Is WWoHP worth it?

[snickerboo]

We are going through some stress right now so dh suggested a last minute trip to our favourite place on earth. My kids are huge into Harry Potter right now, though, and I promised them next Orlando trip we'd go. But, after looking at the prices for US last night I'm not so sure about it. US isn't bad on a multi-day pass but it's the same as Disney for a one-day pass. My plan was to do The World most of the time with one day at WWoHP.

To those who've been, was Wizarding World worth $350 in your your opinion? Like Disney, there don't seem to be any US deals (slightly cheaper through Undercover Tourist).

 

[damo]

Universal/IOA is totally worth it! Our family much prefers it over Disney and we go down about 3 times a year, just to Universal/IOA. The new WWoHP section in IOA is absolutely amazing. Try to go in the off season because the crowds are pretty intense.

There are many great deals to be had, but the price for one day is the same as the price for one day at Disney and deservingly so.

Remember that WWoHP is just one section of the parks, like Fantasyland, and there is a lot more in the two parks to see. I suggest getting a two day park hopper and see all there is to see.

 

[sjsjbrook]

It depends on your family. If you like rides it would be worth it. I wanted to go to the U park and see HP, on our next trip, but we only wanted to spend one day there with the rest at Disney.

Now 1 day tickets will cost our party of 6plus baby $411, the baby is free, but 2 of us are not ride people, so would end up standing around a lot. So we could not justify the cost.

I wish they would have just a grounds pass or a ticket option like Canada's wonderland has. I go there all the time and never ride anything. I enjoy wandering around, but really don't like rides.


So in the end we decided not to go to the U park at all. My two thrill riders are ok with it and HP will have to wait until we have less children to pay for. lol

 

[KingstonGirl77]

We faced the same decision but unless something changes in our finances in the next 4 weeks I don't see us going on our Dec 11-18 Dis trip. I worried if we bought the Universal tickets for our family of 4 we may be rushing through each park so we decided because of that and the cost that we would go on our next trip. Tough decision though because we are all big Harry Potter fans.

 

[braddillman]

I look at it from a totally opposite point of view: is WDW worth it to take me away from USF/IoA?

I find the first day at WDW or USF the most expensive, and it gets cheaper as you buy more days. So we generally don't try to do both on one trip. Last trip we did WDW, and only WDW. This trip, we're doing USF/IoA, SW and Aquatica - haven't decided on BG yet.

 

[snickerboo]

Oh, I don't know if I could go to Orlando and not see the Magic Kingdom!

My back-up plan is to do IOA/US on multi-days & get tix for a Very Merry Christmas Party so we still get our Disney fix.

Both of my kids are just so into Harry Potter & dd has been asking to go to WWoHP since befor eit opened.

 

[LittleFlounder]

I've crunched the numbers to figure out how much it would cost myself and my 2 Harry Potter crazed nephews to go for one day to US to see the WWOHP on our upcoming trip....

Tickets x3 = $268, Round trip taxi from Disney = $80 (approx),
= $350 and thats before food and souvenirs! Add that on, and we're looking at probably a $450 day!

Their mom says, "well, if they want to go, you'll have to take them" and "the trip is for the kids"....I don't think so! Not happening! I'm not spending $450 to leave Disney for a day!

HP is evil.


.

 

[RobynPrincess]

yep, its worth it to me! we spent 3 days there on our last trip (we were in orlado 3 weeks though)

 

[Northstar]

Oh, I don't know if I could go to Orlando and not see the Magic Kingdom!

My back-up plan is to do IOA/US on multi-days & get tix for a Very Merry Christmas Party so we still get our Disney fix.

Both of my kids are just so into Harry Potter & dd has been asking to go to WWoHP since befor eit opened.

Where are you planning to stay? You might want to try onsite at Universal (though paying for parking HURTS) and just do the MVMCP.

Or invest in some multi-day non-expiry Disney tix, planning to use them over a few years. That's what we do because we tend to want to hit Seaworld and Universal as well as Disney, so we don't do packages or length-of-stay tickets.

Universal is fun. I'm not a big thrill ride fan myself, but the shows and special effects-type things are great!

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

We just did WWoHP on our Thanksgiving trip. We got our tickets with our aeroplan miles and am glad I did.

We are not huge roller coaster people. The village of hogsmede was amazing - the ride in the castle was also amazing..... they did a great job making it as close to the books/movies as they could. We did enjoy walking around and watching. Didn't get into Olivanders as the wait was 2+hrs long.... ridiculous!!

We had finished everything we wanted to do at IOA by 1pm so we paid extra and headed over to Universal - wish we hadn't. after a very expensive lunch, a few rides (some of them very lame!!) turning away from a few others due to 1hr + wait times (and this was on a Tuesday!!) we were done at US, in the car heading back to AKLV by 4:45pm.

I wish they had the WWoHP at Disney Studio's..... then I wouldn't have an issue going back..... US/IoA just isn't Disney - other then WWoHP they certainly don't keep the other rides/theming of the rides up to par!! But that's just my opinion for what it's worth..... I'm sure there are lots of others that prefer US/IoA to Disney. To each his own!!

 

[mtmbyck]

I don't think real Disney fans will love US/IOA - we were dissappointed a few years back to only do those parks and skip the mouse. We missed disney although I will say my daughters loved the big fast rides at US/IOA - but there is definate MAGIC lacking - no princesses, no pooh......

So I also used my aeroplan points to get one day IOA tickets for my family so we can go get a roller coaster fix and do WWoHP. One day was 10,500 pts - not bad really.

I would not have paid $400+ for a day of entertainment.

Hope you have some points you can blow!

 

[bankr63]

For you Snickerboo, I would say a definite yes. Well, not for you, but for your kids. Sounds like they are giving you a very strong signal here.

My kids (12 & 14) are definitely making the transition to the big rides at US/IOA. Magic Kingdom is becoming boring except for a couple of rides. Disney magic still works for me and DW, not so much for the teens/tweens but that doesn't really matter right now.

We'll be going back many times, probably even a couple of more trips without kids, but I think the magic will kick back in for the kids (and grandkids ) before we know it. How come it seems like only yesterday they were spitting up on us, thought Santa was real, and Mickey was special. Sigh...

 

[snickerboo]

Thanks all. We have decided to sue our Aeroplan miles to see Hawaii instead. So, it's our first 'non-Disney' family vacation. I hope we enjoy it. It will be weird without popping up early every morning to hit a park, but it was time for a 'lay in the sun' vacation.