Harry Potter- Wizarding World FAQ

[Buzzsgramma]

Ok there are 13 of us, staying on WDW property Thanksgiving wk..my plan is to go to Universal on Tuesday Nov.22..we have transportation, tickets from UCT...huge fans,their are 5 teenagers.13-15....

what time should we be at the gate????

WWoHP first thing i am guessing.....thanx

 

[damo]

Ok there are 13 of us, staying on WDW property Thanksgiving wk..my plan is to go to Universal on Tuesday Nov.22..we have transportation, tickets from UCT...huge fans,their are 5 teenagers.13-15....

what time should we be at the gate????

WWoHP first thing i am guessing.....thanx

Be at the gate at least a half an hour before the gates open. Once you are let in, hightail it for the Wizarding World and do Ollivander's if the line is short, otherwise do FJ.

 

[kohlby]

We are planning on spending two days before our cruise at Universal--and that falls on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Does anyone have opinions on crowds and/or special activities for that weekend? Or which park should be visited which day? Both are open til 1 am on New Year's Eve

Before we had kids, we spent three New Year Eve's at US/IOA. We stayed from open to close. It was before WWoHP was open, but we found plenty to do. We start at IOA. Then once we needed some down time from the thrill rides, we would go to US at around 2pm. Then back over to IOA at around 8pm and finish out there. We really liked doing both parks the same day like that.

We did go to the parks the next day as well, but we always hit a Disney park that day. We found the mornings were very, very quiet due to all the people who stayed up late. So, if you can handle it, try to get to the park in the morning. Make it a short day if you need to so you can rest up in the afternoon. My assumption would be that it would be even more so at a US/IOA park since it seems that less young kids go there than Disney. (And less young kids are staying up to 1am on New Year's Eve).

 

[Buzzsgramma]

thanks for the info...

 

[KaseeLee]

We are a small group of 3 that is headed to WDW and WWHP the first week of January. Monday January 2nd is the day we are thinking of heading to HP because the park is open from 9-9, the longest day of the week. Other than HP there are only a few things at both IoA and US that we want to do, do you think it we should try to do both parks or just stick to IoA???? And any idea on lines that time of year???? thanks

 

[mesaboy2]

We are a small group of 3 that is headed to WDW and WWHP the first week of January. Monday January 2nd is the day we are thinking of heading to HP because the park is open from 9-9, the longest day of the week. Other than HP there are only a few things at both IoA and US that we want to do, do you think it we should try to do both parks or just stick to IoA???? And any idea on lines that time of year???? thanks

I expect the crowds to still be fairly heavy on the 2nd--that's one of the reasons the hours are the longest--but I'm just guessing. If it fits your schedule, consider Wednesday or Thursday of that week. Crowds should really die off and you might enjoy it more, even if the parks close earlier. OTOH, WWoHP is pretty amazing-looking at night, and you may not get to appreciate it as much on a day where the parks close earlier.

Trying to do both parks in one day is doable, but too rushed for my personal taste and I would only advise it during the least-crowded times of year.

Just my $.02. Enjoy yourselves whatever you decide!

 

[cuddlykp]

I really want to ride FJ but I am prone to motion sickness, how bad is it?

Here is an example of what I can handle. I can ride Spiderman no problem but I can't handle The Simpson's ride...I get nauseous just thinking about it,lol.

Will it help if I take a preventive medication before the ride?

Thanks.

 

[alenushka]

I really want to ride FJ but I am prone to motion sickness, how bad is it?

Here is an example of what I can handle. I can ride Spiderman no problem but I can't handle The Simpson's ride...I get nauseous just thinking about it,lol.

Will it help if I take a preventive medication before the ride?

Thanks.

I could hardly walk after Simpson's ride (visual combined with motion was too much for me), but no problem at all after FJ. Motion on FJ is much smother, visual is not as overwhelming (you always have a choice to close your eyes!. Go for it! we went on FJ 6 times, can't wait to do it again! Hope it helps.

 

[cuddlykp]

Thanks! Yes it does help alot, I will give it a shot!

 

[kiddo76]

I really want to ride FJ but I am prone to motion sickness, how bad is it?

Here is an example of what I can handle. I can ride Spiderman no problem but I can't handle The Simpson's ride...I get nauseous just thinking about it,lol.

Will it help if I take a preventive medication before the ride?

Thanks.

IMO, it's pretty bad and I'm not prone to motion sickness. Granted, my stomach wasn't feeling too great to start off the day, but after riding FJ, I was done. This isn't a ride where just closing your eyes will stop the motion sickness. There is a lot of 'real' movement, in addition to the 'simulated' movement with the movie screens, if that makes any sense.

As a huge HP fan and one who enjoys thrill rides, I was actually a little disappointed in FJ. It was a great ride technologically speaking, but I thought it was a bit too much. It was hard to really focus on what you werre seeing, it all goes by so fast. We went with my 8 and 10 year old nephews . They rode Soarin, Test Track, Star Tours and Expedition Everest before we got to IOA and loved them, so we felt confident to take them on FJ. After FJ, the 8 year olds were afraid to try any new rides (one was even afraid to go on the Jungle Cruise) and even the 10 year old had no desire to ride the other 2 WWOHP attractions. Thank goodness we did IOA toward the end of our trip.

I guess I just feel that since the Harry Potter books are children's books that appeal to a broad range of ages that the ride should have the same appeal, a la Soarin and Star Tours. Granted, not every ride will appeal to everyone, but in IMHO, FJ missed the mark on it's prime audience.

 

[cuddlykp]

IMO, it's pretty bad and I'm not prone to motion sickness. Granted, my stomach wasn't feeling too great to start off the day, but after riding FJ, I was done. This isn't a ride where just closing your eyes will stop the motion sickness. There is a lot of 'real' movement, in addition to the 'simulated' movement with the movie screens, if that makes any sense.

As a huge HP fan and one who enjoys thrill rides, I was actually a little disappointed in FJ. It was a great ride technologically speaking, but I thought it was a bit too much. It was hard to really focus on what you werre seeing, it all goes by so fast. We went with my 8 and 10 year old nephews . They rode Soarin, Test Track, Star Tours and Expedition Everest before we got to IOA and loved them, so we felt confident to take them on FJ. After FJ, the 8 year olds were afraid to try any new rides (one was even afraid to go on the Jungle Cruise) and even the 10 year old had no desire to ride the other 2 WWOHP attractions. Thank goodness we did IOA toward the end of our trip.

I guess I just feel that since the Harry Potter books are children's books that appeal to a broad range of ages that the ride should have the same appeal, a la Soarin and Star Tours. Granted, not every ride will appeal to everyone, but in IMHO, FJ missed the mark on it's prime audience.

o'k will think about it between now and then. Thanks!

 

[alenushka]

o'k will think about it between now and then. Thanks!

Take your preventive med, very light breakfast, and....DO IT!!!! if you don't like it, you will never do it again, but if you do not try it, you will never know! I was very afraid of the spiders (still don't like this section), but by the third time I started opening my eyes and I am glad I did - they are so fake looking Kid might be scared of spiders and dementors more than the ride itself. Everyone is different and has different opinions! DO it and let us know how it was for YOU!

 

[damo]

I am very prone to motion sickness. I just take a bonine or less drowsy dramamine and make sure i close my eyes during the quidditch part. As long as I do that I can ride with no problems several times. If I keep my eyes open during the quidditch part, I am done for with one ride.

 

[cuddlykp]

I am just going to go for it! I remember I went through this same thing with Hollywood Tower of Terror a few years back. I debated, went for it, thought I was going to die and never went on it again lol...but glad I experienced it.

Light breakfast or none, bonamine and pray!

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

Getting a bit concerned about my daughter- 9 yrs, old- who LOVES Harry Potter, but HATES most rides. We're planning a february day at IOA specifically to see WWOHP.
She has been to Disney tons of times. Loves rides like Small World & Mexico in EPCOT. Recently she has learned to tollerate Buzz Lightyear, Pirates, and Norway rides. She hates things that move around too much like Dumbo, Pooh ride, Alladin's magic carpets, and some parts of Soarin (although she'll sit through Soarin and like most of it).
I'm pretty concerned that she won't like any of the rides at WWOHP. Is there enough theme type of stuff to keep her happy? I do anticipate that me & husband and son will want to ride the rides.

 

[kiddo76]

If she hates most rides, she will almost definitely not want to ride any of the rides at WWOHP, or even all of IOA. IOA is a thrill ride park and there are very few tame rides. See my pp about my nephews. They hated the FJ and wouldn't go on the other 2 rides, but they loved the theming, going in the shops and eating at the Three Broomsticks. I don't think they were in any way disappointed, but it's a lot of money just to walk around and shop. We are all huge HP fans, though, so we think it was worth it.

There were only a few other rides and attractions in all of IOA that my nephews were interested in. They liked the Sinbad show, the Popeye raft ride, and some of the rides in Seuss's Landing. They hated the Jurassic Park raft ride, which had a huge drop that they weren't expecting.

Looking back, I think it would have been worth it to by a 1 day/2 park ticket and spend most of the day over at Universal Studios and just going to IOA for WWOHP. And the Popeye raft ride. They loved that and rode it 4 times.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

How have the crowds been at WWoHP throughout the last year, particularly during non-peak times? I went last August a couple months after opening, and obviously it was packed. But we still had a blast and I am anxious and excited to go back. I am curious about how the crowds have been because during an upcoming trip to Disney World (to visit my sister who is in the College Program) we are planning to take a day trip to IoA. Our trip is the first week of December, and as of now our planned day for Universal is Tuesday the 6th. What can I expect in terms of crowds, both for WWoHP and the park in general?

 

[macraven]

early december usually does NOT have crowds.

you picked a good time to go!

 

[Shakthi]

Hello! Being from CA, I'm usually in the DL board. This is my first time here, and loving it! I'm still working through the thread.

We are taking our dd (8) to see WWoHP during X-mas. I know it's crazy, but that's the only time we can do it. We'll be staying at the Double Tree Hotel from Dec 25 to 29. Since this will be our first time, any piece of advice you guys can give me will be deeply appreciated. Things we can't miss, getting tickets, better days, hours, and even other things we might have time to do while there ...you name it. Anything.

Thank you so much guys.

 

[macraven]

you will be going during a very busy, crowded time period.


suggest you look into the express passes in order to avoid long waits in the lines.

better yet, try to book a couple of nights onsite and get unlimited usage of the express lines the day you check in and the day you check out.

look at the FAQ thread for some of the basic info.

also, go to www.universalorlando.com for details of the parks for rides, shows and restaurants.

hth!