Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[polkadotminnie]

I was there on Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2nd. My kids were picked to open the park on Friday. I did not know that they did this so it was quite a nice surprise. The crowds were actually worse on Friday because the severe storms kept everyone in on Thursday. We arrived at 7:20 for the 9:00 (offsite) opening. We parked in valet which we do not do anywhere else but so totally worth it here. They let us in at 8:30. We got through the gates quickly and headed to see Harry. The lines for FJ were about 50 minutes both days around 9:00. Olivanders looked too long so we skipped it. We went back to HP on Saturday at 3:00 and lines were much shorter. We finally did Olivanders (waited 30 minutes) and DD8 got picked to be in the show. She was so excited that she was shaking. We bought her the wand since her 9th birthday is tomorrow. All in all, crowds were busy but still a nice weekend.

 

[datagatherer]

Due to our flight dates and the promotion that ends on the 16th those are our two choices for going to see WWOHP and we need to choose one. I know that the Mardi Gras event is on Sat. To help us choose, does anyone have any input on if their would be a significant difference in crowd level on Fri. vs. Sat? We will have the 1 hour early admission, which will help us, at least the 1st hour anyways. Any help that can be provided would be appreciated. I'm (mom) taking my 17 year old daughter.
Thanks,
Connie

 

[phamton]

Saturdays are alway busier than Fridays, especially at IOA.

 

[perugiagirl]

We went to WWoHP 3/28 and 3/29. Monday was very rainy, started raining in earnest around 9:00am and never did let up all day, so I'm sure that affected some of the crowds, but not really the resort guests so much. I'm sure they figured like we did- we are here, we mind as well go, rain or no rain.

We went straight to Olivanders at 8:00am. There was already a group in the store. It was rather unerving to watch hundreds and hundreds of people pour past you on their way to FJ. We were about 50 people back in the Olivanders line. We got in the store about 8:20am. My DS11 and DD9 were chosen! It is funny,after the little "show" when the store clerk took the wands into the next room, she said,"you are under no obligation to buy." Hah! Tell my children that! Of course, we bought them!(we had them sent back to the room)

We then had no problem getting on FJ. That ride is made to handle lots and lots of people. The only word of advice I would give is about lockers. There are lots and lots of lockers but it is human nature to stop in the first locker room right to the right as you enter the castle. There are a lot more, with much less wait right inside around the corner. Just look around.

The line is very interesting and while it takes a while to walk through, we really never once "waited" in line, but were continually moving.

The ride stopped briefly while we were on it. The lights came on and we were able to see the inner workings a bit (very interesting!)

After that we did Dragon Challenge and Hippogriff. We shopped a little and were in line for lunch at the 3 Broomsticks by 9:50am. It was raining quite hard by then. Lunch starts at 10, and a queue begins to form outside. Before that you needed reservations if you wanted breakfast. Food was good and they seemed very organized to handle large crowds.

After that we went out into the rest of IOA. WWoHP had started getting quite congested around 9 or so. Unfortunatly many outdoor rides in IOA were closed because of lightning.

 

[xApril]

Due to our flight dates and the promotion that ends on the 16th those are our two choices for going to see WWOHP and we need to choose one. I know that the Mardi Gras event is on Sat. To help us choose, does anyone have any input on if their would be a significant difference in crowd level on Fri. vs. Sat? We will have the 1 hour early admission, which will help us, at least the 1st hour anyways. Any help that can be provided would be appreciated. I'm (mom) taking my 17 year old daughter.
Thanks,
Connie

Friday closes at 6pm, Saturday closes at 11pm.

Grad Bash is going on Friday evening, so it may be in your favor to just go on Saturday instead, that way you'll have more time.

Anyway, I was over there today around 7PM. Wait time for FJ was 30 minutes. Single rider took about 15 minutes. We came out and the line was about 20 minutes at about 7:30. Not too bad!

 

[rtphokie]

we arrived around 8:30, turned in our ticket vouchers for tickets and were through the gates at 9am, straight back to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and in line by 9:15. Line was looped back up to the Jurassic Park gateway and there were no ropes out yet (Universal seems disorganized in this regard, pretty consistently).

Our wait time was 85 minutes. By the time we were off the ride, the wait time was 110 minutes, by 6pm it was down to 45. I wont bother riding until the evening again.

Olivanders was running 90 minutes wait in the morning, 30 at 6pm.

 

[quietgirll]

planning a trip may 13-22, trying to decide the best days to go to universal...it sounds like sunday would be the best to go to IOA- is that true? what about US? thanks for the help!

 

[rtphokie]

planning a trip may 13-22, trying to decide the best days to go to universal...it sounds like sunday would be the best to go to IOA- is that true? what about US? thanks for the help!

I've not been on a Sunday but based on what I've read, I'd avoid them.

 

[mesaboy2]

I've not been on a Sunday but based on what I've read, I'd avoid them.

I must disagree. Other than midweek, Sunday has been a terrific day to visit in my experience. In general, I recommend avoiding Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays if at all possible.

 

[clemsondisneyfan]

OK...I bought our tickets a month ago and bought the express passes for $19.99 each. They are up at the 39.99 mark now. Thanks Dissers!!

Now, the rest of my family does not like roller coasters . What ride should we concentrate on for getting to early or waiting until late in the day? We have never been before, so I have no idea what is the most popular ride!

I have a great map of the park that my DH printed on 11 x 17 paper so I can see everything and it lists all of the rides and descriptions too.

Should we go to HP and the FJ? Is that about all we can do in the Wizard World area if none of them will ride roller coasters??

We are going to be there next Monday. I have tickets to Universal on Sunday. We just want to see what all of the fuss is about before we spend the next week at WDW!

Thank you!!
3 nights at the Swan (alcove suite)
7 nights at the Contemporary (MKV, 14th floor tower)

 

[damo]

I've not been on a Sunday but based on what I've read, I'd avoid them.

We have the most reports coming back here that Sunday is the best day with the lowest crowds.

 

[julie1218]

I must disagree. Other than midweek, Sunday has been a terrific day to visit in my experience. In general, I recommend avoiding Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays if at all possible.

would sunday be better than a mid week day? better than a tuesday? or wednesday? seems like it would just have to be with most people visiting on weekends.

 

[mesaboy2]

Should we go to HP and the FJ? Is that about all we can do in the Wizard World area if none of them will ride roller coasters??

There are only three true attractions at WWoHP: FJ, Dragon Challenge, and Flight of the Hippogriff. DC is a true thrill coaster, FotH is a kiddie coaster, and FJ is a combination dark ride/simulator ride. Express helps on the coasters, but is not recognized on FJ. Use the single-rider and castle tour queues if the main queue is too long for you.

You should learn more about FJ if no one else in your party likes coasters, they may not like FJ. While not a coaster, I would classify it as a thrill ride and has the potential to make the queasy, um, more queasy.

Your other options at WWoHP are Ollivander's, a short and mildly-charming "show" that tends to rack up long waits, the lone sit-down restaurant Three Broomsticks, and 5-6 shops--which can also have waits during peak seasons.

 

[mesaboy2]

would sunday be better than a mid week day? better than a tuesday? or wednesday? seems like it would just have to be with most people visiting on weekends.

Can't give you a definite answer. I've been on a Thursday off-season, and Friday-Monday both off-season and on. The Thursday was of course great. The two or three times I've gone for a weekend, Sunday was usually noticeably less crowded. Not saying "not crowded", just "less crowded". . I'm a big believer in Sundays, but my first choice would probably still be midweek, especially in the off-season.

I would guess during peak seasons the difference between any of the days is minimal.

 

[klacey1]

I must disagree. Other than midweek, Sunday has been a terrific day to visit in my experience. In general, I recommend avoiding Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays if at all possible.

Why Mondays? I thought Sundays and Mondays were the lowest crowd days??
We're sticking with Monday-- the express pass is the lowest price on the day we want to go (8/29)

 

[julie1218]

Can't give you a definite answer. I've been on a Thursday off-season, and Friday-Monday both off-season and on. The Thursday was of course great. The two or three times I've gone for a weekend, Sunday was usually noticeably less crowded. Not saying "not crowded", just "less crowded". . I'm a big believer in Sundays, but my first choice would probably still be midweek, especially in the off-season.

I would guess during peak seasons the difference between any of the days is minimal.

we're there may 17. is that off season? before school is out and before memorial day week? i noticed the express pass price is green now--was blue a few weeks ago

 

[damo]

we're there may 17. is that off season? before school is out and before memorial day week? i noticed the express pass price is green now--was blue a few weeks ago

May 17 should be pretty good. Any time you get non-vacation days, the crowds will be lower.

 

[damo]

Why Mondays? I thought Sundays and Mondays were the lowest crowd days??
We're sticking with Monday-- the express pass is the lowest price on the day we want to go (8/29)

Mondays tend to be the first day in many people's vacation and they are gung ho to do the parks right away.

 

[mesaboy2]

May 17 should be pretty good. Any time you get non-vacation days, the crowds will be lower.

Agreed.

 

[mesaboy2]

Mondays tend to be the first day in many people's vacation and they are gung ho to do the parks right away.

Yep, Sunday-to-Sunday travel is what I've heard too. I don't roll this way, but it's not the first time I've discovered I'm unusual.

Thanks for the assist, damo!