Is WWOHP still too crowded?

[rabbitroger]

I know when it first opened, WWOHP suffered from massive overcrowding meanign long waits, no fun, etc.

Is this still the case or has it eased considerably in the last year?

 

[Metro West]

I know when it first opened, WWOHP suffered from massive overcrowding meanign long waits, no fun, etc.

Is this still the case or has it eased considerably in the last year?

It's still busy during slow seasons and packed during busy seasons. The same as last year? I couldn't tell you but the lines still get long.

 

[wilma-bride]

We have been to WWOHP just twice - once in August '10 and once in October '11. What I can tell you is that it is still drawing the crowds and the line for Forbidden Journey still gets really long within about 30 minutes of the (official) park opening. However, when I compared my photo/video of last year compared to the year before, the general crowds within the streets etc. seemed to have dissipated some. It may have been down to the different time of year but I would say it still gets pretty busy and the shops were still heaving (because they are so small, they always appear overcrowded).

 

[Panagiota]

I'm a local with season passes. I haven't been there last year so I can't compare it but I'm at the parks on Saturdays about twice a month.

It can get really busy. IOA is definately more crowded that Universal. I would say go during the slower time of the year and be patient. I always laugh to myself at people who are so grumpy and impatient.

RELAX and take a deep breath. Use single rider line if possible. Eat at off times.

I found that there are certain times of the day that the area gets slower but I'm not sharing those

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We went the month after it opened and again last summer. We had a great time both times, so I wouldn't characterize it as no fun. Crowds in early June 2011 were definitely more manageable that crowds in July 2010, especially in the shops, but early June is overall less crowded than late July.

 

[Miss Marie]

I'm going to IOA in May and hope that crowds in WWOHP aren't so bad. I'm so excited to go that I've been re-reading the books and re-watching the movies before the trip.

 

[dpratt68]

We were there Presidents week so it was very crowded. The saving grace was we stayed onsite so we got to enter WWOHP an hour early and pretty much walked on FJ and my kids rode dragons 3-4 times with express pass/FOL. It was well worth staying at a Universal hotel.

 

[bumbershoot]

We were there Dec '10, Sept '11, and Feb '12, and we haven't experienced extreme crowds at all. Well, except for in the shop connected to Ollivander's, but that's because the builders forgot to put the expanding magic on the shops, and built them very very tiny.

 

[Emma1987]

I'm a local with season passes. I haven't been there last year so I can't compare it but I'm at the parks on Saturdays about twice a month.

It can get really busy. IOA is definately more crowded that Universal. I would say go during the slower time of the year and be patient. I always laugh to myself at people who are so grumpy and impatient.

RELAX and take a deep breath. Use single rider line if possible. Eat at off times.

I found that there are certain times of the day that the area gets slower but I'm not sharing those

Why?

 

[schumigirl]

We found it really quietened down early evening, park did close at 7 or 8 I think when we were there last August.

We would be heading in as masses of people were leaving....and I mean masses!!!

Our last evening in particular we went in around 6pm and we got straight on everything and the shops were empty......and it`s so beautiful when it gets dark

Over our 2 weeks we were there at most times of the day at somepoint and it never really slowed at all. Well from where I was anyway.

 

[vleeth]

We found it really quietened down early evening, park did close at 7 or 8 I think when we were there last August.

We would be heading in as masses of people were leaving....and I mean masses!!!

Our last evening in particular we went in around 6pm and we got straight on everything and the shops were empty......and it`s so beautiful when it gets dark

Over our 2 weeks we were there at most times of the day at somepoint and it never really slowed at all. Well from where I was anyway.

I will be there Friday, June 1st. I know no one knows for sure, but if you had to guess...will WWOHP be more crowded when the park opens (not staying on property and have DD7 will slow us down) or in the evening?

 

[Marquibiri]

Been to the WWoHP during September '10 and '11. I did notice a difference in crowds... but as it has been mentioned before in this thread... staying onsite is a plus and I don't "feel the crowds".

The most I've ever waited in line in USF or IoA was 25 minutes for the Simpsons (on its opening year) and 25 minutes for Poseidon's Fury "while waiting for the show to start"

Cheers!

Marquibiri

 

[macraven]

i stay onsite and last year for EE, tue and wed did not have HUGE crowds at parry hotter section.
was able to take pictures without that many peeps in them.


i figure since the hotel was not that full was the reason i lucked out with no crowds early morning.

saturday morning was just the opposite.


peeps usually tend to arrive on fridays/saturdays for vacations.

 

[heidi8]

Massive crowds this past Friday from at least 9:30 AM, and we were last in the WWoHP at a little after 2 PM. Friends who stayed all day said it was a little less crowded after seven but still had long lines for everything.

(Just one reason I'm so looking forward to the private event I'm working on for the Ascendio Harry Potter fancon this summer - three-ish hours in the WWoHP (in costume) for me and only a few hundred others. (And yes, tickets are still available.))

 

[Karpkg]

Was there this past Thursday. Went with the early morning crowd. By 9:00AM sharp FJ was an hour wait. By 10A we overheard it was 2 hrs. We left at 10:30A and they were directing the line into Harry Potter land to one side. We went back in the last hour of park opening, entered FJ at 8:56PM. I think there were 10 people behind us and then complete cut off. We were getting off the ride at 9:22PM.

Harry Potter is fantastic at night. I was able to get the video of Sirius Black outside of 3 Broomsticks perfectly. During the daytime the glare of daylight on the windows makes it hard to get good pics, night time the lights in the display light them up clearly.

 

[cegreenf]

I was there this past May, and the lines were not bad at all.

We rode forbidden journey three times. One time we basically walked on it, one time on single rider, and the third time we waited ~ 40 minutes. We also did flight of the hippogriff- waited about 45 minutes, for a ride that was basically two seconds long! (Good for small kids though).

Also, we ate at the three broomsticks. We had lunch a little early (11:30) and there were 5 groups in front of us waiting to order. No issue finding a table. Looked like it got a little busier afterwards, but not insanely so.

Ollivanders was another 30 minute wait. We also spent a lot of time in between everything shopping, taking pictures, seeing some of the entertainment (Durmstrang and Bauxbotons street performers).

Able to do everything and more. Not nearly as crazy as I thought it would be at all!

 

[SgtClaymore]

Unfortunately yes and with the season coming up it looks like it will be for the next 4 or 5 months!

 

[Metro West]

Unfortunately yes and with the season coming up it looks like it will be for the next 4 or 5 months!

No doubt about it.