Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[bubba's mom]

So how are the other areas and rides at IOA/US? Long waits? Not bad? any info.. lol

For July....not bad.

mof, after we arrived around 3:30, did FJ and ate dinner at 3 Broomsticks, we saw Hulk had posted time of 30min. We waited for front seat...was about 20-30 minutes.

Hulk is usually 60+ min this time of year.

I think standby times are pretty good actually!

 

[mm42197]

the dreaded South American tour groups.

As someone mentioned before the South American tour groups are plentiful.

those are some pics Capt!

You both talk about the South American tours groups, what's up with them and do I have to worry about them during my trip in Aug?

Your pix are an excellent advertisement for staying onsite. Can you image the people who don't know what they're in for if they aren't onsite?

bubba's mom thx to your wonderful trip report and others I know full well what I'm in for and I'm still ... staying offsite, getting to gate BY 7am, ON my vacation... gasp

wish me luck

 

[slalanc01]

those are some pics Capt!

You both talk about the South American tours groups, what's up with them and do I have to worry about them during my trip in Aug?




bubba's mom thx to your wonderful trip report and others I know full well what I'm in for and I'm still ... staying offsite, getting to gate BY 7am, ON my vacation... gasp

wish me luck

Same question! I will be there 9-12 august, Do you know if all these tour group will be over at this time?

bubba's mom you ate at 3 Boomstick, how was the queue line? Which time of the day is better to eat at 3 Boomstick?

Thanks everybody for keeping this wonderfull thread alive! I will post some comment when i will be there in August!

 

[mm42197]

oh someone will have to tell me how to post to the thread when I'm down there. I dont have a laptop but I do have some browser access from my cell phone

 

[asta]

I don't want to start a bad conversation about the you groups. They are just so noticeable because they are all dressed the same and sometimes they are very large. When they arrive in an area or ride it can make the area congested or the ride wait longer. I haven't noticed them cutting line as much this year as in the past. They do seem to really like the single rider lines. Their tour guides are real pros and I think they know all of the tricks. It's just hard at times to manuver around them.

 

[asta]

oh someone will have to tell me how to post to the thread when I'm down there. I dont have a laptop but I do have some browser access from my cell phone

I'm posting from my iPhone over the 3G network. It works great.

 

[bubba's mom]

bubba's mom thx to your wonderful trip report and others I know full well what I'm in for and I'm still ... staying offsite, getting to gate BY 7am, ON my vacation... gasp

wish me luck

LUCK!!! You should be okay...you are well informed and KNOW to be at turnstiles by 7am and head to the left. You will one of the firsts in line because most are heading to the right (onsiters).

bubba's mom you ate at 3 Boomstick, how was the queue line? Which time of the day is better to eat at 3 Boomstick?

actually...none really, and yes, we were surprised. But we eat early and were there about 5:30pm. I must say, they run this place WONDERFULLY!!! I really like the fact that THEY seat you. Seems to eliminate a lot of "few people taking up big tables" and such. We had 1 party in front of us and then we were directed where to order, where to pick up and took us to be seated. Probably the best queue in all of HP. Maybe the trick is AFTER lunchtime and before dinner (dinner meaning the peeps who eat like 6/7/8pm).

I don't want to start a bad conversation about the you groups. They are just so noticeable because they are all dressed the same and sometimes they are very large. When they arrive in an area or ride it can make the area congested or the ride wait longer. I haven't noticed them cutting line as much this year as in the past. They do seem to really like the single rider lines. Their tour guides are real pros and I think they know all of the tricks. It's just hard at times to manuver around them.

I was annoyed with them twice our trip. Once, we ate lunch at Louie's at the Studios, and these people didn't seem to realize that TWO people can fit thru a doorway. I was NOT standing there WAITING to come OUT when they were all herding IN. So, I just pushed my way out saying "2 people can fit thru doorways people" knowing full well they may not have understood me...but screw it. I live in this country and pay my taxes. Have some manners people.
Second time was when we were leaving IOA. We always leave thru Traders (gift shop). There was a group sitting right outside the door! We were literally stepping on them because they were all huddled under the roof where it was shady. Now...c'mon...really people?? I was surprised IOA didn't make them move, as they could have been trampled...honest.

 

[mm42197]

I'm posting from my iPhone over the 3G network. It works great.

hmm?? I tried once getting the boards from my cell I'm just not sure my browser is able to get the whole internet. Its not a smart phone. I have the LG Dare with Verizon as my carrier. I was thinking maybe I didnt go to the right place, but not all the stuff came in (like my subscribed threads). I'll sure try though!

 

[mm42197]

LUCK!!! You should be okay...you are well informed and KNOW to be at turnstiles by 7am and head to the left. You will one of the firsts in line because most are heading to the right (onsiters).

just to make sure am I heading left toward Spiderman and those rides all the way around the park to WWoHP.... ugh I still cant get over the 7am part

actually...none really, and yes, we were surprised. But we eat early and were there about 5:30pm. I must say, they run this place WONDERFULLY!!! I really like the fact that THEY seat you. Seems to eliminate a lot of "few people taking up big tables" and such. We had 1 party in front of us and then we were directed where to order, where to pick up and took us to be seated. Probably the best queue in all of HP. Maybe the trick is AFTER lunchtime and before dinner (dinner meaning the peeps who eat like 6/7/8pm).

Oh I cant wait I so want to have lunch here!


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Oh BTW does anyone know if there is a thread just of WWoHP pics?

 

[mm42197]

I don't want to start a bad conversation about the you groups. They are just so noticeable because they are all dressed the same and sometimes they are very large. When they arrive in an area or ride it can make the area congested or the ride wait longer. I haven't noticed them cutting line as much this year as in the past. They do seem to really like the single rider lines. Their tour guides are real pros and I think they know all of the tricks. It's just hard at times to manuver around them.

I did see a couple of medium sized groups last May during our trips. Each time they were practically running to the next attraction (I guess they are on a tight schedule). I wasnt sure if there was something different about these groups.

 

[CaptHomer]

The only negative I saw towards the groups was that they would all lay their backpacks on a bench and leave them. There would probably be 50 backpacks covering benches and you couldn't use them.

 

[WambaWanda]

Expect large crowds all weekend. It is the busy season, the hotels are all booked solid and Brazilian tour groups are all over the place. If your goal is to get on all of the IOA rides then being early is your best strategy since most early arrivers will be heading for WWOHP. If your goal is WWOHP keep in mind that there was a 45-minute wait for Ollivanders by 8am, one hour before official opening time. So even if you are early you will have a long wait due to the hotel guests. It has been relatively uncrowded between 8 and 10pm and it's been hot as all get out between 11am and 6pm. Rain may actually be a relief. Remember that you can get free ice water from any vendor who has a drink machine so bring a refillable water bottle and have a great time.


We are not big fans of express passes, we believe they are way overpriced and offer no help at all in WWOHP. Skip them unless you believe it is your only hope to get on the rides. You can buy them at any time so get there, walk around a while then decide. If you do buy them DO NOT USE THEM on a short line. Ask the attendant what the wait is and if it's less than 30 minutes save the pass until it gets more crowded. If I had a nickel for each time I've seen a family waste their passes on a walkon ride I'd have free express passes for life.

Thanks so much for the great tips! Our main goal is to do HP and we have 3 days to accomplish that. We will do other rides from 10-2. Wish we were onsite, but oh well, I guess it will be an adventure!?? I will wait on the express passes and see how things go... Loved the water bottle idea and the warning about the tour groups. Thanks again!

 

[CaptHomer]

This is the line to Olivanders at 8:10 AM on July 15th (before the general public is let in). We made it into the 2nd group the first day and the 1st group the second day. Best thing to do is go there first then to FJ.

Homer

 

[WambaWanda]

I'm here now 7/22 @7:25 and exhausted back in my room at the HRH. We started this morning by waiting at the gate 7am. They let us in the main gate sometime around 7:40 and we walked straight back and into the Harry Potter area. While waiting at the main gate we saw them escort a large group (100) into the park about 7:15. I asked and was told this group was with Virgin tours and had special privileges because they were a captive audience (I don't know what that means). They also brought a horticulture tour group through around 7:30. Tip about entering-when walking in from the Seuss side make sure you take the left hand shortcut behind the carousel. This will get you their much quicker. We rode FJ twice (yea, I barely fit but they pushed hard and let me go, I didn't see anyone turned away.) After this the line for Olivander's was already very long. Too long for me to wait. I hung around and people watched while the rest of the family rode DC a couple of times. Enjoyed a frozen Butterbeer. It tastes like frozen butterscotch and was very good. Buy this in Hogshead Tavern with no line instead of from the outside stand. The shopping was very crowded and the store clerk told me they had sold out of a lot of things. The best bet is the candy store because it is easier to restock food items. It looked like they let the non hotel guests in at 8:45. The first sign of this was the appearance of one of the dreaded South American tour groups. We left the area soon after and spent the rest of the day in other park areas. I didn't notice anyone selling the express tickets but I saw lots of people using them so they must have been for sale.

Thanks for the update and tips! I'm kinda freaking out about those tour groups. We might try to get to the gate real early Sat just to see what we can get done in HP, but if the line is long just to get in that section, then we will wait until the afternoon. Of course it will probably be pouring on us the whole time with lovely Bonnie hanging around below Fl, but maybe it will cool things down a little.

 

[stnet]

Do the partner hotels of Universal get early access also?

 

[CaptHomer]

Do the partner hotels of Universal get early access also?

Yes. I don't think the 3 onsite hotels could even hold as many people as were in there for early admission. Maybe they could but not everyone in the hotels goes to Harry Potter first thing in the morning.

 

[asta]

Thanks for the update and tips! I'm kinda freaking out about those tour groups. We might try to get to the gate real early Sat just to see what we can get done in HP, but if the line is long just to get in that section, then we will wait until the afternoon. Of course it will probably be pouring on us the whole time with lovely Bonnie hanging around below Fl, but maybe it will cool things down a little.

If the rain cools things down it wouldn't be a bad thing. Don't worry too much about the tour groups. They are here but so far they haven't bothered me as much as in the past. A big plus that I have noticed this year is that a lot of the visitors seem to be British. I know that this isn't always the case but I generally find them pleasant. They seem to be on the same page as us regarding giving others personal space. Maybe it's the accent but they seem so polite and aware of others around them.

 

[WambaWanda]

Thanks for all the great info everyone! I think we might try an early dinner at 3 Broomsticks too. We are on our way tomorrow and hope to give an update tomorrow night after our first try in HP world.

 

[tarrbear]

Be at the turnstiles as early as you can (not sure what time the parking garage is opening? Be THERE as early as you can).

When we went super early in 2008 we arrived at 5am and they opened the parking a bit before 6am, and more recently when we went early the parking grage was opened when we arrived (about 6:30am-7:00am)

Then again both time were for the Ellen Degeneres Show sooooo I don't know if that effected it.

But I think the first time was a exception because the line of cars became very long (..... no this had absolutely nothing to do with the Jonas Brothers.... haha)





Back on topic- I will be going to the WWOHP soon and I have a question, where is Ollivanders exactly at. Details would be helpful please.

 

[asta]

Olivander's is on the rightt as you enter from Dr Seuss/Mythos area. On the right first you see Hogwarts Express, Dragon Challenge entrance and then the Owlery. Olivander's entrance is at the far end of the building connected to the Owlery and the line forms at this end in an area before you get to the Flight of the Hippograph.