Coming Back in the Summer: Is there FAST PASS yet for resort guests at Harry Potter?

[Selina]

Hi.

Looking forward to 12 nights back at Royal Pacific Resort and 5 nights at the Loews Don Caesar at St Petes......our question is.... is there 'fast pass' yet for Harry Potter? Even with the early entry for resort guests last time was still an hour and a half wait.

Also: if you don't mind - anyone been to the Don Caesar on St Petes? its just a little relax on the beach before we fly home back to England....

Thanks ever so much!!

Selina

 

[RMulieri]

Nope.No express pass yet for Harry potter Forbidden Joourney or Ollivanders wand shop

 

[Selina]

Thank you, but that is a real shame.....wonder why no express yet? Why is Harry Potter different to any of the other rides? :

 

[D&R love Disney]

The Don is one of my favorite resorts. The beach is wonderful! The hotel is old and rooms are on the small side with very few balcony rooms. I'm looking forward to getting back there soon!

 

[Metro West]

Thank you, but that is a real shame.....wonder why no express yet? Why is Harry Potter different to any of the other rides? :

Initially it was because the new area was too popular to allow EP holders the chance to ride over and ride while many others may not have...Universal wanted as many people to see it as possible. I think the same will happen at Diagon Alley. WWoHP is still very popular which is probably why there's no Express access as of now. Maybe that will change when DA opens this summer but I seriously doubt it.

 

[macraven]

I think like Metro on this.

UO is keeping the ride situation fair by not allowing FJ express.
They have the single rider line for everyone and early entry as a hotel perk for guests.

Everyone has an even chance in avoiding extreme waits for this ride.
Child swap also available for this ride.

 

[Selina]

The Don is one of my favorite resorts. The beach is wonderful! The hotel is old and rooms are on the small side with very few balcony rooms. I'm looking forward to getting back there soon!

Thank you that is nice to know. We are so looking forward to going back to St Petes too......last time we stayed at The Howard Johnson - that was a nice hotel too.

 

[Selina]

I think like Metro on this.

UO is keeping the ride situation fair by not allowing FJ express.
They have the single rider line for everyone and early entry as a hotel perk for guests.

Everyone has an even chance in avoiding extreme waits for this ride.
Child swap also available for this ride.

Yes I can understand they want to keep it fair. It would be nice though if they gave just one family ticket for one express entry for resort guests to do the Harry Potter ride. Costs an arm and a leg to stay on-site now so would be a lovely gesture!!

 

[helenb]

It is my understanding that they are building another Ollivander's at DA with 3 different showrooms, so that should take a lot of the pressure off at WWoHP.

 

[IrelandMaryD]

Hi.

Looking forward to 12 nights back at Royal Pacific Resort and 5 nights at the Loews Don Caesar at St Petes......our question is.... is there 'fast pass' yet for Harry Potter? Even with the early entry for resort guests last time was still an hour and a half wait.

Also: if you don't mind - anyone been to the Don Caesar on St Petes? its just a little relax on the beach before we fly home back to England....

Thanks ever so much!!

Selina

Hi Selina,

Stayed at both hotels and loved them both. As already said the rooms in the Don are quite small but the hotel is absolutely gorgeous we loved it. On the approach it looks like a pink wedding topper and the pool area and service is so relaxing and the beach lovely. We only stayed one night and had dinner in the hotel it was really lovely. The beach is fairly active during the day with lots of weddings going on be careful of the waves can be fairly rough.

Royal Pacific really nice also express pass great but none for Harry Potter alas.
HTH
Denise

 

[Selina]

Hi Selina,

Stayed at both hotels and loved them both. As already said the rooms in the Don are quite small but the hotel is absolutely gorgeous we loved it. On the approach it looks like a pink wedding topper and the pool area and service is so relaxing and the beach lovely. We only stayed one night and had dinner in the hotel it was really lovely. The beach is fairly active during the day with lots of weddings going on be careful of the waves can be fairly rough.

Royal Pacific really nice also express pass great but none for Harry Potter alas.
HTH
Denise

Thank you. We love RPR too - this will be our fifth stay there!

Thanks also for info on Don Caesar - I read that the beach although connected to the hotel is something you have to pay to sit on, but presumably that is only if you choose to use a sun lounger/bed? We stayed in a smallish hotel in New York - think it was called Penta...........the rooms were quaint and quite small.Guessing room size is similar at Don Caesar.

 

[Selina]

It is my understanding that they are building another Ollivander's at DA with 3 different showrooms, so that should take a lot of the pressure off at WWoHP.

Yes, in Watford we have the Warner Bros Studio Tour for Harry Potter. You get to wear the gown and use the wands. Similarly you tour Diagon Alley etc. Not sure this will ease the crowds on Harry Potter though but looking forward to the extension and proposed restaurants.

 

[IrelandMaryD]

Thank you. We love RPR too - this will be our fifth stay there!

Thanks also for info on Don Caesar - I read that the beach although connected to the hotel is something you have to pay to sit on, but presumably that is only if you choose to use a sun lounger/bed? We stayed in a smallish hotel in New York - think it was called Penta...........the rooms were quaint and quite small.Guessing room size is similar at Don Caesar.

Hi Selina,

When we were at the Don about 4 yrs ago we did not have to pay to use a sun lounger. The Don had an attendant who got the beds for us and we just tipped him. You could rent canopy double beds for 50 dollars a day if you fancied.

 

[Selina]

Hi Selina,

When we were at the Don about 4 yrs ago we did not have to pay to use a sun lounger. The Don had an attendant who got the beds for us and we just tipped him. You could rent canopy double beds for 50 dollars a day if you fancied.

Hi. Did you pay a 'beach tax'? I thought I read somewhere that you had to pay the hotel a 'beach tax'? So that seems okay as it is a private beach area and you just tip the attendants for the loungers...?

Also getting back on topic how has early entry been now? Is it still a good hour wait to go on Harry Potter ride?

 

[RMulieri]

Hi. Did you pay a 'beach tax'? I thought I read somewhere that you had to pay the hotel a 'beach tax'? So that seems okay as it is a private beach area and you just tip the attendants for the loungers...?

Also getting back on topic how has early entry been now? Is it still a good hour wait to go on Harry Potter ride?

Depends on the time of year ...early entry helps most certainly .How long of a wait for HP after early entry simpyl depends on crowds.When we went August 21-26th, the wait times shortly AFTER the park opened to all guests was well over 60 mins for Harry Potter.At days end it was 20-30 mins..When we went in Jan last year, the longest waits for HP were midday and they were 60 mins.

 

[damo]

When we last did early entry we rode FJ 3 times in a row in that first hour. We could have done it more but that was all my head could handle.

 

[Selina]

When we last did early entry we rode FJ 3 times in a row in that first hour. We could have done it more but that was all my head could handle.

Hi Damo,

That is amazing...what day of the week was that? When we have done the long flight across the pond we always wake really early that first Morning. This year it will be a Thursday morning early entry. I have not been on the Dis for ages - I remember your name from the time when it was SpideyHulk, The Dark Marauder and FlyflyEclipse sending a lot of posts as well as the Hawaiian guy - very nice chap. Sent us some nice videos. Nice to see a familiar name