The Harry Potter Grand Opening---what to expect?

[ADP]

Just remember, no matter how crazy it gets, if you are staying onsite you will get FOTL privelages at most of the other attractions. The FOTL waits maybe a little longer than usual, but it's still available to you and it should make your day(s) more enjoyable regardless of the crowds.

 

[Coach81]

Madness, Mayhem, Chaos...

 

[DaddyDon]

Hot and humid......And did i mention the crowds???? Thank god im staying on site! PBH here we come....

 

[ADP]

It appears the Portifino and Hard Rock are sold out for the weekend of June 18th....The Royal Pacific has limited rooms available.

 

[Will20]

We have a stay for Hard Rock June 17-21st booked it through the HP package, before the grand opening date was even announced, lol. So I wonder, will we be able to go in on the 17th?

 

[LaurapKY]

gosh...I haven't been on here since 2002. Just booked a package with Southwest and we are staying on site for june 21-24...actually we had a choice of all 3 hotels for those days and even from june 19-22. I hope this means it will be tollerable crowds.

And it is nice to back...Laura

 

[Metro West]

gosh...I haven't been on here since 2002. Just booked a package with Southwest and we are staying on site for june 21-24...actually we had a choice of all 3 hotels for those days and even from june 19-22. I hope this means it will be tollerable crowds.
And it is nice to back...Laura

No...I would think those rooms were available because they were blocked by other companies for their packages. I doubt the crowds will be anything less than maddening that whole week.

 

[dukejp21]

On June 18th, when Harry Potter opens, will Universal Studios and or other rides at IOA be crowded since everyone will be at Harry Potter?

 

[Purseval]

I would love to go and check it out but unless they have some sort of Annual passholder days where the only ones allowed into WWOHP are passholders

Been there, done that (Shrek/Mummy APH event) would never do it again. Worst lines I've ever endured and definitely not worth it in the long run. My kids enjoyed it, tho, and my daughter had her boyfriend along on his first visit so they didn't mind the lines as much as I did.

 

[Twinkbelle]

I've had a somewhat similar experience. I went to Disneyland Paris for the opening of the Studios theme park (I'm from the UK, I can relatively cheap flights over to Paris, and its good for a quick fix of theme park fun between trips to Florida) I expected madness but it wasn't as busy as I thought. If you prepare yourself for the worst if its any better then its all to the good. I'm going to imagine that it will be like the last weekend in August - the busiest time I've ever witnessed and if it is any better then I'll be happy but the odds of that are slim to nil.

I wonder what they're going to do to let the onsite hotel guests get into the theme park before opening? No doubt there will be a queue already formed before 9am every day for sometime with people eager to get through at rope drop. I think that they'll have a seperate queue off to one side where you have to show your room ticket or they have a guest list of somekind. The way that Disney do when you're on a guided tour or a breakfast ADR.

 

[Jason71]

When Aquatica opened two years ago, there would be a two-hour drive from the 528 to the park (normally a two-minute drive). The park would routinely reach capacity by 11 a.m. on weekdays, earlier on weekends.

I've also seen traffic backed up on I-4 and at the parking toll booths during HHN, and lines at the turnstiles going back beyond the ticket sales buildings.

Both Aquatica/Sea World and Universal are "locals friendly" parks. And the anticipation for Potter is a lot higher than it was for Aquatica. I imagine the whole Summer will be a madhouse. Miles-long traffic jams on I-4, wall to wall people, lines just to get into the stores (Uni already has switchbacks ready)...

The unofficial soft opening (word of the date will leak) and the official ribbon-cutting will be even more insane. Go early.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

If you are familiar with the term "cluster" (some people add a second word), I would say that will be a good description.

 

[Colleendoll]

Also Guests WILL be able to enter the park that day, at least those who booked an HP package. I know this primarly because we have a reservation at the 3 Broomsticks at 10am on June 18th. .

I have been calling since February to get reservations at 3 Broomsticks and they keep telling me that they are not taking reservations. We are staying at the HRH. Why are we not able to get reservations?

 

[Colleendoll]

I know a couple of the hotels are already starting to sell out and they are not letting you book just 1 night unless you call and can get someone to work around the system. :

I paid for tickets, Meal Deal, sipper cups etc. back in February but decided last week to book a room in the park to make sure my children had the Birthday they dreamed of. I didn't have a problem booking the hotel for one night. The night I picked was 17th and staying until the 18th. We will be in the park for the opening and unfortunatly, we do have to use one of our 4 day tickets the day before. The casulaties of planning ahead but I really hope the other three days in the park are awesome for my children. We have just over a week in FL but have to travel back home that Sunday.

 

[floridianer]

I have been calling since February to get reservations at 3 Broomsticks and they keep telling me that they are not taking reservations. We are staying at the HRH. Why are we not able to get reservations?

Easy

Because it is a counter service restaurant

They don´t take ressies ...

Only for a short period during the HP packages they will have breakfast (ONLY) reservations for those who purchased the HP package.

 

[SheriN]

On June 18th, when Harry Potter opens, will Universal Studios and or other rides at IOA be crowded since everyone will be at Harry Potter?

I'd like to know the answer to this question as well. May make doing UO possible after all.

 

[Lucky4me]

On June 18th, when Harry Potter opens, will Universal Studios and or other rides at IOA be crowded since everyone will be at Harry Potter?

I think it's going to make both parks much more crowded than normal, especially a few hours after opening when people tire of fighting the HP chaos and wander to other areas.
If you're interested in the rest of the two parks, I'd be the first one there. I bet you'll get a lot done with little wait times the first two-three hours.

 

[David&Danielle]

I just cancelled our res for June 19th. No way am I dealing with that mess.

 

[FloraFauna]

Ok, now I'm starting to get a little nervous about this trip. I booked our trip to Disney and Universal a while back. I planned it so we would be at Disney from 6/12-15 and Universal from 6/16-20, with one or possibly two days at Seaworld. I booked it when Universal put on their website that WWOHP would be open in the Spring. I never intended for us to be there for the grand opening!!

It is what it is, though. I guess I should just resolve myself that it will be super CROWDED!! I just hope its not miserably crowded.

 

[ADP]

I'm still feeling if you are staying onsite express pass should be a huge help during Grand Opening weekend. Although you won't be able to enjoy WWoHP that much the other attraction should see minimal wait times in the Express Lines.