A Celebration of Harry Potter 1/30-2/1/2015

[nboicepardee]

I have plans to travel to Universal MLKing weekend, but I just received an email announcing "A Celebration of Harry Potter" the weekend of 1/30-2/1. Has anyone ever done this before? Will the crowds be crazy busy? I am assessing how much more it would cost to buy the package and it will definitely be more expensive. Just trying to assess if it is worth it. Big HP fans here!

 

[bobbie68]

Hi,

I attended the one last year. It was busy but know more than other times. We enjoyed it and are thinking about it again. The one thing is that the talent discussions you get access to is just that. There is no meet and greet scheduled. You could run into them somewhere but that is it. We are Harry Potter fans and it was cool to be there. The discussion events and other scheduled ones work like this. If you have the package you wait in a line and that is on a first come first serve basis. If you want a good seat you will have to wait in line early. Now they do open it up to non package members only after all the package members get in.

The gala event was cool we had the Harry Potter section to ourselves that night. I believe last year their were about 1,500 people who attended it. It did get a little crowded for awhile.

I went with higher expectations last time so I was a little disappointed when comparing it. However, if I didn't have expectations it was a good event. My daughter loved the fact that she was still in the same place with the stars.

It really is a personal choice. I would suggest if you do don't go with expectations. Just enjoy what they give you. If you look on this forum you will see video of last years.

Good luck!

 

[nboicepardee]

Hi,

I attended the one last year. It was busy but know more than other times. We enjoyed it and are thinking about it again. The one thing is that the talent discussions you get access to is just that. There is no meet and greet scheduled. You could run into them somewhere but that is it. We are Harry Potter fans and it was cool to be there. The discussion events and other scheduled ones work like this. If you have the package you wait in a line and that is on a first come first serve basis. If you want a good seat you will have to wait in line early. Now they do open it up to non package members only after all the package members get in.

The gala event was cool we had the Harry Potter section to ourselves that night. I believe last year their were about 1,500 people who attended it. It did get a little crowded for awhile.

I went with higher expectations last time so I was a little disappointed when comparing it. However, if I didn't have expectations it was a good event. My daughter loved the fact that she was still in the same place with the stars.

It really is a personal choice. I would suggest if you do don't go with expectations. Just enjoy what they give you. If you look on this forum you will see video of last years.

Good luck!

Great information! I am taking my daughter (who lives for all things Harry Potter) for a special weekend for her birthday. Currently, we have plans for MLK weekend. We could easily change those though. How much more do you estimate it costs? It is difficult to know. I think my daughter would be thrilled just knowing some of the stars are close by!

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I didn't buy a package but I did attend the event for a day last year. I thought it was wonderful and the Expo was really fun. Definitely worth it for every Potter fan.

 

[nboicepardee]

I didn't buy a package but I did attend the event for a day last year. I thought it was wonderful and the Expo was really fun. Definitely worth it for every Potter fan.

If I don't buy the package do we still have access to all of the same events?

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

If I don't buy the package do we still have access to all of the same events?

There's a private event in the Wizarding World after hours that you need to buy the package to access. Other than that, everything was accessible. I believe package guests get priority entry/seating at the expo and at the panel discussions.

 

[bobbie68]

There's a private event in the Wizarding World after hours that you need to buy the package to access. Other than that, everything was accessible. I believe package guests get priority entry/seating at the expo and at the panel discussions.

This is true about the access and priority seating. We got the 3 broomsticks breakfast and some really neat items.

I did see most people not with the package deal get into the discussions panels but this was at a time when it was not busy for HP world. With the opening of DA I suspect it is going to be harder for non-package people to get seating. If you want to go for this event specifically I would spend the money on the package. You are guaranteed a spot.

As far as cost the age of your daughter will play a part. Universal allows children under 18 free in their resort rooms. The package price is per adult and includes the room. My daughter was 11 last year and they charged me about half price from the adult for her. We had to fly down and get transportation with food and everything was about $2,500. This was for 2 adults and 1 Junior.

 

[Dee2013]

Is there a different package available for those with APs? I don't want to have to pay double to get in to the park, but I'd like to do the package stuff.

 

[Lynne G]

Is there a different package available for those with APs? I don't want to have to pay double to get in to the park, but I'd like to do the package stuff.

Yes, just look at the Ad. Different package that does not include tickets.

 

[leagirl12]

I was telling a co-worker (huge HP fan) this morning about booking a surprise trip for DD for her 16th birthday in February to Universal to see the new HP additions. She told me about this package release so I am going to change our plans and surprise DD a month earlier. DD is a HP fanatic and is going to be beyond thrilled to go there during this event.

I can't wait.

My co-worker went to the last event and she loved it.

 

[nboicepardee]

This is true about the access and priority seating. We got the 3 broomsticks breakfast and some really neat items.

I did see most people not with the package deal get into the discussions panels but this was at a time when it was not busy for HP world. With the opening of DA I suspect it is going to be harder for non-package people to get seating. If you want to go for this event specifically I would spend the money on the package. You are guaranteed a spot.

As far as cost the age of your daughter will play a part. Universal allows children under 18 free in their resort rooms. The package price is per adult and includes the room. My daughter was 11 last year and they charged me about half price from the adult for her. We had to fly down and get transportation with food and everything was about $2,500. This was for 2 adults and 1 Junior.

Thanks so much for your insights! It will be just my daughter and me for this trip, so I am assuming I will pay for two adults, but I will certainly double check! She will still be 11 when we travel. I was saying the same thing last night about buying the package. If we want to make sure we get to experience it, I definitely want to purchase it!

 

[GlendaO]

I wish I could find out how much the AP package is before Thursday. There doesn't seem to be a way for me to determine if it's in budget :-(

 

[RizzyRoo]

I wish I could find out how much the AP package is before Thursday. There doesn't seem to be a way for me to determine if it's in budget :-(

If you scroll down all the way on the celebration page of the universal website it has all of the pricing for AP packages there! I'm wondering what to do because I have an AP but the person I am planning on going with does not....

 

[GlendaO]

If you scroll down all the way on the celebration page of the universal website it has all of the pricing for AP packages there! I'm wondering what to do because I have an AP but the person I am planning on going with does not....

The only thing I see on pricing is the $62 per day for tickets. I'm not seeing anything about the pricing for annual passholders :-(

 

[RizzyRoo]

The only thing I see on pricing is the $62 per day for tickets. I'm not seeing anything about the pricing for annual passholders :-(

Weird! What I see is Exclusive Event Package, 3-day park-to-park admission tickets, Annual Pass holder Exclusive Event Package. Anyways it says "Universal On-Site Moderate & Value Hotel starting from $155 per adult per night, Universal On-Site Deluxe Hotel starting from $219 per adult, per night, Universal Partner Hotel starting from $119 per adult, per night"

 

[GlendaO]

Weird! What I see is Exclusive Event Package, 3-day park-to-park admission tickets, Annual Pass holder Exclusive Event Package. Anyways it says "Universal On-Site Moderate & Value Hotel starting from $155 per adult per night, Universal On-Site Deluxe Hotel starting from $219 per adult, per night, Universal Partner Hotel starting from $119 per adult, per night"

Thank you! I went to the link from my laptop tonight - instead of the iPhone - I could see it then

Now, to decide if I want to spend $1100 or just cue up like we did last year...we'd miss the evening reception but we did everything else we wanted last time. It was just a LOT of waiting ;-)

 

[The Sasquatch]

Anyone know what the normal deposit amount would cost and how long you would have to pay the balance on one of these packages?

 

[nboicepardee]

Yahoo! Just changed our flights so we are going that weekend! Anyone have a sense of what the schedule looks like? Would love to start planning (because I am a big nerd that way! ). We are arriving Thursday and leaving Monday morning.

 

[PeterPan0]

I attended this even last year and I really didn't know what to expect. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan and it really didn't really hit me that I was seeing the stars until we got into the theatre. It was a very emotional weekend for me, and I'm really hoping that I can get the annual pass holder vacation package this year. I would love for this even to get as big as Star Wars Weekends at Hollywood Studios.

 

[nboicepardee]

I attended this even last year and I really didn't know what to expect. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan and it really didn't really hit me that I was seeing the stars until we got into the theatre. It was a very emotional weekend for me, and I'm really hoping that I can get the annual pass holder vacation package this year. I would love for this even to get as big as Star Wars Weekends at Hollywood Studios.

I know this how my daughter is going to react as well. I cannot wait to see her face as she takes it all in! I am a huge fan as well and I am so looking forward to this weekend!