Islands of Adventure - Last minute help

[robot1000]

We plan to visit IOA on Xmas day, but we're not sure whether to go to Wizarding World first in the standby line, or get a pass to go back later and then ride everything else before the allotted time.

Which do you think will be the better choice?

(we plan on arriving for the 8am opening)

 

[Southernmiss]

Not sure what you mean by get a "pass and go back later in the day". There are not fastpasses at Universal like at Disney.

Your best bet is to go straight to WWOHP as soon as you arrive before all crowds build.

 

[robot1000]

Not sure what you mean by get a "pass and go back later in the day". There are not fastpasses at Universal like at Disney.

Your best bet is to go straight to WWOHP as soon as you arrive before all crowds build.

According to the 'Unofficial Guide to WDW', there are 2 options, one is to go in the standy line and the other is to go in the ticket line, where they give you an allotted time to return to the WWOHP area.

I'm just unsure which one to go for, as on one hand if I go first, then we'll hopefully see the harry potter section with less crowds but when we get out, the other rides in the park will be busier, or we get a return ticket and quicklly get back to the other rides (e.g. Spiderman, the hulk) where it should be less busy, but when we return the crowds at WWOHP will be packed.

It's a tricky decision to make, so I just wondered whether anyone maybe who's been today or in the past week would offer their recommendation

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

According to the 'Unofficial Guide to WDW', there are 2 options, one is to go in the standy line and the other is to go in the ticket line, where they give you an allotted time to return to the WWOHP area.

I'm just unsure which one to go for, as on one hand if I go first, then we'll hopefully see the harry potter section with less crowds but when we get out, the other rides in the park will be busier, or we get a return ticket and quicklly get back to the other rides (e.g. Spiderman, the hulk) where it should be less busy, but when we return the crowds at WWOHP will be packed.

It's a tricky decision to make, so I just wondered whether anyone maybe who's been today or in the past week would offer their recommendation

The return time ticket system (what is referred to as "land control"), hasn't been used since the summer. It's a system of last resort, and now that Forbidden Journey has a new extended queue for its lockers, land control hasn't happened. Your absolute best bet is to get to WWoHP as soon as you can.

 

[mesaboy2]

Not sure what you mean by get a "pass and go back later in the day". There are not fastpasses at Universal like at Disney.

Your best bet is to go straight to WWOHP as soon as you arrive before all crowds build.

As BrinkofSunshine mentioned, this "land control"--cool we know the insider term now--works similar to FastPass. The main difference is that it is used to restrict entry to WWoHP when crowds are high, and is not a FP to a particular attraction. I was pleasantly surprised Thanksgiving weekend to find it wasn't implemented.

The return time ticket system (what is referred to as "land control"), hasn't been used since the summer. It's a system of last resort, and now that Forbidden Journey has a new extended queue for its lockers, land control hasn't happened. Your absolute best bet is to get to WWoHP as soon as you can.

I agree, especially for the next 8-10 days or so.

 

[robot1000]

As BrinkofSunshine mentioned, this "land control"--cool we know the insider term now--works similar to FastPass. The main difference is that it is used to restrict entry to WWoHP when crowds are high, and is not a FP to a particular attraction. I was pleasantly surprised Thanksgiving weekend to find it wasn't implemented.



I agree, especially for the next 8-10 days or so.

Ok thanks

So just to confirm, there is now only a standby queue to enter the Harry potter area and no option to get a ticket to get back in later in the day?

 

[Metro West]

So just to confirm, there is now only a standby queue to enter the Harry potter area and no option to get a ticket to get back in later in the day?

Starting Monday the return ticket could be in force due to the Christmas crowds. The park hasn't seen this level of crowds for a while now so that's what makes me think they will bring it back. But...if you go early enough, you may not have to deal with it. Be prepared though.

 

[Southernmiss]

I wasn't aware of the system implemented this summer.

However, I was at Universal IOA last weekend (returned home on Tuesday) and the system was not used while I was there from Saturday until Tuesday.

We were able to do early entry and walk on Forbidden Journey last Saturday. When we left the park on Monday night, there were considerable crowds and we had to wait in standby for 1 1/2 hours to ride Forbidden Journey.

 

[robot1000]

One last question

Will the main entrance be open or would we have to go via Jurrasic Park?

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

One last question

Will the main entrance be open or would we have to go via Jurrasic Park?

If there is no land control in place, you can go through either entrance. There won't be a line to get into the land, only to get in the rides and possibly the stores.