The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[Caribbeanprincess]

So what do u guys recommend? Book the offer or book separetly? If I'm flying to Orlando I'd like to go to WDW for a day or two...

 

[renda460]

I really doubt Universal marketing is dumb enough to promote a Harry Potter package (and they are promoting, everywhere including email), unless they are completely confident the WWOP will be open. (And yes I read the fine print on the email, it doesn't say 'Three Broomsticks or comparable.')

For that reason, I would think maybe the grand opening will be prior to May 28.

 

[eandesmom]

So what do u guys recommend? Book the offer or book separetly? If I'm flying to Orlando I'd like to go to WDW for a day or two...

Well it depends on what is most important to you. To me, the off-site HP package benefits are not that great so if I wasn't going to spurge and be on-site where the benefits are much much better, I'd stay at Disney with one of their current promotions which for me would be less expensive.

But if you can get your group there at 8am and think the breakfast would be really cool, then the off-site Harry Potter package might be worth it.

Right now we have 3 nights at Hard Rock followed by 7 at the Yacht Club. The YC is a LOT less expensive due to a PIN code and I am struggling with the cost of HRH but really don't want to give up the benefits. At Hard Rock we have to get 2 rooms so it's killing us. Hopefully we can get the rest of our party who will be at the YC to join us for the HRH part and then it will be a bit more bearable. If not, we may move to Disney for those 3 nights which would be really sad but for me the big benefits to on-site is walking to the parks (mid day pool breaks!) and the express line pass. You don't get either of those with the HP offsite package.

Good luck!

 

[Caribbeanprincess]

I wasn't planning to stay on-site anyway, the hotels on site are a little to expensive for my budget. If I do the package I would be staying at the Quality Inn International and I'd probably not use a day from the tickets and use it at Magic Kingdom instead. But, since I've never booked directly with Universal...do they do booking deposits like WDW does?

 

[Don Pacho]

Courtesy of zeevik03, Orlando United
http://www.orlandounited.com

I think you guys are missing the point If you will read the whole article http://harrypotterworldorlando.com/amazing-attraction-planed-for-harry-potter-theme-park/
It says clearly that 3D is the Disney attraction and the Harry Potter one would be DIFFERENT then the Disney one. And also the robot will move in more directions then in Disney.

In any case i do hope that it will not be another 3D animation movie been there done that

.

 

[Poly-Anna]

I think the actual ceremony/opening day will be a week earlier, on Wednesday, May 19. If you check the reservation page of UO, that is the only day you cannot book any of the 3 onsite hotels. You can book the day before and the day after, but not that day. Coincidence? I think not! Just my own guess, but we'll have to wait and see!

 

[Don Pacho]

Courtesy of MattBoom, Orlando United
http://www.orlandounited.com

As someone posted a while ago, I finally made it up in the helicopter for some new photos and a video of Wizarding World this afternoon. Hope you all enjoy them.


http://www.attractionsmagazine.com/...r-tour-above-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter/

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[Don Pacho]

Courtesy of King_K, Orlando United
http://www.orlandounited.com

Here's a couple of shots I took this week from around the land. ...Get ready for some weird angles.

Overview from the Adventurer's Club balcony.

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[ReginaGraham]

I've given up on an actual release date. It's getting to be a little late to make plans. I would like to go on our 2010 trip but now I'm planning on visiting in 2011. Maybe waiting will be better with fewer people.

 

[jharrowell]

Hmm, May 28th. Good to know.

I think that date is too far away to hope for March soft openings, especially given that I don't think all of the buildings will be finished by the mid/end March. But hey, it was always a long shot and I wanted to visit US/IOA anyway as it's been a few years since I last visited (not seen Simpsons ride yet).

My partner has promised me a "lightning trip" out to see WWoHP if I want (if I stay off-site and use my Flying Club miles to get a free ticket, it could be done v. cheaply) but I must admit I'm wondering if it'll be better to wait till December so the crowds are a little lighter...

 

[Claire-Bear]

The aerial vid looks great

jharrowell, just thought I'd mention, the tax on airmiles flights still applies. Our trip this summer is using 100% airmiles, but the tax is still over £150 each, which sucks.

 

[tttessa]

Hiya,
yep that tax and stuff is a real killer - proper AirMiles don't charge anything on top of the miles! Poor show from Virgin!

Tessa

 

[jharrowell]

Last tickets cost me £1400pp so £150 is very cheap to me!

(Doing my first upper class trip, which is why I'll have enough miles for a free trip).

EDIT: Yes, yes. An ALMOST free trip.

 

[Don Pacho]

Courtesy of Mookie, Orlando United
http://www.orlandounited.com

they have removed some trees and added some others...

this pic is from a month ago....

and this is from today...

a few from today...

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[eandesmom]

I wasn't planning to stay on-site anyway, the hotels on site are a little to expensive for my budget. If I do the package I would be staying at the Quality Inn International and I'd probably not use a day from the tickets and use it at Magic Kingdom instead. But, since I've never booked directly with Universal...do they do booking deposits like WDW does?

It's similar but I think you have to call to do deposit versus the whole thing up front. Not positive as I've had my TA deal with it. Ours is on deposit remainder due 45 days ahead, just like Disney.

 

[TraceyL]

I wasn't planning to stay on-site anyway, the hotels on site are a little to expensive for my budget. If I do the package I would be staying at the Quality Inn International and I'd probably not use a day from the tickets and use it at Magic Kingdom instead. But, since I've never booked directly with Universal...do they do booking deposits like WDW does?

I paid $100 deposit (online), balance due about 6 weeks before

 

[MissDisney121]

Oh the pics look amazing. I want to go so bad but I'm not sure I can justify spending $400 for my family to go (including cab fare) when it is going to be so insanely crowded in July and we wouldn't even be able to stay they whole day. I might just have to live vicariously through pucs and vids until my next trip when the craziness has died down a bit.

 

[december]

We were just debating the same thing. There will be 6 of us (me and my kids, plus my sister and her son), and the cost to do Universal during our WDW trip, plus the crowds, convinced me to wait awhile. I talked to ds12 about it, he and I are the HP fans, and he said he wants to go for his 14th birthday, July 2011. And it wants it to be just the 2 of us! Dd10 and dd1 would stay with my mil. The baby should be old enough by then that I'd be ok with 3 or 4 days away, and dd10 loves going to mawmaw's because she gets her way (she is there now)! I think I'll make it a tradition-a one on one trip with mama for their 14th birthdays!

I can't wait to hear more about HP from all of you, though!

 

[Priorityonecb]

We are going in October, and I too am looking forward to reading everyones reports when it opens!!!

 

[damo]

We were just debating the same thing. There will be 6 of us (me and my kids, plus my sister and her son), and the cost to do Universal during our WDW trip, plus the crowds, convinced me to wait awhile. I talked to ds12 about it, he and I are the HP fans, and he said he wants to go for his 14th birthday, July 2011. And it wants it to be just the 2 of us! Dd10 and dd1 would stay with my mil. The baby should be old enough by then that I'd be ok with 3 or 4 days away, and dd10 loves going to mawmaw's because she gets her way (she is there now)! I think I'll make it a tradition-a one on one trip with mama for their 14th birthdays!

I can't wait to hear more about HP from all of you, though!

That is a great tradition to start!!!