Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[LMO429]

Curious how the crowds are with leakycon going on..im sure its packed.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Curious how the crowds are with leakycon going on..im sure its packed.

Wasn't in Potter land today, but Monday and Tuesday weren't terrible. 60-90 minute waits for FJ.

 

[rtfelt]

imagine how we feel coming from england then

Yes, that would be worse. I've never been to England but understand it rarely gets warm there. Too bad

Going to be there on the same day!!! Hoping for the best. I have the same issue with early entry, but I am still going to try to hit WWoHP first. We shall see how that works out.

Well I guess we'll see which works better. I hope you post your experience after, and I'll post too to see which worked out better for the benefit of others. If you have an internet based phone maybe you could post your experience as it's happening. If the lines are non-existent that would be nice to know. I'll post our experience in real time.

I told my kids the "plan" and especially my 16 year old daughter was VERY concerned about not being able to have enough time at HP. I assured her that if it didn't work, we had 2 other days to see everything. That made her feel better

 

[Lwoodward911]

We will be in visiting Harry Potter on Sept 29th. It is a Thursday. We are really only going for Harry potter experience, anything else will be a bonus. What can I expect of crowds in late Sept and on a Thursday? Do we go first thing in am, or do a half day and go later around 4?
Thanks for any thoughts!
Lauren

 

[macraven]

ioa will close at 7, the studios at 5 on sept 29th.

go early for the parry hotter section of ioa.

if there are crowds, you will be missing them hopefully.


you should be fine for the other rides, shows, events in the rest of ioa and the studios.

wait, you only asked about parry hotter.

go early.
if you asre staying onsite or have an offsite package, be at the gate at 7:45.
you will be let in by 8.

if you are offsite and not in a package by universal, still go early for car parking.

be at the gate around 8:15.
you won't be the first in line but will be ahead of many others that come in around 8:30.

there have been days where the tm's allow the second wave of guests to enter prior to 9.
even if it is 10 minute earlier than posted opening hours, you still gain some ground on those that will come in later in the morning.

do all you want when you reach mr hotter land.
if ollivander's is a must, do that first.

the line only gets longer throughout the day.
ollivanders closes before that section closes for the day.

if you get tired and want to see other sections of the park, do so after lunch.
return when ever you want.

from reading reports on trip threads, i noticed that the last 90 minutes of the park hours, have less lines.

some say go at 7, others say they returned at 4 and ate at 3 broomsticks, then enjoyed the castle tour and fj ride.

i think you will be fine.

once you are there and see what crowds are present, you can pretty well judge the time frame of when to return.


drink butterbeer.
it makes you happy...

 

[mesaboy2]

Holy cow, I was just gonna say Thursday September 29 should be sweet. Crowds should be pretty low.

 

[Lwoodward911]

Oh my goodness, thank you so much that is awesome info!!! Much more than I had hoped for. I will plan to be there early--we are staying at Windsor Hills and be driving over. Are there any special "fast pass" type things for HP. Will I need them in Sept?
Lauren

 

[LMO429]

Holy cow, I was just gonna say Thursday September 29 should be sweet. Crowds should be pretty low.

we went last year oct 2nd couple days after u intend on going..and it was dead we walked right on forbidden journey...get there early n ride more than once enjoy

 

[mesaboy2]

Oh my goodness, thank you so much that is awesome info!!! Much more than I had hoped for. I will plan to be there early--we are staying at Windsor Hills and be driving over. Are there any special "fast pass" type things for HP. Will I need them in Sept?
Lauren

I don't think you'll need them.

 

[llnolte]

Okay, I know it is a Saturday but it is the only day we have (doing a Disney cruise on 10/16). We are staying on-site Friday night specifically so that we can have early access in the morning and will go straight back to WWoHP. Once we have had our fill of Harry Potter, we plan to do IoA for a while and then will head out about 5pm. I am seeing threads about HHN and "hell week". Is this going to be a totally awful day to be at the park with crowds and lines? I know that we will be able to bypass most lines with our hotel card (except on FJ) so I am hoping that this will make a huge difference in our time and justify the price of our room. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[mesaboy2]

Okay, I know it is a Saturday but it is the only day we have (doing a Disney cruise on 10/16). We are staying on-site Friday night specifically so that we can have early access in the morning and will go straight back to WWoHP. Once we have had our fill of Harry Potter, we plan to do IoA for a while and then will head out about 5pm. I am seeing threads about HHN and "hell week". Is this going to be a totally awful day to be at the park with crowds and lines? I know that we will be able to bypass most lines with our hotel card (except on FJ) so I am hoping that this will make a huge difference in our time and justify the price of our room. Thanks in advance for any advice.

HHN takes place only at the Studios, not IoA. If you are taking advantage of early entry and your unlimited Express pass from staying onsite, I think you'll be fine at IoA that day. I don't recall what "hell week" is, but I bet you'll still be fine.

 

[macraven]

Oh my goodness, thank you so much that is awesome info!!! Much more than I had hoped for. I will plan to be there early--we are staying at Windsor Hills and be driving over. Are there any special "fast pass" type things for HP. Will I need them in Sept?
Lauren

the express pass plus is available to any guest in the park.
you are allowed a one time only ride/show using that epp.

do not buy it until you are in the park.
it can be purchased at the major merch store or at guest services.

if you buy it and it rains, or there are low crowds, you can not get a refund.
it is date required when you purchase it.

you might not even need it.

FJ does not have an express line.
same with PFlyers in IOA.

go early and do potter, you will be fine.

Okay, I know it is a Saturday but it is the only day we have (doing a Disney cruise on 10/16). We are staying on-site Friday night specifically so that we can have early access in the morning and will go straight back to WWoHP. Once we have had our fill of Harry Potter, we plan to do IoA for a while and then will head out about 5pm. I am seeing threads about HHN and "hell week". Is this going to be a totally awful day to be at the park with crowds and lines? I know that we will be able to bypass most lines with our hotel card (except on FJ) so I am hoping that this will make a huge difference in our time and justify the price of our room. Thanks in advance for any advice.

hell week will begin after you have left.
you can do parry hotter easily in the day you are going to ioa.

have you booked your room for friday night, oct 14 yet?

go early, use the express lines.
as like other places, saturdays has the most crowds.

HHN takes place only at the Studios, not IoA. If you are taking advantage of early entry and your unlimited Express pass from staying onsite, I think you'll be fine at IoA that day. I don't recall what "hell week" is, but I bet you'll still be fine.

that week leading up to the 16th, is not hell week.
thursday oct 19th and 26th will be open.
that's the only two hell weeks this year.

 

[mesaboy2]

that week leading up to the 16th, is not hell week.
thursday oct 19th and 26th will be open.
that's the only two hell weeks this year.

so "hell week" at Universal relates to HHN, then?

 

[klacey1]

Contemplating booking a night at Royal Pacific to get early entry/FOTL in late August. We'd get there last August 27th (Saturday) and use the FOTL all day Sunday, August 28th. Is it worth it? How should the crowds be? This would be an extra $275ish for us between the hotel/one way cab ride. (already planning on purchasing park tickets with Mears shuttle-- we'd take a cab over Saturday night from POR and the shuttle back Sunday night)

 

[macraven]

so "hell week" at Universal relates to HHN, then?

hell week at universal is when the schools have their fall breaks.
they go in groups to hhn.
meaning, they take up the entire walking space or stop dead in their tracks to talk, or scream

if the teens can get out of bed early enough, they tend to hit parks.
universal and some do disney.

wednesday would be the first day of school break.


i have only encountered hell week one time.
one time was enough for me.


they act like i did when at that age.

 

[macraven]

Contemplating booking a night at Royal Pacific to get early entry/FOTL in late August. We'd get there last August 27th (Saturday) and use the FOTL all day Sunday, August 28th. Is it worth it? How should the crowds be? This would be an extra $275ish for us between the hotel/one way cab ride. (already planning on purchasing park tickets with Mears shuttle-- we'd take a cab over Saturday night from POR and the shuttle back Sunday night)

royal pacific has a relaxing atmosphere to it.
the end of august is a good time to go.

the hours of operation are cut back from the summer ones.
crowds won't be an issue for you.

sunday should be a good day to be there.

with you staying on site, you will receive unlimited express line usage.
on sunday be at the gate early.
be there 20 minutes before park opening.
you will beat the other hotel guests to the back of the park for parry hotter then.
that extra hour before the general public is allowed into the park will allow you to cover and ride A LOT..

if you enjoy your stay at the hotel and want to do more in the parks, upgrade our tickets to a 2 day at guest services before you leave the park on sunday.

when you check out of the hotel on monday, you have the perks of express line usage until the park closes that day.
but, you would have to have the park ticket to enter.
you could do the early entry for hotel guest again and repeat things at ioa.
then leave on the shuttle back to disney.

if you don't have plans on saturday evening at rph, think about doing the luau.
i like it better there than the one at the poly.
you need to register for it thru the hotel prior.
it does sell out.

it is only available on saturday nights at rph.

if you take the mears shuttle, it is $19 per person.
you don't have to use both transfers on the same day.
you can break it up.

you can't take luggage on the shuttle for staying the night at rph but you can take a b.i.g purse or backpack with you for your clothing.

the $38 for the transportation is much cheaper than a taxi.
(for some reason i am assuming it is just 2 in your group.)

 

[klacey1]

royal pacific has a relaxing atmosphere to it.
the end of august is a good time to go.

the hours of operation are cut back from the summer ones.
crowds won't be an issue for you.

sunday should be a good day to be there.

with you staying on site, you will receive unlimited express line usage.
on sunday be at the gate early.
be there 20 minutes before park opening.
you will beat the other hotel guests to the back of the park for parry hotter then.
that extra hour before the general public is allowed into the park will allow you to cover and ride A LOT..

if you enjoy your stay at the hotel and want to do more in the parks, upgrade our tickets to a 2 day at guest services before you leave the park on sunday.

when you check out of the hotel on monday, you have the perks of express line usage until the park closes that day.
but, you would have to have the park ticket to enter.
you could do the early entry for hotel guest again and repeat things at ioa.
then leave on the shuttle back to disney.

if you don't have plans on saturday evening at rph, think about doing the luau.
i like it better there than the one at the poly.
you need to register for it thru the hotel prior.
it does sell out.

it is only available on saturday nights at rph.

if you take the mears shuttle, it is $19 per person.
you don't have to use both transfers on the same day.
you can break it up.

you can't take luggage on the shuttle for staying the night at rph but you can take a b.i.g purse or backpack with you for your clothing.

the $38 for the transportation is much cheaper than a taxi.
(for some reason i am assuming it is just 2 in your group.)

THanks for the information! We'd only stay Saturday night and check out Sunday morning, returning to Disney Sunday night. Would Mears shuttle us to IOA/US on Saturday night?? I just assumed we'd take a cab. Also-- thanks for the advice re: not letting us have luggage on the shuttle when returning to Disney on Sunday night. Do you think they would balk at a small duffel? I could claim it had bathing suits/change of clothes to do the water rides....we wouldn't have a suitcase or anything. And yes, it is just the two of us.

 

[macraven]

THanks for the information! We'd only stay Saturday night and check out Sunday morning, returning to Disney Sunday night. Would Mears shuttle us to IOA/US on Saturday night?? I just assumed we'd take a cab. Also-- thanks for the advice re: not letting us have luggage on the shuttle when returning to Disney on Sunday night. Do you think they would balk at a small duffel? I could claim it had bathing suits/change of clothes to do the water rides....we wouldn't have a suitcase or anything. And yes, it is just the two of us.

i don't know about a small duffel. i have heard back packs are fine.
i think you should send them an email, it's on their website, and inquire.

since mears has to return for the pick up guests at uo to bring them back to disney, so i would think it would not be an issue to go in the late afternoon to UO.

cabs are always the easiest way to travel.
you pick your time, you can take anything you want with you using them.

they would cost more.
mears is cheaper but it does take longer.
they do stops at other disney resorts coming and going.

you have to ask yourself, which is more important?
going cheap or going at your pace and needs.


if it was me, and i go solo, i would do a cab.
i say that because time is my factor.
i could control the situation on being somewhere when i wanted it and be dropped off in front of the UO hotel.

 

[BAFFY]

Hello There;

We are taking a cruise our of Port Canavrel on November 13th.
Prior to that we will be In Disney/Universal Arriving on the 9th.

I have 3 options I am thinking about and would appreciate everyones input.

Option 1 Take shuttle to Hard Rock November 9th, Relax
November 10th do IoA and US taking advantage of the FOTL pass.
and take a shuttle or taxi to our Hotel in Disney on the 10th in the evening after the park closes.

Do MK /EP /HS on the November 11th and 12th.

Option 2 Take shuttle to hotel in Disney stay there and just take a shuttle to and from Disney to US and IoA fo the day but then we do not get to take advantage of the FOTL pass. (Do we need this in November 10th - 12th?)

Option 2 Stay in Disney for the 1st 2 night and Universal fo the last 2 nights seeing IoA and US on the 12th. and Disney on the 10 and 11th.

There are 4 of us in all. Me my Husband and 16 year old twins that are HP fans.

I really appreciate any and all opinions!

 

[macraven]

Hello There;

We are taking a cruise our of Port Canavrel on November 13th.
Prior to that we will be In Disney/Universal Arriving on the 9th.

I have 3 options I am thinking about and would appreciate everyones input.

Option 1 Take shuttle to Hard Rock November 9th, Relax
November 10th do IoA and US taking advantage of the FOTL pass.
and take a shuttle or taxi to our Hotel in Disney on the 10th in the evening after the park closes.

i like this option.
you will be in the parks during the week and have low crowds.
you will get the perk of usage of the express lines due to being an onsite hotel guest.
it also includes the perk of express line usage on the day you check out until the park closes.

you will be able to relax and enjoy the hrh will what it has to offer.
you'll like it, especially the teens.

you can book the round trip mears for $19 per person.
use it for going to uo on the 9th and for the return on the 10th .
you can split up the dates for mears service.


the down side to it is the cost.
fares are: $19 per person round trip.
i don't know if the 16 yo would get the children's fare of $15 or the adult fare.
based on 4 adult fares, it would be $76. tips are optional.
but, you can not take suitcases with you on that shuttle.
maybe you can take a back pack each for your clothes and necessities.
you would be picked up at your disney resort but dropped off at the universal drop off center, not at the UO hotel.

taxi can run $35 if you go in the off hours.
cost varies as it is based on time in the cab and mileage.
you can take luggage with you in a taxi/cab






Do MK /EP /HS on the November 11th and 12th.



Option 2 Take shuttle to hotel in Disney stay there and just take a shuttle to and from Disney to US and IoA fo the day but then we do not get to take advantage of the FOTL pass. (Do we need this in November 10th - 12th?)


like any park, saturdays have more crowds. universal is no exception. if you have not been to UO before, you might enjoy it more by doing two days and not just the one day.


Option 2 Stay in Disney for the 1st 2 night and Universal fo the last 2 nights seeing IoA and US on the 12th. and Disney on the 10 and 11th.

another good option to consider.
even though you will be at universal on a friday and satuday, you will very little line wait with the free unlimited express pass perk.

have the cab pick you up early from disney.
check into the hotel and you will all be issued hotel key cards.
you can then use the early entry for onsite hotel guests for the parry hotter section.
early entry for november should be at 8:00 am.

check in to the hotel at 7-7:15 and go to the park for EE.
you do qualify for it.

saturday, go early for the EE to see potter.

There are 4 of us in all. Me my Husband and 16 year old twins that are HP fans.

I really appreciate any and all opinions!

first things first.......

and tanx for making us your first time post.
hope you enjoy universal...

i listed my thoughts above in red.

attendance is usually down in the first half of november.
i wouldn't worry about crowds.

staying on site would make this adventure awesome.
you won't have to rush and can do city walk once the parks close.
you won't have far to go when you decide to leave for your hotel.

there are many ways to do this trip from disney to universal.
there will be other homies that will give suggestions also.

we all do universal a different way.
i do believe that if you make it two separate vacations, you will get the best of two worlds.
stay first at disney, end the vacation with the two nights at hrh.