Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[macraven]

i booked for 26th august about 2/3 weeks ago and got a reservation, also did lombards for a couple days later with no problems

great!..

i put the dates in late last night and had restrictions.
i used open table.

did you use opentable to book or did you call?
if you called, maybe that would be best for those wanting ressies in advance.

i am sure homies are going to be thrilled if they can book asasp.

 

[kingken]

great!..

i put the dates in late last night and had restrictions.
i used open table.

did you use opentable to book or did you call?
if you called, maybe that would be best for those wanting ressies in advance.

i am sure homies are going to be thrilled if they can book asasp.

i used open table

 

[disneymama148]

We went to WWOHP on 7/26 and 7/27.

Got to the area at about 8pm on 7/26. Posted time for FJ was 45mins at 8:30 and was pretty acurate. FotH was walk on with Express Pass. The stores were PACKED right up until about 10 minutes before closing ~ totally, completely, claustrophobically packed. The Three Broomsticks was walk right up to get Butterbeer (yum!!).

Had early entry on 7/27 and we were running a bit late. Got into WWOHP at about 7:15 (early entry was 7:00). We didn't have breakfast because we were running late and they do NOT allow you to stop anywhere other than WWOHP until the park is officially open. If you do not have a Three Broomsticks res there are very limited options to get breakfast in WWOHP. Posted time for FJ was 45 mins at that time but DH reported it was really only like 20 mins. I only did it once the night before because it definately made me queasy

I was able to go through Honeydukes and Zonkos at my leisure while the family did FJ. I was also able to get pictures because the night before the street was just too crowded to be able to take many. The Three Broomsticks was only open for breakfast reservations so it was the long line at the Butterbeer cart. DH and DS got onto DD fairly quick with the Express Pass but definately not walk on.

We did not do the Olivander's show at all - the line was always huge and my kids decided to pass because as DS said "it would be too much of a bummer to see it and not get picked".

We left the area around 9:00 am and they were already handing out return time tickets.

It was hot and crowded. But it was..... magical!! Universal got it just perfect, IMHO.

 

[xipetotec]

What are crowds generally like on the first week of March? By generally, I mean all Harry Potter aside, do we expect large or small crowds?

 

[mesaboy2]

What are crowds generally like on the first week of March? By generally, I mean all Harry Potter aside, do we expect large or small crowds?

Small to medium generally. That week is usually on the extreme leading edge of the spring break season.

 

[xipetotec]

Small to medium generally. That week is usually on the extreme leading edge of the spring break season.

Awesome, that's what I was kind of thinking/hoping. It's really the only time we can do. We are planning on going on either the Tue/Wed/Thur of that week. *fingers crossed*

 

[Montog]

We'll be at Royal Pacific August 8-10, I've got to work but my mom will be coming with us and taking kids over to Universal. We'll get in Monday about 11:00 am, they can hit the parks after that, all day tuesday, and then weds until about 3. I was planning on buying them 3-day passes from Costco so they could go as much as they wanted. They are HUGE Harry Potter fans, and I want to suggest the best itinerary for her to avoid heat and crowds. I know, this is about impossible this time of year, but any help appreciated. It is also my oldest daughter's birthday on Monday and I know more than anything she wants to get into Harry Potter and say she did it for her birthday, so I may not be able to convince them to wait until the extra hour on Tuesday morning. Thanks for the advice!!

 

[kkmauch]

IOA and Universal first timer. The whole family is spending a day at IOA just for WWoHP.

We will be there May 7, 2012 (Monday). Staying at WDW so no early access. What is the typical operating hours for WWoHP (looked like 9-7 for this last May) and how are the crowds at that time of year? Is it worth investing in the express pass for 7 adults? To see everything at WWoHP is there a recommended tour strategy for one day?

Thanks all!

 

[damo]

IOA and Universal first timer. The whole family is spending a day at IOA just for WWoHP.

We will be there May 7, 2012 (Monday). Staying at WDW so no early access. What is the typical operating hours for WWoHP (looked like 9-7 for this last May) and how are the crowds at that time of year? Is it worth investing in the express pass for 7 adults? To see everything at WWoHP is there a recommended tour strategy for one day?

Thanks all!

Early May is a lovely time to go. Don't buy the express passes ahead of time. Go and see how the lines are first. You should have no problems doing everything that you want in one day.

 

[hellosue]

Hi, Myself and my 2 Daughters (all mad HP fans) will be visiting IOA & US Sept 10-12 with 3 park pass including park hopper and Staying at Pacific Royal - First timers to IOA & Florida - Question - what will the crowds be like and is it worth getting food ticket for the days

 

[mesaboy2]

Hi, Myself and my 2 Daughters (all mad HP fans) will be visiting IOA & US Sept 10-12 with 3 park pass including park hopper and Staying at Pacific Royal - First timers to IOA & Florida - Question - what will the crowds be like and is it worth getting food ticket for the days

Crowds should be pretty light. It's a weekend, so the locals will be out, but most of them won't have the early entry or unlimited Express pass privileges like you will. You should have a great time!

I've never ordered the meal deals; the experts on here generally give it the thumbs-down.

 

[Cannonsmomi]

We r planning visit to WWofHP on Friday sept 9th....trying to decide if staying onsite is best option given crowds. Have 8 and 6 yr old boys who are slightly impatient. Better rates at outside hotels but better perks on site. We get in at 830 the eve before so won't be utilizing hotel facilities due to having to check out by noon. Unless we can use pool even after checkout on the day of checkout. We can only stay for one day and then must leave. Thoughts anyone?

 

[wilma-bride]

The last time we went to Universal and IOA we were staying onsite so had the benefit of Express Pass and early entry. This time we only have one day for IOA and we are offsite - is it still preferable to do WWOHP first, then double back and start at Marvel Super Hero Island.

Or do the experts out there have any other suggestions as to how to maximise our time (the day we are going is Friday 21st October).

 

[VirataMama4]

Any thoughts on how crowds will be Aug. 18 at IOA? TIA!

 

[mesaboy2]

Take a number, everyone....

We r planning visit to WWofHP on Friday sept 9th....trying to decide if staying onsite is best option given crowds. Have 8 and 6 yr old boys who are slightly impatient. Better rates at outside hotels but better perks on site. We get in at 830 the eve before so won't be utilizing hotel facilities due to having to check out by noon. Unless we can use pool even after checkout on the day of checkout. We can only stay for one day and then must leave. Thoughts anyone?

Crowds should be pretty light. I don't know that onsite is worth it in your case. I do believe you would be able to use the pool after checkout, but not totally sure.

The last time we went to Universal and IOA we were staying onsite so had the benefit of Express Pass and early entry. This time we only have one day for IOA and we are offsite - is it still preferable to do WWOHP first, then double back and start at Marvel Super Hero Island.

Or do the experts out there have any other suggestions as to how to maximise our time (the day we are going is Friday 21st October).

IMO WWoHP should be done either very first thing or very last. What you do and in what order outside WWoHP won't matter much I don't think. October is a quiet month outside of Columbus Day weekend and you don't have to think about HHN at the Studios.

Any thoughts on how crowds will be Aug. 18 at IOA? TIA!

Tail end of the summer season on a Thursday? Magic 8-Ball says: "Shouldn't be too bad".

 

[macraven]

The last time we went to Universal and IOA we were staying onsite so had the benefit of Express Pass and early entry. This time we only have one day for IOA and we are offsite - is it still preferable to do WWOHP first, then double back and start at Marvel Super Hero Island.

Or do the experts out there have any other suggestions as to how to maximise our time (the day we are going is Friday 21st October).

go early.
be there before the early entry guests are allowed in.

that way you will be in front of the regular line.

go directly to potterville.

once you are done there, then head back to the front of the park to catch marvel land.

eat at off time periods and go to the lines then for the rides.
use the single line rider for all the rides if available.

the park closes at 7:00.

head back to potterville an hour before that and hope the lines are short.

hhn is at the studios that friday.
there are those hhn ticket holders that might stay over at ioa until the hhn opening time of 6:30.



if you plan to eat at city walk once you leave ioa, leave before the park closes.

you will have less of a wait for a table if you are at city walk before the park closes.

 

[Metro West]

if you plan to eat at city walk once you leave ioa, leave before the park closes.

you will have less of a wait for a table if you are at city walk before the park closes.

Yes indeed...HHN will turn CityWalk into a zoo in no time!

 

[MIChessGuy]

I was surprised to see that the wait for Ollivander's had moderated a bit by late morning today. Because I am not early-entry, by the time I had hoofed it to the WW, there were already a ton of people waiting. It looked like at least 80-90 minutes. So, I went ahead with the FJ castle tour, then single rider, an early lunch at the Three Broomsticks and some other stuff. When I returned to Ollivander's around 11:15 a.m., the wait was down to about 45 minutes. I was behind the last person to get into the show ahead of me, so I waited next to the TM posted at the door. He had to explain what Ollivander's was about every 8 seconds, since people constantly came up to ask him about it. He also mentioned that O's cuts off about an hour before park closing time, which I didn't know.

 

[disneymama148]

We r planning visit to WWofHP on Friday sept 9th....trying to decide if staying onsite is best option given crowds. Have 8 and 6 yr old boys who are slightly impatient. Better rates at outside hotels but better perks on site. We get in at 830 the eve before so won't be utilizing hotel facilities due to having to check out by noon. Unless we can use pool even after checkout on the day of checkout. We can only stay for one day and then must leave. Thoughts anyone?

We stayed at the Royal Pacific for one night last week. We went to WWofHP for Early Entry and came back to the hotel at about 10:30. Checkout is 11:00. We got everything packed up and then I stopped at the desk to be sure we could still use the pool. They were very nice and said we were certainly welcome to use the pool all day if we liked. They have a gym near the pool with changing rooms and lockers. We just brought a small duffle bag down with us and in exchange for your room key (which they return to you) they will give you a key to a locker. We were just planning on a quick dip but my kids loved the pool so much, we stayed for at least 3 hours. We changed, picked dropped off the locker key and got our room key back, left our bag with luggage services, and went back to the parks.

 

[wilma-bride]

IMO WWoHP should be done either very first thing or very last. What you do and in what order outside WWoHP won't matter much I don't think. October is a quiet month outside of Columbus Day weekend and you don't have to think about HHN at the Studios.

go early.
be there before the early entry guests are allowed in.

that way you will be in front of the regular line.

go directly to potterville.

once you are done there, then head back to the front of the park to catch marvel land.

eat at off time periods and go to the lines then for the rides.
use the single line rider for all the rides if available.

the park closes at 7:00.

head back to potterville an hour before that and hope the lines are short.

hhn is at the studios that friday.
there are those hhn ticket holders that might stay over at ioa until the hhn opening time of 6:30.



if you plan to eat at city walk once you leave ioa, leave before the park closes.

you will have less of a wait for a table if you are at city walk before the park closes.

Thanks for the advice We won't be eating at City Walk that night and we will make sure to get there nice and early.