Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[Tammyepolytinkfan]

We went to IOA on August 9th a Monday and were not onsite guests. We arrived by 8am but the onsite guest line for Harry Potter were already backed up so we went to the left and had no lines for Hulk, Spiderman, Rip Saw Falls, Jurrassic Park etc. We went to eat lunch at Hard Rock Cafe and then went back into IOA and went through Suess, Posidens Adventure, saw the Sinbad show, etc. then went to Harry Potter later in the afternoon. We saw the line in front of the castle was not too long and wait time posted was 60 mins. We went in the locker line went to the back and got a locker then went into the regular line took about 40 mins then we got onto the FJ. IT was great. PS I am a lady of plus size 5"6" and 225lbs. I fit into
FJ with no problem and did not feel squished into the seat and shoulder harness.

Crowded in Hogsmeade line too long for Olivanders skipped it and also Dervish and Bangers. But waited in line to get into Honeydukes for chocolate frogs. took 15 minutes and it was packed. Bad planning on US part the shops are way to small that even when crowds die down the shops will be crowded with only 20 people inside. Went to 3 broom sticks waited about 15 mins to order and get food and be seated. Loved the frozen Butter beer but not the pumpkin juice. Even the bathrooms were crowded because evertime you flush a toilet moaning Merttle makes her moaning noises.

Overall the experience was fantastic!

Right now during the summer months many from England, Ireland, Germany, & Spain were at the parks. Our hotel was mostly all people from England and also at the parks. It actually added to the experience because everywhere you went in Harry Potter you heard British accents it was so cool! We loved meeting so many people from other countries! Had a great time!

I suggest you wait until after 6pm or more until you go into Harry Potter crowds will be smaller later in the evening.

 

[tarrbear]

Its official, I'm going to the WWoHP on Saturday! We are staying offsite so I'm stil debating wether to go first thing in the morning or wait till evening, opinions appreciated!

 

[Tammyepolytinkfan]

Its official, I'm going to the WWoHP on Saturday! We are staying offsite so I'm stil debating wether to go first thing in the morning or wait till evening, opinions appreciated!

Evening

 

[newfamilyman]

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).

I've read about the Mears shuttle, but can you give a little more information about your experience? Thanks

 

[WDW-PRINCESS]

Can someone tell me what the Owl Post is all about?

I believe it is connected to Ollivanders?

Can you buy a postcard and have them postmark and stamp it?

Does this tend to get crowded? i.e. should we do this before the general public is admitted?

 

[USMCLtCol]

Evening

Here is the situation: Family of 6 staying at Disney from 28 Aug to 5 Sept. Oldest HS age daughter is big HP fan, and is reason we are including WWoHP in the itinerary. The rest are a set of 6yr old twins, and a 5 yr old daughter. I had planned on getting them up at crack of dawn to high tail it to WWoHP first thing one morning. Now, I am starting to see recommendations of EVENING visits.

As you can see, I think the three little ones will be out of their element at WWoHP, so I am wondering if the best course of action might be to have them go to a Disney babysitting club and just head to HP with my wife, and oldest daughter.

Regardless, I want to minimize the crowds as much as possible. Evenings or mornings?

 

[shoppgirl]

My Dh and I were just at IOA on Saturday 14th. We were staying off site and arrived at the parking garage at 8:30 AM. Got an amazing parking spot on Spiderman 251 right by the escalators to the walkway across to the parks. When we entered the park at 8:45, they were only allowing resort guests to enter the park towards Harry Potter via Suess Landing. All other visitors had to walk via the left side through Marvel. It was a long trek all the way around, but every single person walking through was headed to the same place! We made it to the WWOHP by 9:00. There was a posted wait time for FJ of 45 minutes already. We all waited in one single line which started right where Jurrassic Park ended at WWOHP started. As we got closer to the lockers, we saw two lines forming. The locker line was SO LONG!!! Try your best to not have any bags with you! I had small leather fanny pack that I wore belted around my waist and I was able to keep it on for all rides. The standy by line was slow and steady. The single rider line stairway entrance was right at the front and they were announcing to people to use it! But since this was our first time, I thought it was worth waiting to see inside the castle. The line up through the green house was slow and hot at 9 Am already. But as soon as we entered the castle we walked right through, and I missed so much because it was going so fast! The ride itself was amazing. I get scared easily at the unknown so I unfortunately closed my eyes for parts of it!! The posted 45 minute wait time was actually only 30 minutes.

At noon, we had finished all the rides we wanted to in IOA, and were soaked from head to toe. We walked around to dry off and ended up at WWOHP again! The wait time for FJ was 60 minutes now. The locker line was even longer! But we walked straight through and ran up the stairs for the single rider line. It was a run on more than a walk on!! We were on the ride within 5 minutes. FABULOUS!! I highly recommend people going in the standby line only ONCE to tour the castle, but all other times you should use single rider. You can't even see who you are with on the ride anyways since you are so enclosed within your own space/seat. The second time around I kept my eyes opened the entire ride and was able to experience everything I was supposed to.

The line for Ollivanders snaked all over and I could only imagine it was a 2 hour wait at noon. The wait for FOTH was 60 minutes at noon too. We thankfully went on it at 9:30 when it was only a 5 minute wait. I would not wait any longer than that for this ride.

My advice is to go there first thing in the morning whether you are on or off site. Use the single rider line and try not to bring a bag! I can't say what it is like in the late afternoon/evening. But when we left the park at 1:00, hundreds of people were still arriving at the park, and the lines for everything were getting longer and longer.

Enjoy your visit!

 

[Deb in IA]

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

We had a FANTASTIC time! I'll go read your Trip Report!

 

[SmallWorld71]

Here is the situation: Family of 6 staying at Disney from 28 Aug to 5 Sept. Oldest HS age daughter is big HP fan, and is reason we are including WWoHP in the itinerary. The rest are a set of 6yr old twins, and a 5 yr old daughter. I had planned on getting them up at crack of dawn to high tail it to WWoHP first thing one morning. Now, I am starting to see recommendations of EVENING visits.

As you can see, I think the three little ones will be out of their element at WWoHP, so I am wondering if the best course of action might be to have them go to a Disney babysitting club and just head to HP with my wife, and oldest daughter.

Regardless, I want to minimize the crowds as much as possible. Evenings or mornings?

I think the big catch here is that soon, Universal will be closing earlier in the evenings (as will all the Orlando theme parks as the crowds lessen) so it is hard to tell how that will affect things. Can't exactly go to WWOHP at 9, if the park closes at 7.

We leave on Wed. (2 days, WooHoo!) and will be hitting US/ IOA Sat. 22nd-Thurs.26th. I'll post my observations when I return.

 

[sicjoy]

I think the big catch here is that soon, Universal will be closing earlier in the evenings (as will all the Orlando theme parks as the crowds lessen) so it is hard to tell how that will affect things. Can't exactly go to WWOHP at 9, if the park closes at 7.

We leave on Wed. (2 days, WooHoo!) and will be hitting US/ IOA Sat. 22nd-Thurs.26th. I'll post my observations when I return.

We'll be there the same time! Where are you staying? Please shoot me a PM.

 

[xApril]

I always see a locker line. I always just go through Filches and get to the lockers that way. Never had any problems with that either.

I think it helps in avoiding the crowds and getting into line faster. But then again, I've always headed over in the afternoon/evening.

 

[crazed'boutmaryP]

Sunday was great! Thank you everyone for all the suggestions. Here is a rundown of our experience. Forewarning-I have not read any of the HP books and have only seen the first movie.

We visited Sunday August 15th. We were offsite and arrived to the parking garage at 7:45am. Garage attendant commented that we were so early and told us there was hardly anybody there. Followed some other offsite guests around to the Left up to Jurasic Park. Arrived at line just after a gift shop at 8:15am. At 8:30 we went right to FJ. As you walk in this way you can see the greenhouse and the line which was moving through. Posted wait was 30min. Did not store any bags. We moved continuously through the castle except for short stops for picure taking by us and others. DH and kids rode, while I waited in child swap area. There are benches and HP movie was playing. DH got off and told me 1st-no way I could ride, 2nd- it was awesome!
We walked out of the ride at 9:00. Stopped at Hippogriff-wait 5mins, while DH got on line at Ollivander's.

Off to Ollivander's. We waited in line 45 minutes. The line is mostly in shade and we were told they take about 30 people in at a time. Enjoyed a Butterbeer from cart very close to line. My two kids were selected and they had their wands chosen. Very neat little show, the space is tiny which made it nice. Took picture and went right to the register and paid.

10:00- Out the door and walked around to look at the stores. Walked right in to the candy store to get the chocolate frog and jelly beans. No lines for the stores. Dragon challenge was 45min wait, so we opted to do it in the evening.
10:30-Left WWOHP via bridge to FJ- this is a great picture spot with castle in backround. Posted wait time for FJ was 30 min, but line was out past the sign so I don't know if this was really accurate.
1:00- Returned to Three Brommsticks for lunch. Line was out the door and in a que. It moved quickly We were finished by 2:00.
2:00- Area was more crowded, FJ wait still said 30 minutes, again I don't know if this was accurate. No lines for stores except Ollivanders.

8:30pm- Returned to WWHOP. Downpoured rain when we arrived, area was crowded but very manageable. Saw people getting postcards stamped in the covered area outside of the shop. Rain dissipated, no lines at stores. Went to FJ, posted wait was.....you guessed it 30 mins. We walked through even faster than in the morning, I stayed in child swap with DD while DS rode again. We were out of there in 25 minutes start to finish (most of that time was walking through the castle as the line only stopped for a short time). Hippogriff had just started running and waited 5 mins. DS was not interested in Dragon Challenge, so we left.

The area was nice, but it is small. I asked the woman who helped me in the store if this was a slower day and she said yes, Sunday always is. So go on a Sunday and I think the crowds were definetely less in the am, but it is hard to tell about the evening due to the rain.

On a side note, a coworker who goes to Universal frequently and stays at Portofino (visiting same time as us) asked me if I was staying onsite. When I told her no, she told me "well you'd better be prepared for a 2 hour line just to get in". I just told her "we'll see". Thanks Disboards for all the great tips, it worked out perfect. Can't wait to see what she says about my 30 min wait!

 

[debsters41]

Thank you everyone for the brilliant trip reports!

 

[Hombre59]

Do you guys think the crowds will be high on friday the 20th or saturday the 21 of this month?

 

[rmjkharrisfam]

How about the week of Aug 23rd? Think crowds will be bad? I think I read that Orlando schools start that week? Will tha impact crowds?

 

[jckjck]

would really like to see that!

 

[Asm]

I had a similar experience Sat Aug14. We were first in line for offsite guests. We were allowed into WWoHP at 8:37. There was a line at Olivanders. We went straight to FJ. Awesome! We walked out of the ride at 9:10. No wait for FotH. 20 min for DC. No wait for Honeydukes, Zonkos. No wait for early lunch at 3B. The crowds were growing as we left the area about 11:30. Out of the park at 1:00.

 

[magiroux]

one week later...

What a difference a week makes.

Last Tuesday the line to enter HP snaked around past JP. Today there was never any line to enter - EVER! At 1PM the line was 45 minutes for FJ and that was accurate (since it did not break down - LOL). The area was crowded but there was hardly any wait for anything. The only line was for Ollivanders (and the separate store entrance) and FJ.

The rest of the park had longer waits, although not as long as last Tuesday. I think perhaps that some of the schools returning may be affecting the crowds (in a good way).

 

[wilma-bride]

one week later...

What a difference a week makes.

Last Tuesday the line to enter HP snaked around past JP. Today there was never any line to enter - EVER! At 1PM the line was 45 minutes for FJ and that was accurate (since it did not break down - LOL). The area was crowded but there was hardly any wait for anything. The only line was for Ollivanders (and the separate store entrance) and FJ.

The rest of the park had longer waits, although not as long as last Tuesday. I think perhaps that some of the schools returning may be affecting the crowds (in a good way).

This is sounding good then - we arrive next wednesday and I was really hoping the crowds would have died down significantly, I'm not good with lots of people

 

[Echo queen]

Will be Thete sunday.