Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[bubba's mom]

Okay, we've been in Fla since July 2nd, but have been busy with other things...just checked into PBH this afternoon (had to wait for niece, I mean Potterhead, whose flight was a bit late).

First thing we had to do was get her a lanyard and, according to her, it had to be a Griff. So, to Filchs we went. Can you say 'excuse me' a thousand times in 15 minutes? Got what we needed, and away we went.

Our plan was to eat dinner at 3 Broomstix, so with nothing better to do, we stood in posted wait time of 90 min at 4:10 for FJ. Line kept moving steadily, suprisingly, and we were ridden and out (actually back in Filch's buying ride pic) in 1 hour.

Went to 3Brmstx and got the feast for 4...seated right away...food brought out right away.

We didn't go into any other stores...lines were too long. Even Potterheadniece won't stand in those lines for shopping. But, looks like it helps you navigate the stores better with the controlled crowd.

Saw Olli's line...kept walking.

Frozen butterbeer sold out at cart...machine not working at Hogs Head.

Still have the rest of the week to be here....will try to update each night.

ps---btw, those bins in the seatbacks on FJ...they are narrow & deep. Sunglasses, cell phone...okay. Our tiny HD videocam wouldn't fit, but the TM at the entrance said if it was in our pocket and they didn't see it, we were good. DH is pretty anal about his camera and was worried putting it in his pocket, but it was a very smooth ride...no problems.

 

[nmartin]

Its not so much that there's a line, its that people crowd about without knowing what to do. There's several stations, go to a screen that are not occupied. People tend to swarm at the ones near the ent. Go to stations near the single rider queue. It really shouldn't take you more than a min to go through the prompts and secure a locker - but same thing could be said about people using ATMS

Very good advice!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Can you carry your purse on the ride if it is across your body? Someone said they wore a fannypack and that was ok but I wondered about a purse. I take it on everything - even upside roller coasters - and have never had a problem but I don't want to be delayed by having to use a locker!
Thx!

 

[morecowbell]

Is there a menu of items they serve at 3 Broomsticks? Just curious.

 

[damo]

Can you carry your purse on the ride if it is across your body? Someone said they wore a fannypack and that was ok but I wondered about a purse. I take it on everything - even upside roller coasters - and have never had a problem but I don't want to be delayed by having to use a locker!
Thx!

I think it is still considered a loose article. Otherwise they would just tell everyone with purses to hang them that way.

 

[opaleyes]

I am avidly following the reports on wait times for HP attractions, but dismayed re: comments on lines for Ollivanders. We are travelling in mid-Aug with 4 HP mad kids, all of whom are only interested in buying wands. Please can someone tell me if we can purchase them anywhere else, in the event we can't go through full Ollivanders experience. I just cannot imagine our kids waiting in line 2 hours.

I would definitely recommend Alivan's. I'm a big HP nut, and I got my wand for costuming there long before the Noble Collection started selling them to the public. They're lovely, and real wood. Their prices are fair as well, and if you join their mailing list they often send out coupon codes. You can of course also buy wands from The Noble Collection. They sell all of the official wands, and they're probably the same as the ones sold in the park. I have some of their wands though, and while they're more detailed than the Alivan's ones, they feel cheaper, as they're resin or something like that around a metal rod in the center. I got a set of the Weasley Twins' wands from them, and you can see the flat end of the rod sticking out of the end of George's wand. And there's a copyright printed on it, which takes away from the "real" feel. The set (with a stand) cost me $75 or so, and I wasn't as thrilled with the quality as I hoped I'd be.

So those would be where I'd look first!

 

[carps09]

Frozen butterbeer sold out at cart...machine not working at Hogs Head.

The frozen butterbeer at the Hog's Head wasn't working when we were there on Saturday either. Rather than stand in the giant line outside at the cart, we just walked over the food line at 3 broomsticks and ordered one there. You can still get the souvenir cup there as well.

 

[diberry]

Is there a menu of items they serve at 3 Broomsticks? Just curious.

http://harrypotterworldorlando.com/full-menu-of-the-three-broomsticks-restaurant/

 

[CaptHomer]

Got to the park a little before 7:30 this morning. They opened front gates at 7:30. All hotels guests go to the right and formed a line at the end of Dr Suess land. It went way past one fish two fish, I couldn't see any further back. The line started moving at 7:45. We got in line for FJ. The line for Olivanders was already way back. At least 100 people in line before we got to that point.

Rode FJ and made our way throught rest of the area. Had butterbeer and pumpkin juice in the three broomsticks. Looked like at least 15 - 20 minutes at the cart. Just need to walk down alley to back of three broomsticks to get it.

Had a pumpkin tart and cauldron cake at Honeydukes. The cauldron cake was great.

When we were leaving they were letting people in only if you had a ticket. We didn't see the start of the line but I can imagine that it was pretty long. Once you left you had to have a ticket to get back into the area.

We are going to try back tonight later after dinner at Mythos.

Wish we could have spent more time in the que for the ride. It is much better than the ride itself. Very well done que area.

Homer

 

[CaptHomer]

Forgot to mention, butterbeer is awesome!

 

[Jaime4004]

I had been checking out this thread quite a bit before going to see WWOHP so figured i'd post our experience...
Went thursday, July 8th, arrived at 2pm... we are not morning people... FJ posted a 75 min wait. We went in to get a locker at 2:10, and were off the ride at 2:55pm. At 3pm waited about 40 mins for hippogriff. After that, the Honeydukes and Ollivander's lines were crazy so we headed to 3 Broomsticks. Took about 30 mins to get through the line, we were seated immediately after receiving food. Had a tasty frozen butterbeer! After lunch we waited in the 90 min line for Ollivanders, and it pretty much took 90mins. Gets pretty toasty waiting outside for 90 mins, wish they planned that one better. Left to see the rest of the park after that. Went back to WWOHP at 8:45pm and FJ posted a 120 min wait. This time we went to the single rider line and was told that it would be about 30mins, was really about 45mins. After that, the ollivander's line had been closed and there was no wait at honeydukes. Bought 2 chocolate frogs and some bertie botts, and left very happy!!

 

[diberry]

Oh dear, I was hoping that by late evening the lines would have died down a lot more than that!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

The only day that seems to have less of a crowd is Sunday.

Thanks, we may be able to do some re-arranging!

 

[Freaky]

Firstly apologies if I am repeating anything already said as I haven't read the whole thread

We have just spent the last 2 nights at RPR and used the early entry for WWOHP. Monday & Tuesday were great with us arriving at the park around 7.50am, able to walk straight thru and into the area. Rode FJ first with only a 10 min wait both days - basically used the lockers and walked thru the castle pretty quickly. The general crowds on our departures from Hogwarts were good with lines for Olilvanders and the butter beer cart.

Today however was a different matter when we arrived at 7.30am as they were not letting anyone thru passed the Mythos restaurant so we were in line from the start of Suess Land! They didnt open up until 8 so by the time we got thru the line for Olivanders (where we were heading) was pretty long and we had a 1hr wait - worth it as both our kids were selected to have their wands chosen for them

Universal certainly seem to be handling the crowds quite well but on Monday & Tuesday the general public lines were extremely long. On Monday the end of the line was right back to the restrooms in Toon Town and that was before 11am. They seem to be giving out coloured tickets but we are not sure when & we think it may be so that each person only has one entry to WWOHP area in the day (while its busy anyway).

Personally we felt the nights spent at the hotel very worth while due to the early entry and then the express pass for many other rides. I think it will be hit or miss on a week day for the crowds.

 

[bubba's mom]

Today's experience....

I was up at 6:30am and left the PBH within 15-20minutes. (NOT a morning person here ) We walked (the shortcut thru HRH parking lot) and got to the entrance of IOA in about 10 minutes. We were 4th in line at our turnstile.

They let us into the park at 7:24am and we (sorta) followed the masses thru Suess Landing (along Sneetch Beach, past Green Eggs & Ham...only way to go) and got to next stop in 5 minutes.

We were a couple dozens parties back here

and waited till 7:49am till they let us to HP....checking room keys.

If onsite, I recommend being AT the entrance by 7am because there were an AWFUL lot of surprised people coming around the Moose Goose Juice store with looks of confusion for a VERY LONG line stretching back as far as ye can see thru Suess.

My niece & I beelined it for Ollivanders. COULD have made 1st show, but we decided to wait for the next one. TM said line was already 30minutes.

NO line for Honeydukes.
Owl Post gets EXTREMELY crowded after show...try to be near door and be first OUT of wand show.
Frozen bb is not working cart...go to Hogs Head. She told us to go there this AM, and we were the ONLY people there! btw...niece & I both agree frozen is MUCH betterer

We didn't go by FJ because we did it yesterday and it was looking crowded in that direction. Did everything else but other 2 rides. Did Ollivanders, Owl Post, Honeydukes/Zonkos and got frozen bb @ HH.

Left at 9am to head back for breakfast and meet up w/ DH & DS.

btw...lady behind us in line at Ollivanders said crowds yesterday morning weren't as bad as todays

I am pretty sure we are going again tomorrow.....ugh.....

 

[Laurabearz]

Thanks for the great report! Loved the pics... but that line is scary!!!

I will make note that it is indeed worth waking up at the crack of dawn to do Potter!

 

[Spidered7]

I'm very worried...I'm going this Saturday with my girlfriend and we'll only be there for the day. Since it's a weekend, the lines should be God-awful, right?

 

[aubriee]

Can you carry your purse on the ride if it is across your body? Someone said they wore a fannypack and that was ok but I wondered about a purse. I take it on everything - even upside roller coasters - and have never had a problem but I don't want to be delayed by having to use a locker!
Thx!

I don't know about FJ since I haven't ridden it yet, but last May when I was there I had on a Vera Bradely mini hipster (so small cross body bag--6"x8"x1/2"). On every ride that had the free lockers, I was told I had to put it in a locker. Since it was smaller and flatter than a fanny pack and would have been held firmly in place by the restraints, I didn't understand why.

 

[EEyorelover22]

Thank you again to everyone that posted how the crowds were. It really made the entire piece of our vacation so much better.

We are at home now...I'm having coffee from my Hedwig mug. DH still has no idea what Butterbeer isbut said FJ is the best ride he's ever been on.

We were at WDW afterwards and the crowds are thick there too. Would have thought it was Christmas, but it was too HOT!

 

[scanne]

Hi!
I am in line now for FJ. Posted wait is 45 minutes. I'm in the greenhouse area and it's kind of slow.

We did Ollivander's first and waited there about 15-20 minutes. We are on site guests and got in at 7:30am.

The wand shop is so tiny - I thought people were exaggerating! We got two Harry wands. They're out of Hermione's but had Voldermort and Sirius Black's.

Pumpkin juice is good but $6.25 a bottle!

We have a breakfast ressie at Three Broomsticks at 9:30.

I cannot get over the amazing attention to detail here. Just fabulous!

Looking forward to the ride and being immersed in the world of Harry.