Specific entry times for Harry Potter?

[sunshine girl]

I don't remember where I heard this (maybe it was the DIS Unplugged podcast?? Not sure.) but I thought I heard that Universal was going to start allocating "entry times" for the WWOHP. Such as: you arrive at IOA, and are given a ticket telling you when you are allowed to go into the WWOHP section. You can't just decide for yourself when to go to that area. Kind of like at popular museum exhibits, in which you are given an hour window for entry to the exhibit (but once you are in, you can stay as long as you want/need).

Is this true? And if so, does anyone have any experience with it? I'm planning to visit WWOHP in March and if I need to get there at the crack of dawn in order to be one of the first people to get a ticket into the WWOHP area, I want to plan in advance. We are not planning to do a whole day at Universal -- just a visit to WWOHP area, and don't want to show up at 9am and wind up with a 5pm return time ticket...

Thanks!

 

[HLAuburn]

I could be wrong, but the only time I've heard about them doing this is when the HP area gets too crowded and they are forced to stop people from entering until the crowds die down.

We were there in January...we had early entry at 8 by staying onsite and we were able to walk right on FJ and Ollivander's was a very short wait as well. By 9, when the general public came in, it definitely started to fill up, but nothing crazy. However, when we returned later that day, around lunchtime, it was insane! The FJ line went all the way back to Jurassic Park and just walking down the street was a challenge. Even like that though, they were allowing people in. I think it takes a lot for them to decide to stop letting people in.

That said, I would plan on getting to the gate at 8:30, ready to go. I've read that they sometimes open the gates a little early. Head straight to WWoHP as quickly as you can and have a plan for when you get there (i.e. FJ or Ollivander's? what to do with your bags etc) and you should be fine.

Oh, and make time for a couple Butterbeer breaks - yum!! We're going back in a couple weeks, and I think that's what I'm looking forward to the most!

 

[damo]

I could be wrong, but the only time I've heard about them doing this is when the HP area gets too crowded and they are forced to stop people from entering until the crowds die down.

We were there in January...we had early entry at 8 by staying onsite and we were able to walk right on FJ and Ollivander's was a very short wait as well. By 9, when the general public came in, it definitely started to fill up, but nothing crazy. However, when we returned later that day, around lunchtime, it was insane! The FJ line went all the way back to Jurassic Park and just walking down the street was a challenge. Even like that though, they were allowing people in. I think it takes a lot for them to decide to stop letting people in.

That said, I would plan on getting to the gate at 8:30, ready to go. I've read that they sometimes open the gates a little early. Head straight to WWoHP as quickly as you can and have a plan for when you get there (i.e. FJ or Ollivander's? what to do with your bags etc) and you should be fine.

Oh, and make time for a couple Butterbeer breaks - yum!! We're going back in a couple weeks, and I think that's what I'm looking forward to the most!

That is my experience as well.

 

[Ohiodislover]

My family was there in December between Christmas and NY. They arrived 30 min before the park opened, and were given tickets to come back at noon. Once they got into the Harry Potter area, it was still very crowded. Of course this WAS during one of the busiest times of the year.

Good Luck. Maybe your week in March won't be so busy.

 

[Schmeck]

When we were there in August, we arrived after the parks had opened, and WWoHP was crowded, but open. It wasn't uber-crowded, and FJ had only a 20 minute wait. It's just that the area is very small, there's not much space in the shops, and there are only 3 ride attractions.

I think the Honeydukes shown in the movie was twice as big as the one at the park, which is screwy. You'd think the planners would make things there bigger, to fit the crowds, not the other way around.

Anyways, we were able to walk right into the area, no lines to get in, no problem. I'm thinking that the busy holiday weeks are the worst, and that's when you'll have the queue just to get in.

 

[Metro West]

I could be wrong, but the only time I've heard about them doing this is when the HP area gets too crowded and they are forced to stop people from entering until the crowds die down.

 

[disneycrazzy]

We were there for 2 days last week and arrived at the gates each day at 8:30. They opened the gates both days at 8:45 and every ride was a walk on (including FJ) for about an hour or so. The only line was at Ollivander's but we went back an hour before closing that evening to see the castle at night and the line for Ollivander's was down to about 15 minutes.

If you're staying offsite allow at least 10 minutes to walk from the parking decks.

Tip: We noticed that the line second from the left on the Right Side of Turnstiles (and the one second from the right on the Left Side) has two people working it and moves twice as fast as some others. There may be others that are the same set up but we used these two specifically.

 

[sunshine girl]

Thank you everyone! I completely forgot that I posted this question, duh. We'll plan to get there a bit before opening.

Our travel dates are not during a busy time, so it should be ok! Thanks again.