Is it worth the trip to see WWoHP?

[Ms.Minnie]

Thanks again for all the replies. We will be in Disney for 12 days so I think I can give up one day at Disney to check out HP. As soon as I heard about HP I wanted to see it & the things I've seen on line look really cool.

We usually visit Disney every Jan and we live in NJ so I have to visit HP while the getting is good. I won't be back again for another year.

As far as Disney doing it better I haven't seen HP yet but based on what I have seen of Universal I have to agree. Although Universal is very nice they missed some opportunities to go over the top. For example in ET when you go over the trees or ride by the flowers; if Disney had done that ride in true Disney fashion you would have smelled the pine from the trees & the scent of flowers...Just my opinion. I also have to agree that sometimes Disney does seem to miss the mark as with the Toy Story ride. It's a cute ride but it could have been much more...

 

[damo]

Thanks again for all the replies. We will be in Disney for 12 days so I think I can give up one day at Disney to check out HP. As soon as I heard about HP I wanted to see it & the things I've seen on line look really cool.

We usually visit Disney every Jan and we live in NJ so I have to visit HP while the getting is good. I won't be back again for another year.

As far as Disney doing it better I haven't seen HP yet but based on what I have seen of Universal I have to agree. Although Universal is very nice they missed some opportunities to go over the top. For example in ET when you go over the trees or ride by the flowers; if Disney had done that ride in true Disney fashion you would have smelled the pine from the trees & the scent of flowers...Just my opinion. I also have to agree that sometimes Disney does seem to miss the mark as with the Toy Story ride. It's a cute ride but it could have been much more...

I agree that they can do lots more to refurb ET, but are you saying that you don't smell the pine smell in there? That is one of the most distinguishing factors in the ET ride.

 

[drinkme]

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.

I agree! We love Disney, but Universal Florida has the best rides.

 

[Rip]

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.

The TSM comparison is actually pretty much spot on. Disney had the opportunity to get the rights to HP and they basically wanted to do a 3D simulator ride much like TSM.

So yeah, the idea that Disney would have done it better is patently ridiculous and I really get sick of hearing it from Disneyphiles. UO has FAR outpaced Disney for the last decade when it comes to theming and ride technology.

Most people that say crap like that are dogging WWHP while getting uber excited for a Fantasyland expansion that adds 1 Nemo-type ride, a restaurant, and a few princess meet-n-greets - and no actual new space that isn't currently being used.

 

[disneysteve]

UO has FAR outpaced Disney for the last decade when it comes to theming and ride technology.

I have always heard the Universal vs. Orlando comparisons but had never been to UO so had no basis to comment. We just returned from our first-ever visit to UO and had the opportunity to ride almost every ride in both parks. Having now done that, I would say that comparing the two makes no sense whatsoever. They are totally different experiences. UO is all about the thrills. Disney is much more about the experience and is also more geared toward families, rides and attractions that the whole family from toddlers to grandparents can ride and enjoy together. That isn't the case at UO, which is perfectly fine. They are different. Different isn't bad or good. It is just different. We love Disney. We loved Universal. We will continue to go to Disney every year. We will probably go back to Universal at some point in the future but probably not for at least a few years as we prefer the "experience" type of attractions to the "thrill" attractions, but that is just our personal preference. Plus I think if we rode one more ride where they spray you with water, my daughter was going to scream.

 

[Friendly Frog]

I have always heard the Universal vs. Orlando comparisons but had never been to UO so had no basis to comment. We just returned from our first-ever visit to UO and had the opportunity to ride almost every ride in both parks. Having now done that, I would say that comparing the two makes no sense whatsoever. They are totally different experiences. UO is all about the thrills. Disney is much more about the experience and is also more geared toward families, rides and attractions that the whole family from toddlers to grandparents can ride and enjoy together. That isn't the case at UO, which is perfectly fine. They are different. Different isn't bad or good. It is just different. We love Disney. We loved Universal. We will continue to go to Disney every year. We will probably go back to Universal at some point in the future but probably not for at least a few years as we prefer the "experience" type of attractions to the "thrill" attractions, but that is just our personal preference. Plus I think if we rode one more ride where they spray you with water, my daughter was going to scream.

We pretty much feel the same way.

I think that the theming and detail in Universal and IOA is amazing. I love the detail, but I no longer do thrill rides ( coasters or movie simulators) and while I love the Jurassic Park ride, I don't always want to get soaking wet on Popeye or Rip.

I am a Harry Potter fan. WWOHP is beautiful, but if you are not a thrill ride person, there is really not a lot to keep you in there. Also, the streets seem lacking with no magical folk around!

I wish the castle was more of an interactive walk (or ride) through. I would like to stroll the halls of Hogwarts and visit the classrooms and courtyard. It would be so nice to dine under the candle sticks. I would also like to be able to purchase an interactive wand and cast spells to interactive items in special areas around the HP land. Maybe even visit the forbidden forest ( think ET ride cue). The FJ ride that they now have, in my mind would have been the Gringotts Bank carts. ( To explain the regional setting for the different things you could cross through large fireplace arches like the floo network, maybe even with water misters as you cross through!) and yes, I can see enough land available to do all of this. But this is just my personal vision. I can understand why Universal choose the path that they did, they are a thrill ride style of park. I had just hoped that Universal would have used WWOHP to make it an area that would be a little more geared for the full family from toddler to grandparent.

I LOVE the feeing/effects in Twister and I know that Universal could blow us away in WWOHP with special effects if they had chose to go the "experience" route.

Universal/IOA still has enough to draw us back. We enjoy Beetlejuice, the animal show and the Horror Make-up show. Jurassic Park, Jaws, ET, Disaster and Twister attractions. But, 3 shows and 5 attractions are just not enough to keep us busy for a week or interested enough to do every year. We will probably do a couple of days every few years, while ( hopefully) visiting Disney 5-7 days every year, or every other year. (Also for us, the lower priced on site hotels at Disney, and the magical express airport transportation is a big draw.)

 

[Meredith]

Just so disappointed in all of you... the WWofHP is AMAZING!!!!!!! There is no Disney experience that compares. If you and your kiddos grew up on Harry, if you ACTULLY READ the books, if you ACTULLY watched the movies.. you are going to be so excited, want to see next movie so bad... skip all the negatives, enjoy and love what we have!!! WWofHP ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Friendly Frog]

I agree that they can do lots more to refurb ET, but are you saying that you don't smell the pine smell in there? That is one of the most distinguishing factors in the ET ride.

Damo,
We were there last week and for some reason the pine smell seemed to be missing? ( It is still a great family friendly ride!)

 

[Friendly Frog]

Just so disappointed in all of you... the WWofHP is AMAZING!!!!!!! There is no Disney experience that compares. If you and your kiddos grew up on Harry, if you ACTULLY READ the books if you ACTULLY watched the movies.. you are going to be so excited, want to see next movie so bad... skip all the negatives, enjoy and love what we have!!! WWofHP ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I own all the books in hardback..well except for the first book, the boxed set of paperbacks, another mix of some hard and paperbacks and all the movies that have been released. I think that the very reason I would have like more real set stuff rather than a moving movie. Well that and the fact that motion simulators make me ill.

 

[FloraFauna]

Yes, I would say its definitely worth it.

Be sure to use the Ladies/Men's Room while you're there. You can hear Moaning Myrtle' voice!

Also, that's one of the things I love about the ET ride--the smell of pine trees! My favorite queue of all time!!

 

[Owlpost23]

Absolutely worth it!Wonderfully submersive-only complaint is that it should be a much larger area.Hopefully someday!

 

[Andrea_loves_Disney]

Hello all!
My first time visiting the Universal boards since generally we are a Disney family...but just went to IOA for the first time...loved it! We went to a special event and were lucky enough to be there when the park was closed to the public..thus NO lines really at all the HP attractions. My daughter is a HP FREAK and she was absolutely hysterically running from place to place, trying to see and do everything. I really liked it but had to wonder if I would have loved it as much had I waited in line for a couple hours like so many people! My daughter did Ollivanders 4 times in order to finally get picked (to her GREAT dismay he picked her 10 year old brother who is not really a big HP fan on his first try..she was SO mad) after one of the girls in the shop arranged to have her picked on her 4th time. She loved Butterbeer, loved the big coaster, love love loved it all!! We were there from 7:30-11:00 and the only thing we did outside of WWoHP was the Jurassic Park ride on our way out.. We would love to go again and see it all! So in general a BIG for WWoHP ....with no waiting!!! Enjoy!!

 

[wdw&sonny]

We pretty much feel the same way.

I think that the theming and detail in Universal and IOA is amazing. I love the detail, but I no longer do thrill rides ( coasters or movie simulators) and while I love the Jurassic Park ride, I don't always want to get soaking wet on Popeye or Rip.

I am a Harry Potter fan. WWOHP is beautiful, but if you are not a thrill ride person, there is really not a lot to keep you in there. Also, the streets seem lacking with no magical folk around!

I wish the castle was more of an interactive walk (or ride) through. I would like to stroll the halls of Hogwarts and visit the classrooms and courtyard. It would be so nice to dine under the candle sticks. I would also like to be able to purchase an interactive wand and cast spells to interactive items in special areas around the HP land. Maybe even visit the forbidden forest ( think ET ride cue). The FJ ride that they now have, in my mind would have been the Gringotts Bank carts. ( To explain the regional setting for the different things you could cross through large fireplace arches like the floo network, maybe even with water misters as you cross through!) and yes, I can see enough land available to do all of this. But this is just my personal vision. I can understand why Universal choose the path that they did, they are a thrill ride style of park. I had just hoped that Universal would have used WWOHP to make it an area that would be a little more geared for the full family from toddler to grandparent.

I LOVE the feeing/effects in Twister and I know that Universal could blow us away in WWOHP with special effects if they had chose to go the "experience" route.

Universal/IOA still has enough to draw us back. We enjoy Beetlejuice, the animal show and the Horror Make-up show. Jurassic Park, Jaws, ET, Disaster and Twister attractions. But, 3 shows and 5 attractions are just not enough to keep us busy for a week or interested enough to do every year. We will probably do a couple of days every few years, while ( hopefully) visiting Disney 5-7 days every year, or every other year. (Also for us, the lower priced on site hotels at Disney, and the magical express airport transportation is a big draw.)

Totally agree and love some of your ideas. I am not necessarily a HP fan, but my family is. I hope that the current version of WWoHP is just the beginning and that, with time, it will be expanded to include many ideas such as yours. There is so much potential.