Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[Metro West]

Returning to WWoHP in August but with two new visitors (one 13 year old but other 3 adults)...really flexible as to dates and want to do an afternoon and then whole next day in the park. What days of week do you recommend? First choice would be to fly in Monday and spend Monday and Tuesday in park...but think I read months ago that Wed is a better day? Any advice appreciated.

Tuesday or Wednesday should work fine for you. It will still be busy in early August but the crowds should be at their lowest midweek.

 

[dolphindan1]

Can anyone give me an Idea of what Mid-sept will look like as far as crowds go...I am Planning IOA on Thursday the 15th and US on that Saturday....or may do Wed and Thursday....Just not sure what to expect...I have been to Universal several times but not since HP has opened

 

[Kathymford]

Most posters have said early to mid-week have the lower crowds...

 

[macraven]

Can anyone give me an Idea of what Mid-sept will look like as far as crowds go...I am Planning IOA on Thursday the 15th and US on that Saturday....or may do Wed and Thursday....Just not sure what to expect...I have been to Universal several times but not since HP has opened

i have gone september 17 - 25 on one trip.
it was the lightest crowds i have experienced.

i always say go during the week.
best days for low crowds in the off season is tue- wed- thur.
mondays are also fairly good with low crowds.

parks close earlier in september.
but, you will not have issues with that as you can cover a lot during the day if you start at park opening time.
low crowds make it easier to do more.

be aware that the studio side has some attractions/rides that do not open when the park opens.
get the guide book when you enter the park to see the opening hours of some of those rides.

hit the wed and thurs days.
you mentioned that was one of the options.

do check the calendar to see if any special events will be held on those evenings.
sometimes when special events occur in the evening, the parks have more guests in them prior to their special event.

if you do the 15th and ioa on saturday, hit parry hotter first thing once you enter.
then go on your way through out the park.

do the parks during the day and when they close, hit city walk for a late meal.

 

[Kathymford]

Does anyone have any experience with operating hours in October? I've looked on their website, but they don't have anything posted yet. I am going on Oct 11th, which is the day after Columbus Day. Hopefully that's not substantial enough of a holiday to affect anything. Anyone have thoughts on this?

 

[macraven]

Does anyone have any experience with operating hours in October? I've looked on their website, but they don't have anything posted yet. I am going on Oct 11th, which is the day after Columbus Day. Hopefully that's not substantial enough of a holiday to affect anything. Anyone have thoughts on this?

i'll be there that date also.
i stay onsite and plan to get to the park for early opening.
i haven't had an issues with crowds on that day in the past 5 years.

but, with the addition of parry hotter, who knows if that will be an issue for crowds from the offsite tourists.

most peeps are leaving after the columbus day weekend that morning.

the park should close 6:00 for the studios.
ioa stays open an hour later.

the fall schedule is used during that time period.

 

[Minniegirl71]

Question for anyone who could help me. We are going to universal this July for a day or 2 and I was wondering which day would be better. July 14-15 or July 18-19. Any info would be appreciated. I havent been to universal since 1994. I am bringing my husband,DS-15 and DD-10. If that helps.
Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[Metro West]

Question for anyone who could help me. We are going to universal this July for a day or 2 and I was wondering which day would be better. July 14-15 or July 18-19. Any info would be appreciated. I havent been to universal since 1994. I am bringing my husband,DS-15 and DD-10. If that helps.
Thanks for any help you can offer.

I think the new HP movie is coming out on 7/15 so you should avoid IOA like the plague. I would wait and visit on either 7/18 or 7/19.

 

[MrShiny]

And LeakyCon (HP Convention) is at Universal July 13-17, so I'd go with 18-19.

 

[macraven]

And LeakyCon (HP Convention) is at Universal July 13-17, so I'd go with 18-19.

but the special hotel rates for leakycon is valid thru the 20th.

that could make a difference on the crowd level at parry hotter section for the few days after the convention ends.

just a thought..

 

[Minniegirl71]

Thanks!

 

[gopherit]

We were at US/IOA from June 7-10. We didn't bother doing IOA since we were checking in from Disney to RPH at about 12 pm on the first day - so we just spent our time over at US and basically did everything we wanted to do there 3 times over, LOL, grabbed dinner @ NBA, watched some of the playoff and crashed in the hotel. NExt day, we couldn't seem to get our rears in gear and were over at the IOA gates at about 8:15. Ugh. Got through turnstiles and just as we are about mid-way to HP world, dash it all - they let EVERYONE through. SO much for 1 hr early entry! Half hour at best that day. And those folks were ready and RUNNING... right past us! Wild stuff, man, just wild....their black robes wafting behind them, blowing us away... Not even a well-performed patronum was gonna deter that crowd. So we kept on plodding along and got to HP world and the line for FJ was already at 45 min. LIne for Olivander's was long but figured eh, let's get er done. Did that - and agree that it's good for 1 time only and a bit over-hyped. Kids did Dueling Dragons w/ their dad, I took little man to FoH, and we left HP world. At that time - FJ line posted was 120 min. That's just crazy talk... and yet, I saw lemmings joining the line. No way, sez I. So we left to ride all the other stuff IOA has to offer. After touring park, getting sopping wet, and then changing clothes, we went back to Pottersville around 3 pm. Wait time was posted at 30 min, so we went for it. Trouble was - ride kept having tech difficulties, so our 30 min wait turned into 40...50...60... We were doing child swap, and we FINALLY reached the child swap "room" at 4:30. UGh. It was quite full, and frankly, while I appreciate the TV screen and seating, it was too crowded to enjoy. PLus - a few eager-beaver parents were all huddled at the half-door, so it started to feel a bit claustrophobic and "dungeonish" in there after just a few minutes! Fortunately - it wasn't long before my DH and older gopher pups returned, and it was oh so nice that they let my three elders ride again with me - sort of took the sting out of a 1.5 hr wait for them. After that, we did the roller coasters again (FoH for litte guy and me, dragons for elders, and left HP world. After dinner at Mythos, we went back to HP at about 6:45pm. Ahhhh, much better. THe streets were no longer body-pressed-to-body, and wait for FJ was posted at 30 min. We did single-rider and rode 3 times, no sweat, no wait. The butterbeer lines, however, remained long - 10--12 deep. Ironically, however - 3 Broomsticks was practically empty. We walked right in, got our drinks, sat down, and even as we left - the lines continued to be dauntingly long at the carts... even as they SAW us exit 3 broomsticks, cups in hand! Amazing.

We tried the early entry 2 more times that week - (getting there far earlier) and also came back in the evening the next day. So with 2 full days, 2 half-days of park-hopping, I believe my kids logged around 12-15 turns on FJ, in addition to multiple rides on all the other rides in the park. Frankly - I wouldn't bother with the early entry. We did as much - no, make that more - in the evenings as we ever did in the morning - with no running! And we could have slept in!

 

[yulilin3]

Yesterday, Sunday June 19th.
We were at the turnstiles at 7:30 for 8am opening. They opened the gates at 7:50am. Went to Hulkm rode twice, Spiderman once, did all of the rides on Seuss Landing. Walked over to WWOHP, got there around 9:20am. Forbbiden Journey was 15min. Ollivander's liune was all the way to where they do the Frog Chorus show
Did FJ, kids went on Dragon's Challenge (5min) walked around, bought some stuff. Got reservations for Mythos for 11:30am (I love this restaurant) got out at 12:45pm, did Poseidon's Fury, Jurassic Park, kids played at the water area for 2 hours. Went back to WWOHP around 4:30pm, FJ was 30min. DC still 5min did Ollivanders with a 15 min, wait, twice (my DD wanted to get picked but both times the Wand Master picked adults). did FJ one more time (20min) started heading out, everything else was 5min. around 6pm

 

[TXMemaw]

We were there this past Friday, June 17th. Arrived around 4:30 pm, headed over to IOA and had dinner at Mythos. It was getting very dark and windy outside as we finished up eating but we decided to go ahead and venture over to WWOHP. Got there just as the rain started and then the skies opened up for about 20 minutes or so. We waited (along with everyone else who didn't want to get soaked) in the Owlery (the porch outside Dervish and Banges) and when the rain slowed down, we headed straight over to FJ. The posted wait time was 30 minutes but we were on the ride in less than 20. When we came out, the posted wait time was only 10 minutes. This was around 6:45 or so. Much different from our previous trips there! I do think that the rain made an impact but then again, it was also raining the last two times we were there (October and March) and the lines on both those trips were close to over an hour long for FJ. I'm sure things will be picking back up in a few weeks when the new movie is released. I did notice that the line for the wand shop was shorter than anytime I've seen it over the last year, but I guess there were those crazy people who waited in the rain (they were SOAKED when we went past) so as not to lose their spots!!!

 

[spreadingpixiedust]

sorry if this has been asked before....

We will be staying at WDW Grand Floridian Nov 14-19. We are planning to go to Universal (both parks) on Thur the 17th. (Have never been there and are MAJOR HP fans)

Will the crowds be low like they are projected to be at Disney? Also, with a party of six (adults) would a limo or other private transportation be best? What would everyone recommend?

Thank you for your help!

 

[goofyredraider]

Hi,
I am planning our first Disney trip and one day at IOA for my HP & Marvel-obsessed crew. Unfortunately, we will be in Orlando from July 11 (arrival) - July 18. I know Leaky Con is going on (thanks to this forum) from the 13-17. Our options for IOA were July 13 or 15, and I figured the 13th would be the best bet because of the movie coming out at midnight on the 15th. I thought the park would be insane then. Did I choose the right day for our itinerary in your opinion?

Also, I am trying to figure out what would be best. Should we do WWoHP first, or save it for the evening? I don't think I could forgive myself if my daughter (9- avid reader and HP fan) missed it altogether...so I'm trying to figure out if we should knock it out first, or save it for later in the evening.
Thanks for any advice you could provide!

 

[mesaboy2]

sorry if this has been asked before....

We will be staying at WDW Grand Floridian Nov 14-19. We are planning to go to Universal (both parks) on Thur the 17th. (Have never been there and are MAJOR HP fans)

Will the crowds be low like they are projected to be at Disney? Also, with a party of six (adults) would a limo or other private transportation be best? What would everyone recommend?

Thank you for your help!

Should be.

Don't know the answers to the rest of your questions, sorry.

 

[mesaboy2]

Hi,
I am planning our first Disney trip and one day at IOA for my HP & Marvel-obsessed crew. Unfortunately, we will be in Orlando from July 11 (arrival) - July 18. I know Leaky Con is going on (thanks to this forum) from the 13-17. Our options for IOA were July 13 or 15, and I figured the 13th would be the best bet because of the movie coming out at midnight on the 15th. I thought the park would be insane then. Did I choose the right day for our itinerary in your opinion?

Based on those choices, yes. Also, any Wednesday should be less crazy than Friday, even in the middle of peak season.

Also, I am trying to figure out what would be best. Should we do WWoHP first, or save it for the evening? I don't think I could forgive myself if my daughter (9- avid reader and HP fan) missed it altogether...so I'm trying to figure out if we should knock it out first, or save it for later in the evening.
Thanks for any advice you could provide!

Early morning and near close are the best times to go crowd-wise for sure. There are pros and cons to each:

- Evening has a great atmosphere and cool lighting, but you're setting yourself up for a limited time in the area. Also no guarantee you could walk right in without having to wait.

- Morning assures you all the time you need, but it will be hot already and the crowds will be large. Still better than midday though.

I can't make the decision for you. Good luck and have fun whatever you decide!

 

[MoonFaerie]

Do you all think Thurs Dec 16 will be early enough to beat the holiday crowds? We can't fit IOA in any early because we're doing the platinum plan at Disney at the beginning of our trip. We won't be on site for early entry or anything.

 

[mesaboy2]

Do you all think Thurs Dec 16 will be early enough to beat the holiday crowds? We can't fit IOA in any early because we're doing the platinum plan at Disney at the beginning of our trip. We won't be on site for early entry or anything.

Yeah, you're probably okay.