Ollivander's, Forbidden Journey & Then What?

[wildflower]

We will be at IOA next week, and we are very excited about going to the WWofHP!

We are staying at RPR, so we will have early entry. I've been lurking on these board enough to know that the recommendation is to do Ollivander's first and then ride FJ. What should we do after that? Ride the other rides? Visit the shops before they get crowded? What is your strategy for enjoying the early-entry lower-crowd time?

 

[mesaboy2]

You got it.

Next up, I would check out the shops before they get too crowded. You will find them small. You might want to get in a ride on Flight of the Hippogriff also, that line can get a little long from time to time, maybe 20-30 minutes. Dragon Challenge, surprisingly, almost never has more than a 10-15 minute wait in my experience.

Have a great time!

 

[chazzeek]

You got it.

Next up, I would check out the shops before they get too crowded. You will find them small. You might want to get in a ride on Flight of the Hippogriff also, that line can get a little long from time to time, maybe 20-30 minutes. Dragon Challenge, surprisingly, almost never has more than a 10-15 minute wait in my experience.

Have a great time!

Besides, if dragon challenge was busy you can use your resort key to use the express line for that one.

 

[mesaboy2]

Besides, if dragon challenge was busy you can use your resort key to use the express line for that one.

Duh--dopey me. Forgot about that. Both DC and FotH have Express.

OP, do the rest at your leisure.

 

[chazzeek]

If the line isn't too long though, I would skip the express your first time for dragon challenge. the express line bypasses a lot of the HP theme in the line its self. after you see the line though use the express pass to save a lot of walking.

 

[MrsMud]

If the line isn't too long though, I would skip the express your first time for dragon challenge. the express line bypasses a lot of the HP theme in the line its self. after you see the line though use the express pass to save a lot of walking.

Just joining in here, I thought I read that they "ruined" the Dueling Dragons queue for Dragon Challenge, so I assumed it wasn't even worth going through. But are you saying the Dragon Challenge queue is one that should be experienced?

 

[mesaboy2]

Just joining in here, I thought I read that they "ruined" the Dueling Dragons queue for Dragon Challenge, so I assumed it wasn't even worth going through. But are you saying the Dragon Challenge queue is one that should be experienced?

If so, I'll disagree. There isn't much about the DC queue after the FP entry point worth seeing. IIRC, there is one small room with the candles levitating above you and a display case with the dragon eggs from HP4. Otherwise, it's just a long winding queue through fake caves--not particularly interesting. I never saw this queue pre-WWoHP, but I've heard it used to be pretty awesome.

 

[chazzeek]

If so, I'll disagree. There isn't much about the DC queue after the FP entry point worth seeing. IIRC, there is one small room with the candles levitating above you and a display case with the dragon eggs from HP4. Otherwise, it's just a long winding queue through fake caves--not particularly interesting. I never saw this queue pre-WWoHP, but I've heard it used to be pretty awesome.

I wouldn't say it is anything compared to FJ, but if your are a HP fan there are a few rooms that have scenes depicting the tri-wizard tournament. when I was there a year ago September, the regular line and the express line merged, before you actually got to the back of the line. usually only about a 5 minute wait, if this is the case, as i mentioned I would walk the full line once, and then take the express line to save walking, because the full line is a long winding line.

 

[Bluer101]

If so, I'll disagree. There isn't much about the DC queue after the FP entry point worth seeing. IIRC, there is one small room with the candles levitating above you and a display case with the dragon eggs from HP4. Otherwise, it's just a long winding queue through fake caves--not particularly interesting. I never saw this queue pre-WWoHP, but I've heard it used to be pretty awesome.

DC is pretty boring now, it was way better as DD.

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

My plan is always: Olivanders, then Forbidden Journey, then the shops, then head for the rest of the park and come back for Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge (and the Hog's Head) later in the afternoon. In the mornings, you'll find the rest of the park deserted because everyone heads directly to WWoHP. As the day wears on, the crowds there die down as people trickle out to other parts of the park.

That aside, if you are an HP fan, I definitely wouldn't miss the full queue for DC. I never saw it pre-WWoHP, but it still has some great stuff, including the flying Ford Anglia and the Tri-Wizard tournament trophy. After that, it's just caves, but it is still a pretty quick line, regardless.

 

[mesaboy2]

That aside, if you are an HP fan, I definitely wouldn't miss the full queue for DC. I never saw it pre-WWoHP, but it still has some great stuff, including the flying Ford Anglia and the Tri-Wizard tournament trophy. After that, it's just caves, but it is still a pretty quick line, regardless.

Unless it has changed recently, both of these are before the Express queue entrance, so you see them either way.

 

[wildflower]

Thanks everyone for your advice. It seems like I read somewhere about one of the queues having Hagrid's Hut. Which one would that be?

 

[mesaboy2]

Thanks everyone for your advice. It seems like I read somewhere about one of the queues having Hagrid's Hut. Which one would that be?

Flight of the Hippogriff. The back of it is also somewhat visible from the DC queue.

 

[bellanotte10]

just a note about the crowds. Dunno if you've been before but I went last tuesday. They are so small and so crowded I found myself getting stuck in corners CONSTANTLY. like i was stuck in Ollivanders for 20 minutes. That might just be because i'm super polite and didn't want to shove, but it happened repeatedly. So just look out. The stores aren't big, and usually have a lot of people, and I was there first thing in the morning. I'm not sure if the increased crowds were because people couldn't get on FJ and were waiting til it worked again, or what, but i was getting super claustrophobic in those stores

 

[disneybirds]

We just got back and had early entry. We were at the gates at 8:00, hit Ollivander's, FJ, Hippogriff, shops, DC and were done by 9:30/10:00 both days. I would finish all the rides in HP before heading out to the other areas. We usually came back after dinner to the HP area, but it was definitely more crowded - especially the shops.

 

[dolphindolls2]

We just got back and had early entry. We were at the gates at 8:00, hit Ollivander's, FJ, Hippogriff, shops, DC and were done by 9:30/10:00 both days. I would finish all the rides in HP before heading out to the other areas. We usually came back after dinner to the HP area, but it was definitely more crowded - especially the shops.

I thought I read that early entry gets you into the park at 7am, do you have to wait till 8am to get into Ollivander's, and FJ?

 

[mesaboy2]

I thought I read that early entry gets you into the park at 7am, do you have to wait till 8am to get into Ollivander's, and FJ?

EE is one hour before park open, which is usually 8a or 9a, depending on season and anticipated crowds. EE only gets you into WWoHP and the attractions within.

 

[dolphindolls2]

EE is one hour before park open, which is usually 8a or 9a, depending on season and anticipated crowds. EE only gets you into WWoHP and the attractions within.

Thanks, that helps for planning

 

[kohlby]

I read a tip about the shops. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, because it's what I read, not what I've done. The shops don't close until the park is completely closed. If the park closes at 6pm, then as long as you're in line for FJ, then you can get on. It takes some time to get the line done. So what happens is that the shops are still open past 6pm until the FJ line is done. Most people don't realize this so the shops aren't nearly as crowded then.

 

[mesaboy2]

I read a tip about the shops. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, because it's what I read, not what I've done. The shops don't close until the park is completely closed. If the park closes at 6pm, then as long as you're in line for FJ, then you can get on. It takes some time to get the line done. So what happens is that the shops are still open past 6pm until the FJ line is done. Most people don't realize this so the shops aren't nearly as crowded then.

You got it. We not only have shopped up to 45 minutes after park close, but also eaten at Three Broomsticks this way. In February, 3B welcomed us in 2 minutes before close. We enjoyed an empty 3B and emerged to a nearly-empty Hogsmeade at night. We did notice security up the way towards FJ who no doubt was starting to clear the area.