Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[phamton]

What about the offsite package holders with early entry/breakfast ressies ? Which line did they join?

Thanks

There was s special line for breakfast and early entry guests at the turnstiles. I am assuming that the person checking for hotel info near the Port of Entry (just before you get to the bridge) was also taking care of that also. I didn't go over there but I'm almost positive that that line would be where you would go. Not that there was any line at all there though. I just saw a handful of people headed that way and didn't see any sort of line there at all. If that's not where you go, the team member there can tell you.

 

[TraceyL]

Excellent - thank you

We have a night onsite (room only) & a 1 night offsite package booked = 4 early entry mornings

 

[cigar95]

. . . . . .

That is, until they turn the rest of the lost continent into Diagon alley and the weasleys house... or the ministry of magic.... or Sirius blacks house...

Which is gonna happen next.

OK, you didn't think you were going to be able to drop that little nugget and it doesn't go unnoticed . . . . . . .

Is this just an idea of your own, or is it a "rumor from a bus driver", or have we heard about something/anything seriously discussed at the NBC/Universal level, or . . . . ?

I suspect that the popularity of WW is beyond Universal's expectations. If so, it would be a surprise if they *didn't* expand. Especially since what remains of Lost Continent isn't all that special. Yes, Poseidon's Fury is visually impressive from the outside, but the attraction really lost its mojo once they turned off the water vortex.

The next step is to figure out a way to have a character breakfast. I was originally so disappointed to learn that they would not have a "Great Hall" restaurant, and then this week to learn that there would be no "meet and greet" characters. I would so love to get a photo with Hagrid.

All I ask - PLEASE don't lose Mythos in the takeover. Maybe change the name to 'Lumos', or theme it after a house common room and squeeze in my character breakfast..

 

[hpfan100]

Here is my question. If Im not staying on site, get to Universal at say 6 AM for 9 AM GP opening. Am I still gonna be in line for hours inside due to onsite guests still in a line? If so, wow, that's even more ridiculous than I planned for.

on site guests go in from suess side, off site go in from marvel side. They are two seperate lines. So if you get there early and they let you line up it will not include on site people unless they are not paying attention. When I lined up Monday at 8:45 ish I was in the land by 10:20. I felt that was very reasonable and I was able to browse the other lands while I waited which helped me since I had never been to universal before. Good Luck.

 

[Virgderon]

Thank you Tracey! Checking it out right now.

 

[scrapcreator]

We are planning to go this Thursday, so I hope to see a few more updates and I'll come back and share our experience.

Jeanne

 

[lildamo]

OK, you didn't think you were going to be able to drop that little nugget and it doesn't go unnoticed . . . . . . .

Is this just an idea of your own, or is it a "rumor from a bus driver", or have we heard about something/anything seriously discussed at the NBC/Universal level, or . . . . ?

I suspect that the popularity of WW is beyond Universal's expectations. If so, it would be a surprise if they *didn't* expand. Especially since what remains of Lost Continent isn't all that special. Yes, Poseidon's Fury is visually impressive from the outside, but the attraction really lost its mojo once they turned off the water vortex.

The next step is to figure out a way to have a character breakfast. I was originally so disappointed to learn that they would not have a "Great Hall" restaurant, and then this week to learn that there would be no "meet and greet" characters. I would so love to get a photo with Hagrid.

All I ask - PLEASE don't lose Mythos in the takeover. Maybe change the name to 'Lumos', or theme it after a house common room and squeeze in my character breakfast..

Any rumour of expansion is just rumour at this point. Universal has announced in their grand opening press conferences that there are no plans for expansion at this time (that's not to say there may not be planning behind the scenes, but there hasn't been anything confirmed). And unless you're having a character breakfast with anonymous students or holograms (which could be quite neat!), I don't think it's going to happen as per Universal's contract with JK Rowling.

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

THANKS to everyone who is coming back with info.

I was under the impression that there was a ton of room to expand WW when they can. I also thought that there would never be a character meet and greet because JK requested that.

 

[diskids2]

Yes, I second the THANKS. We are going July 26th and I will be glued to this thread so please keep posting feedback.

 

[Selket]

For onsite guests, what time is the WWHP opening up? Is it still one hour before official park open? Earlier this week they were opening closer to 2 hours before.

Just curious when I should plan to line up if I'm staying on-site - we are there soon!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

Thanks for the updates, everyone! We're hoping to go in late August, so I'll definitely be stalking this thread until then.

And...I'd LOVE if they would expand the WWoHP! Adding the Burrow would be so great.

 

[truck1]

Last night I walked into WWOHP no wait at about 7pmish.Wait times are calming down (at least at night) and were less then 1 hr each.There was lilnes for Olivanders, and the other store, but I dont know the name. The butter beer cart had about a 15 minute line, and there seemed to be plenty of pumpkin drinks also in the stands.
I forget what each wait time was to be honest.I know they were less than 1 hour though.
I was amazed that we could walk right in to the area.Seems later is better.And as far as I know, it didnt rain to run any one off.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Thanks for the thread! I'll be keeping an eye on these wait times to decide if I want to go there for the day when we head to WDW in September.

 

[DaddyBeast]

It is LONG, and there is a guy holding a sign showing where the line ends. I was guessing 8 hours, but who knows. They have never had a line winding around like this.

Also, the people inside know that once they leave they can't get back in, so they stay longer just to make sure they are done.

I agree with arriving early, or waiting until 8pm to try to get in with no lines.

 

[torinsmom]

It is LONG, and there is a guy holding a sign showing where the line ends. I was guessing 8 hours, but who knows. They have never had a line winding around like this.

Also, the people inside know that once they leave they can't get back in, so they stay longer just to make sure they are done.

I agree with arriving early, or waiting until 8pm to try to get in with no lines.

I wouldn't say never; we were there June 18th and the line winded around all the way back to Seuss Land from the Marvel Island entrance.

We are going to go over about 4 or 4:30 and if its too long, we'll ride some other rides and check back. It's the last day our tickets are good, so its now or next year.

 

[phamton]

It is LONG, and there is a guy holding a sign showing where the line ends. (by Spiderman) I was guessing 8 hours, but who knows. They have never had a line winding around like this.

Yesterday we were in that same line . When we entered the line, it was at the end across from Spiderman. We were on the ride within 2 hours.

 

[cdoles]

okay, i'm pretty confused. can someone help me out please?
we will be going to IOA on july 6th and we are staying offsite.
what time do you reccommend i get at IOA.
i guess i'm confused when it comes to the line for WWoHP.
if the park doesn't open until 9, does that mean i cannot get into the park
to get in line for WWoHP, or does that mean, the gates to IOA don't open until 9..
i hope someone knows what i mean...
essentially i guess i'm asking, can you get into the park while everything is closed to get to WWoHP.

sorry about all of this, i've never been to IOA before.

 

[The Princess]

So there are lines just to get into the Harry Potter part of the park? We are going to disney july 16-23 and hoping to get to see the Harry Potter park when we go????

 

[phamton]

okay, i'm pretty confused. can someone help me out please?
we will be going to IOA on july 6th and we are staying offsite.
what time do you reccommend i get at IOA.
i guess i'm confused when it comes to the line for WWoHP.
if the park doesn't open until 9, does that mean i cannot get into the park
to get in line for WWoHP, or does that mean, the gates to IOA don't open until 9..

The turnstiles have been opening around 8:00 AM so you can usually enter around that time and get in line. Yesterday, I entered IOA at 8:30 AM and headed for the line. It was continually moving even at 8:30 AM. We rode Forbidden Journey around 10:00 AM.

 

[pmickus]

We are headed to Universal on July 5th and 6th and are staying on-site. What time should we head over to the parks? I know we can get in an hour early. I'm afraid there will be so many people lining up who are not staying on site near the turnstiles. Is there a special turnstiles for only those staying onsite. If I get there by 7:30am will I still be standing in line with the offsite guests? I don't want people upset thinking I'm cutting in line but I paid $$ to get in early and hope I don't get bogged down behind the big crowds trying to get in at 9am.