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

[Lucky4me]

I don't think anyone has anything to worry about as far as crowds for the next few weeks at least, maybe a month. Perhaps MLK weekend will be crowded, then the next will be Presidents weekend, but nothing like the past few weeks.
This past week so many schools had extended holiday vacations-most of the South I believe.
I will bet the next several weeks will not see any back up to get into WWOHP and short lines to get on the rides inside WWOHP.
Except maybe Olivanders. That place always has a long line no matter what.

afa as being pregnant at Universal, there aren't many rides there I could even see going on while pregnant, (signs all over the place saying don't ride if you're pregnant) so I don't think they have anything like front of the line for them and their party, so they didn't have to stand in line. Or even a place to wait until their turn. I didn't know Disney did either. I would think fast passes would cover that? I've been pregnant at Disney before. I went and sat on a bench, had a snack, shopped, whatever while the rest of my party went on the rides I couldn't go on.

 

[mesaboy2]

Mesaboy2 what day/s will you be going? I think we are going on Monday and Tuesday but we can switch the days if other days will be "less busy"

Your days will probably be fine. Monday may be a little crowded still, as it is the actual President's Day holiday in many school systems, but I bet it won't be too bad. Tuesday should be good.

We'll be there Saturday and Sunday, but that's only because those are the only days we can get there. I would rather switch with you!

 

[courtiebabe420]

My friends and I went on the 6th (Thursday) to both IOA and US. My b/f and I got to IOA right at opening. We walked straight through Dr. Suess and Lost Continent, straight into WWOHP, no wait (which I didn't think we would be getting there at opening). Then we realized that they were celebrating the millionth butter beer sold. They gave out 1,000 tickets for a free one, and we each got a ticket. And we're visible in the picture in the Sentinel with the story. But to the point:

The crowds at WWOHP and IOA in general were not bad at all. Although we waited about an hour for FJ (which if you ask me, will be totally acceptable for quite a while... given the popularity of the ride), we didn't wait more than about 5 minutes for any other ride in IOA. We also didn't wait for butter beer, either. We basically walked on to the Hulk and Spiderman was about 20 minutes.

US was completely dead, to be honest. We didn't wait in line for any ride, except for disaster, which was 45 minutes. But considering we hadn't waited for any other ride, we didn't mind that wait.

Now, it had been pouring rain early morning on Thursday, which may have kept some of the crowds away. But by 11 or so, the sun had come out, and the weather was gorgeous. By the time we left WWOHP, around 1PM, there was still no wait to get in the area, which is the first time I've seen it without a line. I think the crowds are definitely getting better, minus MLK weekend, of course. Just reporting on my experience this week!

 

[Caribbeanprincess]

I was there on Monday, it was insane! People had been telling me this week would be pretty much dead for all parks, well people seem to have taken that advice to heart because both Universal and Disney parks were insanely crowded! I've never seen anything like it! Luckly I'm a single rider and was able to do FJ with practically no wait twice, plus the castle tour. But there were waits of up to an hour to just get into a store! Ollivanders wait was up to 3 hours! As a huge Harry Potter fan on my first trip to the WWoHP I was pretty dissapointed that I could hardly take pictures without being pushed left and right by the hordes of people. Not to mention that the crowd control in the line to get into the land was horrible, people were cutting in line all over. I don't know if they were understaffed or what, but organization was non-existant. The DEFINITELY need to expand this land sooner rather than later if they expect to have some more crowd control, it's simply TOO small.

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

They have wheelchairs for rent right as you walk out of the parking garages, right before you have your bags checked. So if you can't walk or stand for long times, that is a good idea.

All the queues for the rides are wide enough to handle push wheelchairs, so that would be the best thing.

If a push wheelchair is something you don't want to rent for the day, all rides have rider switch rooms in which a family member or two that cannot stand in the long wait can sit in. The rest of the group goes through the normal queue and when the reach the end, they let the Team Member know that someone from their party is in the room, and they get them. Then you're riding together without someone standing in a long line because they are physically unable to stand in that line!

Now, if you're asking if Universal lets your family skip lines for rides you shouldn't be riding because you're pregnant.... No, they don't.

I was asking what they do to accomodate pregnant women and their families. And you aswered it very nicely until your last comment. I wasn't asking to skip any lines and obviously I'm not going on the rides as I am going to be 7 months almost 8 months pregnant!

 

[Planogirl]

I was asking what they do to accomodate pregnant women and their families. And you aswered it very nicely until your last comment. I wasn't asking to skip any lines and obviously I'm not going on the rides as I am going to be 7 months almost 8 months pregnant!

I don't think that any insult was meant. There are some out there that have some way out expectations so it's probably good to mention that....just in case.

I just want to comment that I hope that your trip is a good one. I had some issues so no way could I go to themeparks in those days but I love it when ladies can!

 

[MEBT315]

Went to Universal Studios today. Walked onto all the rides in Universal Studios, the longest wait was 10 minutes.

We went to WWOHP today around 5:30 and walked on every single ride except for a 15 minute wait on Ollivander's.

 

[SGF]

We are suppose to go later this week around January 13th. Now I'm not sure that it's such a great idea after reading about the long lines to visit Harry Potter.

Can anyone report on the lines to get into that section today as well as the times for the rides?

 

[damo]

We are suppose to go later this week around January 13th. Now I'm not sure that it's such a great idea after reading about the long lines to visit Harry Potter.

Can anyone report on the lines to get into that section today as well as the times for the rides?

Sounds like the park was very quiet today.

 

[Tink2Day]

Went to Universal Studios today. Walked onto all the rides in Universal Studios, the longest wait was 10 minutes.

We went to WWOHP today around 5:30 and walked on every single ride except for a 15 minute wait on Ollivander's.

That was similar to our experience too. IF you don't have a major holiday like Spring, summer or winter break with plenty of time for parents to take their kids from all over the country, on vacation, it shouldn't be that crowded. It wasn't for us in early November. Someone who went in mid September reported the same and now with almost all students back in school for other than single day Hollidays maybe it'll calm down.

 

[MEBT315]

There was also no line to get into WWOHP. I would definitely follow the advice that was given to me and go in the evening if possible.

We didn't get to go through the whole queue and I was holding it up to take pictures in FJ because there was literally no line.

As for Universal Studios, we got to meet any character we wanted (except for the men in black because they had to go on another mission and announced they could only do 5 more photos, so we let some tourists go instead of us since we are going back on Thursday). We went on MIB twice (10 min wait tops), walked on The Mummy twice in a row (single riders line and ended up sitting next to each other anyway), rode on Hollywood Rockit with a 5 min wait, walked onto Nicktoons, 5 min wait for ET.

In Islands of Adventure the rides that we passed had 5 min-10 min wait lines posted.

For WWOHP we walked in and took pictures, walked to FJ (15 min wait time posted) and let about 20 people go ahead of us so I could take pictures, and then when we got to the ride we literally walked on. We entered through the front of the castle and did not go through the greenhouse.

No lines at Flight of the Hippogryph (5 min wait time posted), took a bunch of pictures, let people go ahead of us, walked on and ended up riding that twice.

Next we went to Ollivander's and had a ~15 minute wait (two or three groups went ahead of us). This was literally the longest wait for our day.

Last we went to Dragon's Challenge at 6:55 and were the last ride. When we got to the Goblet of Fire the TM told us we could just walk the rest of the way on the Express line.

Hogsmede is beautiful at night and it is probably better to go there in the evening for the "ambiance" anyway.


They are pretty serious about the "bag" thing at IOA, but the free lockers aren't bad and they are secure. My dad couldn't ride FJ because he doesn't like simulated rides (I don't even think I can ride it again) so we just gave our bags to him that time. For the lockers, in my experience most people crowd the ones that are in the front, if you go past them towards the back closer to the building there are usually lower if no lines to get a locker.

We are going back to US/IOA tomorrow so I will report back then on here...but don't panic, it was wonderful! And to the member on here who recommended going in the evening THANK YOU

 

[Jennybird]

Yay!! This news about the crowds makes me happy!! We'll get to experience Hogwarts and Hogsmeade for the very first time in less than 2 weeks....we're all huge HP fans and are really hoping for low crowds...it just makes things so much easier!! Yesterday's crowd level sounds like a good sign!!

 

[shelly2u]

How do you think the crowds will be on Monday & Tuesday next week?

 

[eeyoreland]

Wow, sounds like things are improving. Fantastic. Hopefully it will be that way for our February trip. Face it, we all want to go to WDW or Universal Studios and not have to wait to go on rides. If you plan your trips for holiday breaks or summer vacation, you should expect waits. But it can be disappointing if you plan your trip for what you think will be a slow time only to find out it's not.

 

[Tink2Day]

How do you think the crowds will be on Monday & Tuesday next week?

Well, Monday is a Holiday so people who can travel and do a 3 day Holiday may show up and then you have the local population. I don't know for sure, (due to the newness, does anyone really?) but I'm guessing anyone going on a Holiday will have greater crowds.

 

[Dolce27]

I'm here right now. I'm not staying on property but was the first one at the gate for the 9am opening. Walked on to FJ but by the time I got off it the line was out of the castle. I think the posted wait time was 50 minutes at 10:00 am. I rode both sides of Dragon Challenge with 5 minute waits but by 10:30 it was at a 25 minute wait. By 11:00 that area was feeling very crowded. I left that and went over to Spiderman. It had a 35 minute wait time. I came over to the Studios. Shrek was showing 25 minutes. I waited in line for The Mummy for 15-20 minutes walked on to MIB via the Singles line and am now in a 25-30 line for The Simpsons. Lots of tour groups in the park today.

 

[bean bunny]

We just returned from IOA/US. My husband had read that the waits were better late afternoon/evening and that definitely was true for us. We arrived on the 7th around 3:00 and were SHOCKED at how crowded it was, it didn't seem that different from our August trip! However the Olivander's line went very quickly - we were in within 30 minutes the first time and probably 15 the second time. Saturday we arrived around 2:00 and it was much less crowded than Friday. Don't forget to consider single rider lines for FJ - my husband was able to get through much quicker that way.

 

[MEBT315]

Headed there later today!

They are also trying to alleviate crowds in the stores by having a lot of kiosks up (wand shops, butterbeer). There's a large store at the end of IOA which sells probably 95% of what they sell in the WWOHP stores.

 

[mindyd]

We will be there Friday the 21st and I am hoping the crowds will not be as bad. I am planning on not expected to get much done other than Harry Potter and anything else will be a bonus.

 

[MIChessGuy]

We didn't get to go through the whole queue and I was holding it up to take pictures in FJ because there was literally no line.

I had assumed that picture-taking inside FJ was not permitted. Were you taking no-flash photos? I have a cheap digital camera myself, and without the flash it's all over, especially in such a dark environment as the castle.