Harry Potter- Wizarding World FAQ

[sandymandr]

I feel like this is a dumb question, but have to ask anyway So, is FJ different than the castle tour? I have read folks here say you can do the castle tour after the ride. Can you tour the castle without riding FJ? I'll be there next Thursday, early entry and had planned on going to FJ first thing and riding single rider (probably 2 or 3 times), touring the castle, then working my way back out of WWoHP. So, 2 things, where is the single rider line for FJ? And can I tour the castle without riding? And if so, will I have to wait in a longline to tour the castle? Or should I just go through when I get there first thing?

 

[Metro West]

I feel like this is a dumb question, but have to ask anyway So, is FJ different than the castle tour? I have read folks here say you can do the castle tour after the ride. Can you tour the castle without riding FJ? I'll be there next Thursday, early entry and had planned on going to FJ first thing and riding single rider (probably 2 or 3 times), touring the castle, then working my way back out of WWoHP. So, 2 things, where is the single rider line for FJ? And can I tour the castle without riding? And if so, will I have to wait in a longline to tour the castle? Or should I just go through when I get there first thing?

Yes...you can tour the queue w/o riding. Just tell the TM in the line that you aren't riding and you just want to look around.

 

[mom2babesin05n08]

Hello,

This is probably a dumb question, but I was wondering if you can access all the Harry Potter attractions with a Universal Studios of Florida ticket? Or do you need to have the Islands of Adventures ticket to get in?

We have small children and are planning on only going to one park. Any advice on which one?

TIA!
Christine

 

[littlelaura]

does anyone have a link to phase 2 of WWOHP (due to open in 2012), what is it rumoured to include?

 

[damo]

does anyone have a link to phase 2 of WWOHP (due to open in 2012), what is it rumoured to include?

There are no rumoured plans as yet for any rides or even for it to open. Phase 2 is still pure speculation.

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

Hello,

This is probably a dumb question, but I was wondering if you can access all the Harry Potter attractions with a Universal Studios of Florida ticket? Or do you need to have the Islands of Adventures ticket to get in?

We have small children and are planning on only going to one park. Any advice on which one?

TIA!
Christine

I hope I'm giving you the right answer since I haven't been there yet. I've been doing research recently, though. All of the Harry Potter attractions are in Islands of Adventure, which to me means you'd need admission to IOA to ge to them. If Harry Potter is a priority for your trip, then your one park should be IOA. That said, depending on how small your children are, they may not be able to do a whole lot in the Harry Potter area.

 

[pmcgonigle]

Can anyone recommend an authorized ticket vendor to buy IOA tix in advance?

Also, is Ollivander's worth the line, in your opinion?

What time in advance should we get to the gate if IOA opens at 9 a.m.?

Is it safe to assume that we could do WWOHP all morning, and then evening/night, but during the day check out some other IOA stuff? Our primary objective is WWOHP but it seems as though there may be time in a whole day to take in other sights.

Thanks!

 

[damo]

Can anyone recommend an authorized ticket vendor to buy IOA tix in advance?

Also, is Ollivander's worth the line, in your opinion?

What time in advance should we get to the gate if IOA opens at 9 a.m.?

Is it safe to assume that we could do WWOHP all morning, and then evening/night, but during the day check out some other IOA stuff? Our primary objective is WWOHP but it seems as though there may be time in a whole day to take in other sights.

Thanks!

You can purchase online at www.univeralorlando.com, from Dreams Unlimited, from mapleleaftickets, and many others.

What time of year are you going? If it is in low season, you can do WWHP prettty much any time.

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

Can anyone recommend an authorized ticket vendor to buy IOA tix in advance?

Also, is Ollivander's worth the line, in your opinion?

What time in advance should we get to the gate if IOA opens at 9 a.m.?

Is it safe to assume that we could do WWOHP all morning, and then evening/night, but during the day check out some other IOA stuff? Our primary objective is WWOHP but it seems as though there may be time in a whole day to take in other sights.

Thanks!

Undercover Tourist is another authorized seller that gets a lot of good reviews and recommendations.

 

[pmcgonigle]

You can purchase online at from Dreams Unlimited, from mapleleaftickets, and many others.

What time of year are you going? If it is in low season, you can do WWHP prettty much any time.

Going on 1/21! Do you think there is time to do other IOA stuff AND fully experience WWOHP?

THANKS!

 

[damo]

Going on 1/21! Do you think there is time to do other IOA stuff AND fully experience WWOHP?

THANKS!

Oh ya! You should be able to do the entire park easily.

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

We're going to Orlando 3/1-3/9 and looking to do IOA one day. I'm thinking either 3/2 or 3/7. From what I've found (not much), 3/7 will be a little more crowded than 3/2 because of a few spring breaks and because it's the day before Mardi Gras. Will either of these dates be very crowded, especially for Harry Potter?

 

[Angelapm]

Advice on hotels and lines, please!
We'll be arriving in Orlando the afternoon of January 14th, with plans to do IOA (well, Harry Potter mostly!) on Saturday, then we leave for Miami Sunday. We were going to stay on site Friday night to take advantage of early admission Saturday and the express line thing. Saturday we had planned to use points and stay at the Hampton or Doubletree across the street, as 2 nights onsite is too expensive. So I'm wondering, given that it's off season is it really worth it to spend that extra $200+ on an onsite hotel Friday night? I'm thinking of just using points and staying across the street both nights instead, and having patience and waiting in line. Thoughts?? Kids are 8 and 5. Thanks!

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

Oh ya! You should be able to do the entire park easily.

Not when the park is really crowded! If you are not into a lot of rides maybe but no way you will do Harry Potter completely and do all of the park. The wait times even for express will kill you. Just there today!

BTW I wish Disney had done this instead of Universal. This area is just too small! What were they thinking?????? Not enough space. Should be double or triple the space with a working train etc. Not enough stores, attractions either. I am glad we went but all I could think of was how much better Disney would have done it. Too bad JKR wouldn't allow characters in HP world.

 

[damo]

Not when the park is really crowded! If you are not into a lot of rides maybe but no way you will do Harry Potter completely and do all of the park. The wait times even for express will kill you. Just there today!

BTW I wish Disney had done this instead of Universal. This area is just too small! What were they thinking?????? Not enough space. Should be double or triple the space with a working train etc. Not enough stores, attractions either. I am glad we went but all I could think of was how much better Disney would have done it. Too bad JKR wouldn't allow characters in HP world.

The entire park is very doable unless you go in high high season.

Disney did give Rowling a proposal. They wanted to do one ride that would be like Toy Storia Mania. No other theming, no shops, no restaurant. They were turned down. They actually were planning on doing a much, much smaller area than Universal did, so I am very glad they didn't get the rights.

 

[Tink2Day]

damo, sadly I agree.
When Walt was still alive and Disneyland was brand new, it was exciting to see each area as it was developed and how he tried to keep it somewhat authentic and a village type feeling. Like New Orleans Square and Fantasyland.
Then it all seemed to become about bigger, not necessarily better.

With the size of the WWOHP right now you can definitely get a feeling that you are walking around in Hogsmeade. I hope when/if they build phase II they keep that in mind.
Disney now seems all about running from ride to ride for some people.

 

[Metro West]

BTW I wish Disney had done this instead of Universal. This area is just too small! What were they thinking?????? Not enough space. Should be double or triple the space with a working train etc. Not enough stores, attractions either. I am glad we went but all I could think of was how much better Disney would have done it. Too bad JKR wouldn't allow characters in HP world.

The only thing Disney would have done better? Stick mouse ears on everything which is one reason why JKR didn't want walk around characters. I mean...a little mouse with a HP costume would have been cute but hardly authentic.

I'm interested in how you think Disney would have done WWoHP better than Universal. I'm sure others on the board would like to hear your ideas as well.

 

[ldmilton]

While I love Disney, I for one am very happy WWOHP is at Universal and not Disney. For me, Universal is easier to navigate – no waiting for buses. It’s an easy walk from hotel to UO or IOA and easy to walk between the two parks. It is also much less expensive. Just bought a Preferred AP at Universal…no way could I afford the AP at Disney. Hotels at Universal are less, too (when compared to WDW deluxe), especially with the AP rate. I will be able to enjoy WWOHP more often at IOA than I would had it been at Disney.

I will see it for the first time in 5 weeks. I know I will not be disappointed.

 

[Timmy Boy]

Yes Boardwalk Tigger, please tell us how you think Disney would have done it. Like how they did when they got the Star Wars rights, build one ride, with a gift shop? Or when they built Toy Story, one ride? Yes, WWOHP is small, but to walk around saying "Disney would have done it better. What is this butterbeer? Tastes gross, Disney would have done it better! What is this Forbidden Journey ride? Ew it's high tech and the effects are really lame. Disney would have done it better!" Is really rude.

I know for a fact that Disney WOULD NEVER had built Forbidden Journey the way it is now. It's too dynamic and "intense" for them. I could see them doing a special effects magic show, an omni-mover and a wand shop. Since it's Disney though, the fans will think it's the greatest single thing to grace the planet since human life stepped out of the primordial ooze.

 

[ksdave]

Yes Boardwalk Tigger, please tell us how you think Disney would have done it. Like how they did when they got the Star Wars rights, build one ride, with a gift shop? Or when they built Toy Story, one ride? Yes, WWOHP is small, but to walk around saying "Disney would have done it better. What is this butterbeer? Tastes gross, Disney would have done it better! What is this Forbidden Journey ride? Ew it's high tech and the effects are really lame. Disney would have done it better!" Is really rude.

I know for a fact that Disney WOULD NEVER had built Forbidden Journey the way it is now. It's too dynamic and "intense" for them. I could see them doing a special effects magic show, an omni-mover and a wand shop. Since it's Disney though, the fans will think it's the greatest single thing to grace the planet since human life stepped out of the primordial ooze.

Agree with the above. Although I grew up on WDW (see signature), I have really found so many things that are better at UO. Although I would still go to WDW if I could afford to do a week-and-a-half in Orlando, I have only been to UO for the past eight years because, quite frankly, UO is more entertaining and a much better value for my $$$. My daughter gets to go for her 21st birthday present tomorrow through Monday and I am reallllly jealous .