Schedule of events for Celebration of Harry Potter 2017 up now

[perditax]

https://www.universalorlando.com/Events/Celebration-of-Harry-Potter/Schedule-Of-Events.aspx

 

[chabs]

Thanks for posting this!

 

[AngiTN]

Seems like a good place to ask, is there somewhere to see thoughts on how this event will impact crowds in the parks? I know the events are separate and most of the folks that are there for it will be at the events, vs in the parks, after all, that's what they pay for. But does it bring in a lot of on lookers too? Mostly asking about the HP areas specifically.

 

[bumbershoot]

What do you mean mean by onlookers?

 

[AngiTN]

What do you mean mean by onlookers?

That's not the right word but I'm lacking the words this morning.
I mean does the event bring in lots of folks who want to just be in the parks during the celebration but not go to the event activities, if that makes any sense at all.

 

[chabs]

That's not the right word but I'm lacking the words this morning.
I mean does the event bring in lots of folks who want to just be in the parks during the celebration but not go to the event activities, if that makes any sense at all.

There were definitely a lot more people last year than the year before. That being said, there were quite a few South American tour groups as well. If you have any interest in the HP Expo, I would recommend going Friday or Saturday morning if you want to buy any of the expo merchandise (sweatshirts/tshirts/mugs) because we've found that it does sell out. Also the lines get longer as the weekend goes on-the line on Sunday last year was a good 3 hours long if not longer in the afternoon. It wrapped all the way down the street by Transformers if I remember correctly. And the line moves SLOWLY.

We didn't care for any of the other events except to listen to the actors being interviewed for a little while-that event was mobbed last year. It was in that little park by the minions where they do concerts. The other events we thought were boring and ended up leaving 10 minutes into them-I didn't think they were so crowded but they were over by toon lagoon in the big theater.

So we stay onsite and get express passes and never had to wait to get on any rides except the ones without EP. I think it looks more crowded than it really is if that makes sense. Sunday was definitely the worst day with the most crowds, not sure why that is.

HP areas are always crowded no matter what. Best advice is to go at 8AM if you are staying on site and do the HP rides that are open that day first. Or wait until the very end of the day before park closing and do the areas then. Same for wands. We do wands after 5pm. We usually go out at 8, do HP then whatever rides until after lunch, go back to the hotel until 4-5 and then go back to the park. Then we bought our wands when we went back and park hopped both locations so that we didn't have to carry them around all day and have to deal with lockers.

 

[AngiTN]

Thanks, that helps. We have no interest in the event, expo, or anything, so we won't be doing any of that. Mostly wondering if we'll have significantly higher crowds just looking around in the HP areas. We are on site and will use early entry on Sunday for sure, maybe Monday if we can get up, packed and checked out in time to make it (not likely)
Sounds like the waits and lines themselves may not be any worse than a normal weekend day?

 

[chabs]

There are always significantly higher crowds at the HP areas, HP weekend or not. Odd enough, Sunday and Monday were the two most crowded days at the parks last year, compared to Friday/Saturday. You could always get up for early entry Monday and then head back about 10:30 to pack up your stuff and store your luggage. We do that sometimes just so we don't miss early entry.

 

[bumbershoot]

I mean does the event bring in lots of folks who want to just be in the parks during the celebration but not go to the event activities, if that makes any sense at all.

I can't really imagine why. I think that there are people who are there and aren't doing the Celebration, and then there are people doing the Celebration with a bit of time in the parks.

Unless everyone in the universe has seen my picture of me and DS with Evanna Lynch, whom we met by complete chance and she was kind enough to take the picture with us. While looking at my son's red hair and saying in her lovely Irish accent that he MUST be a Weasley. Oh she was nice.

 

[perditax]

Tom Felton will be attending:

http://www.**************.net/2017/...y-potter-for-first-time-at-universal-orlando/