my review/advice of harry potter

[buzz2400]

We went to IOA on 9/13. We arrived at the park at 9 and got to harry potter around 15 minutes later. We took the shortcut, take a left at the green eggs and ham right after you cross the bridge. Sat in the test seat and lady said I was ok. Someone had posted to go through the gift shop to get to the lockers. that was very good advice. if you go to the lockers the normal way, it is very crowded and it is very hard to get to the many lockers in the back. Said it was 20 minute wait which was about right. We ended up seeing the tail end of each little show in the queu. I was fortunate to turn around in the room with ron, harry and hermine and got to see it snow. Got to the front of the line and the guy made me sit in the test chair again even though I told him I did it at the entrance. Ride was very good but I did get a little motion sickness towards the end. Also I closed my eyes in the spider part. When we got off the ride it now stated 30 minute wait. We then went over and stood in a very long line in the sun to see the wand show. BORING!!!! My 19 year old son was picked because he was standing right by the stairs. They designed the stores terribly. There is no room to walk so we ended up walking out of the stores. We got a AAA discount on the butterbeer because we went into the restaurant to purchase it. My son loved the ice butter beer and l liked the not frozen one. Really just tasted like cream soda. There is no liquor in it. I heard a lot of people asking this. We didn't try the pumpkin juice because it was too expensive.

We again went on thursday but didn't go until around 2 p.m. The time stated at the front of the park said 60 minutes so we decided to go to marvel section and work our way around to harry potter. By time we got there the wait time stated 30 minutes. We decided to do single rider. No one asked me to sit in the test chair (this was after it was announced on the news that universal was being more considerate towards bigger people). We got on the ride in about five minutes. We then went and got our butter beer and left the area.

 

[firsttimer2007]

Thanks for the tips!

 

[coastgirl]

Sounds like good tips...bookmarking. Thanks.

 

[bouncy54]

How do you know when the spider part starts and when it's over if your eyes are closed? I can't stand to even look at spiders and for sure don't want to see one close enough for them to spit at me. I saw a photo of one of the cars stopped right in front of the giant spider and (shudder) it gives me the willies.

 

[LUVIOA]

I can't remember exactly when it starts but make sure you open your eyes occasionally so you don't miss the whomping willow, it is right after the spiders. My son completely missed it the first time around

 

[Snape]

If you don't want to see everything in the ride, do not watch the video. It gives you a great idea of where the things are though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU0UDx84P1s

 

[buzz2400]

How do you know when the spider part starts and when it's over if your eyes are closed? I can't stand to even look at spiders and for sure don't want to see one close enough for them to spit at me. I saw a photo of one of the cars stopped right in front of the giant spider and (shudder) it gives me the willies.

When you see the dragon with smoke coming out of his mouth, close your eyes. After you have been hit with "Spider Webs" which I believe is just water, then you can open your eyes. Or if you are with someone tell them to kick you when the spider part is over. My son was able to kick me to let me know but unfortunately I didn't know that was what he was doing and I thought it was the spider and I kinda freaked out for a second.

 

[bobby78699]

When you see the dragon with smoke coming out of his mouth, close your eyes. After you have been hit with "Spider Webs" which I believe is just water, then you can open your eyes. Or if you are with someone tell them to kick you when the spider part is over. My son was able to kick me to let me know but unfortunately I didn't know that was what he was doing and I thought it was the spider and I kinda freaked out for a second.

My first time to IOA staying at my aunt's home will be in Orlando for 3 day and also want to go to Universal Studios and suggestion on where to get the best tickets and what time to be at the gates sep/30 hopefully at IOA and Oct 2 at Universal Thanks Bobby

 

[bouncy54]

If you don't want to see everything in the ride, do not watch the video. It gives you a great idea of where the things are though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU0UDx84P1s

The spider segment doesn't appear to be very long, and the spider itself looks kinda fake. Probably looks more real in the dark. I might be able to handle it. Thanks for directing me to the video. It helps a lot.

 

[cjb71870]

LAME!!!!! Wow.......

 

[buzz2400]

My first time to IOA staying at my aunt's home will be in Orlando for 3 day and also want to go to Universal Studios and suggestion on where to get the best tickets and what time to be at the gates sep/30 hopefully at IOA and Oct 2 at Universal Thanks Bobby

I found that the best price tickets were from AAA. You can also go to undercovertourist.com. They are respectable ticket sellers. You might also want to look into florida rates since your aunt lives in florida. Most people are saying that the lines go down when the park is near closing or first thing when they open.

 

[Timmy Boy]

The spider segment doesn't appear to be very long, and the spider itself looks kinda fake. Probably looks more real in the dark. I might be able to handle it. Thanks for directing me to the video. It helps a lot.

The big spider you see in the video doesn't move at all. Your vehicles does get really close to it though, and there's a mixture of strobe lights and sound effects (and water) to make it seem creepy, but no, the actual object does not move.

 

[Timmy Boy]

LAME!!!!! Wow.......

What's lame? The ride with the lights on? Ever see Dinosaur with the lights on? Almost the same thing.

 

[Snape]

The ride is not lame and very different than the video. I only added the link so the poster could see the spider.

 

[daisy 'n donald]

we were there on 9/13 as well and thursday too, but around 11...we were there on friday as well for a little bit...i went on fj on thursday while dh waited...he tried the seat, they said he could go, but, he had to smush the harness down a lot and it wasn't comfortable for him...i enjoyed the ride, but, we had just been on the simpsons ride prior, and that ride always messes me up a bit...but i'm glad that i went on fj...i hardly had any wait, but i went through the single riders line...and now i realze i missed some of the inside of the castle
when we were there on monday i was chosen for the wand thing at ollivander's too, but we had closer to an hour wait...and it was HOT! not sure the wait was really worth it, and i hadn't planned on buying another wand while i was there, but, i had the word sucker tattooed on my forhead i think....but i thought it was neat! maybe b/c i was picked...and maybe because i'm an uber dork, but i got such a kick out of testing out the wands....i do agree that the design of the shops is terrible....the owl post was already full of people then all the people from the show filtered into the room...it was crowded and crazy!

can't wait until we can go back!

 

[damo]

we were there on 9/13 as well and thursday too, but around 11...we were there on friday as well for a little bit...i went on fj on thursday while dh waited...he tried the seat, they said he could go, but, he had to smush the harness down a lot and it wasn't comfortable for him...i enjoyed the ride, but, we had just been on the simpsons ride prior, and that ride always messes me up a bit...but i'm glad that i went on fj...i hardly had any wait, but i went through the single riders line...and now i realze i missed some of the inside of the castle
when we were there on monday i was chosen for the wand thing at ollivander's too, but we had closer to an hour wait...and it was HOT! not sure the wait was really worth it, and i hadn't planned on buying another wand while i was there, but, i had the word sucker tattooed on my forhead i think....but i thought it was neat! maybe b/c i was picked...and maybe because i'm an uber dork, but i got such a kick out of testing out the wands....i do agree that the design of the shops is terrible....the owl post was already full of people then all the people from the show filtered into the room...it was crowded and crazy!

can't wait until we can go back!

Awww. If you did singles you missed pretty much the entire queue. What a shame! It is fabulous.

 

[kamaaina]

As much as my DD (8) and I are avid Harry Potter fans, it looks to me like it is really only a one day trip away from WDW. Can anyone offer their thoughts? Thanks!

 

[damo]

As much as my DD (8) and I are avid Harry Potter fans, it looks to me like it is really only a one day trip away from WDW. Can anyone offer their thoughts? Thanks!

If you are only wanting to see the Wizarding World, then it is just a few hours. Remember, it is only one section of the two Universal theme parks. It is like Fantasyland in MK.