How to get to Harry Potter World?

[3prettyprincesses]

I've never been to Universal/IOA before. We're planning to hit Harry Potter world for our upcoming trip. Which way do you go? I assume the entrance is at Port of Entry! Thanks!

ETA: I mean which way do walk to get to the Harry Potter Wizarding World. I am so unfamiliar with Universal!

 

[Planogirl]

IOA is laid out in a rough circle. You can go either way (right or left) and you will eventually end up at the WWoHP entrance. Going to the right is a bit shorter but when we went regular visitors were being sent to the left while onsite visitors were going to the right. There are signs and Universal TM's around so you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[HLAuburn]

IOA is laid out in a rough circle. You can go either way (right or left) and you will eventually end up at the WWoHP entrance. Going to the right is a bit shorter but when we went regular visitors were being sent to the left while onsite visitors were going to the right. There are signs and Universal TM's around so you shouldn't have any problems.

Why were they dividing people up like that? Maybe the off site people we going to a character breakfast? I thought that only onsite people we allowed in an hour early.

 

[Metro West]

Why were they dividing people up like that? Maybe the off site people we going to a character breakfast? I thought that only onsite people we allowed in an hour early.

That's generally true but it depends on the size of the crowds outside the gates. The parks will open early if there is a huge mob outside but only onsite guests can do WWoHP...off site guests can not.

 

[HLAuburn]

That's generally true but it depends on the size of the crowds outside the gates. The parks will open early if there is a huge mob outside but only onsite guests can do WWoHP...off site guests can not.

Oh, OK thanks. So do you have to show them your hotel card? What about when you get to WWoHP - do they check you again there? (If not, it seems like the offsite people could just walk around to the left and get in that way.)

 

[Metro West]

Oh, OK thanks. So do you have to show them your hotel card? What about when you get to WWoHP - do they check you again there? (If not, it seems like the offsite people could just walk around to the left and get in that way.)

I think you would have to show your room keys to get into the WWoHP line and again further down the line to make sure there is no line jumping. Otherwise, they would shuffle you off the in other direction.

 

[LUVIOA]

We had to show our room key right before you enter the area and they only had the entrance open through Lost Continent. The Jurassic Park side was for general public. It's very well contained so no line jumping could possibly happen.

 

[HLAuburn]

We had to show our room key right before you enter the area and they only had the entrance open through Lost Continent. The Jurassic Park side was for general public. It's very well contained so no line jumping could possibly happen.

Cool...thanks!

 

[Planogirl]

When we were there (last August) there was a pretty big crowd. We were offsite so we were directed to the left and walked past closed attractions to get to the entrance line for WWoHP. It was actually kind of fun to see the park attractions so deserted.

The hotel guests went onto the right and were being asked to show keys to a guy allowing people through.

 

[ladylinda65]

They split the park for HP. Hotel guests to the right through Seuss and Lost continent and no hotel to the left through Marvel, JP, etc.

I believe they will give you a ticket to wait on the standby line and yes it is VERY orderly to avoid line cutting!

have fun!!!

 

[disneysophie]

I believe they will give you a ticket to wait on the standby line and yes it is VERY orderly to avoid line cutting!

have fun!!!

What do you mean by "they will give you a ticket"? Is this for off site guests...does that mean that if you get there earlier you are given a ticket to go in first?

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Ok, let me see if I have this straight...I'm staying offsite so I'll be heading toward the left.

I'm planning to be there by 8:30am and hoping for a low crowd day! It'll be middle of the week, the beginning of February so hopefully it will have died down.