Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[Purseval]

Actually you go left before you reach the carousel, before you even reach "If I Ran The Zoo". Once you get into Seuss Land keep looking left and follow the first path that doesn't run you into a blank wall.

Here is a picture of the crowd at 7:30pm on 7/23 after torrential rains in the afternoon. Click on the picture to enlarge.



We went to Dragon Challenge instead of FJ, turned out to be a good decision. This next picture was taken at 9:15pm of the line of people waiting to get into the back entrance of Ollivander's. You can imagine what the show line looked like.

 

[bubba's mom]

Actually you go left before you reach the carousel, before you even reach "If I Ran The Zoo". Once you get into Seuss Land keep looking left and follow the first path that doesn't run you into a blank wall.

Here is a picture of the crowd at 7:30pm on 7/23 after torrential rains in the afternoon. Click on the picture to enlarge.



We went to Dragon Challenge instead of FJ, turned out to be a good decision. This next picture was taken at 9:15pm of the line of people waiting to get into the back entrance of Ollivander's. You can imagine what the show line looked like.

nevermind

 

[brenda1966]

I was thinking of getting a room at Royal Pacific for one night just to get the early access, because WWoHP is the ONLY reason we are going to IOA, and I want to be able to enjoy it without huge crowds.

However, I read somewhere else that the early entry is only given during certain busy times. As the hours for Sept are 9 to 6 pm, slower season ?, does that mean no early entry? I don't care about FOL for the other areas.

I'd like to know as well. What are the advantages to an "onsite" room if offsite "package" rooms are also getting early entry?! Is FOTL only for onsite guests, not package guests? And does early entry happen in the off season?

 

[CaptHomer]

Is FOTL only for onsite guests, not package guests? And does early entry happen in the off season?

Only the 3 onsite hotel guests get Universal Express but all onsite and partner hotels get early entry to WWOHP.

As for off season early entry I don't think even Universal has an answer yet. I think they are playing it by ear. Just my opinion though.

 

[WambaWanda]

Yeay! We were able to do everything in WWOHP today AND eat a great meal at 3 Broomsticks! I wonder if the rain had anything to do with it? Here is the list of what we did.

Day 1 (7/23)

10:00am- Arrived at off-site hotel (sunny)
2:35 pm- Left hotel for IOA (in pouring rain)
3:00 pm- Arrived at park entrance (pouring rain with ponchos on and no line
to get into HP land!
3:25 pm- Got in line for FJ (sign said 45 min wait)
4:20 pm- Came out of FJ and looking at our pics in Filch's (DH rode single
and was out before us and waiting with Butter Beers!)
4:30 pm- Tried to ride Hippogriff, but closed after rain. We didn't have
a locker for backpack anyway and HP ones were full. Looked
around for a while and gave up.
5:00 pm- DH and kids got in line for Dragon ride while I held the backpack.
Sign said 15 min, but was a little longer than that. I stood in line
for Dervish and Banges while they rode, but my wait was only 10
min. so I let many people go ahead until they finally came out.
5:25 pm- DH and kids came off Dragon and we all shopped in D&B
5:30 pm - DH stood in line at Honeydukes about 30 min and we joined him.
The line was long inside just to buy the candy!
6pm- Walked right in to 3 Broomsticks with no wait and had great meal. Ribs r great!
After dinner, we went to Public Convience and heard Moaning Myrtle.
6:40 pm- Got in line at Olivanders and waited about an hour and 5 min. Ugh!
It was cute though, and I'm glad we did it!
8:15- Rode Hippogriff (sign said 30 min wait)
8:55- Got off Dragon ride (sign said 10 or 15min) Not much of a line at all.
After Dragon ride, we ate some Churros.
9:30- Got in line for Honeydukes again, but waited only 2 or 3 min to get in.
9:45- Left park Wonderful day....loved FJ!!! Time to sleep now.

 

[Phoenix41]

Is there still a line to actually get into the Harry Potter part of the park!?

 

[nmartin]

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.

Where is FJ in relation to Olivander's?

 

[smillerguy]

Only the 3 onsite hotel guests get Universal Express but all onsite and partner hotels get early entry to WWOHP.

As for off season early entry I don't think even Universal has an answer yet. I think they are playing it by ear. Just my opinion though.

I am going this Oct 29 and 30th first time ever. We have been to disney lots, too many according to my DH). Taking my son for his 9th birthday. He has read the first 3 harry Potters.

When you go to Universal to book the package for this time, they list early entry as a benefit of the package so I am thinking they will still let on site property guests and those with the package in early.

 

[Purseval]

Where is FJ in relation to Olivander's?

Using the same starting directions as the ones you quoted you would pass Ollivanders and it would be about 50 yards straight ahead. It's the huge castle, no way to miss it. Looking at this picture, which was taken just past Ollivanders, if you go straight after you pass under the arch you go to FJ. Head a bit to the right and you get to Flight of the Hippogriff. Click on it to enlarge

 

[damo]

Only the 3 onsite hotel guests get Universal Express but all onsite and partner hotels get early entry to WWOHP.

As for off season early entry I don't think even Universal has an answer yet. I think they are playing it by ear. Just my opinion though.

I don't believe that people staying at the partner hotels get early entry unless they have purchased the Harry Potter package. However, all onsite guests get express and early entry.

These are the perks for normal guests staying at partner hotels:

GUESTS STAYING AT THESE HOTELS WILL ENJOY THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS:
• Discounts on merchandise* at select theme park locations
• Discounts on food and non-alcoholic beverages at select theme park and CityWalk® locations
• FREE scheduled transportation to Universal Orlando theme parks
• Golf reservations and complimentary transportation to select area courses offered through the Golf Universal Orlando Program†

 

[The Princess]

We were at the park last Tuesday the 20th.
The lines were long but we did all that we wanted to do:Went in the candy store, had butterbeer (like the frozen one better) Went to Olivanders and got 2 wands, went to FJ ate at 3 broomsticks and left. We were really wiped out since it was so so hot and Universal doesn't really have a cover over the lines so we were right out in the sun the whole time!!! Disney is more "sun and heat friendly" Glad we went but won't be going back!

 

[Mikelly1221]

I am looking at a map printed before WWOHP and I am trying to picture the short cut that you suggested. Do you mean go Left after the Caro-Seuss-el by "Green Eggs and Ham Cafe"? This is a very good tip and I want to be perfectly clear which way to turn to bypass some of the crowd?

Actually you go left before you reach the carousel, before you even reach "If I Ran The Zoo". Once you get into Seuss Land keep looking left and follow the first path that doesn't run you into a blank wall.

I looked at the interactive map on the UO website. Do you go between the Carousel and "If I Ran the Zoo"?

It seems like you'd be cutting off the corner/avoiding Cat in the Hat & 1 Fish 2 Fish and going between the Carousel and Zoo and going left at the Sky Trolley. Is that right?

 

[damo]

I looked at the interactive map on the UO website. Do you go between the Carousel and "If I Ran the Zoo"?

It seems like you'd be cutting off the corner/avoiding Cat in the Hat & 1 Fish 2 Fish and going between the Carousel and Zoo and going left at the Sky Trolley. Is that right?

If you go to googlemaps.com you can see the dark pathway very clearly and actually walk it by pulling the little man down onto the map.

 

[TraceyL]

I looked at the interactive map on the UO website. Do you go between the Carousel and "If I Ran the Zoo"?

It seems like you'd be cutting off the corner/avoiding Cat in the Hat & 1 Fish 2 Fish and going between the Carousel and Zoo and going left at the Sky Trolley. Is that right?

Yes, that is the corner you cut off - you actually go around Green Eggs & Ham - closest to the water

 

[David & Jane]

I don't believe that people staying at the partner hotels get early entry unless they have purchased the Harry Potter package. However, all onsite guests get express and early entry.

These are the perks for normal guests staying at partner hotels:

GUESTS STAYING AT THESE HOTELS WILL ENJOY THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS:
• Discounts on merchandise* at select theme park locations
• Discounts on food and non-alcoholic beverages at select theme park and CityWalk® locations
• FREE scheduled transportation to Universal Orlando theme parks
• Golf reservations and complimentary transportation to select area courses offered through the Golf Universal Orlando Program†

I think you have to buy the Harry Potter package to get early enter & thats for a minimum stay of 3 nights

 

[damo]

I think you have to buy the Harry Potter package to get early enter & thats for a minimum stay of 3 nights

If you stay onsite, you don't need to have any package. If you stay offsite, you do.

 

[Mikelly1221]

If you go to googlemaps.com you can see the dark pathway very clearly and actually walk it by pulling the little man down onto the map.

Yes, that is the corner you cut off - you actually go around Green Eggs & Ham - closest to the water

I'm looking at Googlemaps now (great suggestion! . It looks like you just stay left of Green Eggs and Ham and there's a little path that goes under the 2 loops of the Sky coaster and comes out by the bridge heading to Lost Continent. Is that it?

Is there a "rope walk" in the morning where they walk you behind a rope to the land or is it every man/woman/child for themselves? We're staying onsite to get early entry.

 

[talfonso]

Sorry for the delay, but I went there the second time days ago and saw a lot of turismos (2-3 Argentinean youth herds, an otro, and 5-6 Brazilian tour groups). Again, I waited for the FJ ride as my last one before returning home (on singe-rider line) and did not see any there fortunately!

 

[damo]

I'm looking at Googlemaps now (great suggestion! . It looks like you just stay left of Green Eggs and Ham and there's a little path that goes under the 2 loops of the Sky coaster and comes out by the bridge heading to Lost Continent. Is that it?

Is there a "rope walk" in the morning where they walk you behind a rope to the land or is it every man/woman/child for themselves? We're staying onsite to get early entry.

I love that with googlemaps you can walk through both parks (pre WWoHP of course). You can really see how well things are themed.

It isn't a rope walk but you cannot run. There are employees stationed along the route to make sure people don't run.

 

[Mikelly1221]

I love that with googlemaps you can walk through both parks (pre WWoHP of course). You can really see how well things are themed.

It isn't a rope walk but you cannot run. There are employees stationed along the route to make sure people don't run.

I'm doing the overhead view...is there a way to get to ground level inside the parks? I have enough Google Maps experience to be dangerous!

ETA: Never mind, I just figured it out! Thanks for the help everyone!!!