Anyone planning for Wizarding World of HP?

[snickerboo]

I'm thinking our family needs to hit Orlando within the next year for this at Universal. Dd is a huge HP fan and can't wait. I'm wondering how bad the line-ups will be in the first 6 months and whether the rides will have the Universal version of Fastpass.

Hmmm, anyone else thinking Harry Potter?

 

[sprmom]

We just finished Disney for this year. We are waiting for the opening of HP, but will give it a year or so before we attempt it. We were at Univ when the Simpsons ride opened and the wait was three hours long. I want the "bugs" worked out and the crowds to subside, otherwise it will be too frustrating for the children (and parents). HP is the 2011 plan. Also, Univ does have a FPass equivalent, but you have to pay for it unless you stay on site at the Lowes, Hard Rock, etc. At first look, they seem to be $. There is also a HP universal thread available with lots of great photos.

 

[braddillman]

Definitely. Did you see the pix here? The ride building behind Hogwarts looks huge. I'm hoping for something that tops Spider-man, and hopefully it'll have reasonable capacity (riders/hr).

We're from NS and we already booked flights from Halifax for Feb 11-26 through aeroplan. We can stay for 14 days at our timeshare, but we need to stay 1 night somewhere else. I can't check the availability yet, but I've considered staying onsite at Universal for that night.

 

[snickerboo]

Saw the pics on the HP threads on the universal board. Very, very cool. I don't mind paying extra for the FP because we'd probably only do the one day at Universal just to do WWofHP & I would not want to wait 3 hours in line!!!

 

[drag n' fly]

Going in November for a family trip.

 

[Northstar]

From what I hear, the front-of-the-line pass you get by staying at a Universal hotel is way better than the one you buy at the gate. The one at the gate lets you go in the fast line ONE time for a ride... then you've used that one up and have to stand in the regular line. On the other hand, if you're staying onsite, you just flash your room key and can go in the fast line as many times as you want... essential for the first time at Harry Potter land, I think!

But check on whether that policy will continue after the opening of HP... I have a feeling they might put a limit on the onsite as-many-times-as-you-like thing to avoid problems.

 

[damo]

For the first while, perhaps through the summer, the express pass that you get by staying onsite will allow you to enter the parks 1 hour early and give you 1 time (once per day) access to the express line at the Forbidden Journey of Harry Potter. You will be able to use it normally (unlimited) on Dragon Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff.

 

[snickerboo]

Thank-you damo and northstar. I didn't realize that staying onsite gave you that much of an advantage. I will definitely have to look into that more as the time gets closer.

 

[bbangel]

I just booked a package for one of their partner hotels for after my WDW vacation. You get early entry to the park, breakfast at the three broomsticks and some commemorative stuff. You don't get the FoTL pass for the other rides but that is okay with me as I'm not a big thrill ride person. The reason I decided to go was I got airfare to Orlando for only $430 dollars, which is much less than usual!

 

[irisesareblue]

We are heading to Disney World to celebrate our oldest daughter's college grad in early June. I am purchasing one day passes for the girls to go to Universal to go to HP specifically - youngest daughter (20) is a big Harry fan! Hubby and I are thinking that HP is not a big Harry deal, so we'll take that day and go to Cocoa Beach.

 

[dvcdisney]

We will be staying at US in August and hopefully enjoying the new HP. We have not been back for a year and a half. We usually go to Disney both vacations of the year. But this year, our second vacation will be US and SeaWorld and Aquatica. We just got back from our Disney trip so I am excited about planning more of our August trip. I have booked the rooms and tickets...all I am waiting for is airfare seat sales and planning our dining.

 

[poohbear37]

We are going to Disney at the beginning of November doing a split stay at OKW and the Yacht Club. I convinced my DH that since we are changing resorts anyway we might as well do the middle weekend at Universal and see Harry. I booked at one of the partner hotels get the perks that everyone was talking about and I've purchased the express pass as well.
I can hardly wait!!