Harry Potter strategies?

[IndianSummer]

Any tips for a first timer going to see the wizarding world of Harry Potter?

Can I expect fewer crowds on a particular day of the week? We just can't shell out the $ to stay on site, so is there any other strategy that could help? We'll be there from Feb 25 - march 7.

 

[Metro West]

I'm going to move this to the main board so you can get more responses.

 

[effie]

My friend and I are going the week after this for Spring Break, and are interested in this as well!

 

[RMulieri]

If you are staying offsite, the only recommendations I have is get to IOA about an hour before opening, and hoof it back to WWoHP once open.ONSITE guests get in an hour early so they will have an advantage.Once in WWoHP do Ollivanders FIRST if it interests you.From what I understand, they only let in 20 people at a time and lines go from no wait to HUGE wait very very quickly.After that hit the Forbidden journey.Purchasing an express pass will NOT help you with WWoHP since at this time they do not take it.Good luck!

 

[tbird89]

Purchasing an express pass will NOT help you with WWoHP since at this time they do not take it.

Do they have express lines for on-site hotel guests?

 

[RMulieri]

Do they have express lines for on-site hotel guests?

Onsite guests do get FOTL express pass privelages but NOT At WWHop

 

[Metro West]

Do they have express lines for on-site hotel guests?

The only three attactions that do not honor Express are: Rockit at the Studios and Forbidden Journey and the Pteranodon Flyers at IOA.

 

[saskdw]

Any tips for a first timer going to see the wizarding world of Harry Potter?

Can I expect fewer crowds on a particular day of the week? We just can't shell out the $ to stay on site, so is there any other strategy that could help? We'll be there from Feb 25 - march 7.

The only strategy is pray that its not as busy as when we were there at Xmas!! We stayed 8 nights at Disney world and then 6 nights at the Hard Rock from Dec. 22nd -28th. We spent portions of all 6 days in the Universal parks and never saw the Harry Potter section. The entire area was like a giant mosh pit. I don't know how anyone could have posibly enjoyed their time in that section. My didn't care enough about Harry Potter to get up at 6am for the 7am early entry, but from what I heard it wasn't much better at that time. I heard stories of 90 minute waits even with early entry. We tryed to get a look once, but you couldn't even move it was elbow to elbow through out the whole section. We would have been very upset and disappointed if the reason we went was to see Harry Potter. Fortunately for us we really enjoyed Marvel Super hero island and the rest of the parks.

 

[mesaboy2]

The only strategy is pray that its not as busy as when we were there at Xmas!! We stayed 8 nights at Disney world and then 6 nights at the Hard Rock from Dec. 22nd -28th. We spent portions of all 6 days in the Universal parks and never saw the Harry Potter section. The entire area was like a giant mosh pit. I don't know how anyone could have posibly enjoyed their time in that section. My didn't care enough about Harry Potter to get up at 6am for the 7am early entry, but from what I heard it wasn't much better at that time. I heard stories of 90 minute waits even with early entry. We tryed to get a look once, but you couldn't even move it was elbow to elbow through out the whole section. We would have been very upset and disappointed if the reason we went was to see Harry Potter. Fortunately for us we really enjoyed Marvel Super hero island and the rest of the parks.

Unfortunately, you were at the parks at the absolute busiest time of the year. And you are describing what is currently the busiest, most popular part of any theme park in the Orlando area (and probably beyond). I hope your experience did not permanently sour you on WWoHP. If you can find the time to return during the off-season (or almost any other week than the week you chose), I highly recommend it.

I went the first week of December on a Thursday and all areas of both parks, including WWoHP, could not have been more pleasant. There was hardly anyone there. With about 20 minutes until park-close, there was no one--and I mean NO ONE--waiting for Ollivander's. If you follow these boards, then you know how rare that is. I started up a conversation with the TM there just because she looked lonely.

OP: Don't get scared off! Your experience will be somewhere in between, but closer to crazy-dead than crazy-crowded. As for your original question, I would say the lightest crowds are typically mid-week (Tuesday through Thursday), followed by Sunday. Friday and Saturday are usually heaviest. Have fun!

 

[LoveToDisney]

The only three attactions that do not honor Express are: Rockit at the Studios and Forbidden Journey and the Pteranodon Flyers at IOA.

So staying onsite will NOT get you an express entrance for Forbidden Journey? When did they stop doing that? We haven't been since the pre-opening when onsite guests were the only guests allowed in the WWoHP area. We were going to stay onsite just to get the express entrance option. We have teens and we would never get them up early enough for the early hour alone in the park but we thought we would have express pass for onsite guests for Forbidden Journey....rats! Before, it was only the purchased Express Pass that did not work.

 

[mesaboy2]

So staying onsite will NOT get you an express entrance for Forbidden Journey? When did they stop doing that? We haven't been since the pre-opening when onsite guests were the only guests allowed in the WWoHP area. We were going to stay onsite just to get the express entrance option. We have teens and we would never get them up early enough for the early hour alone in the park but we thought we would have express pass for onsite guests for Forbidden Journey....rats! Before, it was only the purchased Express Pass that did not work.

Forbidden Journey itself has not had Express since its open to the general public on June 18. Onsite guests have always had early-entry privileges into WWoHP at large. That, plus Express on Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge, are all that onsite gets you in WWoHP.

 

[mesaboy2]

Onsite guests do get FOTL express pass privelages but NOT At WWHop

Not exactly true. Express pass is not accepted at Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey--the main attraction--but is accepted at Dragon Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff. All of these attractions are part of WWoHP.

 

[mytripsandraces]

My friend and I went on December 11th and didn't get there until after 10 am. We waited about 45 minutes to get on Forbidden Journey, 30 minutes to get on the Flight of the Hippogriff, and only 15 to get on Dragon Challenge. The shops were very crowded, though. The line to get into Dervish and Banges was about 20 minutes. The Three Broomsticks is a nice place for lunch and we loved the Cauldron Cake from Honeydukes. Try to avoid carrying too much stuff, because you'll have to leave it in the free lockers at Forbidden Journey and Dueling Dragons.

 

[fairyprincess88]

Just got back on Tuesday and I had no crowd issues at all at WWoHP. We only did early entry on Saturday and even after general admission was let in, the section was extremely managable. Never had a line for the stores(except for Ollivanders of course) and could just open the doors and walk in. Stores were a little crowded as is usual with their size, but still easy to shop and look at things.

We did not stay onsite, but stayed at a partner hotel on the Potter package. So we got early entry, but not FOTL access. But even arriving to the WWoHP midafternoon we were able to comfortably walk around, take pictures, ect. There was also never a wait for Three Broomsticks, even at the height of lunch/dinner hours. It really does depend on when you go, holidays, school vacations ect. I also visited this past July and it was a madhouse and that experience compared to this last were like night and day. But even the July crowds were managable if you just packed your patience.

Don't let the horror stories scare you off. The WWoHP is amazing and worth it, even in insane crowd conditions if you are a fan. Just go with the flow and enjoy.

 

[saskdw]

I hope your experience did not permanently sour you on WWoHP. QUOTE]

Not permanently soured. I just wouldn't plan a trip there if Harry Potter was the main reason for going. We've been to Disney a couple of times. This was our first trip to Universal. Super Hero island was the biggest reason we went. Staying on site we never waited more than 5 mins to do anything, we had a great time. Harry Potter looked real cool from what we could see from a distance, but we didn't care enough to fight that crowd. I was quite irritated that staying in a $465 a night club level room at the Hard Rock didn't get us any special privaleges at Harry Potter, but it didn't ruin our trip.(7am early entry is not a perk when I'm on holiday's). We were just irritated, but I feel really sorry for anyone who went there specifically to see WWoHP. They shouldn't allow that many people in there at one time, there has to be a better way?

 

[saskdw]

Don't let the horror stories scare you off. The WWoHP is amazing and worth it, even in insane crowd conditions if you are a fan. Just go with the flow and enjoy.

Don't say that unless you've seen the insane crowd conditions.

 

[fairyprincess88]

Don't say that unless you've seen the insane crowd conditions.

I have. I was there right after it opened. 2 hour waits to get into the section, an hour wait for Honeydukes, 120 minute waits for FJ, people up your butt like a giant wedgie. Yep, I've been there, done that. I still loved it. Of course, Im a Potter nerd, I used to wait in 6 hour lines for a midnight book release, even with a pre-order done 8 months in advance.

Crowds and lines are par for the course in this fandom sadly. I honestly think if you put a bunch of seasoned hard core Potter fans up against a Black Friday crowd at Walmart with a $5 iPod sale, the Potter nerds would be the ones who come out unscathed and with iPod in hand first. 5-7 day camp-outs for front barricade positition at movie premiers are common occurances.

Not that Im disputing how insane it was for you, I've read about the crowds the week you were there, and insane is correct. I'm just saying, that for some, insane can be handled. But really, I don't think the OP will experience that considering when they are going so it should be ok for them.

 

[RMulieri]

I hope your experience did not permanently sour you on WWoHP. QUOTE]

Not permanently soured. I just wouldn't plan a trip there if Harry Potter was the main reason for going. We've been to Disney a couple of times. This was our first trip to Universal. Super Hero island was the biggest reason we went. Staying on site we never waited more than 5 mins to do anything, we had a great time. Harry Potter looked real cool from what we could see from a distance, but we didn't care enough to fight that crowd. I was quite irritated that staying in a $465 a night club level room at the Hard Rock didn't get us any special privaleges at Harry Potter, but it didn't ruin our trip.(7am early entry is not a perk when I'm on holiday's). We were just irritated, but I feel really sorry for anyone who went there specifically to see WWoHP. They shouldn't allow that many people in there at one time, there has to be a better way?

Part of it was simply the time you went, the other being the enormous popularity of harry Potter and the enormous popularity of ANYTHING new..Christmas week is the single busiest week for the Orlando themeparks.I have done Disney that week, and let me tell you a 240 mins WAIT just to ride, is not all that unusual for the big rides that week.I know of many people that think the opposite is true, that most people would not travel on vacation on Christmas week ,but that is a myth.TONS of people can and do travel that week , and the Orlando themeparks reflects that.

 

[saskdw]

Part of it was simply the time you went, the other being the enormous popularity of harry Potter and the enormous popularity of ANYTHING new..Christmas week is the single busiest week for the Orlando themeparks.I have done Disney that week, and let me tell you a 240 mins WAIT just to ride, is not all that unusual for the big rides that week.I know of many people that think the opposite is true, that most people would not travel on vacation on Christmas week ,but that is a myth.TONS of people can and do travel that week , and the Orlando themeparks reflects that.

I'm familiar with the xmas crowds. This was are 2nd trip to Orlando in 3 years at this time of year. The Disney crowds are quite manageable up to about Dec 23rd, before it gets crazy. That's why we went to Disney first from 14th-22nd and then Universal from 22nd-28th. Staying on site and FOTL we never waited more then 5 mins for anything. Everything was great except WWoHP. The OP of this thread probably won't see these crowd conditions, but I myself just wouldn't roll the dice on that after what I saw. As long as you can still have a great trip if WWoHP is crazy, than its a great place.

 

[PDJPrinceCharming]

I have a question that I am wondering about. For the second year in a row I bought the 1 Day/2 Park with transfers ticket from DU. I waited along with everyone not staying on site & went in when the gates opened. However a TM told me that my ticket granted me access in one hour early & had I known that, I would've taken full advantage. Is this the truth? Can you get in an hour early with the 1 day/2 park pass that Dreams is selling? If it is true, it would surely help us as she wants to spend as much time as possible at WWOHP(& personally I wanna drink some more Butterbeer) More information either good or bad would be appreciated. TIA!