Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[drummer1616]

We visited Universal Islands of Adventure on Saturday, Feb. 26 & Sunday, Feb. 27 with the intent to do Harry Potter. As a background, we are a family of three. Parents and a unit who is 7 years old. I am a meeting planner for large groups and I specialize in logistics of moving large crowds around. We only did the Forbidden Journey, Ollivanders & ate at Three Broomsticks. We did not stay on-site at Universal.

Here is my opinion of the crowds and best plan of action:

Saturday, Feb. 26 was designated as a "Yellow - $45.99" express pass day. We arrived at the park at 10:00 AM and wanted just to check out the crowds at Harry Potter on a "Yellow" day. Holy cow! An hour after opening, they had Harry Potter crowd control at both entrances. What does this mean? They had Universal "agents" along the pathway every few feet when you got close to the entrance to Harry Potter and they had barricades at both entrances to Harry Potter. When we exited at the back Jurassic exit, we were told that we better have seen everything we wanted because we weren't getting back into that part of the park. The wait for the rides were over an hour. It was packed. My suggestion - if you have to visit Harry Potter on anything other than a Blue or Green Express Pass day, pay to stay on-site at Universal and get into the parks an hour early. Otherwise, if you see the barricades - ABORT!

Sunday, Feb. 27 was designated as a "Green - $31.99" express pass day. What a difference this made. We were inside the park at opening and headed left to the Jurassic (back) entrance. No barricades or crowd control were in sight.

We arrived at Ollivanders around 9:20 AM. We made the mistake of waiting for 45 minutes for the Ollivanders experience while the Forbidden Journey ride time crept from 20 - 60 minutes. By the time we were done with Ollivanders the crowds at Forbidden Journey were out of control - 60+ minutes at best. Olivanders stayed at about a 45 minute wait while we were there. If you just want a wand & not the show, go around back and enter the store.

We opted for the single rider line at Forbidden Journey. (Look left almost immediately when you enter the hall past the lockers.) Our wait was about 5 minutes (versus 60 minutes) and we took advantage of the child swap. We missed out on the detail of the caste but our son wasn't riding so we didn't want to wait in the regular line.

After Forbidden Journey, we went to Three Broomsticks at around 11:00 AM with no wait. It was mediocre at best but a must do for a 7-year old who reads all the books. If it is a nice day, opt to go and sit outside on the terrace and overlook the castle.

Note on Lockers: What a mess the lockers are...You have to move your belongings from ride to ride. We exited Ollivanders and I knew to ride Forbidden Journey we had to locker our son's new wand purchase. I went straight to the 1st lockers I saw, by the Dragon Challenge. Apparently you can only place your belongings in the Forbidden Journey lockers per the printed paper map. Of course, we didn't have a printed map and the locker police were trying to charge me $3 to retrieve a wand that I just paid $30 for. Not a chance - I told the locker police that he better release my belongings or I was going to raise a fuss!

All in all Harry Potter met expectations and we'll be back again.

Our 1st ime to universal,What are these color- pass days and how do find the schedule

 

[macraven]

Our 1st ime to universal,What are these color- pass days and how do find the schedule

i have been going to universal since 1992 and this is the first time i have heard of the 'color pass days'.

the pp listed prices for the express pass plus and then a 'color'.

what i advise newbies is to check out the cost of the epp/express pass plus for the dates you plan to attend.

the cost for the epp is an indicator of the crowds for that day in the park.

when the epp sells for $19.99, save your money and don't buy the epp.
they are very cheap when crowds will be light.

when the cost of the epp is high, do expect crowds.

be aware that the price of the epp can change.
the prices are set in advance.
some days the epp will be higher due to the crowd level expected that day.

never buy the epp in advance.
there are no refunds on them.
they are date assigned and per park.

if you are at the park and the lines are long, then invest in the epp in order to use the express lines.

the restriction of using the epp is the pass is only valid one time per day.
the epp does not include FJ and P flyers.


getting back to your question, the only time i have heard 'color days' mentioned is the tour guide mike program which is only valid for disneyworld.

 

[Disbug]

i have been going to universal since 1992 and this is the first time i have heard of the 'color pass days'.

The "color pass" days refers to the page on Universal's website that color codes the Express Pass prices for quick and easy reference... Blue = least expensive and lightest crowds, Green, Orange, Gray, and Yellow = most expensive and heaviest crowds.

Here is a link to the page:


https://secure.universalstudios.com/webstore/shop/ViewItems.aspx?Merchant=UOMain&CategoryGroupExternalID=UO&CategoryExternalID=UOUEP2

Waving HI! to macraven!

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Of course I told all the nervous Nellies in my group about using the EPP calendar to judge the crowds. The day they decide to check, they've upped the day we're going to a Level "3" day. So, now I'm being accused of marching them into some sort of mass hysteria!

I feel like i'm the only one in my group who just "goes" with it.

 

[macraven]

The "color pass" days refers to the page on Universal's website that color codes the Express Pass prices for quick and easy reference... Blue = least expensive and lightest crowds, Green, Orange, Gray, and Yellow = most expensive and heaviest crowds.

Here is a link to the page:


https://secure.universalstudios.com/webstore/shop/ViewItems.aspx?Merchant=UOMain&CategoryGroupExternalID=UO&CategoryExternalID=UOUEP2

Waving HI! to macraven!

learning something new everyday thanks to the dis and the homies!

after going to the darkside for so long, i don't go back and read everything on the website anymore.
unless, i have to find an answer to a question.

here is a time i should have checked the website.
i kept thinking of TGM and his color wheel system.

i like mike's color system.
UO has too many colors for me to memorize................

back to Disbug



an edit.......
went to see the link and it hit me, i knew it had different colors for dates concerning cost and crowd size.

i never heard the color system used on the boards before.
i guess that is what through me .....

i always thought tour guide mike created the color wheel.............

 

[RainbowsMist]

Of course I told all the nervous Nellies in my group about using the EPP calendar to judge the crowds. The day they decide to check, they've upped the day we're going to a Level "3" day. So, now I'm being accused of marching them into some sort of mass hysteria!

I feel like i'm the only one in my group who just "goes" with it.

Right there with ya! Just checked the calendar again and they've changed our days to "level 3" We bought park to park so I think if it's absolute chaos we'll just head to US and do IOA another day. We really wanted to do IOA our first day though.

 

[Tink-RN]

We will be in Disney June 25- July 4, was thinking of going to WWOHP for a day. Should we even consider it with summer crowds?

 

[Metro West]

We will be in Disney June 25- July 4, was thinking of going to WWOHP for a day. Should we even consider it with summer crowds?

That's going to be very busy especially July 4th weekend but all summer is going to be a madhouse. Just be prepared for long lines and waits of well over 60 minutes.

 

[christophfam]

Right there with ya! Just checked the calendar again and they've changed our days to "level 3" We bought park to park so I think if it's absolute chaos we'll just head to US and do IOA another day. We really wanted to do IOA our first day though.

This actually makes me wonder if the old advice of waiting to buy the epp the day you get there still holds true. I think WWOHP has made everything at Uni a new ball game. Sounds like if you hold off buying those epps you might just find they have raised the price and if you want it you will have to pay more!

 

[surfgirl]

We were there on Wedn, 3/2 - staying onsite, so we took full advantage of the extra hour. The boat from PB to Citywalk is "about every 20 min. starting at 7am" - we watched from our window as it left PB at 7:17am (our room was directly above the dock). We decided to walk.

As we were going through security at City Walk, the guard told us it opened at 6:45am. We were stunned and bummed that we were now late. This was about 7:30. When we arrived at the gate, we saw a line-up of people and realized he was off and our information was correct - 8am for onsite, 9am for everyone else. They did not open at 7:45am, it was closer to 8am.

We were pleased how much we got done, but surprised at the crowds later on. The onsite is really worth it! After doing it, I wouldn't do it any other way.

Mr. Surf stopped at the lockers at Port of Entry and dropped our bag - we didn't want to get stuck somewhere else waiting, so even though conventional wisdom says it is out of the way, it was a risk-minimizing strategy for us. Since he has longer legs, the rest of us just walked and he caught up with us in Seussland. (btw, the shortcut around Green Eggs and Ham saves time too!).

We stopped at Ollivander's and waited about 5 minutes - we were in the 2nd (or even the 1st?) show of the day. The kid who was selected was a little too young and didn't play along as well as an older kid. Cute, but honestly, not worth a long wait. We quickly exited the shop and headed to FJ.

We walked straight through the castle (the beer vendor along the way is a nice touch!) and onto the ride. We slowed down to see the portraits, but didn't stay in the room with the Invisibility Cloak. (hope I didn't spoil this for anyone ?).

We thought FJ was very cool and extremely well done. The kids were scared and kept their eyes closed for some of it.

After we got off, we walked over to FH. meh. Mr. Surf and I wanted to ride FJ again, so 2 little Surfs sat on a bench outside, and 3 Surfs rode again. We walked straight on again. Could have used the child swap inside the ride, but they each had apples and were very content outside.

We then walked back to Dervish and Bangles and selected wands. Already, the crowd levels had picked up in Hogsmeade and the stores, so we made our decisions quickly.

Kids weren't tall enough to ride Dragons, so we just skipped that.

We then walked to PF, walked on - in fact, they had to bring them around for us. We were there about 9:05. I honestly can't imagine walking through Hogsmeade when it is as crowded as they say. At some point, the fun gets lost.

So, if you follow the advice here, get there early, and do the rides first, you will be fine. Other than that ? All bets are off!

 

[mesaboy2]

Crowds light today. Posted FJ wait time right now 20 minutes.

 

[phamton]

Crowds light today. Posted FJ wait time right now 20 minutes.

Thanks for the update, mesaboy.

 

[mesaboy2]

Thanks for the update, mesaboy.

No problem. Quietest I've ever seen, for 4 in the afternoon anyway. I think Sunday being generally best day to come on a normal week seems to hold true.

 

[Jason71]

No problem. Quietest I've ever seen, for 4 in the afternoon anyway. I think Sunday being generally best day to come on a normal week seems to hold true.

True earlier in the afternoon, as well. No lines for Honeydukes/Zonkos, could walk in the front door of the Hogs Head. I was a little surprised, thought college spring break kicked in this weekend.

 

[mesaboy2]

True earlier in the afternoon, as well. No lines for Honeydukes/Zonkos, could walk in the front door of the Hogs Head. I was a little surprised, thought college spring break kicked in this weekend.

I don't think spring break gets serious for about another week. I was hoping that would be the case.

I had a few hours to kill yesterday while in town so parked at the garage about 1:45. By 5:30 I left having pretty much done everything I wanted to:

Revenge of the Mummy (x3) (single-rider)
ET The Adventure
Hulk (x2)
Spiderman (single-rider)
Ripsaw Falls
Jurassic Park
Flight of the Hippogriff
Forbidden Journey 2x (single-rider)
Dragon Challenge Fire
Dragon Challenge Ice
Male-shopped (mission-oriented, knew what I wanted )

The two longest waits by far? ET and FotH, if you can believe it....

Keep in mind I was here with the family a couple weeks ago, so this was a "me" trip mostly. Only did stuff I either didn't get to then or wanted to do again and again....

DD6 requested I ride ET and FotH for her, in case you're wondering. Luckily she didn't ask me to do the CaroSeussel. That would have been really embarrassing:
Random Girl: Mommy, why is that 43-year-old funny-looking man on the carousel by himself?
Mommy: I don't know honey--how about we come back later?

 

[ducky_love]

Woo Hoo - I hope the same holds true for next weekend!!

 

[hammie59]

DD6 requested I ride ET and FotH for her, in case you're wondering. Luckily she didn't ask me to do the CaroSeussel. That would have been really embarrassing:
Random Girl: Mommy, why is that 43-year-old funny-looking man on the carousel by himself?
Mommy: I don't know honey--how about we come back later?

 

[AquaDame]

We went on 3/7 - a blue day - and it seemed pretty intense. We walked through the gate at about 9:20am after parking and walking over and there was already a 45 minute wait for FJ; by the time we got off the ride it was up to 90 minutes and stayed until we left at 3pm (not sure what happened after that). Everything had a line, even the bathroom took 10 minutes to get into. Olivanders was an hour wait at 12pm, FotH took about 45 minutes as did Dragon Challenge and there were just so many people everywhere that we did what we wanted and left, I didn't feel comfortable/relaxed enough to stay around and watch the frog show and take in much of the ambiance which is a little sad... it was supposedly a blue express pass day but I'm not sure if this was typical or not of that sort of day. The rest of the park seemed pretty busy as well but the Hulk had a 45 minute wait and Spiderman was at 60... I guess I should have gone on Sunday instead but we had the Africa Trek and some other things booked at Disney already so couldnt really.

 

[Pumpernoodle]

Which 2 days would you recommend from may 2-9? We can be flexible. I just read about a cheerleader competition the last weekend of April, so I'm super nervous now.

 

[MrShiny]

From my experience in July, just nevwer ev er go at opening unless you are on-site. Even if you are, I think it's much better to go after 4PM. I bet the poster above who left at 3pm would have had a muh better time if they arrived at 3pm instead.

I know some are thinking. "But that only gives me a few hours in WWoHP!" Well with the fading crowds later in the day, that's all the time you will need!

You can do all the shops, FJ, the two coasters and see the couple of shows all in an hour or two with no crowds.

The only thing to be careful about is Olivanders a they do cap the line before closing.

Just take it easy and don't even approach WWoHP until late. If you want, do the rest of IoA before that.

But trust me from what I've seen and what I've heard from AP holders, WWoHP from 4PM-6PM is the equivalent of WWoHP from 9AM-3PM!

Sleep in!