Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[phamton]

This is our first visit to Universal ever.

I'm so excited for you! Have a great time!

 

[Boo :)]

Just over 3 weeks till WDW/Universal

 

[disneysteve]

I'm so excited for you! Have a great time!

in line for FJ right now. Gates opened at 7:45 but got to WWOHP and told FJ won't open until 8:30. The crowd isn't pleased.

 

[Planogirl]

We visited Universal four times over the past week and all but one were manageable as far as crowds go even if more crowded. Last Monday was insane!

We were offsite and arrived Monday at just past 8. We waited outside of WWoHP until about 8:30 when we were allowed into the land and we queued up for FJ. FJ broke for about 20 minutes but once it reopened we moved quickly through the queue and onto the ride. It was great!

When we left WWoHP at about 9:30, the wait time for FJ was posted at 85 minutes while the line to get into WWoHP was at about 1 1/2 hours according to the TM at the end of the line. This is the only time all week that we ran into such a line outside of WWoHP. The time for FJ normally varied between 60 minutes and 90 minutes each time we checked. I never could figure out a pattern.

Ollivanders was always jammed so we bypassed it. One other shop, Dervish and Banges, always had a short line to get in. The other shops were crowded but open.

Universal overall seemed more crowded than usual but maybe it was because we were there the week before most schools started. That difficult Monday both parks were very crowded and the higher level of crowds seemed to be consistent no matter what time we were there. We were at the parks three times starting in the mornings and once just at night.

 

[inkkognito]

I was shocked at just how uncrowded (relatively speaking) it was yesterday (Sunday). We arrived 10ish and went to Uni first to kill some time on Rip Ride Rockit and MiB, then have lunch at Finngegan's, in case there was a line to get into WWoHP. I won a giant stuffed owl which I christened Pudgewig, Hedwig's much larger (and purple) brother, so we decided to play Flat Stanley with him. We were SHOCKED that FJ had a 20 minute line when we arrived. No butterbeer line either, and of course the coasters were walk-on. We took a bunch of silly photos, and some ladies asked if they could borrow Pudgewig for a photo op so we took a pic for them in front of the Owl Post. We had to use child swap at FJ (new life experience) and rode it 3 times each, including a fairly brief shutdown because someone vomited on the exit belt. I even took Pudgewig on Flight of the Hippogriff with me. Finally it started thundering so we left, but I'm loving the off season. FJ did go up to 45 mins. but single riders was never bad at all. I'll post a link to my Flat Stanley...or rather, pudgy Pudgewig pics. later when I get them on Facebook.

 

[John_RN]

I was shocked at just how uncrowded (relatively speaking) it was yesterday (Sunday). We arrived 10ish and went to Uni first to kill some time on Rip Ride Rockit and MiB, then have lunch at Finngegan's, in case there was a line to get into WWoHP. I won a giant stuffed owl which I christened Pudgewig, Hedwig's much larger (and purple) brother, so we decided to play Flat Stanley with him. We were SHOCKED that FJ had a 20 minute line when we arrived. No butterbeer line either, and of course the coasters were walk-on. We took a bunch of silly photos, and some ladies asked if they could borrow Pudgewig for a photo op so we took a pic for them in front of the Owl Post. We had to use child swap at FJ (new life experience) and rode it 3 times each, including a fairly brief shutdown because someone vomited on the exit belt. I even took Pudgewig on Flight of the Hippogriff with me. Finally it started thundering so we left, but I'm loving the off season. FJ did go up to 45 mins. but single riders was never bad at all. I'll post a link to my Flat Stanley...or rather, pudgy Pudgewig pics. later when I get them on Facebook.

Pudgewig!!! hahaha! I love it!!

 

[Deb in IA]

After that we went back to the Wand Cart by FJ so my friend could purchase a wand, she purchased the Hermione wand.

Oh and no Pygmy Puffs till end of September, I was sad, haha.

Sounds like they are still having stock issues!

2 weekends ago, when we were there, there were plenty of Pygmy Puffls, but no Hermione wands!

 

[Lou Holtz]

Express could be close to opening up on FJ now that we are into the offseason.

 

[SmallWorld71]

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!

Can't speak for when you are going, but we are here right now and very happy to be staying on-site. Even though the waits aren't long for most rides, the heat is BRUTAL and the difference between 5 min. and 15 min. over and over when you are so hot can make a huge difference. : up2

Went to Universal Studios yesterday and it was pretty quiet. A couple times MIB had posted wait time of 40 min. Everything else was posted 20 min. or less, including RRR. DH and the boys went on RRR about 11am and the wait time was 15 min. Took about 25 because of a minor breakdown.

Going back to WWOHP either tonight or tomorrow am. I'll report back.

 

[brenda1966]

Thanks. We are going Oct 25, 26. Even if the lines are 15 minutes and we are able to bypass that, I will feel okay about spending the money to stay onsite. But if they are walk-on I'm going to feel like I spent a lot to stay there when I really didn't need to. So, who has a crystal ball to predict it for me? LOL.

 

[jenny105]

Thanks. We are going Oct 25, 26. Even if the lines are 15 minutes and we are able to bypass that, I will feel okay about spending the money to stay onsite. But if they are walk-on I'm going to feel like I spent a lot to stay there when I really didn't need to. So, who has a crystal ball to predict it for me? LOL.

LOL. I went a couple years ago in November and we didn't need Express Pass for anything except during the weekend. That was pre-Harry Potter though.

 

[mrebuck]

Sounds like they are still having stock issues!

2 weekends ago, when we were there, there were plenty of Pygmy Puffls, but no Hermione wands!

The Hermione wands are back in stock - my DD bought hers on Thursday and there were plenty.

 

[lmf70]

We were at IOA Fri 8/20 and Sun 8/22 and agree thar compared to what previous posters have reported crowds are down. Never saw a line to get into HP Land and wait time for FJ usually around 30 mins. Longest line was for Ollivander's but this was not a must-do for us anyway. We did not do the early entry because my teenagers will not get out of bed but we were still able to do everything we wanted to. Went in the evening 8/20 and line for Ollivander's was much shorter than during the day and we were able to go right into Dervish and Banges which had a line during the day. Never saw a line for Honeydukes but it was always crowded. Cannot stress enough DO NOT attempt to get a locker at the castle for FJ!! Either get one by the train or don't take any bags with you-wait time to get a locker was probably 20 mins. easy!
To all who are going soon - have a great time - I know we did!!!

 

[spima3]

I'm glad to see the crowds are dying down a bit, however that just has me questioning my expensive onsite room!

I debated about this for such a long time, I drove myself nuts. I knew I would have had to stay on-site in the summer, but we are going in Sept.

I could not justify the expense for ONE room just on the off chance we might need early entry and the FOTL access. I had no interest in the hotels themselves or any other benefits they offered. I decided against it and just decided to deal w/ the crowds if I had to. Although, I have to say, reading this thread lately, I'm glad I didn't do the on-site.

However, I may regret that decision when we are actually there!

But, I am determined to enjoy myself no matter what, and have already warned the kids they are going to do the same!

 

[choirchic]

I am loving this thread...great information!

 

[disneysteve]

I'll post more later, but let me just tell you that at IOA today, at 10:00am, the line just to be admitted into WWOHP stretched from the entry point of WWOHP around and through Jurassic Park to just in front of the Thunder Falls Terrace restaurant. It was totally insane. I have no idea how long it took for someone to get from that point to actually step into WWOHP but it had to be pretty long. And remember, that doesn't include the line for FJ itself. Once you got into WWOHP, you then had to get on the FJ line.

 

[russternj]

We were on line today for FJ at 8:30. It broke down and was still not fixed at 10:30 when we left the line. Went back about 5:00 and it was open but the line started at the bottom level of the greenhouse. I guessed it was about 2 hours from this point and gave up. Anyone know how long it is from that point?

 

[phamton]

We were on line today for FJ at 8:30. It broke down and was still not fixed at 10:30 when we left the line. Went back about 5:00 and it was open but the line started at the bottom level of the greenhouse. I guessed it was about 2 hours from this point and gave up. Anyone know how long it is from that point?

From the greenhouse, it is less than an hour wait.

 

[msminniemouse]

We went on single riders line today at around 3 PM and only waited 5 min. We went on twice in a row.

 

[Echo queen]

Sunday was by far the best of our 3 days at Royal Pacifc resort and HP. We arrived from WDW at 7:45am checked in and headed right over. FJ was a walk on, loved it. On Monday you could really see the increase in crowds, there at early opening, they did not open FJ until 8:20am for some reason. We did Olivanders first because I could see how the line got long quick. Well my son, who turned 12 during this vacation was chosen by the wizard to be fitted with a wand. It was so cool for him. Yes, we bought the wand.
Today Tuesday we were hoping to do FJ again but the line was outrageous as the PP stated. I did not know it had broken down. The rain was really heavy, by the time we got back to PRP I had to change cloths before going to the airport evan with a poncho on


RPR was great evan though the first room they sent us too the key did not work and they sent security up, once in the room the toilet didn't work. So they changed our room to another room on the 7th floor over looking the park. They also gave us a free breakfast at Island dining room.

Everyone was really nice at the resort, I left my butterbeer mug behind by mistake (I didn't evan know it) and one of the bus boys found me like 30min later to tell me they had it at the deck for me. Now wasn't that nice.