Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[damo]

THIS is what makes the difffernce between Disney and Universal. While I love the rides at Universal, and we do go there, it's the execution at these basic levels that they just don't seem to get! I found the same thing to be true (even more so!) at California's Universal...sigh...can they please send their workers to Disney training? lol

Many Universal workers are also Disney workers. You get inefficient workers sometimes at both.

 

[bubba's mom]

There was a line (I didn't ask how long) for Ollivander's, though.

This was about 2pm.

DM...When walking TO Ollivanders (toward FJ).... from the door of Ollivanders, thru the queue between the buildings and back out to the main walkway...at the corner of the very next building (toward FJ), that is the 30 min mark. hth

 

[the Dark Marauder]

DM...When walking TO Ollivanders (toward FJ).... from the door of Ollivanders, thru the queue between the buildings and back out to the main walkway...at the corner of the very next building (toward FJ), that is the 30 min mark. hth

That may have been it. I think there were only 2-3 wraparounds in their queue. Still, it wasn't too busy.

Fun Fact: the old bridge used to get from Lost Continent -> JP (while skipping WWOHP) is closed off. Now you have to go through HP to get to JP/LC (depending on your travel direction)

 

[phamton]

THIS is what makes the difffernce between Disney and Universal. While I love the rides at Universal, and we do go there, it's the execution at these basic levels that they just don't seem to get! I found the same thing to be true (even more so!) at California's Universal...sigh...can they please send their workers to Disney training? lol

I don't understand this sentiment. Disney has the same troubles with rides and communication. On the AP preview for Toy Story, I was one of the first people there. The ride was delayed in opening and then did a complete e-stop in the middle of the first ride and we had to be walked off the ride. I hung around the park until 3 PM in the afternoon and it still wasn't up and running.

A couple of months later, I went and the ride broke down while I was in the line. I ended up being in line for 2 solid hours. People were leaving or taking bathroom breaks etc. with lots of crying kids. Heck I felt like crying as the room was so hot and wall-to wall people. We received no communication about what was going on except a recorded announcement that kept coming on every 15 minutes saying that the ride would be starting momentarily. There were no CMs telling us anything. In fact, there was no one to talk to except the CM who stood near the front of the line near where you pick up your 3-D glasses. I was stuck in line just past Candy Land for 2 hours and never saw or talked to any CMs in that time. I didn't see the CM by the glasses until the line was finally moving.

 

[Lucky4me]

I don't understand this sentiment. Disney has the same troubles with rides and communication. On the AP preview for Toy Story, I was one of the first people there. The ride was delayed in opening and then did a complete e-stop in the middle of the first ride and we had to be walked off the ride. I hung around the park until 3 PM in the afternoon and it still wasn't up and running.

A couple of months later, I went and the ride broke down while I was in the line. I ended up being in line for 2 solid hours. People were leaving or taking bathroom breaks etc. with lots of crying kids. Heck I felt like crying as the room was so hot and wall-to wall people. We received no communication about what was going on except a recorded announcement that kept coming on every 15 minutes saying that the ride would be starting momentarily. There were no CMs telling us anything. In fact, there was no one to talk to except the CM who stood near the front of the line near where you pick up your 3-D glasses. I was stuck in line just past Candy Land for 2 hours and never saw or talked to any CMs in that time. I didn't see the CM by the glasses until the line was finally moving.

Not to mention Toy Story Mania is the most over rated theme park ride on the planet.
We walked on our first time and had to go back through again to see if we missed something spectacular. Nope. Just a basic ride, but with a 3D effect video game.
I still don't get the morning crush for that one. Andy's room is cool and all, but the rest of it-meh.
Maybe if I had a Toy Story crazed kid I'd feel different.

 

[Sandracreevey]

Think you said it Lucky4me - its really for kids, they are the ones who are supposed to love rides like ToyStory so much. I find it a bit strange how grown adults complain about kiddie rides not being great. If you're a kid they are the best thing! Maybe because where I live there isn't a single theme park in the country my lot appreciate disney/universal more, and a visit here is something they will do only a few times in their lives.
A lot of things in Disney are for kids - do folk not get that? If adults happen to enjoy them - great, if they dont, leave it to the kids and dont complain.
(it is annoying when things break down though but usually cant be helped and they probably dont know themselves when they are going to be back running. If they do know its going to be a couple of hours they should let you know).

 

[jenny105]

Not to mention Toy Story Mania is the most over rated theme park ride on the planet.
We walked on our first time and had to go back through again to see if we missed something spectacular. Nope. Just a basic ride, but with a 3D effect video game.
I still don't get the morning crush for that one. Andy's room is cool and all, but the rest of it-meh.
Maybe if I had a Toy Story crazed kid I'd feel different.

Gotta disagree on that one. I love TSM. I think Soarin is the most overrated. Still don't get why there's always a huge line for that one.

 

[xipetotec]

Gotta disagree on that one. I love TSM. I think Soarin is the most overrated. Still don't get why there's always a huge line for that one.

I *like* both of them just fine. But I have to agree, don't see the HEE-OUGE draw. I guess Soarin' gets crowded cause it really appeals to ALL ages. My mother will ride it, we will ride it, my kids will ride it... And my mother won't ride much...

 

[inkkognito]

I am a Soarin' fanatic but I really can't explain the appeal, especially since I am usually a thrill ride person. I guess it's just the combination of the music and beautiful imagery that gives you a stress-free break in the day (once you're done with the stress of the never ending line to get there). I wish FL had single riders like in CA.

I think Toy Story is way overrated, but I can easily explain that. I love Men in Black because you are going through real scenes and shooting at real things. I can stay home with my Wii if I want to play video games.

I do adore Forbidden Journey because it is a real game changer. I'll always love roller coasters best, but I really admire how they combined robot arms and dark ride elements, with a touch of simulator/IMAX, to make something so elegant and actually pretty reliable for a brand new ride.

 

[myjourney]

I have not read through all the pages so forgive me if this has been discussed. We went in July and the HPWW was so crowded and hot it was miserable. My husband is 6 foot 230lbs but has big shoulders and did not pass in the test seat before getting in line. What is the status about Universal installing modified seats? Is this true?

We are going to Disney in two weeks and I am considering a day at Universal if my husband would be able to get on this ride. Are the crowds getting better?

 

[damo]

I have not read through all the pages so forgive me if this has been discussed. We went in July and the HPWW was so crowded and hot it was miserable. My husband is 6 foot 230lbs but has big shoulders and did not pass in the test seat before getting in line. What is the status about Universal installing modified seats? Is this true?

We are going to Disney in two weeks and I am considering a day at Universal if my husband would be able to get on this ride. Are the crowds getting better?

Yes, the locking mechanism on some seats has been changed, allowing the restraints to not need to come down as far as before.

 

[firsttimer2007]

Could I get a crowd report?

BTW-- I love both soarin' and toy story but I have kids.

 

[jerseytinkerbell]

I was just at WWoHP from the 26th-29th and the crowds were very light! Sunday we had breakfast and dinner at Three Broomsticks with no wait. We didn't get over to FJ until about 11am and it was a 30 minute wait and at the end of the day we pretty much walked right on. No wait for Dragon Challenge around noon. In the rest of IoA and the Studios we never encountered more than a 10 minute wait for anything our whole trip. It was fantastic

 

[Snape]

Not to mention Toy Story Mania is the most over rated theme park ride on the planet.
We walked on our first time and had to go back through again to see if we missed something spectacular. Nope. Just a basic ride, but with a 3D effect video game.
I still don't get the morning crush for that one. Andy's room is cool and all, but the rest of it-meh.
Maybe if I had a Toy Story crazed kid I'd feel different.

I agree. I also don't partake in the adult trampling over small children to get to the ride.

 

[bubba's mom]

Fun Fact: the old bridge used to get from Lost Continent -> JP (while skipping WWOHP) is closed off. Now you have to go through HP to get to JP/LC (depending on your travel direction)

exactly how is that fact "fun"?

I don't think I like that bridge being closed? Always got some nice views from it.

 

[bigAWL]

Not to mention Toy Story Mania is the most over rated theme park ride on the planet.
We walked on our first time and had to go back through again to see if we missed something spectacular. Nope. Just a basic ride, but with a 3D effect video game.
I still don't get the morning crush for that one. Andy's room is cool and all, but the rest of it-meh.
Maybe if I had a Toy Story crazed kid I'd feel different.

I've never been on TSM, so I can't comment on whether I think it's over-rated. But would you say there are many better rides for kids under 48" tall? That's the requirement for RnRC. Star Tours is closed. The shows don't generally start right at opening. So which attraction are you headed to at rope drop? ToT is a possibility if your kids are 40" tall, but that is pretty intimidating. TSM is so popular because it's the only game in town (in DHS-town, anyway).

 

[Thumper_Man]

Seems we're straying from the subject. I'll be there one week from today. Interested in recent crowd reports. Anyone else been there lately? Trying to figure out my game plan.

 

[inkkognito]

Seems we're straying from the subject. I'll be there one week from today. Interested in recent crowd reports. Anyone else been there lately? Trying to figure out my game plan.

Low crowds for the moment. I'm sure it will get nuts around the holidays but not bad at all now.

 

[Meteora]

Hi everyone,
I've been following this thread for awhile. My family will be visiting Orlando from March 13th to 20th, and we're very excited to go to WWoHP. We're trying to figure out which day would be best to do this, and were thinking Monday the 14th or Tuesday the 15th. But really, we could do any day that week. Any thoughts? Does it make a difference which day you do if you can't do a Sunday (due to arriving/departing?) We'll be staying offsite.
Thanks so much!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Hi everyone,
I've been following this thread for awhile. My family will be visiting Orlando from March 13th to 20th, and we're very excited to go to WWoHP. We're trying to figure out which day would be best to do this, and were thinking Monday the 14th or Tuesday the 15th. But really, we could do any day that week. Any thoughts? Does it make a difference which day you do if you can't do a Sunday (due to arriving/departing?) We'll be staying offsite.
Thanks so much!

I would avoid any weekend day. There is more crowds due to locals. I'd think Mon to Thurs would be best.