Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[heidijanesmith]

Just got back from HP and thought I would express my experience.

We stayed on site PBH, we had access to the early entry, one hr early. We got up at 5:45AM, ugg, went to take the walk thru HHR and ended up riding a rickshaw instead at 6:30AM. Arrived at IoA at 6:40. 1st family at IoA, hung out by the turnstiles and was let in the park at 7:20. Rode FJ 1st thing, no wait x2. Rode DD both sides x4 with no wait. At 8:45 got a frozen butterbeer, yummy, at the cart outside, again no wait. Went into Honeydukes and the magic store, starting to get a little crowded. 8:45 line for Olivanders 1hr and Dervish Store 1 hr. Left WWoHP at 9:00 for Hulk. Line to get into WWoHP was huge! Was told that it was an hour just to get in at 9:00 AM.

Went back to WWoHP at 7:45 PM. Lines for all stores were huge! FJ line was 75min with no single rider lines, so we did not try it again.

 

[Mikelly1221]

Just got back from HP and thought I would express my experience.

We stayed on site PBH, we had access to the early entry, one hr early. We got up at 5:45AM, ugg, went to take the walk thru HHR and ended up riding a rickshaw instead at 6:30AM. Arrived at IoA at 6:40. 1st family at IoA, hung out by the turnstiles and was let in the park at 7:20. Rode FJ 1st thing, no wait x2. Rode DD both sides x4 with no wait. At 8:45 got a frozen butterbeer, yummy, at the cart outside, again no wait. Went into Honeydukes and the magic store, starting to get a little crowded. 8:45 line for Olivanders 1hr and Dervish Store 1 hr. Left WWoHP at 9:00 for Hulk. Line to get into WWoHP was huge! Was told that it was an hour just to get in at 9:00 AM.

Went back to WWoHP at 7:45 PM. Lines for all stores were huge! FJ line was 75min with no single rider lines, so we did not try it again.

Thanks for the info!

We're going in a week and staying onsite. I was thinking that we need to do Ollivanders before FJ...your post makes me think that we need to do all the stores first. What do you think? (We'll be child swapping on FJ so we won't need lockers.)

Also, did they say why there wasn't a singler rider line available at FJ in the evening?

 

[damo]

Thanks for the info!

We're going in a week and staying onsite. I was thinking that we need to do Ollivanders before FJ...your post makes me think that we need to do all the stores first. What do you think? (We'll be child swapping on FJ so we won't need lockers.)

Also, did they say why there wasn't a singler rider line available at FJ in the evening?

It probably had a very long wait, so they just closed it off to new people. That's what they do with single riders on other rides.

 

[Mikelly1221]

It probably had a very long wait, so they just closed it off to new people. That's what they do with single riders on other rides.

Makes sense-thanks!

 

[heidijanesmith]

Thanks for the info!

We're going in a week and staying onsite. I was thinking that we need to do Ollivanders before FJ...your post makes me think that we need to do all the stores first. What do you think? (We'll be child swapping on FJ so we won't need lockers.)

Also, did they say why there wasn't a singler rider line available at FJ in the evening?[/QUOTE

I think that I would do Olivanders and Dervish shops 1st if that is something you want to try. There was no lines for those two shops 1st thing. After the shops then I would ride FJ. Missing Olivanders was not a big deal for us, as we did not want a wand. I should have gone into the Dervish store after FJ, but we went to DD instead.

I was disappointed by the single rider line being shut down at night, but we were not counting on it as our only time to ride, so it was not a huge deal.

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

We will be there soon!!! I can't wait!

 

[JellyBeans]

Wow! What a wealth of information. Thanks everyone for posting. We haven't visited since 2003 and can't wait to go back. Our entire family are huge Harry Potter fans.

 

[bubba's mom]

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.

Yes...that's it. And, it's a powerwalk...you know...where you walk SO fast your butt shakes & looks funny from the back

We're going in a week and staying onsite. I was thinking that we need to do Ollivanders before FJ...your post makes me think that we need to do all the stores first. What do you think? (We'll be child swapping on FJ so we won't need lockers.)

If you WANT to see Ollivander's show, go there FIRST! Line for FJ and stores/butterbeer still won't be as long as that line for Ollivander's gets

 

[WambaWanda]

Thanks for the info!

We're going in a week and staying onsite. I was thinking that we need to do Ollivanders before FJ...your post makes me think that we need to do all the stores first. What do you think? (We'll be child swapping on FJ so we won't need lockers.)

Also, did they say why there wasn't a singler rider line available at FJ in the evening?[/QUOTE

I think that I would do Olivanders and Dervish shops 1st if that is something you want to try. There was no lines for those two shops 1st thing. After the shops then I would ride FJ. Missing Olivanders was not a big deal for us, as we did not want a wand. I should have gone into the Dervish store after FJ, but we went to DD instead.

I was disappointed by the single rider line being shut down at night, but we were not
counting on it as our only time to ride, so it was not a huge deal.[/QUOTE




We used the single rider line last night 7/24 at 9pm.

 

[WambaWanda]

We went back to WWOHP again tonight (July 24) 8:30pm after doing other rides all day. We went straight to Dervish and Banges and there was no line, but there were a lot of people in there. It's hard to see the merchandise when there are so many people.

Then, we went to ride FJ for the 2nd time at 9pm. This time we used the single rider line. The wait time said 60 min, but we were on the ride in 30 min. After the ride, we went to Honeydukes again and there was no line to get in. I didn't notice it the first time, but if you look up at the ceiling in Honeydukes (near the bakery) there are Extendable Ears hanging there.

We have been here for two days (Fri & Sat) and we were able to do everything in WWOHP on the first night. We stayed offsite and never got up early. I would recommend going at night if you don't want the lines for the stores. Of course, Ollivander's always has a line and we stood in one for 1 hour and 5 min in the evening. The WWOHP looked so authentic and had such detail...we loved it! Tomorrow, is our last day and we will be laying around our resort pool instead of standing in lines!

 

[aubriee]

I know with WWOHP all bets are pretty much off, but am wondering if the crowds will drop really drastically for say August 29th-Sept 4th? With most schools starting back in midAugust, shouldn't there be a REALLY dramatic drop in crowds? How is this week historically?

 

[mousermerf]

I know with WWOHP all bets are pretty much off, but am wondering if the crowds will drop really drastically for say August 29th-Sept 4th? With most schools starting back in midAugust, shouldn't there be a REALLY dramatic drop in crowds? How is this week historically?

Historically IOA has had half or less of the attendance it is currently seeing thanks to Potter. There's no real precedent to compare it to - we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I know with WWOHP all bets are pretty much off, but am wondering if the crowds will drop really drastically for say August 29th-Sept 4th? With most schools starting back in midAugust, shouldn't there be a REALLY dramatic drop in crowds? How is this week historically?

This is what we're counting on when we fly down Sept 8. Usually Orlando is practically empty in Sept after LD.

 

[famluvmickey]

I've never been to Universal Orlando but I'm looking @ googlemaps to see the path you are talking about. Is it the one that is right next to lake? And do you have to go thru Lost Continent? From Lost Continent which way do you go? Sorry so many questions, like I said never been & we will be there next week.

 

[damo]

I've never been to Universal Orlando but I'm looking @ googlemaps to see the path you are talking about. Is it the one that is right next to lake? And do you have to go thru Lost Continent? From Lost Continent which way do you go? Sorry so many questions, like I said never been & we will be there next week.

Yes, you go along near the lake. Follow the grey pathway.

You do go through Lost Continent. Do not worry, you cannot miss Hogwarts. It looms over the entire park.

 

[famluvmickey]

Thanks Damo, you and Bubba's mom have been a great help with the planning of our trip.

 

[nmartin]

Yes...that's it. And, it's a powerwalk...you know...where you walk SO fast your butt shakes & looks funny from the back [/SI
To funny! I know exactly what you mean.


It has taken me a very long time trying to find this short cut on the map but I have did it. Persistence pays off. Due to the fact I have never been to Universal, I still don't know how to get from Mythos to WWOHP. I imagine once I get there I will be able to see the castle from that point. I don't want to go the wrong way because my plan is to take advantage of the early hours and be one of the first people in line. Basically I don't want to go the wrong way. From Mythos, I can't get lost can I?

 

[damo]

Yes...that's it. And, it's a powerwalk...you know...where you walk SO fast your butt shakes & looks funny from the back [/SI
To funny! I know exactly what you mean.


It has taken me a very long time trying to find this short cut on the map but I have did it. Persistence pays off. Due to the fact I have never been to Universal, I still don't know how to get from Mythos to WWOHP. I imagine once I get there I will be able to see the castle from that point. I don't want to go the wrong way because my plan is to take advantage of the early hours and be one of the first people in line. Basically I don't want to go the wrong way. From Mythos, I can't get lost can I?

You should get lost from Mythos. Just don't head left over the bridge.

 

[bubba's mom]

You should get lost from Mythos. Just don't head left over the bridge.

She means "shouldn't" get lost....

Stay the main walkway and follow everyone else. Like damo said, just do NOT hang a left onto the bridge. If you find yourself on the bridge, you can look to the right and see 3 Broomsticks...you know you zigged when you should have zagged.

As for the shortcut thru Suess...like mentioned...quiet walk along the water. You will pass restrooms on your right not too far before exiting Suess Landing. When leaving, those same restrooms are behind the Moose Goose Juice stand.

It's all one big loop...hard to not find...esp w/ Hogwarts millions of feet in the air above you!

To those who aren't sure where they're going...don't worry and don't stress....you'll find it and you're on VACATION!!!!

 

[GetGlowing]

I'm looking forward to the late August - Early Sept trip/crowd reports. We'll be there the week of Sept 11.