Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[damo]

Am I reading this correctly? On site guests get in to WWoHp at 7? I thought it was 8, can anyone tell me which is correct? Also, I too will be at PBH July 15-18, and would love to see a map of the HRH parking lot short cut. TIA!

I think it has been between 7:30 and 8:00 am these days.

Here's my map. Green is the short cut. Red is the normal path.

and another one

 

[snowwhite84]

Thanks very much damo!

 

[degrapevine]

Thanks, damo - Great map! We'll plan on leaving PBH around 6:30, hopefully getting in line around 7 to be one of the early resort guests in the park. I really appreciate everyone's help trying to maximize our time in WWOHP and to avoid the lovely heat of mid-day Florida! By the time we're done in that section, we'll plan on hitting the water rides to cool off. Can't wait!

Rose

 

[iwork2play]

We were since this past Sunday & checked out today.Sundayevening around 630pm we rode WWOHP & were in line maybe 30 mins,Sunday morning we were there with the early access ,830am or so & it was about a 45 min to an hour wait.After we were done riding FJ & headed toward the exit of IOA the line for WWOHP stretched to the Spiderman ride.
This ride is ok,nothing to do flips over,it is however a a HUGE money maker for US. I bet that Disney hates that they turned Harry Potter down now.
We had early entrance into WWOHP,we stayed onsite at the HRH,which is a very nice hotel.
The crowds seemed a lot more rude than normal, alot of people trying to make thier way past you while in the express lines & yelling & cussing,I didnt have any of that & made some cussers & pushers mad but oh well,if we had to wait,I figure that they could too.

Oh yea,the butterbeer,is waaaaay too sweet for me,my 2 boys loved it,oldest even liked the pumpkin juice,but maybe its a kid thing that I dont understand.

Enjoy your trip,this ride is very,very different.

Sorry to stray off topic.

 

[EEyorelover22]

So...where's the short cut through the Lagoon on the map



Thanks again to everyone who has posted. So glad I found this thread!

 

[SorcererJim]

So after reading all these threads, I have seen that it is recommended to get in line for Olivander's first, then FJ... but my question is, when doing the early entry thing (staying at RPH) and they let you in "before 8am" ... what time does the first show start? are you still waiting in line outside until 8am?

 

[bubba's mom]

So...where's the short cut through the Lagoon on the map



Thanks again to everyone who has posted. So glad I found this thread!

from the hotel board.....

I took step-by-step pictures of the shortcut through the HRH parking lot to the parks.

Walk past the boat dock and bear right at the split. Unless you'd like to take the long walk, do NOT follow this sign. (After passing the 'garden walk entrance', I turned around to take a picture...facing the hotel.) Once you get to the corner, you can turn around and look behind you toward the hotel. This is the view crossing the street to HRH. Walking up toward the HRH....turning at your first right (before the hotel) into the self-parking lot. You can clearly see you are heading toward the old HRC (in the background). Just before you would exit the parking lot (to the access road), follow the parking lot and bear left. This is more self-parking. (See the Studios in the distance?) Walk through the parking lot, until you spot a 'break' in the trees/bushes on your right. There is a pathway hidden at parking spot #627. A short path to the parks. The path actually comes out near the bus stop.

eta: the first time we took this way, we actually took the access road next to the parking lot. stopping to take pix of old HRC, it was exactly 11 min. So, w/ cutting THRU the HRH parking lot, figure about the same amount of time or close to it.


***There is a whole thread about the walk from PBH....

 

[MLindaG]

So after reading all these threads, I have seen that it is recommended to get in line for Olivander's first, then FJ... but my question is, when doing the early entry thing (staying at RPH) and they let you in "before 8am" ... what time does the first show start? are you still waiting in line outside until 8am?

I thought I saw someone mention that the wands don't fit into the lockers to ride FJ.........can someone tell me if that is true........I would love to do Olivanders first but if there is a problem with the wands and FJ I will do on FJ first...........we are staying on-site and will be there from the 4th -7th......

 

[Rip]

We were since this past Sunday & checked out today.Sundayevening around 630pm we rode WWOHP & were in line maybe 30 mins,Sunday morning we were there with the early access ,830am or so & it was about a 45 min to an hour wait.After we were done riding FJ & headed toward the exit of IOA the line for WWOHP stretched to the Spiderman ride.
This ride is ok,nothing to do flips over,it is however a a HUGE money maker for US. I bet that Disney hates that they turned Harry Potter down now.
We had early entrance into WWOHP,we stayed onsite at the HRH,which is a very nice hotel.
The crowds seemed a lot more rude than normal, alot of people trying to make thier way past you while in the express lines & yelling & cussing,I didnt have any of that & made some cussers & pushers mad but oh well,if we had to wait,I figure that they could too.

Oh yea,the butterbeer,is waaaaay too sweet for me,my 2 boys loved it,oldest even liked the pumpkin juice,but maybe its a kid thing that I dont understand.

Enjoy your trip,this ride is very,very different.

Sorry to stray off topic.

Disney didn't turn HP down. Rowling was far more impressed with UO's concept and chose them over Disney. I'm sure she didn't want to see Mickey with a lightning scar and black rimmed galsses.

 

[EEyorelover22]

Disney didn't turn HP down. Rowling was far more impressed with UO's concept and chose them over Disney. I'm sure she didn't want to see Mickey with a lightning scar and black rimmed galsses.

 

[dfr1966]

I'm heading there the week of 7/12 and was planning to visit WWOHP as part of the trip, likely on Tuesday, 7/13. From reading these posts, it appears that onsite guests are let in early every day? I was hoping to avoid an early entry day but it seems that's not possible?

I'll be in Orlando all week visiting both Disney and Universal parks--any advice on the best day to visit IOA for the HP area? My family is a bunch of earlybirds, so we can plan to be the park as early as necessary.

Thanks!

 

[justprettynpink]

Universal early entry is not the same as WDW early entry. We all are trained to stay away from the park that has early entry at WDW.

Early entry at Universal should not affect your visit and should not be a factor when you are planning a visit.

Get there early and enjoy your day!

 

[rhazz]

I thought I saw someone mention that the wands don't fit into the lockers to ride FJ.........can someone tell me if that is true........I would love to do Olivanders first but if there is a problem with the wands and FJ I will do on FJ first...........we are staying on-site and will be there from the 4th -7th......

Yep, this happened to us on Tuesday, got our wands at Olivander's and then headed to FJ only to discover that the wands wouldn't fit in the lockers....major flaw?! When we asked the TMs in the area it was news to them and they offered no solution. Since we were 2 familys going together we decided to just do a bag swap. Just let a TM know before getting on the ride. Unfortunately, this doesn't help you much if you don't want to do a swap. You could always see whether Olivander's will deliver the wands to the park entrance so you can pick up before you leave for the day....

 

[damo]

Yep, this happened to us on Tuesday, got our wands at Olivander's and then headed to FJ only to discover that the wands wouldn't fit in the lockers....major flaw?! When we asked the TMs in the area it was news to them and they offered no solution. Since we were 2 familys going together we decided to just do a bag swap. Just let a TM know before getting on the ride. Unfortunately, this doesn't help you much if you don't want to do a swap. You could always see whether Olivander's will deliver the wands to the park entrance so you can pick up before you leave for the day....

Or... don't buy the wands right after you do the Olivander's experience. You can pick them up on the way out of the area after riding FJ.

 

[nocomment711]

I went last Thursday (June 24th) and we got into the park at around 8:05. I was into WWoHP by 8:45, and off of FJ by 9:25. The crowds in the morning surprisingly weren't bad, but by the time we got out of lunch that the Three Broomsticks it was almost impossible to navigate. I waited longer to get into Dervish & Banges than I did to ride FJ. The line for Butterbeer was outrageous. We left at around one because the place was so horribly crowded.

 

[zimomiller]

Staying at the WDW BWI over the long holiday weekend, arrived Thursday afternoon. Thursday was a washout from about 530 pm on. rain rain and more rain.

Got up Friday am around 9 am left for Universal around 10am. Looked like it was going to rain, was sprinkiling a little. (cleared up late am, but overcast and muggy all day)

Grabbed a taxi for the 5 of us and it was $32 fare to Universal.

We arrived at Universal and proceeded to march to the WWOHP. Walked right in. Was fairly busy and crowded.

Walked back to FJ, line was marked 90 minutes. We were out the door after riding FJ in exactly 50 minutes. Spent a bunch of time wandering around bumping into people, taking pics, shopping etc.

Did not even try Olivanders, line was crazy long all the time.

We were quite surprised how easy it was, busy but not crazy crowded. (feared the worst since it was a holiday weekend)

People lined up like sheep for butterbeer at the cart near the entrance and in the candy shop waiting to pay. If they just looked around they would have found some other carts selling butterbeer with no wait near the castle. If you are buying candy in the candy store, wander over to the other side of the store where they sell gags n gifts to pay, virtually no wait.

 

[amez]

any guesses on how the crowds will be tomorrow? Disney crowds haven't been bad at all this week and either Sunday or Monday we are going to begin our Universal leg of this trip--hoping the crowds aren't too bad.

 

[black562]

Or... don't buy the wands right after you do the Olivander's experience. You can pick them up on the way out of the area after riding FJ.

Speaking of wands not fitting in lockers. How do you go about having purchases sent to the front of the park for pickup when you leave? I've heard the shops at HP won't do this, but you can take your purchases to another store outside Wizarding World and they will.

Can someone confirm that they've done this?

 

[spima3]

any guesses on how the crowds will be tomorrow? Disney crowds haven't been bad at all this week and either Sunday or Monday we are going to begin our Universal leg of this trip--hoping the crowds aren't too bad.

Can't help you with this, but I do hope you come back here and post your experiences. It does help others to plan their attack!

 

[Nimrod.sixty9]

Speaking of wands not fitting in lockers. How do you go about having purchases sent to the front of the park for pickup when you leave? I've heard the shops at HP won't do this, but you can take your purchases to another store outside Wizarding World and they will.

Can someone confirm that they've done this?

Cant remember the name of the shop, so I hope this pic will help.

This is where I always dropped off my or my friends guitars that were won at the ring toss game.

(details incase others want to know) Just take the paper slip that you were given and show it to the ppl at the exit of the park (shop/service desk- to the right of the exit).



Dont know if this has been answered: But has the HP bypass bridge been taken down or no?