Is this summer going to be insane?

[ProudMommyof2]

Considering first Universal trip this August. My kids are really pysched to have the Harry Potter World open- but this is also what terrifies me!
I keep reading how much more manageable Universal is compared to Disney but wonder if Harry Potter changes all this.

Should this trip wait until next year?

 

[rosscoe(au)]

I will be there in late August ( 23rd ) for a couple of days, staying on site, so that means FOL.

I think if you stay on site, you should be fine

 

[MadeToLove]

I posted something about this on the WWoHP thread, but I think the crowds are going to be double what they would have normally been for universal in the past. No matter what time of year you go!!!!!

Once Potterland opens, massive numbers of Harry Potter fans who wouldn't normally go to themeparks will decend in the thousands. Remember this is the highest grossing film franchise ever, and the best selling book series ever. There are millions upon millions of fans around the world who became fans because they loved that magical universe Harry lived in. And here is their chance to be a part of it.

My guess is the place is going to be a madhouse for about two years after it's opening.

That being said, don't let that discourage you. If the kids LOVE Harry, then they'll have a blast regardless. Just go in prepared. Either stay on-site to get Express passes or buy them for the day. I doubt it will keep you out of long lines in the Potter part of the park, but will help things seem less draining elsewhere in the park. Also, don't try to pack it all in one day if you can budget it. I know I'm going to FL 5-7 days and my group is planning to start out three mornings at least at WWoHP so we can enjoy it before the crowds get too big and it gets too hot. Then we'll be out of there before noon and onto the rest of the parks.

I find that if I plan for the madhouse, and the crowds are lighter, then my trip enjoyment value increases. But you can still enjoy the madhouse as long as you plan ahead for it.

 

[mama03]

Just for your information too, usually the florida schools have started by that time so that should ease up some of the crowd. Also, be warned it is very hot in August so please remember a spritzer and to stay hydrated. You will have a great time!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

I think we may risk it! My kids are so into HP now-I hate to wait a year just hoping crowds dwindle.

My current plan is to spend 2 nights on property then move a condo off property- here's hoping!

 

[Orlando313]

Ehh, I think they might be slightly busier than normal, but with the state of jobs, and lack of personal finances, I don't think it's going to be as busy it would be if the economy were booming. Plus you have to remember, most of the big big fans are small children, teenagers, or people like me, early to mid-20's who might possibly have school loans, problems finding a good job, and no money to go see Harry Potter.

 

[klacey1]

Ehh, I think they might be slightly busier than normal, but with the state of jobs, and lack of personal finances, I don't think it's going to be as busy it would be if the economy were booming. Plus you have to remember, most of the big big fans are small children, teenagers, or people like me, early to mid-20's who might possibly have school loans, problems finding a good job, and no money to go see Harry Potter.

I completely agree. This, coupled with the fact that the Florida kids/other Southern schools will be back in session means that late August is traditionally a slower time (always when we go, and always manageable). HP will bump up crowds slightly, I do believe, but people in the south aren't going to pull their kids out of the first week or two out of school to go see HP. If anything, the first month will be pretty crazy. But slow times will still be slow, and crowded times will still be busy. Things will just be slightly heightened. I'm NOT expecting 3 hour waits on all the rides like some people are saying. We're going Aug. 19-25th (our usual time) and are very excited-- we're praying for the rain that kept the crowds away in 2008!

 

[ky07]

We are going in July and I expect crowds to be insane and I do see August being the same and you have to remeber WWOHP is going to draw people from all over not only the US and wouldn't be surprised to see insane crowds at what are normally slow season

 

[garmich]

We're going Aug. 19-25th (our usual time) and are very excited-- we're praying for the rain that kept the crowds away in 2008!

No! Please.....NO rain!! We are also going down in August (14-28). The last time we went down in Aug 2008, we had Tropical Storm Fay to deal with. Sure, it kept the crowds away, but it's so much better when it's dry. And we don't mind the heat. After all.......it's Florida!

We didn't go down in 2009. We wanted to see something new at US, so we are waiting for the opening of Harry Potter. We've also not seen the Simpsons' Ride and the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. So, there'll be plenty of new stuff to see.

As other posters have stated, the start of the new school year in the south, should keep the crowds down somewhat, but I think it may be a bit more crowded then in past years, but manageable.

We are also one of the lucky ones that were able to snag $99 7-day 2-park tickets before they disappeared!

 

[damo]

We were just there and there were tons of people peeking in the fence holes to see what was going on. Most of them were adults. Crowds were big this week...not sure why when most kids should be in school. Largest we've seen for President's Week and we've been going down this week for a while.

Lots of people were lined up at the ticket booths, and the prices didn't seem to be deterring people and neither did the weather!

 

[cieslack]

The insanity will be in the WWoHP area specifically and IOA in general because all of the Disney people will be coming on a day trip to one park to see one thing. IMHO.

 

[Ayeegit]

We were just there and there were tons of people peeking in the fence holes to see what was going on. Most of them were adults. Crowds were big this week...not sure why when most kids should be in school. Largest we've seen for President's Week and we've been going down this week for a while.

Lots of people were lined up at the ticket booths, and the prices didn't seem to be deterring people and neither did the weather!

Just got back from being in Orlando from the 13th-21st. Did IOA and US one day each, and 5 days @ various Disney parks. And the crowds, especially at Disney, were nuts. We talked to a few cast members and they said they couldn't remember seeing crowds like this in February. Apparently the way V-Day, President's Day, and Mardi Gras all lined up was a theme park "perfect storm".

It was interesting to see the differences between Universal and Disney, crowd-wise - not sure why, but the crowds were thick at all the Disney parks (even the ones that weren't already open for extra magic hours) from the moment the rope dropped - but at Universal, the crowds weren't bad until the afternoon - we were able to do almost all the "big ticket" rides in both US and IOA in the first few hours, which worked out great.

 

[Orlando313]

Just got back from being in Orlando from the 13th-21st. Did IOA and US one day each, and 5 days @ various Disney parks. And the crowds, especially at Disney, were nuts. We talked to a few cast members and they said they couldn't remember seeing crowds like this in February. Apparently the way V-Day, President's Day, and Mardi Gras all lined up was a theme park "perfect storm".

It was interesting to see the differences between Universal and Disney, crowd-wise - not sure why, but the crowds were thick at all the Disney parks (even the ones that weren't already open for extra magic hours) from the moment the rope dropped - but at Universal, the crowds weren't bad until the afternoon - we were able to do almost all the "big ticket" rides in both US and IOA in the first few hours, which worked out great.

I was at Epcot yesterday, and the crowds were extremely low. Thirty min wait for test track, and 45 min wait for Soarin, and pretty much no waits on anything else. Maybe the "perfect storm" was over by yesterday.

I'm not going to Universal during Mardi Gras. I think it's tacky. Hopefully after it's all over, crowds will be lower until Harry Potter opens so I can get in some peaceful days.

 

[Coach81]

Yes.. stay on site.. and all will be just fine!

 

[ckay87]

Yes.. stay on site.. and all will be just fine!

Yes. We always do our FL vacations in the summer...no choice. Last time we stayed onsite and I remember looking around, seeing massive crowds, and just not caring.

Me: "Dang, honey, it's crowded here isn't it?"

DH: "Oh yea, look at that, it sure is"

Me: "Want to ride the Hulk again?"

DH: "Kind of bored with it after 4 times. Spiderman?"

Me: "Again? Sure, whatever, doesn't matter."




Food lines were a pain, I'll admit that. We just left to eat. Not like being held food hostage at WDW, ya know?

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Is this summer going to be insane?