Harry Potter on our Disney vacation. Best plans?

[shmoogrrrl]

Hello!

We are taking a trip to Disney World in late August of this year. We will be arriving on a Saturday, and leaving on the following Saturday. As part of this trip, we would like to take a trip to see Harry Potter at Universal. I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and my eight year old daughter just finished reading all the books by herself in time to see the last movie (I wouldn't let her watch the movies until she read the books). She talks about going to HP World all the time.

Having said all of that, I am trying to figure out the best and least disruptive way for us to visit Harry Potter. Is it an all day thing, or could it be done in a shorter time? We wouldn't want to rush though it, but on the other hand, given my kids ages (9 and 2 when we travel) and interests, it looks like the only other part of IOA that we might like to check out is the Dr. Seuss area.

Are we better off allotting the entire day for IOA? I was thinking that if it wouldn't be a full day activity, maybe we could leave Disney on Saturday early, head to IOA, and leave to start heading home around 4-5 PM that night. Is that doable, or will we be too rushed?

Also, the most important questions of the year........

1. Does butterbeer taste as good as I hope it does?
2. Can you get Pumpkin juice, and is it really made with pumpkin?
3. Will I be able to get my kids Harry Potter themed shirts? Even the two year old?

 

[Tink2Day]

Part of it depends on the crowds.
We went early and did a lot of stuff by the 6 pm closing, BUT it wasn't that crowded.

There are some cute things in Toon Lagoon (they have fountains that kids can play in, August would be warm enough to play in them)and Camp Jurassic.
It's just so hard to tell as so much depends on how crowded it will be.

I liked the Butterbeer, especially the foamy stuff. It's sweet but you get caught up in being THERE so that makes it taste better. I made some that tastes very similar and put it in my souvenir Butterbeer mug.

Pumpkin juice, I bought the cute bottle with the pumpkin on top and brought it home as a souvenir. The contents (off of the bottle) in part, Apple juice, pumpkin puree and apricot puree.
It is still sitting here on my souvenir shelf.

I think they have youth sized shirts. Nothing for a toddler but I didn't look that closely. They are over $20 so a larger one might not be amiss especially if you have a shrinking machine.

Lastly, as a former elementary school teacher, KUDOS to your daughter who has read some relatively challenging books at a young age!

 

[Tink2Day]

Whoa did you change your sig pics that quick?


Adorable children by the way!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Whoa did you change your sig pics that quick?


Adorable children by the way!

Hahahaha! I was actually in the process of changing it as I posted the thread. Multitasking.

Thanks!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Part of it depends on the crowds.
We went early and did a lot of stuff by the 6 pm closing, BUT it wasn't that crowded.

There are some cute things in Toon Lagoon (they have fountains that kids can play in, August would be warm enough to play in them)and Camp Jurassic.
It's just so hard to tell as so much depends on how crowded it will be.

I liked the Butterbeer, especially the foamy stuff. It's sweet but you get caught up in being THERE so that makes it taste better. I made some that tastes very similar and put it in my souvenir Butterbeer mug.

Pumpkin juice, I bought the cute bottle with the pumpkin on top and brought it home as a souvenir. The contents (off of the bottle) in part, Apple juice, pumpkin puree and apricot puree.
It is still sitting here on my souvenir shelf.

I think they have youth sized shirts. Nothing for a toddler but I didn't look that closely. They are over $20 so a larger one might not be amiss especially if you have a shrinking machine.

Lastly, as a former elementary school teacher, KUDOS to your daughter who has read some relatively challenging books at a young age!

Well, if the park closes at 6:00, then that is easy enough! We could stay until the park closes then start home. We will have to drive two days away.

Hrm.....Not sure about that pumpkin butter, but I will likely try it. Katie is really excited to try the butterbeer!

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions!

 

[disneypryncess]

Hello!

We are taking a trip to Disney World in late August of this year. We will be arriving on a Saturday, and leaving on the following Saturday. As part of this trip, we would like to take a trip to see Harry Potter at Universal. I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and my eight year old daughter just finished reading all the books by herself in time to see the last movie (I wouldn't let her watch the movies until she read the books). She talks about going to HP World all the time.

Having said all of that, I am trying to figure out the best and least disruptive way for us to visit Harry Potter. Is it an all day thing, or could it be done in a shorter time? We wouldn't want to rush though it, but on the other hand, given my kids ages (9 and 2 when we travel) and interests, it looks like the only other part of IOA that we might like to check out is the Dr. Seuss area.

Are we better off allotting the entire day for IOA? I was thinking that if it wouldn't be a full day activity, maybe we could leave Disney on Saturday early, head to IOA, and leave to start heading home around 4-5 PM that night. Is that doable, or will we be too rushed?

Also, the most important questions of the year........

1. Does butterbeer taste as good as I hope it does?
2. Can you get Pumpkin juice, and is it really made with pumpkin?
3. Will I be able to get my kids Harry Potter themed shirts? Even the two year old?

Before Harry Potter, I would say definitely...now,I'm not sure!
IOA gets super crowded! I was there in October and we were online for FJ for over an hour (with early admission) and in line for over an hour to get into the wand shop!
1)I loved the regular butterbeer but the frozen was too sweet, I couldn't finish it!
2)The pumpkin juice is yummy but I think that it's made of mostly apple juice.
3) I'm not sure about the shirts (sorry)

 

[Tink2Day]

The pumpkin juice is 81% juice per the bottle.

Go to the universalorlando.com site. Shop online and you will see several of the same shirts they have in the park. I bought a few, including one which isn't available online. They have a children's section and it has a number of HP shirts including one that is called the creature shirt, with Dobby etc and the WWOHP Universal lettering on it.


It all just depends on the crowd. It was relatively empty the first week of November on a Sunday.

Then Deathly Hallows Part 1 came out and that must hve really boosted the attendance.
Part II will be out mid July so expect another bump in attendance.

 

[Planogirl]

My teen was smitten with the frozen butterbeer and he's not much for sweets. I was surprised to say the least. I would try both the frozen and regular if you can because some people prefer one over the other.

I'm not sure about the shirts either but the main store in WWoHP looked like they had all kinds. It's easier to buy stuff in the souvenir store close to the park entrance but their selection is definitely more limited.

 

[disneypryncess]

The pumpkin juice is 81% juice per the bottle.

The Pumpkin Juice ingredients list as water, apple juice concentrate, pumpkin puree, apricot puree, sugar.....it was SOO refreshing!
I loved it!


I think that I read somewhere that they don't sell any soda in that part of IOA, that JK Rowling didn't want Pepsi or Coke products in Hogwarts??

 

[IdesOmarch]

My advice is always a day is better than a half, 2 days better than 1 etc. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the other areas they have at both IOA and the Studios. The Jurassic Park area is actually my favorite and I really think you will love this area, that is if you can envision actually visiting the real island out of the movie, that is what its like, plus riding the ride and getting attacked by the dinosaurs, not to be missed.

Also, the Marvel Super Hero Island has possibly the best ride in the world (up until FJ anyway) the Spiderman ride, of which some of this technology was actually used for the new FJ ride, so you won't want to miss that, even if you're not a comic book fan, its a great ride.

Also, the Lost Continent is kind of treated as the lost forgotten step child in all of this. LC is to me the greatest themed area of any park in the world, at least it was until maybe the new HP section, it is phenomenal, granted there isn't much to do there, other than you MUST GO TO MYTHOS, the sit down restaurant in LC, not to be missed at any cost, and will change your life , seriously, It is my favorite restaurant in the world, with the incredible theming, food, awesome. So don't cut all that short, I think you will be disappointed if you don't check out all there is to offer.

I mean you wouldn't go to Disney only to ride the Haunted Mansion right? Pirates of the C is there, Space Mountain etc., its just like that, there are all kinds of things great to do, and most are equally as impressive as the others. And that's leaving out the entire US park, which I won't go into, but its also extremely cool.

 

[disneypryncess]

Also, the Lost Continent is kind of treated as the lost forgotten step child in all of this. LC is to me the greatest themed area of any park in the world, at least it was until maybe the new HP section, it is phenomenal, granted there isn't much to do there, other than you MUST GO TO MYTHOS, the sit down restaurant in LC, not to be missed at any cost, and will change your life , seriously, It is my favorite restaurant in the world, with the incredible theming, food, awesome. So don't cut all that short, I think you will be disappointed if you don't check out all there is to offer.

Mythos is the BEST!! We never ever miss it!

 

[Tink2Day]

I thought the Lost Continent had great theming, in fact the whole park does.

We even went through Poseidon's Fury and enjoyed it. It was a little cheezy but still had some neat special effects.