I'm seriously put off Harry Potter

[lildamo]

Plus it puts anything that Disny had done to shame...seriously! This place is themed to the max.

I got to see everything for the first time today, and I have never felt "magic" like this in my life -- I was on the verge of tears walking into Hogsmeade, about 3 times on the ride (before various creatures attacked me!), and throughout the whole experience. We were only in there for about an hour today and were lucky enough to get in period after our early AM flight and although there will always be things that could have been improved (as is the same with everything everywhere), I have never seen anything this detail-oriented, fun, and that gives such an overall "magical" feeling as WWoHP -- nor do I ever expect to again until I'm lucky enough to be able to go to DisneySea in Tokyo.

We're going back in September and will be counting down the days and hours.

 

[Indy Denise]

Go. I went last week and enjoyed it. I had so much fun.

At the same time I can see exactly what Pete was talking about. They should have just taken over all of Lost Continent. They should have considered the seat size before they opened the ride. I hope that these issues will be corrected. The packages were unfair to everyone.

You don't notice anything else around you, it's like you are in your own world, or Harry's world.

That said, I was surprised at the small size of the stores..but, that is how Universal/J.K./someone wanted them. It wasn't a design errror. We are the US..go big or go home...this, I believe was puposely done to give it more of an authentic feel. Several TM's told me this.

I do think they should have had one bench capable of taking larger guests..they may have had to wait until it came around again and then not rode with friends and family but other larger guests...but riding it anyway is better then not riding it at all.

 

[poeticdiabetic]

If I may paraphrase a from quote Homer Simpson from one of my favorite episodes, "The difference between FJ and the Simpsons ride is the difference between champagne and carbonated pee."

(In other words, if you like the Simpsons ride, you'll ADORE FJ because of its unquestioned superiority in every way.)

What you fail to realize is that I can care less about Harry Potter or anything HP-related. I'm not hyped up at all about riding the ride and I'm only excited getting back to riding the rides that I've mentioned is because I've liked those rides when I rode them the last time.

So time will tell if I like or even ride FJ because I feel no excitement concerning anything HP-related. I just want the prices to go down so I can feel like I'm getting my money's worth. I want every Harry Potter lover to go and ride themselves crazy so there won't be so many of them when I go in September. See, the price hike is for you, not me- and if the prices are the same in Sept. as it is now, I'm not going back then either. I can wait until next year.

Now when I finally go there and if the ride 'wows' me, then that's another story, but for what I saw on the videos, I'm not so sure.

In short, not everyone's Harry Potter fans.

 

[Rip]

Thats not necessarily true, the Narnia and Prince Caspian attractions at WDW didn't have bad animatronics. Imagine what they could have done with WWOHP. I bet the attraction would have at least encompassed several hundred square feet.

 

[Oglet]

As I politely pointed out to a lady standing in line for Soarin last Thanksgiving day when she complained about never coming back to Disney because of the crowds. "Well they are all here for the same reason as you and I maam, Its convenient for them to be here at this time as well"

 

[Magpie]

Thats not necessarily true, the Narnia and Prince Caspian attractions at WDW didn't have bad animatronics. Imagine what they could have done with WWOHP. I bet the attraction would have at least encompassed several hundred square feet.

Who can forget being herded into a room and shouted at by a cast member dressed up as the White Witch?

Ah, magical memories...

 

[bouncy54]

As I politely pointed out to a lady standing in line for Soarin last Thanksgiving day when she complained about never coming back to Disney because of the crowds. "Well they are all here for the same reason as you and I maam, Its convenient for them to be here at this time as well"

I always have to fight my family when deciding on the "when" of our Disney vacations. They wanted to go to Orlando in July because they like the longer hours at the parks during the summer but hate the crowds and the heat. I've had to constantly remind them of what it was really like when we went to DL last summer. Florida is even hotter and the humidity.. oh my! The air feels so heavy on our Pacific Northwest lungs. We have a lot of moisture in the air in the Seattle area, but it's different somehow.

We started planning this November vacation last November and some of them howled for months about having to wait so long. I kept telling them that they would be surprised by how fast the time would zip by and sure enough, it has. Seems like just a few weeks ago that we started planning. Now we have everything purchased and are down to only 21 weeks of waiting. We have camping trips and other activities planned for the summer so you just know that the grandkids will be going back to school in no time and then we can start counting the days instead of the months before our fun-filled vacation in Florida. Can hardly wait!

 

[Claire-Bear]

IMHO I wouldn't let one review put me off. Firstly because many other reviews have been exceptionally positive, both from people here and on OU. Secondly, because the experience he had was as a pre-GO package holder, which is bound to be messier than post-GO for everyone since post-GO the area will be open all day to everyone.

 

[Disney Padawan]

My family and I were all getting ready for the magical experience of The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter. Having read all the books myself, I was really looking forward to it. But then, when we heard Pete & co.'s review of it, we were all agreeing that this would be one to miss when we go in October.

The theming, the shops incorporating that factor, and the whole visual aspect of the place sounded great, but to fight through all those crowds;to fight through hundreds of very hot people just to get to a ride which you have to spend a whole day waiting in line for, didn't seem right.

We were all looking forward to a brilliant trip to Universal, but this review by The Dis just reminded me of one thing- Universal just doesn't have the magic that Disney does.

Here we have a family that was anticipating this great experience, but who now just want to go to Gatorland!

So if you cooked for 100 people and 1 out of 99 didn't like what you made, would you stop making that dish again? Can't just go by someone's opinion. Oh, and that choosing Gatorland over Universal?

What you fail to realize is that I can care less about Harry Potter or anything HP-related. I'm not hyped up at all about riding the ride and I'm only excited getting back to riding the rides that I've mentioned is because I've liked those rides when I rode them the last time.

So time will tell if I like or even ride FJ because I feel no excitement concerning anything HP-related. I just want the prices to go down so I can feel like I'm getting my money's worth. I want every Harry Potter lover to go and ride themselves crazy so there won't be so many of them when I go in September. See, the price hike is for you, not me- and if the prices are the same in Sept. as it is now, I'm not going back then either. I can wait until next year.

Now when I finally go there and if the ride 'wows' me, then that's another story, but for what I saw on the videos, I'm not so sure.

In short, not everyone's Harry Potter fans.

I think the prices may stay up and HP will be busy for years to come. By the very nature of the business, prices always go up, specially after a new attraction.

Hope all of you have a great trip no matter what you decide.

 

[TaylorsDad]

I agree and think the $99 7 day tickets are long gone never to return. Remember though the $99 tickets were just a promotion and not meant to last. I think that is why a lot are disappointed because the promotion lasted so long they thought of that as the normal prices. But this is one time where I would love to be proven wrong and see the prices drop in a couple of months. I just dont expect it to happen. I still believe the value for Uni is well worth the price and more (just dont tell them I said so, prices may rise,lol)

 

[poeticdiabetic]

I agree and think the $99 7 day tickets are long gone never to return. Remember though the $99 tickets were just a promotion and not meant to last. I think that is why a lot are disappointed because the promotion lasted so long they thought of that as the normal prices. But this is one time where I would love to be proven wrong and see the prices drop in a couple of months. I just dont expect it to happen. I still believe the value for Uni is well worth the price and more (just dont tell them I said so, prices may rise,lol)

I hope not. Because if it is, I'll probably not be going to the park for a long time. It's like this: I will pay $99 or less for 3 days or more for US/IOA. That's it. It's not worth anymore than that for me.

But I'm hearing that some good discounts will be coming back next year- especially for Georgia and Florida residents. If it's true, I'll be back. If not, I had a lot of fun when I visited US/IOA last year.

 

[mjohnson96]

I hope not. Because if it is, I'll probably not be going to the park for a long time. It's like this: I will pay $99 or less for 3 days or more for US/IOA. That's it. It's not worth anymore than that for me.

But I'm hearing that some good discounts will be coming back next year- especially for Georgia and Florida residents. If it's true, I'll be back. If not, I had a lot of fun when I visited US/IOA last year.

Right now a Fl Resident ticket for 3 days 2 park is $105. Maybe if you find some quarters lying around in the couch one day you will go before next year

 

[GetGlowing]

I just picked up 7-day tickets from Maple Leaf that were $130. They're not $99, but they're not THAT much more. It's certainly a better public deal than we'll ever get at Disney. Bonus - when they arrived, they were really 14-day tickets. We plan to be in the Universal Parks four days AND I CAN'T WAIT!

I don't understand the anti-Universal attitude some have. I love ALL theme parks. The more the better. If someone wants to build a roller coaster or another great ride, I am more than happy to enjoy it.

 

[bartola]

If you can care less about Harry Potter or anything HP-related, then do us a favor, stay home and don't crowd the line for FJ...

 

[poeticdiabetic]

If you can care less about Harry Potter or anything HP-related, then do us a favor, stay home and don't crowd the line for FJ...

I did. I went somewhere else last week instead of going to US/IOA when I was in Orlando. As I've said before, the price hikes are for the HP fans, not for those just looking for a fun ride.

Next year, I should be able to get those tickets for about $89 for 3 days. That's when I'm going. If the tickets get cheaper in Sept. when I'm back in Orlando- then I might head in there earlier.

But if not, I won't. Call it a service for those who can care less about HP stuff to allow one less person in line. You're welcome!

 

[Metro West]

Right now a Fl Resident ticket for 3 days 2 park is $105.

Just remember...Fl resident tickets can only be purchased and used by FL residents...this is a new policy.

 

[Burnt Toast]

Sorry, if the OP reads one review and is "put off" by something without experiencing it themselves... then... well, great. Less people in the land for the rest of us.

 

[Planogirl]

I'll gladly pay the same for Universal passes as I pay for WDW passes. I'd rather not but to me they're equally valuable.

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

That's the part I had trouble with. I don't blame Pete for being disappointed that he couldn't ride or for thinking that the people who purchased packages should have gotten more. However, I thought that blaming Universal for everything that annoys you while giving them none of the credit for what you like seems a little much.

I agree. I can respect everyone's opinion but I will make my own opinion about WW.

 

[patster734]

Just remember...Fl resident tickets can only be purchased and used by FL residents...this is a new policy.

Do you know how they are enforcing this?