Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[PrincessAlways]

Monday, Oct 18th

HP crowds
Parked opened at 9. We arrived and waited in the herd for about 15 minutes before they let us walk back. Got back there and it was already packed. Wait times were 90 minutes for FJ, 45 minutes for FH and 5 minutes for DD. DH and both teens rode DD and then we headed out and went back to Suess Land for our youngest two. Foraged back to HP central around 4pm and waits were down to 60, 25 and 15 respectively. So we got in line and did FJ. Im not an FJ fan. Glad I did it but wont do it again. I got breathed on by a dragon full on, a spider was right in my face and the damned dementors were everywhere! I am a grown woman and I think I will have nightmares for the next week!!

Also did FH, it was good and then it was over I think that was the quickest ride in history, especially for the wait time!!!

Glad we did HP, would like to browse the shops and not have to wait in a line to enjoy butter beer so maybe next year we will do a 3 night stay on resort and get our front of the line passes and early admittance. But for now, I just dont think the whole thing was laid out with crowds in mind.

We had planned on doing Studios side today but decided to take a day off between parks and just hang out at the resort pool. And go back in to the fray tomorrow!

Wow! I was hoping crowd levels would be a little better by now. We'll be there 10/24. Was planning on going to HP first thing in the am. Maybe not a good idea???? decisions, decisions!!

 

[Sandracreevey]

Was there yesterday, monday. FJ was 75ins at 10am, hippogriff 45mins. Place was packed. Queues for all the shops. about an hour and half for wand shop. Dont believe people when they say it is quieter. Too packed to really enjoy it properly. We went back to HP at about 4.30 and wait time was 45 mins. Ride is great though but would be much more enjoyable if it wasn't so packed. Most other rides were about 30 - 45 mins. Spiderman was 5 mins in the last hour. Hulk was 25 mins.

 

[damo]

Wonder why crowds were so high yesterday when they had been so nice in September. Where are all the people coming from?

 

[Metro West]

Lots and lots of Brazilian tour groups.

You mean they are still here?! Thankfully they haven't invaded HHN!!!!

 

[SnowWtch]

My parents went this past Friday and they said it was crazy. They didn't even get to see everything in the WWOHP there were too many people. My mom said she waited an hour for butterbeer and never go into a lot of the shops or the restaurant. I'm hoping it slows down some for December. We're planning to go December 3 which is a Friday and should be before the kids get out for the holidays.

 

[ducky_love]

I stopped by on Thursday to check on some things for folks and grab a few maps to mail- it was packed. I actually only got far enough to check the first shop in Suess Landing before giving up and leaving. I don't know what is going on? I hear Disney is just as crowded?

 

[brenda1966]

I think more and more school are having fall break. Will be there next week and can report on the following week on the madness!

 

[christophfam]

Crud! We'll be there in a few days. I was worried about the crowd level when I noticed how booked the hotels are for this coming weekend.

 

[PrincessAlways]

I think more and more school are having fall break. Will be there next week and can report on the following week on the madness!

I'll be there next week too! Going to WWOHP 10/24. Hoping it won't be tooooo bad!! We'll just have to wait & see.....& bring patience!!!!

 

[JessicaR]

Just got back last night - we were there the past 5 days. Harry Potter fans are quite dedicated! The place was PACKED at any given moment. Finally yesterday at 8A due to early hotel on-site entry we got to ride everything a few times. However queues for shops are NUTS!

Very very well done.

 

[mom2aandj]

wow! Okay, so sad the October slow time it not going to be so slow, but feeling really very glad we are staying on site!! Only 2 more days til I'm right there in the mosh pit and I can't wait!!!!

 

[myst13]

Just got back last night - we were there the past 5 days. Harry Potter fans are quite dedicated! The place was PACKED at any given moment. Finally yesterday at 8A due to early hotel on-site entry we got to ride everything a few times. However queues for shops are NUTS!

Very very well done.

We also were there from 10/14 thru 10/18. Yes the crowds were nuts at Harry Potter. Thank goodness for the single rider line, we were able to ride FJ several times. Yes the lines to stores were insane...... We started laughing when we saw wands, gowns, candy and other Potter merchandise at the main store at the entrance of the park. We did make it the stores with no lines in the early evenings. We thought maybe people were going to the HHN and left. We were staying at the Royal Pacific and was told several groups and conventions were there. Thank goodness for express pass with staying on site it was well worth the extra price for staying on site.

I will say Harry Potter attraction is just like reading a book or being in the movie. My 17 year old who is read the books but not a what I call a Harry Potter fan, said if Hogwarts was real he would be begging to go.

 

[miatamel]

Man, now I'm wondering if we should even TRY it on the one afternoon 12/17 we have pre-cruise. Yikes.

 

[ladeedeb]

I stopped by on Thursday to check on some things for folks and grab a few maps to mail- it was packed. I actually only got far enough to check the first shop in Suess Landing before giving up and leaving. I don't know what is going on? I hear Disney is just as crowded?

One of those mailings was me. Thanks so much!

 

[dan-tot]

We will be going Dec 11-18 I wonder how bad???

Dan

 

[mdb78]

We're heading down on Thursday morning. Can't wait! We're also staying onsite and so taking advantage of the early entry Friday morning!

 

[JessicaR]

We're heading down on Thursday morning. Can't wait! We're also staying onsite and so taking advantage of the early entry Friday morning!

This is KEY. Be at the gate on the left side at 7:50A.

 

[DisCopper]

We were there on Monday, October 18th. The crowds at most of Islands of Adventure were fairly small (minimal wait for the Hulk and Spiderman). We also went over to EPCOT, and there were no crowds. Walked onto Mission Space in the evening. Got a prime spot for Illuminations 20 minutes before the show started.

Harry Potter? It was insane. We waited 45 minutes for Forbidden Journey. OK, not bad. Dragon Challenge wait was fairly short (don't remember exactly). BUT, there were lines to get into every shop. An hour and a half wait for Ollivander's (we didn't wait). Maybe 10 minutes for Honeydukes/Zonkos. The line for the Butterbeer stretched waaay down the street.

We waited 20 minutes to get into the Three Broomsticks.

The whole place looks GREAT, but it's too small for the crowds. It was like being at Mardi Gras in New Orleans: wall to wall people.

We were in town for business, so we didn't have much choice as to when we went. My advice is that people should wait. Don't get me wrong, we enjoyed it, but after a morning there, we were frustrated and ready to leave. Wait until the mania slows down. Give it a year from when the last movie comes out.

 

[MaMudduck]

Hoping it's going to be better in Nov. (7-12), I usually try to pick a "slower" time of year to avoid the huge crowds. I know it WWofHP is the hot item this year...but I'm getting alittle worried that HUGE crowd levels and poor traffic controls are going to make my first trip to US/IOA make me dislike US forever

 

[JessicaR]

Hoping it's going to be better in Nov. (7-12), I usually try to pick a "slower" time of year to avoid the huge crowds. I know it WWofHP is the hot item this year...but I'm getting alittle worried that HUGE crowd levels and poor traffic controls are going to make my first trip to US/IOA make me dislike US forever

I wouldn't worry about that. We were just there for 5 days and my anticipation grew and never withered. It should be expected that there will be crowds for this fantastic addition. You said it - Hot item of the year = CROWDS.

Hope you can get through it all! I did not notice poor traffic control at all just massive crowds.