Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[OrangeCat04]

I was looking to buy VIP tickets for 8/17, which doesn't work on the HP rides. Can someone explain why you need the lockers? Haven't been to Universal in ages but soooo want to see the WWOHP with my kids, who are older, and my husband, who is impatient in line.

What are VIP tickets???

 

[lachica]

What are VIP tickets???

Unlimted express pass without having to stay onsite.

 

[USMCLtCol]

We will be in Orlando during the week of 28 Aug-4 Sept. Based on what I have read, I was leaning towards visiting WWOHP on Tues or Wed. Any suggestion as to best arrival time? Many thanks!

UPDATE: I have read that Sundays may actually be best (lowest crowds?)

 

[Ethan's dad]

We will be in Orlando during the week of 28 Aug-4 Sept. Based on what I have read, I was leaning towards visiting WWOHP on Tues or Wed. Any suggestion as to best arrival time? Many thanks!

UPDATE: I have read that Sundays may actually be best (lowest crowds?)

Keep in mind that the crowd levels may change somewhat on Aug 23 when the Florida students go back to school - weekdays may well be much less crowded than they are now (they were when we went 2 years ago). But of course there is no way to know for certain because of HP opening. But I would think Labor Day weekend may well be pretty crowded!

 

[TinkerbelleMom]

Keep in mind that the crowd levels may change somewhat on Aug 23 when the Florida students go back to school - weekdays may well be much less crowded than they are now (they were when we went 2 years ago). But of course there is no way to know for certain because of HP opening. But I would think Labor Day weekend may well be pretty crowded!

But Labor Day itself may not be. Its our family tradition to go to MK on Labor day because of very light crowds...even the mountains were 20 minute walk ons. We might go to US?IOA that day this year, since we now have AP's for there too.

 

[chunet]

You would need lockers to store any carry-on items. Universal is strict about bringing on carry-on items...you can't.

But from what I read, Fanny PAck (waist packs) are ok? Just wanted to be sure before we went and purchased 2 for our trip to find out we needed to locker them.

 

[TraceyL]

Fanny packs are ok - you will need to push them so the pack is at the side & as long as the harness still 'clicks' you're good to go

 

[MIChessGuy]

Yesterday (6 August), my niece and I arrived from our offsite hotel and joined the HP line just before 8:00 a.m. We were held in place until 8:30 a.m. After entering the Wizarding World and reaching the castle, the waiting time was displayed as 45 minutes. I couldn't help but note that much of the queue was outside and would be particularly unpleasant in the heat and sun of midday. They had those gigantic fans running and there was an occasional water fountain and even a beverage station (expensive, of course) within the queue.

We got inside the castle right around 9:00, I think it was. Technical problems caused the queue to halt for 15-20 minutes, during which time I was definitely glad to be inside. Finally we got to the inside test seats, which I flunked, having already flunked outside, so I was directed to the fatso walk of shame back to the lockers. "Forbidden" Journey, indeed. Apparently the right strategy was to try to sneak past the ride staff and try the actual ride seat itself, but I didn't realize that at the time. Maybe pretend to study my park map next time so I'm tougher to spot.

Anyhoo, we got outside and after finishing a Butterbeer, I noted it was about 10:30 a.m. Not too bad, aside from getting kicked off the ride of course. My suggestion would be to get in line before 8:00 a.m. if you have no special ride access privileges.

 

[si-am]

We were there last Sunday (8/1). Stayed at Royal Pacific, got to the boat dock at about 6:30am.

We were one of the first in line when they opened the park a little after 7:30-- walked straight to Harry Potter. I was very irritated when they stopped me at the front. I was wearing a small wallet purse around my waist and they made me put it in a locker. (I had read here that they were allowing fanny packs on, but as far as I could tell, they were stopping everyone with ANYTHING.) They only had a few locker sections operational at the time so it was pure chaos in there! Once I got through that, walked through the queue and got straight on the ride.

Afterwards, we got butter beers with no line at all, rode Flight of the Hippogriff with no line (kind of dumb, not worth the time) and looked in a few shops. We were ready to head to Jurassic Park by 8:40 or so but it didn't open til 9 so we just hung around Harry Potter taking pics.

Overall, I'd say it was highly worth staying onsite to get the early entry. (And front of the line for all the other rides!)

 

[Planogirl]

They don't even allow fanny packs now? I have my cargo shorts all ready to wear so I hope that they don't make me empty my pockets! They seem to be getting a little bizarre.

 

[damo]

They don't even allow fanny packs now? I have my cargo shorts all ready to wear so I hope that they don't make me empty my pockets! They seem to be getting a little bizarre.

Ya that makes absolutely no sense. Hopefully it was just someone new who went a bit overboard. A fanny pack isn't a loose article and normally should not get in the way of the restraints. In all the years we've gone to Universal, I've never had anyone question my fanny pack although it never is very noticeable. You could always just put your shirt over your fanny pack.

 

[TraceyL]

Fanny packs were allowed on Monday

 

[mckinfam]

I was afraid they would stop me with my fanny pack so I wore a large t-shirt with the fanny pack under the shirt. Rode with no problem.

 

[carly chloe]

Are the crowds going down at all since it opened? We will be there Aug. 20 which is on a Fri.. It is the only day we can go. Will a Friday be bad?

 

[tamanegi65]

Hi all - we'll be going to IOA and HP Tuesday Aug 10th - live local so don't have any early access. So, that said - if we go right when the park opens to general public will the lines already be really long? Or is it better to just go midday/later in the day to find the shortest line times?

 

[si-am]

Ya that makes absolutely no sense. Hopefully it was just someone new who went a bit overboard. A fanny pack isn't a loose article and normally should not get in the way of the restraints. In all the years we've gone to Universal, I've never had anyone question my fanny pack although it never is very noticeable. You could always just put your shirt over your fanny pack.

Yeah, I was quite irritated by it-- maybe it was someone new and overzealous. I bought that wallet purse JUST for Universal because I could wear it around my waist... all for nothing!

 

[damo]

Yeah, I was quite irritated by it-- maybe it was someone new and overzealous. I bought that wallet purse JUST for Universal because I could wear it around my waist... all for nothing!

Probably the person's first shift in that area and was told to stop all people with purses and bags. Without clarification they were probably just stopping everyone.

It sounds like it probably would have fit in the compartment in the seat as well, so that person really should have informed you of that.

 

[heidijanesmith]

Fanny packs are ok - you will need to push them so the pack is at the side & as long as the harness still 'clicks' you're good to go

I wore a fanny pack and did the same thing, just turned it so the side with all my stuff was on my side instead of upfront. Worked well, no problem with the three clicks.

 

[RMmom]

We were there on Tuesday, August 3rd. We saw the LONG line at opening and went and did other stuff. We came back to the WWOHP at 3PM and walked right in. It was crowded in the area but we did everything we wanted to do. Waits for Hippogriff and Dragons were less than 30 mins. I think FJ was 1 hour. We shopped in all stores and bought Butterbeer. That was the longest wait of the area. Why didn't they make more than one cart??? Skip the morning and go in the afternoon is my advice!

 

[damo]

We were there on Tuesday, August 3rd. We saw the LONG line at opening and went and did other stuff. We came back to the WWOHP at 3PM and walked right in. It was crowded in the area but we did everything we wanted to do. Waits for Hippogriff and Dragons were less than 30 mins. I think FJ was 1 hour. We shopped in all stores and bought Butterbeer. That was the longest wait of the area. Why didn't they make more than one cart??? Skip the morning and go in the afternoon is my advice!

There are three areas to buy Butterbeer. One main cart in the middle, one smaller cart over by The Magic Neep and inside of the Hogs Head. Everyone just congregates at the large one in the middle.