Early entry at WWoHP - what's open?

[Angelapm]

Hi all,
We are going to IOA this Saturday, staying Friday night onsite to get early entry. When we arrive for early entry at HP, is everything open? I was thinking of Ollivanders first, then get in line for FJ, hoping to get in that line before the rest of the crowds arrive. Or, should I reverse and hit FL first, with the hope of getting on line at Ollivanders before the gates open? Also, are the shops open that early?
Many thanks!
Angela

 

[tndisneyfan]

curious about this too.

 

[HLAuburn]

I think the general consensus is to get to the gates a few minutes before early entry, head stright to WWoHP (obsiously! ), do Ollivander's if you can get in with the first or second group, and then hop over to ride FJ. Then hopefully you will still have enough time to go through the shops (and buy a Butterbeer for breakfast! ) before the madness starts.

 

[linnell]

This weekend my group was at the turnstiles at 7:15ish and were the first in our line. On Saturday we went to Ollivanders in the first group and then to FJ, which was posting a 20 minute wait. I don't think it took that long. We got off and got back in line again and the line was even shorter that time. After looking around the store for a bit, it was just after 9am and the crowd was surging through. After that we got on line at Flight of the Hippogriff, which should have been 5 minutes, but they were adding another train so we waited way too long.

On Sunday, same thing but skipped Ollivanders. We rode FJ twice and my friend went a third time via the single rider line. Hippogriff was a walk on and then it was just past 9am.

 

[mesaboy2]

Hi all,
We are going to IOA this Saturday, staying Friday night onsite to get early entry. When we arrive for early entry at HP, is everything open? I was thinking of Ollivanders first, then get in line for FJ, hoping to get in that line before the rest of the crowds arrive. Or, should I reverse and hit FL first, with the hope of getting on line at Ollivanders before the gates open? Also, are the shops open that early?
Many thanks!
Angela

Pretty much everything in WWoHP is open early, including the shops. On the other hand, nothing else at IoA is open until regular park open.

Your plan to do Ollivander's first is the right one. It fills up not long after early opening and is long all day until a few minutes before park close, if you're lucky. The queue for Ollivanders is also nothing but a bunch of switchbacks outside, so there isn't anything particularly interesting to look at while you wait.

FJ, however, has an interesting queue and the time can fluctuate more. Even if the posted wait time is 60 minutes or more, there are many reports of the waits being much less. Also, if you are willing to, you can use single-rider, child-swap, and the Castle Tour queues, to speed the process along.

 

[Angelapm]

So helpful - thanks!!! So, if the park opens at 9 this Sat and I can get in at 8, what time should we be at the turnstiles, ready to rush in?? Is there a line much before 8?

 

[mesaboy2]

Personally, I'd be there NLT 7:45a. I would think that would put you in great shape for Ollivander's and FJ afterwards.

 

[tttessa]

Just be aware FJ breaks down a lot!!! Our main early entry day, FJ was down til 10.30!!! So we did everything else and kept asking about FJ (look for a CM with a radio mic on their shoulder) and got on about 2.30 when the lines had died back a bit.

Tessa