Pass Entry System for WWoHP This Weekend

[mesaboy2]

Heads up to those coming this weekend: a TM told me IoA would be using the pass entry system to WWoHP tomorrow and Sunday. Consider the source, but thought it was worth passing along.

FYI, he told me this as I waiting to enter the area from the JP side at 5 this afternoon. The LC entrance line was far enough back that you couldn't see the spell limits sign--my layman's guess was 15 minutes or more to get in that way. We tried the JP side and got in in 5.

On the plus side, we got into Three Broomsticks at 3 minutes before close, so got to enjoy a very quiet meal with very few others around. We did only FotH for DD6, but made it on in 10-15 minutes.

 

[peanutgirl]

I have never been to this park. What does this mean. Pass entry system?? How many ways are there into this park?? Thanks

 

[Metro West]

I have never been to this park. What does this mean. Pass entry system?? How many ways are there into this park?? Thanks

It means they are expecting large crowds this weekend and lots of people for WWoHP. The pass system is where you're given a pass with a time on it that will get you in the WWoHP. It has nothing to do with getting into IOA itself...this is just for WWoHP and is only instituted when it's going to be very busy.

 

[mesaboy2]

What Metro said.

If you know Disney, it's the same idea as FastPass, only this is to get into just the WWoHP area, not on to any ride. WWoHP is relatively small and obviously popular, so they do this for guest safety and comfort considerations.

I'll try to remember to post back in a couple hours (when I'm there) and let you know if the TM was right.

 

[Mikelly1221]

They were using the pass system yesterday..showed up around 3pm and was told come back after 5:30pm, but others that had "Fastpasses" that they had gotten earlier were getting in. Since we got there so late, they didn't give us a "fastpass", only told us to come back after 5:30 and we wouldn't need one then. This was on the LC side. We were let in at intervals on the JP side right around 5:30 (might have been a bit earlier, definitely after 5pm) and didn't need a pass. The wait on the JP side was maybe 5 minutes. We were not let in at all on the LC side, they were only letting in those with passes.

Hope this helps someone!

 

[chiamarie]

Any ideas if the crowds are supposed to be bad on Monday, President's Day?

 

[mesaboy2]

Yep, very busy today. Got our passes over near Sinbad. Expect same tomorrow--don't know about Monday.

ETA: Arrived at 11 this morning and saw lines at ticket windows verrrrrry long--probably an hour or more just for that. It's good to be a passholder! . Since we didn't stay on site, that would be the only "express" we'd get today...walked around that to the gates. At 11:15, got WWoHP passes for 3:15-4:15. Once inside WWoHP it was crowded, but FJ reported 45 minutes--we did FJ twice with SR in 10 minutes each time, then did Castle Tour queue. FotH was 20, didn't do DC. Returned at 8:15, FotH was practically a walk-on the last 20 minutes. FJ might have reported 45--can't remember. Stayed in area for second night in a row after hours enjoying the ambience with much lighter crowds. Did not walk out of WWoHP until after 9:30, Universal doesn't mind you hanging out for a while since it tends to help sales....

 

[Bowen9475]

We were at WWOHP on Friday. We got there right after opening and at around 12:30 we thought about leaving the area to get some lunch. We were told that if we left we probably would not get back in until after 4:30. We didn't leave.

 

[Orangeandwild]

We were at IOA today all day, and they did indeed use the Pass Entry system, starting at 10am when they said that WWHOP reached capacity. The whole park and particularly WWOHP was very crowded today and it was definitely needed or no one could have been able to move around in there at all to enjoy it, so it is a very sensible thing.

The passes were being given out in LC up near Sinbad as someone else said and people were being directed that way, it was pretty orderly handing them out from what I saw. I did not get in the line as we saw it first thing in the morning when crowds were a tiny bit lower. We were in LC quite a bit and never saw any pushing or shoving or anything, it was very orderly and it was definitely being enforced, TMs were not letting people jump line and get in or go in without a pass or ahead of time, so it was definitely fair.

Hoping tomorrow is a bit less crowded as a lot of people are in town for the Daytona 500 race which is tomorrow. We will be at US all day tomorrow, I doubt we will go over to IOA again.

 

[jb2011]

Can they be uses in Potter land? Or is early entry all that is offered

 

[Metro West]

Can they be uses in Potter land? Or is early entry all that is offered

Early entry is all that's available for Forbidden Journey. You can use your hotel Express access for the other two attractions in WWoHP.

 

[MIChessGuy]

It wasn't necessary a couple of weeks ago, but I will definitely get to IOA early during my next trip in August. If it's officially 9:00 a.m., I will be in line at the gates by 7:45. My sense is that Pottermania isn't going away any time soon.

 

[glocon]

Won't be there again any time soon, but just out of curiosity, does your hotel room key get you into the WWoHP during the day when the Pass Entry System is being used, or do you still have to get a pass to get in?

 

[HLAuburn]

Won't be there again any time soon, but just out of curiosity, does your hotel room key get you into the WWoHP during the day when the Pass Entry System is being used, or do you still have to get a pass to get in?

No, you still have to get a ticket for a return time.