IMO HP is way overated

[kathy884]

Mickman1962,

Without even going, we sort of came to the same conclusion and will be skipping IOA on our spring break trip.

I think the theming for WWHP looks incredible, and we would love to see the area. We aren't, though, big enough fans to want to deal with the crowds (We'll be in an offsite condo during high season and would not have early entry). It does sound like going late in the day is the best bet (not sure if that will be true in March, though and they may have shorter hours??). Also for a late in the day visit, we really aren't interested in too much else at IOA and Universal, and it seems awfuly expensive to just come so late and see just this for anyone who is not a super huge fan. Other than the Hulk, Dueling Dragons (now part of WWHP), and the Jurassic Park Discovery Center, and seeing the new area, DS doesn't have anything else in these parks he wanted to do again and made the decision after reading posts with reasonable estimates of what lines would be (longer than we'd like, but doable if we really wanted to go) to subtract this one and add a different theme park instead. I should note too, that my son read a detailed description of FJ and said they picked lots of parts from movies that he's not too crazy about for the ride. On top of that, he prefers straight thrill rides at places like Cedar Point to rides like Spiderman with visuals. This plus having to wait to actually look around in stores just didn't look like it would cut it for us.

My husband has read all the books multiple times and just loves them, but he doesn't even go to Orlando -- doesn't like theme parks or Florida. He's the one in our family who would probably appreciate the authenticity of the place the most, but he would if he felt like he had a choice never set foot into a theme park.

 

[Purseval]

Mickman1962,

Without even going, we sort of came to the same conclusion and will be skipping IOA on our spring break trip.

I think the theming for WWHP looks incredible, and we would love to see the area. We aren't, though, big enough fans to want to deal with the crowds (We'll be in an offsite condo during high season and would not have early entry).

We were there during high season, mid July. Not only did we have the novelty of a new area we had kids on vacation and tour groups to deal with. Taking all of that into account I've had rougher times trying to deal with the lines in The Simpsons, Revenge Of The Mummy and HRRR when they were new. Don't let the reports scare you off.

 

[Planogirl]

I think that much of the dissatisfaction is due to the big crowds. They make it harder to see it all and I read over and over that the lines and crowded stores and so on make it disappointing. I hope that the crowds die down to a reasonable level soon and maybe it'll be easier to enjoy this area.

I'm also interested in the comments about authenticity to the books when it comes to the movies. I've never read the books but like the movies and I guess that this might be best when it comes to WWOHP.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I can understand someone who hasn't read the books questioning the hype. I've read the books multiple times and from the pictures I think WWofHP looks amazing. As much as I love the books though, I don't have alot of desire to go to WWofHP anymore. I've never been to Universal, just not my cup of tea, but I thought WWofHP would finally get me there. Now, not so much. Forbidden Journey sounds incredible, but I'm iffy as to whether I would fit and I'm not willing to risk going only to find out that I don't. Other than that, the rollercoasters don't interest me, I can go on a rollercoaster anywhere. The shops look cool, but there isn't really alot of HP stuff I'd want to buy, a mug, maybe a pin or two and standing in line to shop doesn't interest me at all. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but it was more than the finished product. I find the two re-themed rollercoasters the most disappointing. There are endlessly possibilities in Harry's world and that is all Universal could come up with? It also irritates me that there is not a "walk through only" line for FJ. I would LOVE to do the que line of the castle, but I want to take my time, go at my own pace, check everything out, not just go along with the flow of people waiting to ride. Someone said there really isn't a way for Universal to make a walk through only line, that may be true now, but why didn't they think of that when they were building it? It could be two attractions in one. I don't know, I'm sure I will get there one day, but for the moment, Harry's world will have to stay in my head for awhile longer.

 

[phamton]

Sure you can walk through the line and not ride. There is plenty of room so you can take your time in line and just let others pass you who are in a hurry to just get on the ride. Just let them know you are going through child swap/chicken exit and not riding. I took my time in the line so I could enjoy it. I just let people pass who were in a hurry. The walk through area is very wide and there is lots of room for others to walk around you.

 

[Jaxx1980]

Again I haven't been yet.
From what i have heard they have used some of the best bits [/I] from the books in FJ.. I do wish there had been Voldermort and Death Eaters also.

I need to ask people that have ridden. Is this issue with screens being blurry really that bad? Heard a few say this. Does it some how ruin the ride a bit?
Maybe ts speed you move that does this.

For anyone who has watched the films and enjoyed them, I REALLY suggest that you read the books!! They areSO much better than the films. Of course if you see film 1st you kinda always compare a bit.
The 1st book I read and thought ok that was just ok. After that they trully get better and better. Chamber of secrets is Amazing!! Don't you just love Lockheart in the book i think this was portrayed preety well in the film.
The final book is one of the best also. I was not dissapointed at all.... Can't wait to see hwo the film does with this.

I do feel that in the books Hermionie carries ron and Harry a bit. In the way that she is so talented, and always seems to save there butts lol. She is super magical. In the films she doesnt seem to do a great deal. she is really is one of my fave characters.

Dobby he is so so so so cool. Emailed Universal to ask if they woudl consider some decent Dobby merchendise.

Anyway i will read all the books again b4 I go back next year.

Sorry guys i have waffled on and on. I just love talking about HP

PS. I never thought about Butter Beer being warm. My bad memory i guess

 

[damo]

Again I haven't been yet.
From what i have heard they have used some of the best bits [/I] from the books in FJ.. I do wish there had been Voldermort and Death Eaters also.

I need to ask people that have ridden. Is this issue with screens being blurry really that bad? Heard a few say this. Does it some how ruin the ride a bit?
Maybe ts speed you move that does this.

For anyone who has watched the films and enjoyed them, I REALLY suggest that you read the books!! They areSO much better than the films. Of course if you see film 1st you kinda always compare a bit.
The 1st book I read and thought ok that was just ok. After that they trully get better and better. Chamber of secrets is Amazing!! Don't you just love Lockheart in the book i think this was portrayed preety well in the film.
The final book is one of the best also. I was not dissapointed at all.... Can't wait to see hwo the film does with this.

I do feel that in the books Hermionie carries ron and Harry a bit. In the way that she is so talented, and always seems to save there butts lol. She is super magical. In the films she doesnt seem to do a great deal. she is really is one of my fave characters.

Dobby he is so so so so cool. Emailed Universal to ask if they woudl consider some decent Dobby merchendise.

Anyway i will read all the books again b4 I go back next year.

Sorry guys i have waffled on and on. I just love talking about HP

PS. I never thought about Butter Beer being warm. My bad memory i guess

I didn't find the issue to be that noticeable. Considering that the images are projected onto small domes and that they are squinched - I think they've done a very good job. If it was just a simple movie projected onto a flat screen, then ya, I'd be disappointed.

Here's a pic of the domes that the image is projected on. You can see how small and how close you are to them.

You will see exactly why the images that you view while on the ride are slightly blurry. I suggest you google "I got stuck on Harry Potter and I didn't call 911". I can't link to it here for some reason but it is a really cool thread.

 

[Jaxx1980]

That link was great thank you! You are pretty much touching the screens!!!
Man this ride looks so cool.

All i gotta say is 99% i think seem to think its amazing, so I am going with them.
And its not universals fault Disney missed out on Harry Potter. They have done amazing.
ty again for link.

PS. i can't believed somone actually called 911 the week before lol.

 

[damo]

That link was great thank you! You are pretty much touching the screens!!!
Man this ride looks so cool.

All i gotta say is 99% i think seem to think its amazing, so I am going with them.
And its not universals fault Disney missed out on Harry Potter. They have done amazing.
ty again for link.

I don't believe I can link because it is one of those sites that disboards has banned you from linking to. Must be competition. You have to google it.

 

[Planogirl]

I can understand someone who hasn't read the books questioning the hype. I've read the books multiple times and from the pictures I think WWofHP looks amazing. As much as I love the books though, I don't have alot of desire to go to WWofHP anymore. I've never been to Universal, just not my cup of tea, but I thought WWofHP would finally get me there. Now, not so much. Forbidden Journey sounds incredible, but I'm iffy as to whether I would fit and I'm not willing to risk going only to find out that I don't. Other than that, the rollercoasters don't interest me, I can go on a rollercoaster anywhere. The shops look cool, but there isn't really alot of HP stuff I'd want to buy, a mug, maybe a pin or two and standing in line to shop doesn't interest me at all. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but it was more than the finished product. I find the two re-themed rollercoasters the most disappointing. There are endlessly possibilities in Harry's world and that is all Universal could come up with? It also irritates me that there is not a "walk through only" line for FJ. I would LOVE to do the que line of the castle, but I want to take my time, go at my own pace, check everything out, not just go along with the flow of people waiting to ride. Someone said there really isn't a way for Universal to make a walk through only line, that may be true now, but why didn't they think of that when they were building it? It could be two attractions in one. I don't know, I'm sure I will get there one day, but for the moment, Harry's world will have to stay in my head for awhile longer.

I haven't read the books but I'm a Star Wars nerd from way back so I understand the hype. From the pictures I've seen and the reviews I've read, it sounds justified too.

Universal spent a lot of money apparently. A LOT of money. They are also limited in space (like Disneyland) so they can't spread out like WDW could. It would be ludicrous to tear down a popular coaster like Dueling Dragons just to build another one. I haven't seen the new queue area yet but we loved the old DD queue. I hope that the new one matches up because so much of what we love about Universal is the creativity in the queues. At Universal the attraction is an overall experience so often from the moment you enter the entry into the queue until you leave the ride building. I love that! Apparently the work done in this regard on Flight of the Hippogriff is quite nice.

Besides these attractions, you also have the shops and restaurants. I find this adequate personally. There is also conjecture that this is just the beginning.

I'm also a big fan of Universal overall though so I see this new area as more to enjoy in a place I already love. That's a different perspective of course.

 

[JenM]

I still can't get over the movie-Harry having blue eyes. His green eyes in the book are such a big deal.

The big deal isn't that his eyes are green, it's that he has his mother's eyes.

 

[cigar95]

The big deal isn't that his eyes are green, it's that he has his mother's eyes.

There's some significance in the green, as it's a reference to another literary work. I think it's to a character in Dante's 'Divine Comedy', but don't hold me to that without my references in front of me.

 

[fairyprincess88]

It honestly never bothered me that Harry had blue eyes in the movies as opposed to the green in the books. They left in the most important aspect of his eyes in the movies and that is "He has his mother's eyes". The reason that aspect of his eyes is so important is explained in Deathly Hallows. So as long as they mentioned, "he has his mother's eyes" in the films, they covered the most important part, which they have in pretty much every film made.

Yes, it would have been more authentic to have them green but they did try the contacts and Dan's eyes swelled up and other assorted not pleasent things. But really the color is secondary to the main reason his eyes are so important.

 

[Purseval]

I didn't find the issue to be that noticeable. Considering that the images are projected onto small domes and that they are squinched - I think they've done a very good job. If it was just a simple movie projected onto a flat screen, then ya, I'd be disappointed.

It probably is related to how you see normally. I have to move stuff away from me to read it or it becomes blurry. The ride is probably using the same principle. And while you could notice it if you're picky (I won't watch movies that aren't blurays anymore, for instance) it's not so bad that it would ruin your ride experience.

 

[tonks]

I just got back from my first visit. I can agree with the complaints and come up with 25 of my own. The stores were so packed I would have preferred to wait outside in line in the heat another half hour just to have more space inside. Conditions were somewhat miserable. Still, I barely noticed and had a ridiculously amazing time.

If I wasn't a huge fan of both the books and movies, I wouldn't go near the park so soon after opening. I can't blame anyone who isn't a fan. But for those of us who get so caught up in Harry Potter, it's a great atmosphere and well worth it.

 

[Melrosgirl]

We went and loved it. The biggest disappointment was without a doubt Ollivander's. 90 minutes in line (we got there at 8:30 a.m.) and it was a 3 minute show that led you to the gift shop (where I had already been) to buy a wand. What a waste.

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

First never read the books, did see the movies. But really 2 re-themed rides, one new (fantastic) ride, great theming, a few shops that are WAY to small and more fake facades then you can count. Went 2 days (staying at HRH) got in by 7:30 and were done both days by 8:30. Just don't get the hype being thrown around. If the Harry Potter name was not attached to this I am sure it would getting vilified as a waste of money/space.

No offense but you never read the books so you wouldn't get it. I like the movies but they are nothing like your imagination and the movie you make in your head. The detailing is great for someone who has only the limited vision of the movies but for the reader it's a completely different and almost every description you read is there in front of you.

 

[Disney Padawan]

It's just one of the givens that you are going to have people blinded by DD's, their Disney Delusional glasses where skies are cloudy and the world is a grim place until they enter the Magic Kingdom where, for a few thousand dollars, skies are blue, birds sing and everyone behaves like perfect angels. Just keep in mind that Disney, the company that set the standard in animation for 6 decades, was so overwhelmed by new competition that it essentially shut down operations. It couldn't compete so it bought the competition. Now Pixar is animaton and Disney is a footnote.

WWOHP has done to the theme park what Pixar did to the animation studios. It has a level of detail that is so far above anything Disney has done it's laughable to try and compare them. Only this time Disney can't buy its way out. But the DD people can't think like that. They have far too much time and money invested into the "Magic" to believe anything at all could possibly be better. To think otherwise would be like admitting they were duped, and that isn't going to happen. So let them criticize and take their bitter words as a tacit admission that the bar has been raised.

Probably the best post I've read all week.

 

[georgina]

Just back from our 4 days and loved it. I was glad I had done my research beforehand. We visited WWOHP Saturday evening (not too crowded), Sunday morning (not bad), Monday evening (quite crowded), Tuesday morning, and went back Tuesday afternoon for a last look. I found the place grew on me a little more each time. When we weren't rushing off to rides or waiting in line at stores, we just relaxed and enjoyed the atmosphere of the crowd. (I think the Hogshead Ale helped with that part!) Except for the last look, we went during the "cooler" parts of the day and avoided the hot afternoons. My only complaint was the shortage of certain merchandise in the shops. My DD complained that there were no Cedric banners in the Dragon Challenge queue, as he was the official Hogwarts champion. Definitely WWOHP was not a disappointment to us!

 

[damo]

Just back from our 4 days and loved it. I was glad I had done my research beforehand. We visited WWOHP Saturday evening (not too crowded), Sunday morning (not bad), Monday evening (quite crowded), Tuesday morning, and went back Tuesday afternoon for a last look. I found the place grew on me a little more each time. When we weren't rushing off to rides or waiting in line at stores, we just relaxed and enjoyed the atmosphere of the crowd. (I think the Hogshead Ale helped with that part!) Except for the last look, we went during the "cooler" parts of the day and avoided the hot afternoons. My only complaint was the shortage of certain merchandise in the shops. My DD complained that there were no Cedric banners in the Dragon Challenge queue, as he was the official Hogwarts champion. Definitely WWOHP was not a disappointment to us!

Apparently every banner in the queue is from a scene in Goblet of Fire movie. Because there have been many people disappointed like your daughter, they are making a Cedric banner.