Here now gringotts this morning.

[Bluer101]

pass the popcorn.

 

[clsteve]

From looking at wait times - the late afternoons and early evening waits for Gringott's really seem to be coming down. Plus the reports are saying they're now running 7 trains pretty consistently. Heading back in the evenings to DA is looking like not a bad strategy - much like FJ once it began to settle down.

But what do I know. I've only a Poison Ivy League education........

 

[HLAuburn]

Now with IOA opening an hour earlier that US, what about the option of using EE at IOA and taking the HE to DA?

I read that the one-way trains (from IOA to US) are now starting around 7:20, so wouldn't that put you there earlier than the crowd who's waiting to enter US and has to walk all the way to the back?

 

[pbjnr]

Now with IOA opening an hour earlier that US, what about the option of using EE at IOA and taking the HE to DA? I read that the one-way trains (from IOA to US) are now starting around 7:20, so wouldn't that put you there earlier than the crowd who's waiting to enter US and has to walk all the way to the back?

There yesterday morning for ee, we got in circa 7.15am easy walk to DA and queued for EFG no probs. going to IOA first will make you wish you had went straight to US instead. When we reached DA we had to wait to get DA and when we did the queue was all the way past the Simpsons ride. At least 5-6 hundred people minimum. Opening delayed just over an hour but when it started to move we only waited 20 mins but when we left it was 105 mins.

 

[HLAuburn]

There yesterday morning for ee, we got in circa 7.15am easy walk to DA and queued for EFG no probs. going to IOA first will make you wish you had went straight to US instead. When we reached DA we had to wait to get DA and when we did the queue was all the way past the Simpsons ride. At least 5-6 hundred people minimum. Opening delayed just over an hour but when it started to move we only waited 20 mins but when we left it was 105 mins.

Thanks! So since you got in US at 7:15, it's not really worth taking the train over, right?
How long did you wait for EFG?
Can you explain what you mean by you had to wait when you got to DA? Do they let you in the park to walk over to DA but it's still not open? What time did they let you in DA and who are the 500-600 people waiting in the line...are they general admission people or EE people?

Sorry about all the questions...just trying to plan the best strategy!

 

[Kcross3625]

I wonder if they had opened DA earlier on Friday or we were just too far back in the pack because we had no wait to get into DA. There was a sort of rough line but we just kept walking right into DA and around to Gringotts without stopping once we were into the park.

 

[pbjnr]

Thanks! So since you got in US at 7:15, it's not really worth taking the train over, right? How long did you wait for EFG? Can you explain what you mean by you had to wait when you got to DA? Do they let you in the park to walk over to DA but it's still not open? What time did they let you in DA and who are the 500-600 people waiting in the line...are they general admission people or EE people? Sorry about all the questions...just trying to plan the best strategy!

not worth it. When the ride actually opened 20mins or so but it had a delayed start of approx 65mins. You gain access to US and shepherded towards DA. You are stopped outside DA and wait until just before actual opening time then again shepherded to EFG . Everybody that we seen were checked for EE so I'm assuming they were all EE.

 

[Nickb23]

So it sound like if you get there when it opens, and "walk" to Daigon Alley, your wait should only be about 20 minutes to ride? How are the crowds at night?

 

[keishashadow]

pass the popcorn.

i'll bring the butterbeer

 

[KorbensMomma]

So it sound like if you get there when it opens, and "walk" to Daigon Alley, your wait should only be about 20 minutes to ride? How are the crowds at night?

I haven't been yet but from what I have read I think you need to be there in line a while before opening.

 

[damo]

So it sound like if you get there when it opens, and "walk" to Daigon Alley, your wait should only be about 20 minutes to ride? How are the crowds at night?

You can't just arrive when it opens but you have to be near the front of the pack when it opens. So that means getting there at least 45 minutes before it opens.

 

[peel]

Thanks for the entertainment, everyone!

If I were Universal, I would inform everyone that there is no running allowed, that they are to remain behind the employees who are leading them to the entrance, AND anyone arriving at the entrance ahead of said employees would be automatically moved to the end of the line. Sort of an invisible rope system. In fact, they can play up the Harry Potter angle and say there IS an invisible rope that, if crossed, will trigger a spell casting you to the back of the line.

 

[Kcross3625]

Haha Peel, love the invisible rope idea! There were park employees yelling at people to stop running but no one paid them any mind. The runners ran on ahead and us walkers strolled over. But even letting the runners ahead of me, I still only had a 15 minute wait so not bad.

 

[bastos]

We rode both the fourth and fifth of August. Both days we secured our spots in line about 7:10, 50 minutes before official open. One day we were admitted about 7:40, and one 7:45. Really depended on ticket checks and ignorance of using finger scan. The fourth, we were out about 8:45, and the fifth, we were out at 8:25, just before a break down. One elevator down was completely broken each day, and on the fourth, we just walked through. The best moments were the quieter times until 9:00 in Diagon Alley each day.

For what it's worth, I would stay at a hotel, and arrive an hour before open, or wait until later.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Wow...if you're going to flash your resume to opine how smart you are...ummmmmmmm don't remember hearing university of Toronto being mentioned in same breath as our Ivy League universities. I normally wouldn't respond to something like this but your arrogance is astounding.

Speaking of arrogance...it's always charming when Americans sneer at/dismiss anything that isn't American. And you wonder why the U.S. is so loathed all over the world. Do yourselves a favor and stop chanting U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! every chance you get. Maybe you won't alienate so many people (for the record, I love the U.S., and visit often, but the American sense of superiority rubs me the wrong way, too).

And yes, I know this is way but I didn't start this tangent.

Now you can start looking for the slightest typo or misspelling, anywhere in my post, so you can conveniently dismiss everything I said. Heaven help anyone who doesn't dot all his Is and cross all his Ts!

 

[Davey Jones II]

Haha Peel, love the invisible rope idea! There were park employees yelling at people to stop running but no one paid them any mind. The runners ran on ahead and us walkers strolled over. But even letting the runners ahead of me, I still only had a 15 minute wait so not bad.

There's no point yelling if lots of people are going to continue running without suffering consequences. Security needs to stop some of the runners, actually get in their way and order them to the back of the line. And if they refuse, eject them from the park!

Enforce the rules, and the word will get around. Once people realize that they can't get away with this crap, most people will actually start following the rules. This free-for-all pandemonium is just unacceptable.

 

[HeddyRuth]

For the radiator springs ride at Disney California adventure, they actually have cast members with a rope between them walk towards the back of the park where the ride is located and everyone must walk behind the rope. It looks like a wave coming at you if you are on the other side (scary), but it kept everyone from running. Not sure if something like this could be implemented at US.

 

[toddinboston]

I think you need to take a religions course, because Karma effects you in the afterlife. You may think you sound cool and smart, but to those of us with Ivy League educations, you look foolish.

psst, the Princeton School of Hair and Beauty isn't actually Ivy League...

 

[Bluer101]

For the radiator springs ride at Disney California adventure, they actually have cast members with a rope between them walk towards the back of the park where the ride is located and everyone must walk behind the rope. It looks like a wave coming at you if you are on the other side (scary), but it kept everyone from running. Not sure if something like this could be implemented at US.

This is what they were doing 3 weeks ago for DA. But this was not stopping the runners from the back and just coming in. They just run up behind the crowd pushing, cutting, and going through the bushes. Then they realize that the TM's have a rope and that's why they are all bunched up. But as more run more people follow suit. Then the people that were in first keep getting pushed back as the crowd pushes forward.

I will see this weekend how it goes.

 

[HeddyRuth]

This is what they were doing 3 weeks ago for DA. But this was not stopping the runners from the back and just coming in. They just run up behind the crowd pushing, cutting, and going through the bushes. Then they realize that the TM's have a rope and that's why they are all bunched up. But as more run more people follow suit. Then the people that were in first keep getting pushed back as the crowd pushes forward. I will see this weekend how it goes.

Yikes, that is scary!!

We are planning a trip for my birthday which is in between Christmas and New Years. I know this is probably just crazy, but it is the only time we can go.