Warning this is long
Hello All,
As promised I am posting about my day at WWoHP on Saturday 8/28. Before my trip I scoped out this thread and get a ton of great advice. Which went right out of my head once on vacation
. Bubba's mom gave great advice about getting there by 7:30am to avoid crowds, BUT I just couldnt drag myself (or my boys) out of bed that early. Plus a friend was meeting us at our resort and couldn't get there that early. SO I decided I would go with plan 2, do the rest of the park first and then go to WWoHP in the afternoon.
We got to US/IOA at around 10:15am, & paid for Perfered Parking ($20). SO worth the $$. According to the time stamp on my camera we were walking through Port of Entry IOA by 10:35am. We turned right and started with Suess Landing for the kids (it was practically empty, no one was in there!?). Then back tracked to Marvel, Comic Strip & Jurassic then FINALLY WWoHP!!!
We were walking across the Bridge to Hogsmeade at 2:25pm. I should mention that I kept an eye on those boards around the park that listed wait times for the major rides and was shocked because I never saw Forbidden Journey's wait time listed longer then 30mins the whole morning!! And this was a Saturday! Crowds in the rest of the park were good too. Hulk & Spiderman both only 20 min waits!
It was crowded but was not horrible in WWoHP!!! I was amazed! We went immediately to FJ (2:35) and the post time changed from 30mins to 40 mins as we walked up (go figure). My DH stayed with the boys and held my bag. Timing was perfect because the Durmstrang & Beauxbatons show was starting soon. So they watched it. The line for FJ moved the whole time and we got to loading in 30mins. WARNING! the seat is narrow. I am a heavy girl and have, uh um, a large chest and couldnt get the over head harness to click 3x's (it would only go 2x's). I was lead out the chicken door. I was able to ride Hulk! I had read about this so it wasnt a complete shock. Had I known for sure though (I didnt see a test seat?) I would have spent more time looking at the que. They spared nothing. By far the best attaction!! They did an amazing job!!! The talking portrits really look like Oil Pantings and not TV screens. The holograms of Dumbledore, Ron, Harry & Hermione look life like and the castle itself has the feel of a castle. You really think its Hogwarts. Only thing is I wish they did a better job with the Greenhouse. Totally worth walking through even if you dont ride.
We didnt ride Flight of the Hippogriff but the wait time was listed as 10mins @ 3:15. I also decided not to ride Dragons Challenge (wait time listed as 15mins @ 3:20). I did find a test seat next to the enterance, but it was out in the open and not very discrete at all. I was alittle embarrased to try it out in front of everyone walking by, but it did look narrow too so I just decided not to try it.
We had no interest in seeing the Olivaders show and I'm sorry to say I dont remember seeing a time posted but the line was around the building. So I'm assuming it was an hr? @ 3:20. Alittle side note (after our drinks) my DS(5 1/2) did want a wand so we walked through Dervish & Banges into the Owl Post. I went up to a CM and ask her how do we pick the "right" wand for him. She made it very magical for him. She asked him his birthdate and told him his wand should be made of Reed. She pick a box off the wall and opened it for him to look at. She then said that this wand was special and has great Protective qualities! He asked is it a real magic wand and she said of course. He said Whoa!!! It was super cute
DH wanted an 'adult' drink so we went into the Hogs Head (3:25) (enterence is around the back). There was no wait. We were directed right to the bar. I got a Frozen Butterbeer and DH got a Red Ale I believe. Frozen Butterbeer is YUMMY!!!! We walked over to a large round table and sat down to enjoy our drinks in the A/C. Soon a CM walked over and asked us to move because the tables were saved for TTB guests (there was no sign on the table), she told us HH guests could sit by the bar or out back. The problem here is that the Three Broomsticks & Hogs Head are connected inside and there really is no way to tell where one ends and the other begins. We took a seat out back and finished our drinks.
After the drinks it was time to shop (3:50)!! Woo Hoo!!! I couldnt wait to go into the shops. DH sat under the Owlery with the boys. All the shops are tight, small & were crowded. But I truly got lucky this day. I was able to browse & NO long lines at the registers in ANY of the shops!!! At 4:30 during my shopping travels I stopped to watch the Durmstrang & Beauxbatons show.
After I finished shopping my DH wanted another 'adult' drink so I decided to get it from a cart (5:00). The line at the Butterbeer cart wasnt horrible. I waited about 5mins. I was disappointed because they only had regular no frozen. My DH wanted the special mug so I got the regular. It was is gross! WAY to sweet for me. I ended up spilling it out. We walked out of WWoHP at 5:20. And that was our day at WWoHP!
:
But got lucky that day anyways 
