IOA crowds - Dec. 24-31 ??

[VA_mouseman]

We'll be in central Florida over the xmas break and are thinking about a day trip to Islands of Adventure to see the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Yeah, it's a busy week. but just how busy? What strategy should we use if we attempt it?

Thanks

 

[Metro West]

We'll be in central Florida over the xmas break and are thinking about a day trip to Islands of Adventure to see the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Yeah, it's a busy week. but just how busy? What strategy should we use if we attempt it?

Thanks

IOA will be MOBBED that week. I would guess the crowds for WWoHP will be almost as bad as opening weekend. I would certainly avoid that week if at all possible. I don't go near any of the parks that week.

 

[amym2]

We'll be there that week too, and from what I've read, we expect to spend LOTS of time in lines. I'd love to hear advice also- do we head straight to WWOHP when the park opens or do we chance the lines going down later in the day?

 

[Metro West]

We'll be there that week too, and from what I've read, we expect to spend LOTS of time in lines. I'd love to hear advice also- do we head straight to WWOHP when the park opens or do we chance the lines going down later in the day?

Onsite guests receive early into WWoHP and I imagine quite a few people will book rooms that week so they can have that perk. I don't think the lines will be any shorter later in the day because of the huge crowds that week.

 

[Brit_Jude]

We will be there at the same time. We fully expect it to be crowded. We are staying on-site at Universal Orlando in the HRH for the week to take advantage of the benefit for on-site guests to go to the front of the line for the other rides (well the faster line along with all the other on-site guests ) Based on the room rates I think the on-site hotels will be pretty much sold out.

We will also use the staying on-site benefit to get into IoA early a couple of mornings for WWoHP. But we are there for Universal as we love the other rides in IoA and US. We are actually doing the opposite and will spend one day over at Disney.

If you plan to go to IoA for one day for WWoHP then read all the tips in the WWoHP crowd thread and the other WWoHP threads here in this forum. Expect to wait in long lines and for it to be crowded. Get to the park 1 hour before scheduled opening as they often let non on-site resort guests in early and then you line up in the Jurasic Park area before getting into the WWoHP area. We did this in the summer and got into WWoHP at least 30 minutes early which helped with the crowds. I know Disney gets busy at Christmas and they invoke park closing so treat the WWoHP area with the same thought.

Hope you have a good trip!

 

[amystevekai&bump]

We get there on New Years Day - I am really hoping the crowds are quietening down from 1st Jan as my boys are desperate to go to WWOHP and as they're still only 3 and 6, I don't fancy them getting trampled in the crowds!!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Here's how busy that timeframe will be:

-Dec 24: Moderate. There will be lines, especially @ WWOHP.
-Dec 25: Moderate. A lot of people will NOT be in the parks, at least not until the afternoon. From 12-5 it will be the most hectic.
-Dec 26-31: INSANE. All 7 theme parks in the Orlando area will be crowded. They always are. 90+ minute waits will be the norm.
-Jan 1: Moderate. The morning will be light, as many will be sleeping/too hungover. It'll pick up by midday.