Harry Potter Crowd Report Thread...

[phamton]

Normally the crowds start thinning out but this weekend is Rock the Universe and many of the people go to IOA during the day of the event, even though RTU is at Universal Studios that evening. I suspect it might be busier that usual tomorrow.

 

[justbishop]

Blehhhhh, poop. We are planning on focusing on WWOHP for the entire day. If we did nothing else, is it likely that we will get all of it done?

 

[phamton]

You should be able to do all of WWoHP and probably most of IOA. But I would plan on getting there at opening. The crowds usually start to build by the afternoon for RTU.

 

[Disneybound!!]

Thanks OrcaPotter!

 

[skylock]

I was just at Universal Mon-Thur this week.

Got to the parks around 10am each day. Got to Harry Potter Land around 12 Wed and Thur. Rode the harry ride 4 times, 1 time in the reg line and 3 in single rider line in about 1 hour.

Reg line about 20 min wait, single rider line as fast as you can walk.

Ate at 3 broom sticks around 1pm with absolutely no wait. Straight to the registers, got my food and was shown to a table. The food was pretty good.

Most everything had a 5-10 min wait. Rode everything multiple times.

 

[LetsGoSteelers]

We are planning on going to Universal WWOHP on either Sun Or Mon, Oct 2 or 3.

We are Mom, Dad, Daughters 13 & 7. Any recommendations on things to do? Will we have time to do anything other than Harry Potter stuff?

Only planning to do one day...need to look again at what is in that park vs the other Universal park. Should we buy the Express pass option?

thanks!

 

[justbishop]

We are planning on going to Universal WWOHP on either Sun Or Mon, Oct 2 or 3.

We are Mom, Dad, Daughters 13 & 7. Any recommendations on things to do? Will we have time to do anything other than Harry Potter stuff?

Only planning to do one day...need to look again at what is in that park vs the other Universal park. Should we buy the Express pass option?

thanks!

We were there today. Got there before opening. WWOHP is smaller than we thought it would be. Did FJ shortly after we arrived, long walk through the empty parts of the queue, but almost no wait. Did both of the dragon coasters with about a 5 minute wait, one late morning, the other right before close. Did Ollivander's in late morning, and waited a good 30 minutes to get in the room. Line at 3 Broomsticks for lunch was long, so we ate in Jurrasic Park instead.

All in all, not too bad, but WWOHP seemed much more crowded with people milling around than other areas of IOA.

WWOHP is definitely not big enough to keep you busy all day long, unless you just wanted to ride the stuff there over and over and over. It was crowded today, and we spent maybe half the day there, between the time we did in the morning and going back right before closing.

 

[bouncycat]

I can't wait!!! One more week and we'll be at IOA With my seeeeeester!! She's a huge HP fan, but doesn't like crowds. I've been filling her in with the reports from here, so hopfully us going on a monday it will be very low crowds. We're going the 19th.

 

[Metro West]

I can't wait!!! One more week and we'll be at IOA With my seeeeeester!! She's a huge HP fan, but doesn't like crowds. I've been filling her in with the reports from here, so hopfully us going on a monday it will be very low crowds. We're going the 19th.

Well hey there stranger! Glad to see you posting over here!

 

[bouncycat]

Well hey there stranger! Glad to see you posting over here!

Yep!!! We got a IOA day coming up.....so I'm here!!! My sister is freaked about crowds, and we'll have like 4 wheelchairs in our group, so just feeling things out to make her a little more comfortable!!!

 

[Metro West]

Yep!!! We got a IOA day coming up.....so I'm here!!! My sister is freaked about crowds, and we'll have like 4 wheelchairs in our group, so just feeling things out to make her a little more comfortable!!!

If you ever want to do a DIS meet at Universal, let me know and we'll see what we can arrange.

It would have to be on a weekend though.

 

[bouncycat]

If you ever want to do a DIS meet at Universal, let me know and we'll see what we can arrange.

It would have to be on a weekend though.

Maybe one of these days. My aunt is getting us all one day one park tickets, and there's like 10 of us going that monday. I don't think I'd be that mean to put you thru my family!!

 

[LetsGoSteelers]

We were there today. Got there before opening. WWOHP is smaller than we thought it would be. Did FJ shortly after we arrived, long walk through the empty parts of the queue, but almost no wait. Did both of the dragon coasters with about a 5 minute wait, one late morning, the other right before close. Did Ollivander's in late morning, and waited a good 30 minutes to get in the room. Line at 3 Broomsticks for lunch was long, so we ate in Jurrasic Park instead.

All in all, not too bad, but WWOHP seemed much more crowded with people milling around than other areas of IOA.

WWOHP is definitely not big enough to keep you busy all day long, unless you just wanted to ride the stuff there over and over and over. It was crowded today, and we spent maybe half the day there, between the time we did in the morning and going back right before closing.

Are there any rides/attractions the 7 year old won't be able to do?

Any other recommendations for the rest of the park?

tks!

 

[macraven]

check the website for the height requirements.

it will be listed.

(i don't know how tall your son is)

 

[MissMagnolia]

So, we were planning one day for both US/IOA with a mandatory WWOHP as part of it. We are rethinking timing...wondering about opinions as spending some time at HP is critical. I want to make sure we can go on the ride a couple of times and really get to look around the shops.

We are staying at WDW and were going to buy the one-day, two-park tickets with the Mears transportation option. If we buy a two-day, two-park ticket I am not sure the Mears option is there. May need to rent a car for a few of the days to make it the most economical. Here is our plan...what do you think? We want to hit all the rides at both parks and then take in the shows if possible. We will be there in January.

1/8 Sunday:
Arrive late morning. Go to MK (late EMH day)
1/9 Monday:
Original plan was to go to DHS all day and they have late EMH. If we do a two-day US/IOA we may go to US/IOA in the morning, and then go to DHS in the late afternoon/early evening. DHS is open until 10:00 and we have a 6:00 ADR at the Yacht Club. OPINIONS?
1/10 Tuesday:
Epcot day
1/11 Wednesday:
US/IOA all day (that was the original plan and the only day we were going...should we add the Monday 1/2-3/4 day?)
1/12 Thursday:
MK day (am EMH)
1/13 Friday:
DHS all day
1/14 Saturday:
Animal Kingdom day
1/15 Sunday:
Leave for home

What do you all think that do both WDW and US/IOA? This will be our first adventure outside of "The World" .

 

[OrcaPotter]

So, we were planning one day for both US/IOA with a mandatory WWOHP as part of it. We are rethinking timing...wondering about opinions as spending some time at HP is critical. I want to make sure we can go on the ride a couple of times and really get to look around the shops.

We are staying at WDW and were going to buy the one-day, two-park tickets with the Mears transportation option. If we buy a two-day, two-park ticket I am not sure the Mears option is there. May need to rent a car for a few of the days to make it the most economical. Here is our plan...what do you think? We want to hit all the rides at both parks and then take in the shows if possible. We will be there in January.

What do you all think that do both WDW and US/IOA? This will be our first adventure outside of "The World" .

At that point in January, the crowds will probably be at their lowest. Most of the holiday crowds will have gone home and locals will be recouping from holiday spending. Since you are only allocating one day for Universal, and on a Wednesday to boot, you should have no problems seeing everything in WWoHP. If you wanted to see all of Universal Orlando, then you would want to do two days. Honestly, the price difference between a 2-park, 1 day ticket and a 1-park, 1 day ticket may make the difference for you--just grab a taxi or rent a car. Universal is not open as long as Disney, especially in the off season, so unless the crowds are super low, you may feel rushed if you want to see the best of both parks in one day.

Personally, if crowds are low enough to make entering the shops and getting on the rides easy ... you could "see it all" in that area in under 2 or 3 hours. The shops are small, so browsing won't take you long (if you're not also fighting hoards of people to look at a shelf). Plan a meal for the Three Broomsticks ... try to go early or late around lunch time.

 

[eculmone]

So, we were planning one day for both US/IOA with a mandatory WWOHP as part of it. We are rethinking timing...wondering about opinions as spending some time at HP is critical.

We are staying at WDW and were going to buy the one-day, two-park tickets with the Mears transportation option.

1/8 Sunday:
Arrive late morning. Go to MK (late EMH day)
1/9 Monday:
Original plan was to go to DHS all day and they have late EMH. If we do a two-day US/IOA we may go to US/IOA in the morning, and then go to DHS in the late afternoon/early evening. DHS is open until 10:00 and we have a 6:00 ADR at the Yacht Club. OPINIONS?
1/10 Tuesday:
Epcot day
1/11 Wednesday:
US/IOA all day (that was the original plan and the only day we were going...should we add the Monday 1/2-3/4 day?)
1/12 Thursday:
MK day (am EMH)
1/13 Friday:
DHS all day
1/14 Saturday:
Animal Kingdom day
1/15 Sunday:
Leave for home

What do you all think that do both WDW and US/IOA? This will be our first adventure outside of "The World" .

Can I come?

 

[1rbrown1212]

Wanted to know what the crowds would be like during the week following Christmas. I know the crowds at Disney are the largest of the year, but have also heard that the crowd levels at Universal are down comparatively speaking. Just wondering if anyone had any info/advice on this? Want to experience Grinchmas and HP. Were there for the grand opening and didn't get to experience the shops. Should this be a problem again? Doing a 1 day ticket for IOA only. Thanks for the replies.

 

[mesaboy2]

Wanted to know what the crowds would be like during the week following Christmas. I know the crowds at Disney are the largest of the year, but have also heard that the crowd levels at Universal are down comparatively speaking. Just wondering if anyone had any info/advice on this? Want to experience Grinchmas and HP. Were there for the grand opening and didn't get to experience the shops. Should this be a problem again? Doing a 1 day ticket for IOA only. Thanks for the replies.

I've only ever heard that Universal crowds are crazy busy that week also.

 

[macraven]

mesa and i think alike.

from christmas to new years day, universal is busy and crowded.......