try to wait in line to try to get into the land to try to have a butterbeer and try to ride a ride...yikes!

 

[aubriee]

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.

Today I went to Universal Studios and the crowds going to IoA were just crazy. We waited like half an hour at morning only to pay fro parking. I Thought things would have slowed down a litlle by now, but I was wrong. Tomorrow I hope I can finally visit WWoHP

For the most part I think things have slowed down since opening, but it still depends on when you go. I go to WDW several times a year, but have never had the slightest desire to venture over to Universal, until I read last year that the Harry Potter World was supposed to be open by 'Spring 2010' and that Universal was offering seven day two park tickets for $99.00. I decided to go over there for a couple of days during my May WDW trip just to check it out. I was disappointed HP land wasn't open yet, but fell so in love with Universal that on my first day I upgraded my $99.00 ticket to a Preferred AP. I already had WDW trips booked for mid Oct and early Dec, but as soon as I got back from my May trip I called and booked a late August/early Sept trip just to stay onsite at Universal and didn't even go to WDW that trip. In late August/early Sept I walked onto FJ every morning as an early onsite guest, then sometimes would go back and walk on again using the single rider line. Just about every other ride was a walk on that week. I had considered staying onsite again for just a couple of days in Oct, but due to my Sept experience decided it wasn't necessary, so stayed at Disney the whole week and just used Mears to run over to Universal a couple of days. It just so happened that my Oct WDW trip fell during Columbus Day weekend. I could not believe how the crowds had increased. We had to wait in lines just to get into the candy store and Owl Post. The place was packed. During my Dec WDW trip, I went back over to Universal and had planned two days to get everything done. The place was so empty that I easily did both parks in one day and that includes riding FJ seven times in a row (single rider line) and MiB multiple times (again using single rider line). If you go around a holdiday or when schools are out, there will be crowds. During off season there won't. I have a coworker who just got back from a Disney/Universal trip this past Sunday. They were down there Dec 24th-Jan 2nd. It was their first trip to either WDW or Universal. When she got back she told me she didn't understand why I liked it down there so much or why I went so often. She said it was terrible and they all hated it. Crowds were horrible at both parks and they didn't get to ride hardly anything. I tried to warn her months ago that they were making a mistake going during Christmas and New Years, but she didn't listen. She says there is no way they will ever go back.

 

[damo]

I'm getting freaked out now - we leave on Saturday and have plans to go to Universal two days next week. I have the tickets and Express Passes, but I don't know if it's worth it to get a taxi over from Disney two days just to try to wait in line to try to get into the land to try to have a butterbeer and try to ride a ride...yikes!

Just watch the boards over the next few days to see how the crowds are doing. Sounds like they were down a bit yesterday.

 

[Metro West]

I'm getting freaked out now - we leave on Saturday and have plans to go to Universal two days next week. I have the tickets and Express Passes, but I don't know if it's worth it to get a taxi over from Disney two days just to try to wait in line to try to get into the land to try to have a butterbeer and try to ride a ride...yikes!

If you already purchased the Express Plus passes remember...they are non-refundable and date specific which is why I never recommend buying them ahead of time. I think you will have a great time but the crowds are still here...which is surprising most of us who go a lot during this usual "slow" period. I wouldn't let the crowds for WWoHP put you off. You will breeze through the rest of the attractions with your EP so go and enjoy yourselves.

 

[crostorfer]

I'm getting freaked out now - we leave on Saturday and have plans to go to Universal two days next week. I have the tickets and Express Passes, but I don't know if it's worth it to get a taxi over from Disney two days just to try to wait in line to try to get into the land to try to have a butterbeer and try to ride a ride...yikes!

By next week this will all be a very different story, just don't plan to go over MLK weekend, the crowds will surge again for three or four days. Mid week next week things should slow way down. Don't panic, all of these stories are from HOLIDAY crowds, this isn't an every week through the year kind of thing.

 

[Anjelica]

By next week this will all be a very different story, just don't plan to go over MLK weekend, the crowds will surge again for three or four days. Mid week next week things should slow way down. Don't panic, all of these stories are from HOLIDAY crowds, this isn't an every week through the year kind of thing.

Let's hope - we go down on Friday the 14th for a WDW/US vacation. I plan on going to Universal Studios the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of our vacation so as to avoid the MLK weekend crowds. I am also thinking about avoiding IOA the Tuesday after MLK and just do US that day in case their are "residual" crowds.

 

[eeyoreland]

By next week this will all be a very different story, just don't plan to go over MLK weekend, the crowds will surge again for three or four days. Mid week next week things should slow way down. Don't panic, all of these stories are from HOLIDAY crowds, this isn't an every week through the year kind of thing.

I hope you're right. We plan on visiting the week of February 7.

 

[Coach81]

In a week or so.. it will be back to normal.. wait and see..

 

[scott089]

I just got back from IOA and US today. We did IOA on tuesday and wow. What a mess. Thank god we stayed on property because without the hour early entrance and the express pass, it would have been a completely miserable trip.

We got in right at 8 a.m. and were escorted to WWOHP. Hightailed it to FJ and walked right on. As far as the ride goes - it definitely made me queasy. I can handle any roller coaster in the world and most simulation rides... however if the FJ was ANY longer I would have been really sick. Other then that, I enjoyed the ride itself. I thought it was very creative. My friend who I was with however did not enjoy the ride at all. He thought it was cheesy and they could have done more. I guess it is just personal preference. After FJ did Olivanders and waited about 10-15 minutes. What a great little show! It was really magical. About 45 minutes after we rode FJ The line was out the castle and like other posters said - was a free for all. We left and rode the rest of the rides in the park. Thank GOD for the express pass. Saved a TON of time. Worth the money if you aren't staying at the resort. The rest of the day the standby line and overflow wrapped all around Jurassic Park as far as the eye could see. Hell no.

Overall I thought WWOHP was interesting and fun to see - absolutely beautiful area. But if the crowds remain like this... you could not PAY me to go back there. I was disappointed with how little there is in the area and on top of that... they did not have a big selection of merchandise to sell and what they did sell... I feel like a lot did not even have to do with the books.

butter beer... fantastic though ;-) I looked up recipes online and WILL be making it!!