Is it worth the trip to see WWoHP?

[Ms.Minnie]

Hi, I'm going to Disney World in Jan & I really wanted to go to see HP but I have heard it is very crowded & the price has really gone up. To get into Islands of Adventure is now nearly double what it costs to get into Universal Studios. The cost isn't really the issue but not sure if it's worth it. I am a Potter fan having read all the books & I have seen all the movies. Please let me know if you think it is worth it.

 

[WWEDUDE]

The price for either park are exactly the same. The tickets for Universal are like Disney, if you get a 1 Park ticket you can use it for whatever park. The prices have raised, but so have Disney (they are around the same price for one day) at least Universal has a big new reason to raise prices.

It is crowded, but manageable. I've heard it has dropped in crowd level, but who knows how it will be then. I'd say if you want to go, go for it.

 

[dvcterry]

we were there two weeks ago, 75 min. wait time to get on Forbidden Journey. Long wait time to get into Olivanders or Honeydukes or any of the shops, even just to buy butterbeer at the stand. hopefully it will wind down by the time you get there, but we had to see it while we were there.

 

[Berlioz70]

I was there two weeks ago, (Sun. Aug. 22) visited WWoHP after 4pm. Single Rider for FJ was 5 minutes.

I went last week (Sun. Aug. 29) at about 2:30, we waited about 30-40 minutes to get into Olivanders.

Neither week had a wait to get into stores and we walked up (no line) for Butterbeer at one of the side carts no problem.

 

[damo]

Yes, it is worth it. You should go.

 

[crmom7054]

It's a definite must do if you read or enjoyed the books at all. It's unbelievable to see and experience and it is the only place in the world you can!

Have a Butterbeer for me! That stuff is awesome!

 

[Alexander2010]

it is worth it to check it out.

don't be disappointed to have stood in a line at the wand shop. then when you get in they only pick one of your group for the wand. my wife waited 30 to 40 min and thats what happened.

also even if your kid or yourself doesn't want to ride the two dragon ride, go through the line it has the gobbet of fire from the movie. also the car from movie two is behind hagrid's hut also only seen if you go up the dragon ride line.

i found it smaller the it appeared on the today show. a lot of the stores and restaurants were joined together.

The ride in Hogwarts is also worth walking in to even if you don't want to or can't ride it. the interior of the castle was awesome.

i told my dw that they did a great job. but if Disney had done it, it would have been much better.

 

[flfun]

after the first few days of the year, january is typically a low crowd time and although crowds will be up somewhat because of harry i'm sure, it will be still be on the low side. i'd say go!

 

[Meredith]

Yanno, if you have to question whether it is worth it or not, then it might not be for you. I know that 2 years ago when I saw the signs that said Wizarding World of Harry Potter coming in 2010, I was already saving and planning for our trip. I don't really care about crowds or lines.. I just want to experience it..

I hope you go and enjoy yourself and do not compare it to disney or anything else... this is something that us Harry Potter fans can and will enjoy with or without the love of themeparks!

 

[Ms.Minnie]

Thank you all for you replies. I'm getting excited about going to see Harry's world. I think if I don't go I will regret it! I think I was under the impression that the price to get into Islands was much higher than Universal because they were running a special for Universal probably because everybody was going to see Harry & they wanted to give an incentive to go to the other park. I checked the prices here & you are correct, they are the same so I think I will order my tickets & my decision will be made!

 

[ElizabethB]

We just got back. We went to Universal specifically for WWOHP. We planned three days at Universal, but ended up spending five. Loved WWOHP and the rest of Universal and Islands of Adventure. So, my advice is definitely to go.

One of our favorite things was the front of the line access for all attractions other than WWOHP, and the early entry for WWOHP. So, I highly recommend a stay at a Loews hotel, too. If you don't stay at an on-site hotel, then, as others have suggested, visit WWOHP in the evening. We also thought the entire land was quite scenic in the evening, what with all of the crooked chimneys and tiny lights in the high towers of Hogwarts Castle (this from someone who has never read any of the books and doesn't really get the whole HP thing).

 

[disneysteve]

If you are truly going just for WWOHP, I'd say it might not be worth it. If you are going to spend a day or two enjoying all of Universal, then it is definitely worth it. Remember, WWOHP is not a new park. It is just a very small new section of one of two theme parks on site.

We were there 8/23 and 8/24 and it was our first visit ever to Universal. We had a great time there and enjoyed all of the rides and attractions at both parks. We spent about 2 hours in WWOHP each morning and spent the rest of each day exploring the remainder of the parks.

Forbidden Journey is really neat though my wife found it too rough and my daughter found it too scary so neither is likely to ride it again if we ever go back. DD and I loved the dragon coaster. Be sure to ride it twice because the two tracks are completely different rides. The hippogriff coaster is a fun little family coaster. And butterbeer is yummy. Buy it inside at 3 Broomsticks and it is a few cents cheaper than outside at the cart. And you can get a discount if you have a AAA card.

What we did was the first morning we went straight to FJ and the 2nd morning we went straight to Olivander's. Those are the two things that get the big lines. After doing those, we were free to walk around and explore and take pictures.

 

[TickTockTyler]

i told my dw that they did a great job. but if Disney had done it, it would have been much better.

Why do you think that Disney would have done a better job than Universal? In fact in recent years I think Universal has outdone Disney on New ride designs and areas. The comparison I would use here is The Toy Story Midway Mania Part of Hollywood Studios, a very subpar ride when you think about it, I can do the same thing on my wii with a couch on wheels and a spray bottle of water. Also the rest of the area is just a character meet and greet. Where as the Harry Potter are of Islands of Adventure immerses you completely in what the movies and books were with shops(that is also a show), restaurants, and a new ride.

This is not to say that I think Disney is incapable of making something better as they have in the past, I just dont think they have done it recently as they seem to focus to much on the bottom line. Maybe with the Fantasyland expansion they can return to their days of glory, but will it be to little to late only time will tell.

 

[bubba's mom]

Hi, I'm going to Disney World in Jan & I really wanted to go to see HP but I have heard it is very crowded & the price has really gone up. To get into Islands of Adventure is now nearly double what it costs to get into Universal Studios. The cost isn't really the issue but not sure if it's worth it. I am a Potter fan having read all the books & I have seen all the movies. Please let me know if you think it is worth it.

Your location of where you live isn't listed, but I'll go with this: If you are ALREADY going to be at WDW, you might as well hop over to see Harry Potter. You say you are a fan, it is worth it.

I'm NOT a fan and I really liked WWoHP.

 

[damo]

it is worth it to check it out.

don't be disappointed to have stood in a line at the wand shop. then when you get in they only pick one of your group for the wand. my wife waited 30 to 40 min and thats what happened.

also even if your kid or yourself doesn't want to ride the two dragon ride, go through the line it has the gobbet of fire from the movie. also the car from movie two is behind hagrid's hut also only seen if you go up the dragon ride line.

i found it smaller the it appeared on the today show. a lot of the stores and restaurants were joined together.

The ride in Hogwarts is also worth walking in to even if you don't want to or can't ride it. the interior of the castle was awesome.

i told my dw that they did a great job. but if Disney had done it, it would have been much better.

Disney did present a proposal to Rowling. Their proposal only included a ride. It would be similar to Toy Story Mania ride at Hollywood Studios. There were no stores or restaurants or any other attractions included.

 

[contemporarymom]

Disney did present a proposal to Rowling. Their proposal only included a ride. It would be similar to Toy Story Mania ride at Hollywood Studios. There were no stores or restaurants or any other attractions included.

I love Universal/IOA and Disney but having just returned from visiting both places I have to say that the WWOHP kicks the a** of any Disney attraction in any of their parks. The entire group I went with (four adults, four teenagers, not all HP fans) completely agreed.

We also all agreed that the theming at Universal is equal to or better than Disney's all throughout the parks.

 

[cathyalby]

We're planning on going to UO and IOA Oct 8-12. We're going to Disney one day and the Universal/IOA the other two days. My question is, what do you think the best day would be to go to WWOHP? Also, that's at IOA, right? Should we go on the 8th since it's Friday and most kids would be in school, still, or do you think it'll matter?

 

[luvdumbo]

I am going to Disney for two weeks for food and Wine and thought I would stop over to see WoHP but with the crowds still in that area will wait for next years visit and hope some of the new wears off

 

[bubba's mom]

We're planning on going to UO and IOA Oct 8-12. We're going to Disney one day and the Universal/IOA the other two days. My question is, what do you think the best day would be to go to WWOHP? Also, that's at IOA, right? Should we go on the 8th since it's Friday and most kids would be in school, still, or do you think it'll matter?

Sunday is usually the least busy...but, you'll just have to watch the thread for crowd levels on the Fridays leading up to it. Some peeps will take their kids out of school to make long weekend of it.

 

[Albytaps]

It's worth it.

The only problem is when you're on a Disney vacation, it's always nice to just stay in Disney. Plus, it costs a lot less to just go an extra day to Disney than to buy a one day ticket for Universal.

If you have the cash to spend, it's worth it to check out Potter.