Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[angel18]

Originally posted by hammie59

So I have two thoughts on this. A) two prongs means Smaller pack maybe? or B) 3 Prongs vs 2 means it's less likely, to come undone with 3??

Now I'm worried too, cuz That was my master plan as well!

wow your nice comment I like it, other than that I so understand, and if you say the master plan has been completed please give me info. thanks...

 

[hammie59]

wow your nice comment I like it, other than that I so understand, and if you say the master plan has been completed please give me info. thanks...

Well, master plan was to wear the fanny pack. Now I don't know what to do. Guess I'll still wear it and see how it goes. I'm not going until May, so it's gonna be awhile for my results! lol.

 

[damo]

Sometimes there is a new overzealous employee. We've had reports come back before of an employee saying no fanny packs but then the same day other people were allowed them. Sometimes people also misinterpret what is said.

 

[Don Pacho]

There are plenty of lockers and every locker area has its own computer to operate them. There are at least 4 locker areas and they move fast. It could be uncomfortable to ride with a fanny pack: those seats really "move" and you might lose something during the ride.

 

[Meteora]

That's exactly what the castle tour is--always has been. The TM was telling you the straight dope.

I'm not saying the employee was incorrect--though it certainly seems like the info she gave us wasn't totally accurate (see below)--I'm saying that the fact that she gave us a negative evaluative statement of the castle tour when all we had asked was where to enter suggested to me that she just didn't want anyone else to get in any of the lines. Which is supported by the fact that it would seem, from above posts, that the castle tour is NOT the same as the queue for the ride, as she told us it was. I don't mean "passes through some of the same things"--I mean she told us that the castle tour WAS the 90 minute FJ queue, and we should just get off at the end and not ride. It would seem that is not correct and that there is a separate queue. I had thought there was, but based on her answer, I had assumed I was mistaken.

 

[mesaboy2]

I'm not saying the employee was incorrect--though it certainly seems like the info she gave us wasn't totally accurate (see below)--I'm saying that the fact that she gave us a negative evaluative statement of the castle tour when all we had asked was where to enter suggested to me that she just didn't want anyone else to get in any of the lines. Which is supported by the fact that it would seem, from above posts, that the castle tour is NOT the same as the queue for the ride, as she told us it was. I don't mean "passes through some of the same things"--I mean she told us that the castle tour WAS the 90 minute FJ queue, and we should just get off at the end and not ride. It would seem that is not correct and that there is a separate queue. I had thought there was, but based on her answer, I had assumed I was mistaken.

I will say the TM was incorrect: she was wrong and you were right. Sorry you got bad info from her. It happens.

And there is no "seem" to it. I've done CT several times (and single-rider and main), and I know almost by heart where it goes and where it doesn't. (I really need a hobby.)

Trust me!

ETA: My earlier quote about the TM being correct was based on my misunderstanding your post. You said something like "going through the line and not riding at the end" and I took that to mean a separate line, not the main line. Sorry for the confusion! Did that make any sense?

 

[LetsGoSteelers]

newbie to HP or Universal and just wondering why you can't have a bag or pack? any pictures of the ride or what it looks like, seating , etc?

we normally take a backpack to the disney parks so is that going to be a problem at IOA?

thanks!

 

[damo]

newbie to HP or Universal and just wondering why you can't have a bag or pack? any pictures of the ride or what it looks like, seating , etc?

we normally take a backpack to the disney parks so is that going to be a problem at IOA?

thanks!

There are several rides at Universal/IOA that you can't bring any types of bags on. You have to use the free lockers.

 

[mesaboy2]

newbie to HP or Universal and just wondering why you can't have a bag or pack? any pictures of the ride or what it looks like, seating , etc?

we normally take a backpack to the disney parks so is that going to be a problem at IOA?

thanks!

No, but you will need to stow it in a free locker for most of the thrill rides. Therefore you will wait in additional lines for the free lockers.

In the case of FJ, the ride vehicle has no room for backpacks, and moves in such as way as to make loose articles, um, inadvisable. You are being swung around (albeit smoothly) on the end of a robotic arm that is itself moving on a track.

 

[LetsGoSteelers]

definitely good info to know!! tks!

In the case of FJ, the ride vehicle has no room for backpacks, and moves in such as way as to make loose articles, um, inadvisable. You are being swung around (albeit smoothly) on the end of a robotic arm that is itself moving on a track.

sounds coool!


how about cameras? can they be carried in, worn around neck with strap or any limitations there?

 

[Don Pacho]

newbie to HP or Universal and just wondering why you can't have a bag or pack? any pictures of the ride or what it looks like, seating , etc?

we normally take a backpack to the disney parks so is that going to be a problem at IOA?

thanks!

.​

 

[mesaboy2]

definitely good info to know!! tks!



sounds coool!


how about cameras? can they be carried in, worn around neck with strap or any limitations there?

I've done a camera on FJ several times, but it is in a case zippered shut and attaches to me via a belt loop. That sucker ain't goin' anywhere. I also tend to wear largeish t-shirts on theme park days, so the camera case is not usually visible. I'm not intentionally hiding anything--just works out that way. If a TM has ever seen it, they haven't said anything.

I wouldn't want to have it on a neck strap--it'll get thrown all around. I don't think the TMs allow this anyway.

And yes, it's very cool.

 

[RainbowsMist]

Hi Rainbowsmist, Is the wait for FJ still that long, even if you use single rider line? Or were they not doing single rider?

Sorry..we haven't been back yet. Our next days is Monday..will let you know then! I never noticed about the single line.

One thing I forgot to mention however I see someone else since has is about the lockers. They were jammed packed with people and many of the stations we went to said all lockers were in use. It took us about 4 different stations before we found one. We (along with everyone else) lost a lot of time trying to find one..but like I said, no matter what you had they made you use a locker. Will be interesting to see if they do again when we go back.

 

[Meteora]

I will say the TM was incorrect: she was wrong and you were right. Sorry you got bad info from her. It happens.

And there is no "seem" to it. I've done CT several times (and single-rider and main), and I know almost by heart where it goes and where it doesn't. (I really need a hobby.)

Trust me!

ETA: My earlier quote about the TM being correct was based on my misunderstanding your post. You said something like "going through the line and not riding at the end" and I took that to mean a separate line, not the main line. Sorry for the confusion! Did that make any sense?

Of course! It was my fault; I wasn't clear in my original post about what exactly transpired. Your information is always very helpful and accurate--moreso, it would seem, than that of some of the people who are paid to provide it! But I can also understand how confusing and overwhelming it must get there for the employees; particularly during peak crowd season.

 

[Echo queen]

My family and I wear cargo type shorts, no bags on Universal days.

 

[rhawley1]

I've done a camera on FJ several times, but it is in a case zippered shut and attaches to me via a belt loop. That sucker ain't goin' anywhere. I also tend to wear largeish t-shirts on theme park days, so the camera case is not usually visible. I'm not intentionally hiding anything--just works out that way. If a TM has ever seen it, they haven't said anything.

I wouldn't want to have it on a neck strap--it'll get thrown all around. I don't think the TMs allow this anyway.

And yes, it's very cool.

I went on FJ several times with my camera on the strap around my neck. No one ever said anything and since it was under the restraint and hung to the side it never went anywhere.

 

[heidijanesmith]

This recent post stating that on the day this poster went all bags were required to be in lockers -INCLUDING FANNY PACKS!!!--has me concerned. My strategy included using a hip pack and I am worried that I will now need to stand in locker lines!

Does anyone else have recent experience in this regard? I'm really hoping this was just a one day thing, but since I am going next week I need to know if this is a trend!

The poster above was there just this last Monday (3-14).
Have any of you been there in the last week, and if so were fanny/hip packs allowed on FJ?

We were there last July, sorry not very recent....but fanny packs were allowed. I wore one and just placed the bulk of it on the side of my belly button. This way it was secure and out of the way of the overhead harness. It was a medium size fanny pack. I have never had to put it in a locker, on any ride (US, WDW, Six Flags). Hopefully, we will still be able to wear them!

 

[DCDisney]

The fanny pack thing really seems to depend on the workers. I have the exact same one someone posted a picture of saying it was fine and it wasn't on FJ or mib. I really think they aren't allowed it's just some blend better into clothes or the pouch part is away from employees. I was mad at mib because I went by 3 workers no problem and then suddenly problem ;P. FJ you do need to be cautious because my husband almost lost the key to our rental car out of his pocket which was deep but loose. Going through the exit locker or no locker is by far the best.

 

[Mikelly1221]

Just back today from 3 days of Universal. IOA in general was very crowded with huge wait times on Thursday. Best advice if staying offsite..get there early. We got there around 8:15 and they let us in gradually, stopping us in Marvel Island, Toon Lagoon, and finally allowing us into WWOHP by way of Jurassic Park. Went straight to FJ and the wait was already posted an hour. We waited around 45-50 minutes. Dragon Challenge wasn't bad (20 minutes) and FOTH was around 30 minutes. Eventually that day, FJ went to 2 hours+. Even getting there early, it was too crowded, so we left midday and went over to Universal, which was much more manageable. The next day we went to IOA early again, but skipped WWOHP and did Hulk, Spiderman, etc.

Even getting there early, you almost have to dedicate one morning to WWOHP and a second morning to the rest of the park.

Regarding FJ specifically, single rider was running and had a wait of only around 10-20 minutes. Definitely a good option, but keep in mind that you miss a good chunk of the castle decor. If there's a non-rider in your party, leave the bags with him/her as the locker line is a zoo. We've also used the lockers at the entrance to WWOHP, but usually end up having to pay a bit because we don't get back in time.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

I just wanted to say thanks to the posters here and in the Harry Potter FAQ thread. We just got back from a WDW trip, and we went to WWOHP (non-resort guest) on Sunday the 13th. We had the car parked by 7:55, and they let us go to a turnstile next to the resort-guest only ones, so we were, essentially, first in line for the 9:00 opening.

The ticket guy told us that not a lot of people were going in for the early hour, so they'd probably open early. Sure enough, about 8:40 they let us start going in. They stopped us at the bridge under the Hulk coaster, and then led us all the way back to WWOHP. The security was great, making sure everyone stayed behind them, at a fair pace. We decided Ollivander's wasn't a necessity so we went right to the FJ. Walked up the left side, and were riding within 15 minutes!

Rode Flight of the Hippgriff, and had a nice lunch at the Three Broomsticks before any sort of crowds started showing up. All in all, I didn't think it was too busy, as we walked back in later in the afternoon.

Again, though, thanks to all of the people here. You really helped plan the day, and everything went great!