Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[RC Fan]

I am going this week! Can anyone confirm for me that offsite guests can still get into IOA early to wait in line? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[phamton]

If capacity isn't met by hotel guests, they do let you get in line. I went at one of the busiest times (a week after the grand opening) and we got in line by Spiderman at 8:00 AM. We made it into the Harry Potter area around 8:45 AM.

 

[MIChessGuy]

On August 6, my niece and I entered IOA and got in line just outside a Jurassic Park gift shop before 8:00 a.m. Our line started moving a few minutes after 8:30. After a long wait that included a FJ breakdown (we were inside the castle by then, fortunately -- the greenhouse would have been a killer), we finally made it to the inside test seats where I didn't fit and was thrown out by the fat police. It turned out to be just as well: The castle was proving a bit much for my niece and there didn't appear to be any 'swap' options with just one adult.

 

[mdb78]

I am going this week! Can anyone confirm for me that offsite guests can still get into IOA early to wait in line? Thanks in advance for your help!

I believe offsite guests can only get into IOA early if they get a vacation package.

 

[damo]

I believe offsite guests can only get into IOA early if they get a vacation package.

Offsite guests without a Harry Potter package can get into the park early to line up in Jurassic Park for Wizarding World.

 

[mdb78]

Offsite guests without a Harry Potter package can get into the park early to line up in Jurassic Park for Wizarding World.

From what I've understood from the universal site, as long as you get any offsite package (HP, custom, or FL Resident package), you can get early entry into IOA.

Although, if you booked an offsite hotel without a package, then you won't get in early.. Is that correct?

 

[damo]

From what I've understood from the universal site, as long as you get any offsite package (HP, custom, or FL Resident package), you can get early entry into IOA.

Although, if you booked an offsite hotel without a package, then you won't get in early.. Is that correct?

WITHOUT A PACKAGE AND NOT ONSITE: You will get through the gates of IOA early but you won't get into the Wizarding World early (which is the only part of the park that is operational). You will be instructed to turn left and head through Marvel Island continue to Jurassic Park and wait in line until early entry is over. You will then be allowed into Wizarding World or be allowed to ride other rides in the park which will now be operational.

WITH A PACKAGE OR ONSITE: You will get through the gates of IOA early and will be allowed into Wizarding World. You will be instructed to turn right and continue to Wizarding World where you WILL NOT have to wait in line but will enter the area directly.

 

[RC Fan]

Thanks for the info! I shall endeavor to get there early.

 

[mdb78]

WITHOUT A PACKAGE AND NOT ONSITE: You will get through the gates of IOA early but you won't get into the Wizarding World early (which is the only part of the park that is operational). You will be instructed to turn left and head through Marvel Island continue to Jurassic Park and wait in line until early entry is over. You will then be allowed into Wizarding World or be allowed to ride other rides in the park which will now be operational.

WITH A PACKAGE OR ONSITE: You will get through the gates of IOA early and will be allowed into Wizarding World. You will be instructed to turn right and continue to Wizarding World where you WILL NOT have to wait in line but will enter the area directly.

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

 

[MHT to MCO]

Thank you damo!

I'm headed there September 15-18 and WITHOUT a package and not onsite - so that definately cleared it up for me!

 

[SmallWorld71]

At Hard Rock now. Went to IOA today (Sat.). Got there just after 8 and made the trek to HP. Got in line for Ollivander's (in the Shade in the morning) and waited about 15 minutes. Cute show, but as mentioned, not worth a long wait. The chosen was about 16, very giggly and not a good choice IMO but Ollivander played his part well. Journey had 60 min. post time at 8:30 with people saying it had broken down temporarily. We choose to ride Hippogriff and Dragons which were walk-ons and did some looking around the shops which were not bad at this point.

At about 10:30 we were going to leave the area. FJ was still posted at 60 min. and we decided to give it a try. Went through Filch's to the lockers (great tip we saved me a LONG line!). We were off the ride in 45 min., 30 min. of which was spent in the greenhouse. DD and I did not like the ride. Actually, I am embarrassed to say I started crying. (Such a muggle!) The 3 boys loved it! At 11:30 the area was hot, crowded and miserable so we left.

Returned to WWOHP at around 6 pm in the evening. Just before we got there it began to rain. Went to 3 Broomsticks for dinner. Waited about 15 min. to get in but line was inside so we were happy. After we ate we explored the shops w/ everyone else who was avoiding rain and you could hardly move in them. At 7 the posted wait time for FJ was 45 min. The 3 boys used the single rider line and were out in 15. At this point the rain stopped and the area really cleared out. We rode Hippogriff and Dragons (5 min. posted wait for each.) When we left the area around 7:45 the posted wait time for FJ was 30 min. and the shops were a bit better. Ollivanders line was about 20 min. at 7:45 so the rain def. helped with that one.

I'll report more if we go again. Sat. is probably not the best day to go, but all in all it was manageable first thing in the morning and then in the evening.

 

[tarrbear]

I visited IOA & US today, the crowds very very manageable, I will post a full report tomorrow.

 

[Nicole786]

We are here now just finished the weekend!! We checked into HRH on Friday morning and spent most of our time in and out of WWOHP. Our original plan was to do the early entry but we decided on the first night to go check it out. The park closed at 10 so we figured we would walk around and than return the next morning.

We were giddy and in awe for a long time when we got there and it wasn't crowded at all!! We walked leisurely through honeydukes and zonkos and waited on a 5 min ButterBeer line.

We walked around for a while soaking it all in and than headed to forbidden journey with a posted 45 minute wait we maybe waited 30. Awesome!! Filchs was a disaster with crowds though. Hippogriff was a walk on and than we waited behind a group of 6 for dervish and banges.

Needless to say we decided to sleep in the next morning!!

We decided to just walk there about 10am but we decided we wouldn't wait to get in. Just walked through!! Once again honeydukes and zonkos were practically empty but people were queuing for three broomsticks (to be fair they weren't open yet) the line for ollivanders wasn't Terrible maybe 35mins? We skipped it. We walked over towards hogwarts and noticed a person standing around the performance area turns out they were waiting for the hogwarts choir set to perform in 5mins (by the way we figured out that the choir performs on the hour and the durmstrang/beauxbatons perform on the half hour) this was awesome!!! Great pics and video to show later!! (u can check it out now in my twitter)

Standby for FB was 45 minutes and after refilling the butterbeer for the third time in 24 hours we left.

Later that day crowds picked up through the park but we decided to eat lunch at 3 broomsticks. We expected a queue to enter but walked in again straight to lunch. This had an indoor line around 12ish that took 15 mins but I needed to decide what I wanted. They are on top of their game here. Don't worry about fighting for a seat they seat u after u have your food. ButterBeer with lunch of course. We walked the DC queue for pics and it was a 10 minute wait

Returned last night at 7:30-8 and it had just stopped pouring so needless to say it was pretty quiet. FB journey was 45 minutes again but shorter than the night before. I took Dramamine so I enjoyed the ride more this time around. Filchs was a zoo, and since the ollivanders line was shorter than usual, and it wasn't hot, we queued up. With another butterbeer of course. Waited about 25mins, and WE WERE CHOSEN!!!! Both my 18 year old brother and my 23 year old self were chosen together!! Details in an upcoming report!!

Lots of other details to share but as you can see we enjoyed almost every experience they have to offer and we didn't opt for early entry!! Go later in the day especially if u r headed there now!

 

[Echo queen]

On the boat from RPR to universal.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I visited IOA & US today, the crowds very very manageable, I will post a full report tomorrow.

I agree! Other than the WWOHP, the rest of IOA was relatively quiet. Going to US today.

 

[*Debi Potter*]

You can only make reservations if you have the Harry Potter package.

Thanks for the info!! I'm disappointed to hear it as I don't have the package, but I guess as long as I'll get to see the park that's all that matters! Guess I'll have to settle for having lunch there!

 

[DisneyAlly]

We went to IOA this morning and did not make it to the gate till 9am. I was a bit worried that we were a bit late and might have to wait just to get inside WWoHP. That was not the case - we were able to walk in right away. Ollivanders had the expected long line and the FJ posted time was 30 minutes. We went in the FJ line and did a baby swap. We thought the wait was at most 15 minutes. Great ride! We thought it was a cross between Soaring and Spiderman as well. When we got off the ride, we visited all stores except Ollivanders. We went to 3 Broomsticks for lunch around 11:15am and was able to get in immediately. Lunch was very good! Overall, we did not feel it was crowded.

Everyone who said Sunday was a great day to visit is correct! Thank you all for reporting!

 

[tarrbear]

Full report time. Woo.

So Friday morning we took off at 7 am to be at Sea World for 9, we encountered a little traffic but we were in Sea World before 10. Manta's queue was ridiculously long so we skipped it and went to see the 10 am showing of Blue Horizons, then we rode Kraken and Journey to Atlantis, both walk-ons. After that we saw Clyde and Seamore then rode the skytower. After that we caught the 12:30 performance of Believe, ate lunch at the Sea-Fire Inn (I thinks thats what its called.) Then rode Manta (which we walked right on) Then left. We checked in at our hotel around 3:20ish, we stayed offsite at the Comfort Inn on I-Drive. It was a nice clean hotel that was priced well. Around 5 I decided I wanted to pick up my annual pass so it wasn't in the way tomorrow, so we drove to Universal and went over to the IOA Ticket booths, picked up my pass and the Lady gave me another ticket to redeem for a 3-D Commemorative ticket. So I used my pass to get into IOA and got my ticket.

Front of it

Back of it

Okay, now we shall jump to Saturday, being offsite guests I decided we'd try the WWoHP in the evening. So the alarm went off at 6:50 am, we all got up and got ready, ate breakfast and left the hotel at 8:00 am, by 8:10 we were there and parked and walking towards Universal where we decided to go to first. My sister and friend had to re-deem there tickets so we did that quickly and got in line to enter. On-site guests were let in at 8:30 am then we were let in at 8:45. We walked right onto Jimmy Neutron then did the Hollywood Rip-ride Rockit which had a posted 35 min wait, but it was about 40 min, the ride broke down a few times. After that we bought some souvenir refill cups then headed to The Mummy, which we also walked on, (btw, walking through that queue with no one else is kinda creepy.) We also walked on Men In Black, The Simpsons, and E.T. We took pictures with Scooby, the Madagascar Penguins and Alex the Lion, and Spongebob and were out by Noon. We then crossed over to IOA and started in Seuss Land to ride Cat in the Hat then went to Hulk and had about a 30 min wait. We did the single riders line for Spiderman so we were on that one in no time, the WWoHP was next. We walked around Toon Lagoon into Jurassic Park and into WWoHP, I had a mini freak out at how real things looked! And I took some pics from my phone

We stored our stuff in the lockers (went through Flitch's, a great time saver!) and joined the FJ line that had a posted wait time of 35 min's at 1:40. We were off the ride by 2:05. And we then decided we wanted to ride again so we did the single riders line, it took about 5 min. Then we had the task of fighting to our locker, by 2:30 we were joining the line for Flight of The Hippogriff, had a 5 minute wait here then we went to Ollivanders and had a 20 min wait. 2 little kids were chosen, it was cute. I then proceeded at the attempt to purchase a wand In the Owl Post. There was literally no line at the register, but the shop was just so crowded. I purchased a Birthday Wand which is a Reed Wand. We also browsed the shop that was attached which had a very long line to enter.

My Wand

At 3:20 we went to Three Broomsticks where we had lunch (Fish and Chips with Frozen Butterbeer)
And let me say, it was delicious!!!
After that we went back to the Wand Cart by FJ so my friend could purchase a wand, she purchased the Hermione wand. We then backtracked to Dragon Challenge, stored our stuff in now two lockers. (Two wands, one butterbeer mug, and three re-fill cups don't fit in one locker haha) There was a 15 min wait time, but we walked right on. I'm sure that walk took 15 min though!

Then we walked right into Honeydukes ad Zonko's and looked around, they weren't crowded. Oh and no Pygmy Puffs till end of September, I was sad, haha. After that we left, we had done everything we wanted to and were in the fornt of the park by 4, I went into the gift shop and purchased myself a Buckbeak plush

And we were back to the Hotel by 5. It was a good day, I wasn't expecting being out of there so early!

 

[disneysteve]

We are checking into Royal Pacific first thing tomorrow morning and heading to IOA for WWOHP and more. This is our first visit to Universal ever. I'll definitely post a report Tuesday night or Wednesday sometime.

 

[brenda1966]

I'm glad to see the crowds are dying down a bit, however that just has me questioning my expensive onsite room! I really enjoy reading the trip reports and crowd reports -- keep em coming!