Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[Carl4628]

How many days did you encounter these breakdowns on FJ?

We have been every day Wednesday through today with a breakdown every time. Some delays were short while others were 30+ minutes.

 

[damo]

We have been every day Wednesday through today with a breakdown every time. Some delays were short while others were 30+ minutes.

Any ride shutdowns? We don't seem to be hearing about many major breakdowns and I don't think people are generally reporting short delays. There have been very few mentioned on these boards. When we went in June there was one morning where they couldn't get the ride operational in the morning but had it open a few hours later.

 

[Lou Holtz]

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

Thanks!

Yes.

 

[Carl4628]

Any ride shutdowns? We don't seem to be hearing about many major breakdowns and I don't think people are generally reporting short delays. There have been very few mentioned on these boards. When we went in June there was one morning where they couldn't get the ride operational in the morning but had it open a few hours later.

I haven't experienced any complete shutdowns. They just announce that they are experiencing technical difficulties and are working to fix the issue. We haven't been asked to get out of line due to an indefinite technical difficulty. We just waited it out as it is definitely worth the wait. I think that it will take a while to get all the kinks out due to the complexity of the ride.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

Hi all! I have been lurking on this thread since Harry Potter opened because I wanted to get as much information as I could before visiting this past week. I just got back from my trip today, and have a crowd report from Wednesday 8/11. My sisters and I were staying at Disney, so we were offsite. It was our goal to arrive at Islands of Adventure as long before park opening as possible, so we took a Mears shuttle at 7:25 am (the earliest of the day). We arrived at Universal around 8:00, and were in the Harry Potter line not long after. At this time, the line stretched just a little bit into the Jurassic Park area. They started letting the offsite guests in around 8:30-8:40. We walked right in and headed straight to Forbidden Journey, where the posted wait time was I believe 60 minutes. The crowd trying to get lockers was pretty chaotic, but we took the advice I'd seen on here about going further in. It worked perfectly, as there was an area in the back with literally nobody, while other sections were mobbed. So we stowed our bags and then joined the regular line. It was now probably about 8:45. The ride line moved fairly quickly, and I think we were done by 9:30. We definitely did not wait 60 minutes. After riding FJ, we did Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge, which were both walk-ons. After doing DC, we visited Dervish and Banges. Apart from FJ, this was our longest wait of the day. I think it took us 30 minutes to get in. Once we got in, we shopped quickly, since the place was a madhouse. The shops are definitely tiny. And because of this, I think it was a horrible decision on Universal's part to attach D&B to the exit of Ollivander's. Even when the initial hype dies down, that shop is still going to be mobbed because it's so small. My sisters and I found the other shops (Honeydukes, Zonko's) to not be too bad - we also visited them at some point in the morning and waited 5 minutes tops to get in. Anyway, after going into D&B, it was a little after 11:00, so we went to the Three Broomsticks to get lunch. We had a minimal wait here (I think maybe 5-10 minutes), and were seated immediately once we got our order.

After lunch, the area was getting more crowded, so my sisters and I left to check out the rest of the park for a little while. We found other areas to not be much better, though. The whole place was packed. So we just took a quick ride on the Cat and the Hat before going back to the Wizarding World. We were shocked at how much the crowds changed during the short time we were gone. By this time (around 1:30) there was no line to get into the area, but the line for FJ was getting quite long. The wait was still only posted as 60 minutes, but the line for lockers stretched out of the Hogwarts gates, around the corner, and out over the bridge. My sisters and I really didn't want to wait in that line to get a locker, but really wanted to ride FJ again. So we opted to stow our bags in the Dragon Challenge lockers and then head in. This proved to be a huge timesaver, as because we used the single riders line this time, we were in and out in less than 20 minutes. Once we got out, we stopped once more in Honeydukes and Zonko's, which still had a minimal wait, before leaving the park.

So overall, my advice to offsite guests is to get there early. There will obviously be lines from the onsite guests who have been let in earlier, but they are really not too bad. My sisters and I found the morning to be extremely manageable. Much more so than at 1:30 when we came back. My other advice is, like others have said, either don't bring bags at all, or stow them in advance. We may have cheated the system by using the Dragon Challenge lockers while riding FJ, but it saved us a heck of a lot of time.

Good luck to everyone visiting soon, and have a great time! Even though it was busy, my sisters and I had a blast, and can't wait to go back!

 

[bubba's mom]

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.)

No pic, but the single riders bear left when you enter....up the stairs.

 

[Loudbmw]

Second day at IOA. Arrived at HP around 1:00 pm Saturday, crowded but no line to get into HP area. Shops all had very long lines. Locker line was at least 30 minutes long so avoid if possible. Stayed to the left and walked right into castle. Posted regular line was 60 minutes. Took single rider stairs and was on FJ in two minutes, rode a second time - no line again on single rider line and we all (3 of us) ended up on the same car anyway due to slow loading on regular line.

Park was very crowded - first time I ever saw Spiderman express line overflowing into the street. Most other express lines were 5 to 10 minutes.

 

[sicjoy]

Yes.

Thanks Lou!

 

[damo]

Second day at IOA. Arrived at HP around 1:00 pm Saturday, crowded but no line to get into HP area. Shops all had very long lines. Locker line was at least 30 minutes long so avoid if possible. Stayed to the left and walked right into castle. Posted regular line was 60 minutes. Took single rider stairs and was on FJ in two minutes, rode a second time - no line again on single rider line and we all (3 of us) ended up on the same car anyway due to slow loading on regular line.

Park was very crowded - first time I ever saw Spiderman express line overflowing into the street. Most other express lines were 5 to 10 minutes.

What was the fanny pack status today?

 

[mmaikisch]

I have not read all the previous pages, so I apologize if this has already been asked, but does anyone know if this ride has a child swap area? I know that the spider man ride does, as well as some others, but wasn't sure about this one. Thanks!!

 

[kathy884]

Disney Dreamer, Thanks for your very informative post! // Great summary and information for offsite visitors mostly interested in WWHP.

 

[phamton]

I have not read all the previous pages, so I apologize if this has already been asked, but does anyone know if this ride has a child swap area? I know that the spider man ride does, as well as some others, but wasn't sure about this one. Thanks!!

Yes, it does have child swap.

 

[phamton]

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

Thanks!

Schools in Orlando start Aug. 23rd not the 16th.

 

[magiroux]

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.

Awww, sorry. I had no idea - thought you were just doing IOA all day. Yes, that first area is really hot. Good thing when we were waiting there for the ride to be fixed (one of the 45 minute stops) it was first thing in the AM or I would have MELTED!!!!!

 

[magiroux]

how long do they let you linger?

I would guess we were in there until about 10:30. There were plenty others still there that didn't look like they were going anywhere anytime soon. The shops were really easy to navigate.

 

[MErnst]

We were looking for the lockers before riding and stumbled onto the entrance from Filch's. For all the other US and IOA rides, you get a locker before getting in line, so we didn't realize we were cutting in the line by doing this. Every time we rode, the line was not long, so we really weren't cutting off much of the line. I'm not sure how they can stop it, since you have to go that way to retrieve your stuff after exiting the ride.

We were there from 7/29 thru 8/2 and only stood in line for lockers once. My DS16 found a tip on Orlando United that suggested to bypass the line and use the Entrance in Filch's. Yes, it is near the exit of the ride but no one is stopping you from using that entrance. We rode FJ nine times during our trip and only used the locker line once thanks to this tip.

 

[sicjoy]

Schools in Orlando start Aug. 23rd not the 16th.

Thank you for the clarification phamton.

 

[inkkognito]

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.

Don't worry, I've ridden it 50+ times and have waited for several breakdowns, but not on the majority of my rides.

 

[John_RN]

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 . . .

Hey Deb!! Our trip was great!!!! I posted a TR in the Universal Trip Report forum! Check it out!! How was your trip??

 

[deelovesdis]

OK, I am reading about people putting things in lockers.

If I wear a pouch on my waist, do I need to put it in a locker ? or since it is secured around my waist can I keep it on??


I am also one of the "fluffier" crowd, hoping I fit in the dang ride. when I go next month....... I am a bit miffed it isnt like a disney ride where practically everyone can fit, and doesnt have to be mortified of not fitting in the seat.........
thanks,