Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[DisneyAlly]

I just wanted to say THANKS!!!! for all the great advice I found here... The day finally came!!! Going to Orlando tonight.... see you in a week or so and let you know how it went.......

Have a wonderful trip! Looking forward to your trip/crowd report!

 

[Deb in IA]

I just got back from a 5 day trip to Orlando!!

I will post a long trip report later tonight, but just to talk about the fanny pack issue, when I was there late on Tuesday night and made another trip on Forbidden Journey, one of the TM's was trying to tell people they didn't need to line up for a locker if they had a fanny pack. I mention this because he kept yelling it over and over and over again. "IF YOU HAVE A FANNY PACK YOU DO NOT NEED TO PUT IT IN A LOCKER!!!"

How was your trip, John?

I remember we talked about our trip overlapping. Did you like the Three Broomsticks breakfast? We loved it! We got the smoked salmon, traditional English, and the pancake breakfasts.

And the buttterbeer! It was great! But I think I actually preferred the non-frozen version better . . .

 

[HebeJebe]

Right. It needs to go in the trash, not in a locker.

I could kiss you for this.

 

[Loudbmw]

Was there Friday afternoon. Showed up around 4:00 pm, no wait to get into Harry Potter area but it was very crowded with lines to get into all the shops.

Went to Forbidden Journey which had a posted wait of 75 minutes. There was a 10 minute wait just to get a locker which had its own line on the right. Stay left if you have no bags. They were pulling out people even with fanny packs yesterday.

After finding a locker we headed to the singles line and got on in about 15 minutes. While I enjoyed the ride - wife who was prone to motion sickness did not. She was woosey for about 30 minutes after.

While the line single misses much of the castle queue, you can't see the person riding next to you so riding as a group has no advantage.

Lou

 

[damo]

Was there Friday afternoon. Showed up around 4:00 pm, no wait to get into Harry Potter area but it was very crowded with lines to get into all the shops.

Went to Forbidden Journey which had a posted wait of 75 minutes. There was a 10 minute wait just to get a locker which had its own line on the right. Stay left if you have no bags. They were pulling out people even with fanny packs yesterday.

After finding a locker we headed to the singles line and got on in about 15 minutes. While I enjoyed the ride - wife who was prone to motion sickness did not. She was woosey for about 30 minutes after.

While the line single misses much of the castle queue, you can't see the person riding next to you so riding as a group has no advantage.

Lou

Pulling out people with fanny packs from the locker line or the non locker line?

 

[magiroux]

Arrived to check into RPR on 8/10 at 6:30AM then walked over to IOA and lined up at turnstyle at 7:30. We were let in at 7:50 and did Ollivanders, purchased wand and lined up for FJ at 8:30. It broke down several times and at times we were standing in the same spot for 45 minutes plus (if they are going to sell beer in line they really need to put a rest room somewhere in line - LOL). Exited the ride at 10:35AM. We left the land shortly after.

At 12:30pm the line for Potter was past JP but then some nasty storms came through and the line disappeared.

We returned to Potter at 8pm and rode Dragons (no wait) and FJ. Posted wait was 75 minutes for FJ. We waited about 50 minutes including a 15 minute breakdown. We stayed until after closing for shopping & butterbeer.

Just a note-the stand by lines were very long (60 minutes plus) for everything in both parks (we did US on Wednesday). The TM said it was due accommodating so many express pass guests. Even express lines were 20 - 30 minutes.

 

[MIChessGuy]

While the line single misses much of the castle queue, you can't see the person riding next to you so riding as a group has no advantage.
Lou

Did anyone take a photo of the single-rider queue? I did not notice it last week as we waited through the regular queue. (I'll be trying the single next visit as part of my plan to escape the notice of the fat police...heh.)

 

[nmartin]

Arrived to check into RPR on 8/10 at 6:30AM then walked over to IOA and lined up at turnstyle at 7:30. We were let in at 7:50 and did Ollivanders, purchased wand and lined up for FJ at 8:30. It broke down several times and at times we were standing in the same spot for 45 minutes plus (if they are going to sell beer in line they really need to put a rest room somewhere in line - LOL). Exited the ride at 10:35AM. We left the land shortly after.

At 12:30pm the line for Potter was past JP but then some nasty storms came through and the line disappeared.

We returned to Potter at 8pm and rode Dragons (no wait) and FJ. Posted wait was 75 minutes for FJ. We waited about 50 minutes including a 15 minute breakdown. We stayed until after closing for shopping & butterbeer.

Just a note-the stand by lines were very long (60 minutes plus) for everything in both parks (we did US on Wednesday). The TM said it was due accommodating so many express pass guests. Even express lines were 20 - 30 minutes.

Boo Hoo. We are arriving in 8 days and I was hoping the lines for express wouldn't be that long!

 

[jenny105]

Arrived to check into RPR on 8/10 at 6:30AM then walked over to IOA and lined up at turnstyle at 7:30. We were let in at 7:50 and did Ollivanders, purchased wand and lined up for FJ at 8:30. It broke down several times and at times we were standing in the same spot for 45 minutes plus (if they are going to sell beer in line they really need to put a rest room somewhere in line - LOL). Exited the ride at 10:35AM. We left the land shortly after.

At 12:30pm the line for Potter was past JP but then some nasty storms came through and the line disappeared.

We returned to Potter at 8pm and rode Dragons (no wait) and FJ. Posted wait was 75 minutes for FJ. We waited about 50 minutes including a 15 minute breakdown. We stayed until after closing for shopping & butterbeer.

Just a note-the stand by lines were very long (60 minutes plus) for everything in both parks (we did US on Wednesday). The TM said it was due accommodating so many express pass guests. Even express lines were 20 - 30 minutes.

The ride is already breaking down?

 

[damo]

The ride is already breaking down?

All rides break down. I actually am very impressed at how well this new ride has been running. Especially since it is using some pretty impressive technology.

 

[jenny105]

All rides break down. I actually am very impressed at how well this new ride has been running. Especially since it is using some pretty impressive technology.

I understand rides break down, trust me. I live near a Six Flags, that's all that happens while your waiting in their parks. But several times both times this person waited for the ride seems a bit much to me. I guess I'm spoiled by these parks since I've never really had a problem with that happening in the past.

 

[damo]

I understand rides break down, trust me. I live near a Six Flags, that's all that happens while your waiting in their parks. But several times both times this person waited for the ride seems a bit much to me. I guess I'm spoiled by these parks since I've never really had a problem with that happening in the past.

Considering that this ride has just opened and uses technology not previously used at Universal, the number of times we have heard about breakdowns is nothing less than amazing. The fact that they were also able to get the ride working again so quickly is pretty amazing too. Sometimes stoppages are for other reasons other than breakdowns such as passenger issues. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit on the other hand...........

 

[magiroux]

The ride is already breaking down?

yes - this ride seems to constantly break down. Of the time I spent in line for FJ I would say about 3/4 of it was waiting for it to go back on-line after technical difficulties. If it improves all the better but you really do need to prepare yourself for it.

I would say of all the helpful advice I rec'd here in the weeks leading up to my trip the one thing I would not agree with is that staying on-site for the sole purpose of gaining early entry into WWoHP was NOT worth it for us, IMO. The ride broke down first thing and I had to wait two hours. I returned later on in the evening and the wait time was much shorter even though the ride broke again .

Now, if I only had my crystal ball .......


BTW, the entire place is freakin AWESOME!!! I am not a huge HP fan but even i could really appreciate all the detail that was put into this.

 

[magiroux]

Boo Hoo. We are arriving in 8 days and I was hoping the lines for express wouldn't be that long!

I am going again on Tuesday the 17th, but not as a Universal resort guest so I will not have FOT privileges. I will give another update when I return to the hotel. I am hoping that with more schools starting up it may be better. We shall see.......

 

[goofy4tink]

Arrived to check into RPR on 8/10 at 6:30AM then walked over to IOA and lined up at turnstyle at 7:30. We were let in at 7:50 and did Ollivanders, purchased wand and lined up for FJ at 8:30. It broke down several times and at times we were standing in the same spot for 45 minutes plus (if they are going to sell beer in line they really need to put a rest room somewhere in line - LOL). Exited the ride at 10:35AM. We left the land shortly after.

At 12:30pm the line for Potter was past JP but then some nasty storms came through and the line disappeared.

We returned to Potter at 8pm and rode Dragons (no wait) and FJ. Posted wait was 75 minutes for FJ. We waited about 50 minutes including a 15 minute breakdown. We stayed until after closing for shopping & butterbeer.

Just a note-the stand by lines were very long (60 minutes plus) for everything in both parks (we did US on Wednesday). The TM said it was due accommodating so many express pass guests. Even express lines were 20 - 30 minutes.

You did??? We were there on Wednesday as well....didn't know you were headed over. Were you trying to avoid us???? Got US entrance about 10ish..had to upgrade to an AP and buy some Express Passes...at $59 pp, not a cheap thing, but very worth it.
I didn't see too many long waits at US...IoA had longer wait times. But since we had the Express Passes, we didn't really take much notice of the standby wait times.
We did get to Harry Potter about 2:30ish. Went right to FJ..got into line about 2:45, with a posted wait of 60 mins. I have to tell you, that first 15 mins out in the direct sun was nasty...everyone was dripping by the time we got into the building. I do think the locker system had it's faults....way to confusing in that little tiny room. And when you come in from the bright sun, it's hard to see where you're going. And the mish-mosh of people coming off the ride, trying to get to their lockers along with those trying to get stuff into new lockers..well, it was chaotic to say the least. I would have thought they would put a locker area someplace else..with a 2 hr time limit on it. I won't be taking a bag with me again..that's for sure. And that line through the hothouse was incredible. I've never seen such a maze, but it worked. I do have to say that FJ was simply incredible...can't wait to do it again.

We (dd, 16, and myself) don't do the big coasters, so we didn't have to worry about those. And we didn't do any water type attractions. We did everything we wanted to do, in both parks in 6 hrs...including a longish lunch.

 

[mom2aandj]

AWe stayed until after closing for shopping & butterbeer.

how long do they let you linger?

 

[sicjoy]

I am hoping that with more schools starting up it may be better. We shall see.......

Can anyone lend an opinion on this? Will the lines be calming down with school starting on Monday (the 16th)?

Thanks!

 

[damo]

yes - this ride seems to constantly break down. Of the time I spent in line for FJ I would say about 3/4 of it was waiting for it to go back on-line after technical difficulties. If it improves all the better but you really do need to prepare yourself for it.

How many days did you encounter these breakdowns on FJ?

 

[nmartin]

I am going again on Tuesday the 17th, but not as a Universal resort guest so I will not have FOT privileges. I will give another update when I return to the hotel. I am hoping that with more schools starting up it may be better. We shall see.......

Anxious to hear. Thanks!

 

[Carl4628]

Have been here since Wednesday with two days left. We are staying at PBH and took advantage of the early opening. My number one tip is to avoid bringing a bag if at all possible. We heeded this warning and it saved loads of time when riding the Forbidden Journey. The locker line Thursday morning had to be at least 30 minutes. The ride was down from 8-8:30 that morning. Otherwise, our wait would have been only 15 minutes. We rode all the rides and visited all shops (and had a BB) by 10AM. Also, do your best to arrive early. We were at the turnstiles at 7:20AM. Another alternative is to visit late in the evening...after 8:30PM being the best. Also, take advantage of the single riders line. The stand-by line was 90 minutes with single riders line taking about 25 minutes. Here now if you have any questions. Have a great time!