Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[goodfaerie]

Moved

 

[Thumper_Man]

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

We anticipated it might get a little busy for the weekend, given the holiday. We'll be in the area for a week and a half. So our plan is to go during the week on a Thursday. We're hoping crowds will be lower this day. Thoughts on crowd levels this day?

 

[damo]

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

Sundays are really dead at IOA.

 

[james_k_p]

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

Wow..Phantasy Star name/sig! That brings back some memories!

What are you guy's thoughts of what it may be like during the week of Thanksgiving? We are going this Nov from Sat to Sat and I guess we'll try to go to HP on our first day which is that Sunday. I hope it's not too crazy.

 

[Metro West]

What are you guy's thoughts of what it may be like during the week of Thanksgiving? We are going this Nov from Sat to Sat and I guess we'll try to go to HP on our first day which is that Sunday. I hope it's not too crazy.

If you go before the holiday, it shouldn't be too bad. But if you're going Friday - Sunday, you're in for a LONG day at the parks including long lines and waits for everything.

 

[james_k_p]

If you go before the holiday, it shouldn't be too bad. But if you're going Friday - Sunday, you're in for a LONG day at the parks including long lines and waits for everything.

Well we're driving up the Sat before Thanksgiving, Sunday will be our first day.
We'll have the flex ticket to go to either Uni park, seaworld, aquatica, wet'n wild. Maybe I should go to Seaworld on that Sunday and save the Uni parks for during the week?

 

[Metro West]

Well we're driving up the Sat before Thanksgiving, Sunday will be our first day.
We'll have the flex ticket to go to either Uni park, seaworld, aquatica, wet'n wild. Maybe I should go to Seaworld on that Sunday and save the Uni parks for during the week?

Again...if you're going before the holiday, the crowds shouldn't be bad and since you're going before the holiday, it won't matter when or where you go.

 

[james_k_p]

Again...if you're going before the holiday, the crowds shouldn't be bad and since you're going before the holiday, it won't matter when or where you go.

Oh I understand what you're saying, Black Friday through the weekend will be crazy. No, we're going home early Saturday morning after TGiving.

I'm thinking
Uni Sunday (11/21),
IOA Monday (11/22),
Seaworld Tues(11/23),
Wed open-maybe aquatica if warn enough,
Thurs back to IOA for Thanksgiving lunch at Mythos and more Harry Potter fun if not too crazy.
Fri open-maybe shopping at Uni/IOA, maybe Downtown Disney.

 

[goodfaerie]

Does anyone have any inkling how crowds will be at IOA (esp. Harry Potter) for Friday, October 22? Thanks in advance!

 

[Thumper_Man]

Sundays are really dead at IOA.

We thought about this day as well. We're planning Universal this day, but we have the option to hop on over to IoA. Since school has started again and being it will be a holiday weekend, we decided to save HP for Thursday. Never know, plans might change. We're just figuring it may be a bit more crowded given it will be a 3 day weekend for most.

 

[kangaand2roos]

We have a WDW trip planned for the 22nd-31st of this month. We had not been planning to go to WWHP because of the crowd problems I heard about over the summer. We don't really care about the rides. We just want to eat at the Three Broomsticks and shop in Hogsmeade. Are the crowds manageable or are they still brutal. We could go pretty much any of the listed days except the 24th. Any and all input will be appreciated!!

BTW, this will be our first IOA visit. The kids are 7 and 5 and not especially dare devils. They do all of the non-height-restricted rides at WDW, but only the more moderate restricted ones (Soarin', Test Track...) What are our best IOA bets?

 

[phamton]

It's really not busy right now. I am sure you will be able to do all of that and more. Here are some things that young kids can can
do.


Universal Studios:

World Expo

If your kids like Buzz Lightyear they will love Men in Black. It is tons of fun.

Production Central

Jimmy Neutron: Most of the kids are familiar with the Nick characters from the ride especially the Rugrats, Dora, and SpongeBob. It is a fun 3 D simulator ride with stationary seats for younger kids. When you exit the ride, there is an interactive area where kids can send an email to friends, be the director of a cartoon, or control the sound effects of a cartoon. They can play a trivia game and, if they get enough correct answers, they win a round on an arcade game. SpongeBob also has a meet and greet in that area. You don't even have to go on the ride to enter the interactive area.

Shrek: Stationary seats are available for toddlers or anyone who doesn't like a little shaking but the best thing is the meet and greet with Shrek, Fiona, and (my favorite) Donkey. I can spend quite awhile just listening to Donkey interact with the kids.

Woody Woodpecker Kid Zone

Animal Actors is a fun show for kids to watch. Animals perform stunts and there is plenty of audience interaction.

The Barney show is every little kid's favorite. After exiting Barney, there is a play area where kids can make music, splash in the water, or draw on the walls. There is also a meet and greet with Barney.

Curious George is a wet and dry play area. Kids can squirt people with water cannons or run upstairs to dump buckets of water down. There are all sorts of water interactive areas. For those who want to stay dry, there is a Ball Factory where kids can shoot and throw nerf balls and plenty of climbing for the little ones. The balls are soft and safe whether you are throwing or getting hit.

Woody's Coaster is a kiddy coaster.

ET is also a fun ride for the kids. Listen for ET to say your name at the end of the ride.

Fieval's Playland has tons of interactive elements and everything is at a mouse eye's view. There is also a slide where kids can take a two person water raft down.

San Francisco/ Amity

Disaster is fun. You are on a subway that simulates an earthquake plus there are tons of special effects in the preshow. You or your children may even get picked to participate in the special effects preshow.

Jaws is a fun boat ride as long as your kids know that the shark isn't real.


Islands of Adventure:

Suess Landing

The whole land is built for kids, with even the fences, signs, and steps are built kidsize. One Fish Two Fish is like Dumbo but with water. Caro-suess-el is a whimsical caroussel full of Dr. Seuss characters. Cat in the Hat has some spinning but kids love this ride.

If I ran the Zoo is another interactive play area. Kids can crawl into holes, squirt water on a small island, and play tic tac toe. There are plenty of areas to climb and get some energy out.

The High in the Sky Trolley, takes you on a trolley ride in the sky above Suess Landing. There are two tracks and four story lines all involving the Sneetches.

Other areas in Suess Landing: Toss a coin into the mouth of the fish in McElligot's Pool to receive a surprise. Sit on Horton's Egg outside the Cat, Hats, and Things gift shop. Walk through the street of the Lifted Lorax and listen to the Once-ler. Stop by Sneetch Beach and listen to the story of the Zax. Meet the Grinch, Cat and the Hat, and Thing 1 and 2.

Jurassic Park

The Discovery Center is a mini-science center where every exhibit is based on dinosaurs. Kids can test their dinosaur knowledge, X-ray the inside of a dinosaur egg, have their DNA sampled to create a new dinosaur, search for bones in a rock, and can "Beasuar" by looking through virtual reality glasses in dinosaur models, or watch a dinosaur hatch in the nursery.

Camp Jurassic is a play area where kids can run through caves, squirt water, climb rope bridges, and go down slides. There is also a kids' ride called Pteranodon Flyers where adults can only ride if they are accompanied by a child.

Pteranodon Flyers is a ride you can only go on if you have a child with you. Enjoy it while your kids are still short enough for you to accompany them on it. "Adults only" guests can't ride this one. it is similar to the Sky ride that Disneyland had years ago.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Flight of the Hippogriff is coaster made for children.

Toon Lagoon

The Me Ship, the Olive is a tri-level play area. There are stairs to climb, slides to go down, and a piano to play. They can squirt the people who are on the boats at Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rats.

Marvel Super Hero Island

Storm Force Acceltron is a tea-cup clone. This one makes me dizzy but kids love it. And there are characters who ride into Marvel several times a day for Meet and Greet.

 

[ducky_love]

It really hasn't been bad at all. I'm sure it will be a little worse for Halloween but I think the summer crowds are gone.

And if you just want to buy HP stuff you can shop in the main gift shop in the front of either park. They have almost everything up there and it is MUCH easier to shop.

 

[Iott Family]

It's really not busy right now. I am sure you will be able to do all of that and more. Here are some things that young kids can can
do.


Universal Studios:

World Expo

If your kids like Buzz Lightyear they will love Men in Black. It is tons of fun.

Production Central

Jimmy Neutron: Most of the kids are familiar with the Nick characters from the ride especially the Rugrats, Dora, and SpongeBob. It is a fun 3 D simulator ride with stationary seats for younger kids. When you exit the ride, there is an interactive area where kids can send an email to friends, be the director of a cartoon, or control the sound effects of a cartoon. They can play a trivia game and, if they get enough correct answers, they win a round on an arcade game. SpongeBob also has a meet and greet in that area. You don't even have to go on the ride to enter the interactive area.

Shrek: Stationary seats are available for toddlers or anyone who doesn't like a little shaking but the best thing is the meet and greet with Shrek, Fiona, and (my favorite) Donkey. I can spend quite awhile just listening to Donkey interact with the kids.

Woody Woodpecker Kid Zone

Animal Actors is a fun show for kids to watch. Animals perform stunts and there is plenty of audience interaction.

The Barney show is every little kid's favorite. After exiting Barney, there is a play area where kids can make music, splash in the water, or draw on the walls. There is also a meet and greet with Barney.

Curious George is a wet and dry play area. Kids can squirt people with water cannons or run upstairs to dump buckets of water down. There are all sorts of water interactive areas. For those who want to stay dry, there is a Ball Factory where kids can shoot and throw nerf balls and plenty of climbing for the little ones. The balls are soft and safe whether you are throwing or getting hit.

Woody's Coaster is a kiddy coaster.

ET is also a fun ride for the kids. Listen for ET to say your name at the end of the ride.

Fieval's Playland has tons of interactive elements and everything is at a mouse eye's view. There is also a slide where kids can take a two person water raft down.

San Francisco/ Amity

Disaster is fun. You are on a subway that simulates an earthquake plus there are tons of special effects in the preshow. You or your children may even get picked to participate in the special effects preshow.

Jaws is a fun boat ride as long as your kids know that the shark isn't real.


Islands of Adventure:

Suess Landing

The whole land is built for kids, with even the fences, signs, and steps are built kidsize. One Fish Two Fish is like Dumbo but with water. Caro-suess-el is a whimsical caroussel full of Dr. Seuss characters. Cat in the Hat has some spinning but kids love this ride.

If I ran the Zoo is another interactive play area. Kids can crawl into holes, squirt water on a small island, and play tic tac toe. There are plenty of areas to climb and get some energy out.

The High in the Sky Trolley, takes you on a trolley ride in the sky above Suess Landing. There are two tracks and four story lines all involving the Sneetches.

Other areas in Suess Landing: Toss a coin into the mouth of the fish in McElligot's Pool to receive a surprise. Sit on Horton's Egg outside the Cat, Hats, and Things gift shop. Walk through the street of the Lifted Lorax and listen to the Once-ler. Stop by Sneetch Beach and listen to the story of the Zax. Meet the Grinch, Cat and the Hat, and Thing 1 and 2.

Jurassic Park

The Discovery Center is a mini-science center where every exhibit is based on dinosaurs. Kids can test their dinosaur knowledge, X-ray the inside of a dinosaur egg, have their DNA sampled to create a new dinosaur, search for bones in a rock, and can "Beasuar" by looking through virtual reality glasses in dinosaur models, or watch a dinosaur hatch in the nursery.

Camp Jurassic is a play area where kids can run through caves, squirt water, climb rope bridges, and go down slides. There is also a kids' ride called Pteranodon Flyers where adults can only ride if they are accompanied by a child.

Pteranodon Flyers is a ride you can only go on if you have a child with you. Enjoy it while your kids are still short enough for you to accompany them on it. "Adults only" guests can't ride this one. it is similar to the Sky ride that Disneyland had years ago.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Flight of the Hippogriff is coaster made for children.

Toon Lagoon

The Me Ship, the Olive is a tri-level play area. There are stairs to climb, slides to go down, and a piano to play. They can squirt the people who are on the boats at Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rats.

Marvel Super Hero Island

Storm Force Acceltron is a tea-cup clone. This one makes me dizzy but kids love it. And there are characters who ride into Marvel several times a day for Meet and Greet.

Thank you! This is a great review!!

 

[Gabriel&Nana]

When my kids were this age, they loved to ride Spiderman !

 

[Violet Parr]

Hi all,

We are headed to WDW for 12 nights in Dec. The kids insist on WWHP for a half-day trip. We are WDW touring pros, but have NO clue when to go to WWHP.

Here are our possible dates:

Saturday Dec. 11
Sunday Dec. 12
Monday Dec. 13
Tuesday Dec. 14
Wednesday Dec. 15

I tend to think Monday the 13th would be best, heading out in the morning as early as possible.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

VP

 

[ducky_love]

Crowd report: Was in last night and the wait for FJ was 30 minutes at 5:20pm. Single rider line was less than 10 min. The crowds were also low enough that you could shop without being shoulder to shoulder with other folks.

 

[mseldga]

My daughters and I are going to be in Orlando this weekend to visit family and are debating about which park to visit one day of our trip. My daughters REALLY want to go to see Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but we're going to be back in Orlando in early January for a conference and I'm wondering if it might be better to wait until then for HP and do a Disney park this trip instead.

Has anyone been on a weekend recently and have any advice on the crowd levels? We visited IofA a couple of years ago and my girls aren't big roller coaster fans, so the success of the day will depend pretty much entirely on how crowded Harry Potter world is. We won't be staying on site since we're with family, but I can drag them out of bed and be first in line when the park opens if that makes a difference. Thanks for the help!

 

[ducky_love]

My daughters and I are going to be in Orlando this weekend to visit family and are debating about which park to visit one day of our trip. My daughters REALLY want to go to see Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but we're going to be back in Orlando in early January for a conference and I'm wondering if it might be better to wait until then for HP and do a Disney park this trip instead.

Has anyone been on a weekend recently and have any advice on the crowd levels? We visited IofA a couple of years ago and my girls aren't big roller coaster fans, so the success of the day will depend pretty much entirely on how crowded Harry Potter world is. We won't be staying on site since we're with family, but I can drag them out of bed and be first in line when the park opens if that makes a difference. Thanks for the help!

It shouldn't be terrible. Will it be as empty as January? NO WAY! But if you are up for a little bit of a crowd you should be able to see everything. I was there weekend before last and none of the wait times were over an hour.

 

[damo]

My daughters and I are going to be in Orlando this weekend to visit family and are debating about which park to visit one day of our trip. My daughters REALLY want to go to see Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but we're going to be back in Orlando in early January for a conference and I'm wondering if it might be better to wait until then for HP and do a Disney park this trip instead.

Has anyone been on a weekend recently and have any advice on the crowd levels? We visited IofA a couple of years ago and my girls aren't big roller coaster fans, so the success of the day will depend pretty much entirely on how crowded Harry Potter world is. We won't be staying on site since we're with family, but I can drag them out of bed and be first in line when the park opens if that makes a difference. Thanks for the help!

Sunday is a really slow day lately. My daughter was there two weeks ago on a Sunday and said the place was dead.