Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[nmartin]

She means "shouldn't" get lost....

Stay the main walkway and follow everyone else. Like damo said, just do NOT hang a left onto the bridge. If you find yourself on the bridge, you can look to the right and see 3 Broomsticks...you know you zigged when you should have zagged.

As for the shortcut thru Suess...like mentioned...quiet walk along the water. You will pass restrooms on your right not too far before exiting Suess Landing. When leaving, those same restrooms are behind the Moose Goose Juice stand.

It's all one big loop...hard to not find...esp w/ Hogwarts millions of feet in the air above you!

To those who aren't sure where they're going...don't worry and don't stress....you'll find it and you're on VACATION!!!!

That help me greatly. I was going on the bridge from Mythos. From google map when on the Arial view you can locate WWOHP by the snow covered buildings and the train. Thanks soooooo much! I am all set.

 

[damo]

That help me greatly. I was going on the bridge from Mythos. From google map when on the Arial view you can locate WWOHP by the snow covered buildings and the train. Thanks soooooo much! I am all set.

Remember that on the aerial view, the WWOHP isn't open yet, so it is tough to follow the path right into the world. It looks like you have to go on the bridge.

 

[Mikelly1221]

You should get lost from Mythos. Just don't head left over the bridge.

She means "shouldn't" get lost....

Stay the main walkway and follow everyone else. Like damo said, just do NOT hang a left onto the bridge. If you find yourself on the bridge, you can look to the right and see 3 Broomsticks...you know you zigged when you should have zagged.

As for the shortcut thru Suess...like mentioned...quiet walk along the water. You will pass restrooms on your right not too far before exiting Suess Landing. When leaving, those same restrooms are behind the Moose Goose Juice stand.

It's all one big loop...hard to not find...esp w/ Hogwarts millions of feet in the air above you!

To those who aren't sure where they're going...don't worry and don't stress....you'll find it and you're on VACATION!!!!

I figured out the Seussland Shortcut, and now there's a bridge? Back to Google Maps I go!

 

[Purseval]

I figured out the Seussland Shortcut, and now there's a bridge? Back to Google Maps I go!

It's not the end of the world if you take the bridge. It's just a bit further and takes you into the back entrance of WWOHP instead of the front. The bridge is in the land after Seuss and before HP, the same one Mythos is in. It's very simple: if you see a bridge to the left ignore it and go straight, you'll get to WWOHP a minute faster.

 

[Mikelly1221]

It's not the end of the world if you take the bridge. It's just a bit further and takes you into the back entrance of WWOHP instead of the front. The bridge is in the land after Seuss and before HP, the same one Mythos is in. It's very simple: if you see a bridge to the left ignore it and go straight, you'll get to WWOHP a minute faster.

Thank you for the info!!!!

 

[spima3]

I'm looking forward to the late August - Early Sept trip/crowd reports. We'll be there the week of Sept 11.

Same with us! ARe you staying on site? or off?

We are staying at Sheraton Resorts, but with everyone saying how you just have to stay on site, I'm wondering if I should for one night. It's a real budget buster, and if it ends up having been unnecessary, I will be very unhappy.

So I keep jumping to this thread hoping to read that the lines have virtually disappeared. Now "that" would be magic!

 

[CaptHomer]

I don't believe that people staying at the partner hotels get early entry unless they have purchased the Harry Potter package. However, all onsite guests get express and early entry.

Wondering how they know if you bought the package or not. When you get in they take your ticket in the turnstile. They let everyone in at that point. When you get to the Harry Potter entrance they ask for your room key. If you have a room key for the proper hotel how do they know if you bought a package or not? Does it say on the room key that you have the package? Just wondering.

 

[Purseval]

We are staying at Sheraton Resorts, but with everyone saying how you just have to stay on site, I'm wondering if I should for one night. It's a real budget buster, and if it ends up having been unnecessary, I will be very unhappy.

We were just there for a week and had 3 days of express with 4 days of no express. We saw whatever we wanted to see either way. You will be fine without the budget buster as long as you are willing to either get up early or stay late. And if you are one of those types who like to wander in at 11am even staying onsite won't help you in the WWOHP since Ollivanders and FJ don't have express lines.

 

[damo]

Wondering how they know if you bought the package or not. When you get in they take your ticket in the turnstile. They let everyone in at that point. When you get to the Harry Potter entrance they ask for your room key. If you have a room key for the proper hotel how do they know if you bought a package or not? Does it say on the room key that you have the package? Just wondering.

There is more than just the room key for offsite since each person is not required to have a room key. You are given proof of package purchase if you stay offsite. Onsite, you just need your room key since each person needs it for the express access as well.

They don't just let everyone in at the turnstiles for early entry. They scan your ticket as well as check your proof that you get early entry. Each time that we went, they were very strict about that. They check your proof before you get in line and then they check it again as you go through the turnstiles.

 

[bubba's mom]

Nobody checked our room key until we were at the split in POE...and then again just before entering WWoHP.

(that was every day)

I did see a lady and her daughter bear left at POE and a TM (i am guessing) asking where they were going? Guessing she was offsite and was heading her way to wait?

But, they DO check room keys and the other TM there has the clicker/counter thing...

 

[CaptHomer]

When we were there they were letting everyone with a ticket through the turnstiles. I got in with just an AP. My room key was in my pocket until they asked for them at HP.

There were people that were stopped at the HP entrance because they didn't have room keys but they got in the park. They just couldn't do anything until 9.

 

[brenda1966]

We were just there for a week and had 3 days of express with 4 days of no express. We saw whatever we wanted to see either way. You will be fine without the budget buster as long as you are willing to either get up early or stay late. And if you are one of those types who like to wander in at 11am even staying onsite won't help you in the WWOHP since Ollivanders and FJ don't have express lines.

Did you use early entry to enter WWOHP? Isn't that the advantage in staying onsite where WWOHP is concerned? Or are you suggesting staying offsite and buying a HP package?

If we stay offsite and don't have early entry, i'm afraid we'll spend much of the day trying to do WWOHP and won't get to see the rest of the park. The FOTL, I'm hoping, will come in handy for a kid who likes to ride "again" and again and again (not that HP area, but the rest of the park).

 

[fairyprincess88]

When I was there two weeks ago and staying offsite at Disney, we got to Universal at 7 AM. They let us in the turnstyles with the onsite guests but once in POE I told the TM that we were offsite guests and he said, "Do you know where Jurassic Park is?" when I answered yes, he told me to head that way. It was kind of a fun experience wandering through Marvel, Toon Lagoon ect when there was no one else there. It was literally my cousin, myself, and two other early birds making the long trek around the park. Once in JP there were TMs waiting for us and they handed us tickets to mark our line status and then put us in line. Around 8:15 or so, a couple TMs came out and started counting us with a clicker(there were maybe at best 20 of us in line). Surprisingly enough, at 8:30 AM they came back out and said, "Welcome to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter" and lead us over the bridge into Hogsmeade half an hour early. It was an easy process and all ran like practiced clockwork.

However, I do stress that it was getting there early that helped make it run so easily. My aunt and uncle didn't get to IOA until 11 AM and they were in line for 35-40 minutes in JP to get into WWoHP.

 

[blueiis99]

When I was there two weeks ago and staying offsite at Disney, we got to Universal at 7 AM. They let us in the turnstyles with the onsite guests but once in POE I told the TM that we were offsite guests and he said, "Do you know where Jurassic Park is?" when I answered yes, he told me to head that way. It was kind of a fun experience wandering through Marvel, Toon Lagoon ect when there was no one else there. It was literally my cousin, myself, and two other early birds making the long trek around the park. Once in JP there were TMs waiting for us and they handed us tickets to mark our line status and then put us in line. Around 8:15 or so, a couple TMs came out and started counting us with a clicker(there were maybe at best 20 of us in line). Surprisingly enough, at 8:30 AM they came back out and said, "Welcome to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter" and lead us over the bridge into Hogsmeade half an hour early. It was an easy process and all ran like practiced clockwork.

However, I do stress that it was getting there early that helped make it run so easily. My aunt and uncle didn't get to IOA until 11 AM and they were in line for 35-40 minutes in JP to get into WWoHP.

I'm so hoping this will be our experiance... I don;t mind gettingup early. I'm up at 5ish everyday anyway (not that i like it mind you...its just what has to be done.) Now if I can make certain that the kids get up early...that is another story!

I figure at best guess.....I can't figure Universal out, so I'm kinda gonna wing it!

I still say Disney is so much easier!

Thank you for your post! It is something to hope and wish for!

 

[mm42197]

When I was there two weeks ago and staying offsite at Disney, we got to Universal at 7 AM. They let us in the turnstyles with the onsite guests but once in POE I told the TM that we were offsite guests and he said, "Do you know where Jurassic Park is?" when I answered yes, he told me to head that way. It was kind of a fun experience wandering through Marvel, Toon Lagoon ect when there was no one else there. It was literally my cousin, myself, and two other early birds making the long trek around the park. Once in JP there were TMs waiting for us and they handed us tickets to mark our line status and then put us in line. Around 8:15 or so, a couple TMs came out and started counting us with a clicker(there were maybe at best 20 of us in line). Surprisingly enough, at 8:30 AM they came back out and said, "Welcome to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter" and lead us over the bridge into Hogsmeade half an hour early. It was an easy process and all ran like practiced clockwork.

However, I do stress that it was getting there early that helped make it run so easily. My aunt and uncle didn't get to IOA until 11 AM and they were in line for 35-40 minutes in JP to get into WWoHP.

This is exactly what bubbas mom told me to do! I hope it'll work when I get there! And I hope they are feeling nice and let us in 1/2hr early! I'm getting so excited!!

 

[abooch]

This is exactly what bubbas mom told me to do! I hope it'll work when I get there! And I hope they are feeling nice and let us in 1/2hr early! I'm getting so excited!!

hey I'm gonna be at Universal/Disney the same exact dates as you...23rd-30th lol...Have you ever been late august? I'm wondering about crowds at that time..

 

[Purseval]

Did you use early entry to enter WWOHP? Isn't that the advantage in staying onsite where WWOHP is concerned? Or are you suggesting staying offsite and buying a HP package?

We used early entry one of the 3 days we had express passes. We aren't HP fans and our guests preferred rollercoasters to FJ so there was no need to rush over. The early entry is what got us into Ollivanders and, if I had it to do over, I would have slept in.

If we stay offsite and don't have early entry, i'm afraid we'll spend much of the day trying to do WWOHP and won't get to see the rest of the park. The FOTL, I'm hoping, will come in handy for a kid who likes to ride "again" and again and again (not that HP area, but the rest of the park).

Well then you've justified your budget buster. Remember, you were trying to decide if the extra money was worth it. My answer was you can do it without the extra money but my way isn't good enough to do what you want, which is over and over on other rides.

 

[SmallWorld71]

hey I'm gonna be at Universal/Disney the same exact dates as you...23rd-30th lol...Have you ever been late august? I'm wondering about crowds at that time..

The crowd calendar for Disney has the crowds dropping quite a bit the week of the 23rd. (From 7-9's to 4-6's) So, moderate instead of really busy. I am hoping that this is accurate and will be true for Universal too as we will be there from the 18th-26th. I know that the Orlando area schools go back on the 23rd.

 

[mm42197]

hey I'm gonna be at Universal/Disney the same exact dates as you...23rd-30th lol...Have you ever been late august? I'm wondering about crowds at that time..

COOL Nope this is the frist time going in Aug. I am hoping since school in back in session down there that the crowds wont be horrible. I am fully accepting the WWoHP will be a zoo though Hope to see you there. We'll be staying at Carribean and I'll have the DIS lime green Mickey head on my backpack.

 

[DisneyFan2008]

Just got back from Universal. Was there Sunday and yesterday. On Sunday afternoon, after visiting Universal Studios, my brother and I went over to Islands of Adventure to see if we could get into the Harry Potter section. We walked straight through Seuss Landing and The Lost Continent. As we approached the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, there was no people with bullhorns or anything and we walked right on in! It was a bit crowded but was very manageable. The line for the Dragon Challenge was 15 minutes (and this is at 2 in the afternoon!). However, there is no air conditioning in most of the line and it gets REALLY hot and humid while you are waiting in the line that seems to never end!! The line for Ollivander's was over 90 minutes. NO WAY!!!! The Forbidden Journey had a 45 minute wait...but we decided to do the single rider line.

On Monday, IOA had an opening time of 9am but we were allowed in at 8:15am to get in line for Harry Potter. The line to get into the World stop a little past the Jurassic Park River Adventure. We were given tickets for entry (this was done to keep track of how many people were inside the World) and at 9am we were led down to The Lost Continent and towards Hogsmeade. After giving our tickets to the TMs we followed the line back to the Forbidden Journey. With a posted wait time of 60 minutes (and no single rider line) we decided to wait it out. Loose articles of any sort (bags, purses, hats, etc) are not allowed on the ride, and the "Hogwarts' students" (cast members) directed those of us with bags towards the lockers while the rest of our party waited in line so we could jump back in after we stored our stuff. The line for the FJ was constantly moving and we never stopped for more than a minute or two! Most of the line is outside in the greenhouse but there are air fans galore which was a godsend!! Once inside the line moved really quick and there is sooo much detail to look at! After getting off the ride, we found the line for the second Butterbeer cart and got the drinks very quickly. The Hippogriff was a 10 minute wait and we got on very quickly!

Also, if you go in the morning, make sure you check out everything before you leave, otherwise once you leave the area, you probably won't be able to get back in! When we left the World the line to get in stretched from the entrance of the WWOHP to the front of Popeye's!!!! Two hour wait!!!