Universal in July with Diagon Alley opening?

[mbrou24]

Dispersed crowds Yes,but it's still going to be nuts,there's no way around that.I'll be there probably in the 2-3 weeks after it opens and I plan to spend the good part of the day just seeing the new areas and rides.As soon as I see all the new areas I'm out of there,I usually avoid theme parks in the summer so my trip will probably consist of my partial day at Universal and a second day at a waterpark.If there's a lot of people like me you might have a good shot of other rides in the parks not being too horrible,I doubt it but I'm being positive for potential visitors.I'm wondering how long I'll have to wait for the Gringott's coaster,hoping it won't go over 2 hours,I'm riding it either way but hopefully the wait is indoors,I remember my first ride on Forbidden Journey,just waiting to get inside took like 40 minutes in 96 degrees,not fun,which is why I avoid summer.

Oh it absolutely will be bad but I don't think it will be as bad as the first wwhop go round

 

[anna0513]

We were at WWOHP the week after it opened. We got there an hour before the park opened and the line was already long. Once they let us in we went to the left and ended up right in front of Jurasic Park. The cast members walked through the line handing out red tickets. They said if you have a ticket when the gates open you are guaranteed to get in. If not, you will have to wait in this line and eventually we will be letting small groups in at a time as the crowd allows. Once we got in it was extremely busy. You could barely walk. I remember the Forbidden Journey being a 90 minute wait. We waited because we were excited but I wouldn't do that again since a lot of the line was outside in the heat and it was unbearable!

We are going back this year June 20 - June 27. I am hoping that the new park will be open.

 

[heidijanesmith]

We were at US July 2010 one month after WWoHP at IoA opened. It was crazy busy at WWoHP. We stayed on site and took advantage of early entry, use express pass when ever possible and took a break midday.

It was manageable and we enjoyed ourselves a lot! We just had a plan for HP touring.

 

[wdisneyaholic]

WDW isn't going to be pretty either in July. You need to remember they just added a major addition to the parks that is drawing major crowds and has spending way up. That 1.5 billion is really paying off for them.

Yes, I'm being sarcastic about it. Crowds will be way up in July there and the mickey bands are adding majorly to the FP lines and making the regular lines much slower than before. I used to be a major supporter (15+ years annual pass) but not for much longer due to this wonderful addition to the parks.

We are used to going to Disney in July, we have gone every July for the last 10 years, so I kinda know what to expect there. When it gets crowded, we head back to the resort for pool time. The Universal portion of the trip would be very pricey compared to the nice discount I was able to get at Disney. I'm less concerned with magic bands and more concerned with pool time. I don't fully understand the whole FP+ yet and not really sure how it will affect us, our usual routine was only pulling 1 or 2 a day.

I do really want to see WWOHP but I think it makes more sense to wait and try to go in the off season when the crowds are less.

 

[wdisneyaholic]

Thanks to everyone for the comments.

 

[ahamlet]

We are going June 28 - July 2. I am very worried about the crowds. I have an 8 yr old, 12 yr old and 13 yr. old. To be honest I am more worried about DH. He has very little patience with crowds and amusement parks. We are staying offsite at bluegreen resorts. I believe it is appx 30 minutes from universal. Any advice you could give would be appreciated.

 

[mbrou24]

We are going June 28 - July 2. I am very worried about the crowds. I have an 8 yr old, 12 yr old and 13 yr. old. To be honest I am more worried about DH. He has very little patience with crowds and amusement parks. We are staying offsite at bluegreen resorts. I believe it is appx 30 minutes from universal. Any advice you could give would be appreciated.

That's probably right in the heart of diagons opening maybe a week after... Have you thought of getting the express pass? That will help alleviate wait times, but the wizarding worlds will be extremely crowded with lengthy waits just to enter the world itself let alone rides or attractions in them

 

[toandjo]

We will be there in July as well, staying offsite with 2 teens no express pass. Do you think HP attractions will be slower closer to closing time? Just thought maybe we should see the rest of the parks in the morning/afternoon and head to HP after supper?

 

[RMulieri]

We will be there in July as well, staying offsite with 2 teens no express pass. Do you think HP attractions will be slower closer to closing time? Just thought maybe we should see the rest of the parks in the morning/afternoon and head to HP after supper?

Usually with the exisiting HP attraction, that is the case.Since the new area will be BRAND new , no way to know if this will be true.My guess is it will stay pretty busy even in the evenings, at least thru the summer

 

[TaylorsDad]

We are going June 28 - July 2. I am very worried about the crowds. I have an 8 yr old, 12 yr old and 13 yr. old. To be honest I am more worried about DH. He has very little patience with crowds and amusement parks. We are staying offsite at bluegreen resorts. I believe it is appx 30 minutes from universal. Any advice you could give would be appreciated.

Unless things change that is when we will be there as well. I made reservations yesterday for HRH. While on the phone I asked if they had heard anything about the opening of the HP expansion. The lady I spoke with said they were being told Late August or perhaps even September. I told put much faith in the information though because I think if it was known an official announcement would have been made. Either that or they don't want people planning earlier and being disappointed if there are delays.

 

[maddiebee]

We have one day of our Disney trip, the last week of August, planned for Universal. I'm assuming it will still be busy, but is there any chance of it being maybe a little chiller at this point? At what point did the first HP expansion start to calm down?

We just want to see Diagon Alley and Springfield. If these are our main goals, buying express pass wouldn't really be necessary, right? The thought is that none of the HP rides will take it, correct?

 

[mbrou24]

We have one day of our Disney trip, the last week of August, planned for Universal. I'm assuming it will still be busy, but is there any chance of it being maybe a little chiller at this point? At what point did the first HP expansion start to calm down? We just want to see Diagon Alley and Springfield. If these are our main goals, buying express pass wouldn't really be necessary, right? The thought is that none of the HP rides will take it, correct?

Correct the express pass would not be worth it unless you wanted to see other attractions as well. By late August it should be a little calmer with some kids going back to school. Still though, expect longer waits. I am going 8/28-9/2

 

[Minniesgal]

We have one day of our Disney trip, the last week of August, planned for Universal. I'm assuming it will still be busy, but is there any chance of it being maybe a little chiller at this point? At what point did the first HP expansion start to calm down?

We just want to see Diagon Alley and Springfield. If these are our main goals, buying express pass wouldn't really be necessary, right? The thought is that none of the HP rides will take it, correct?

Late August was very busy in 2013

 

[maddiebee]

Late August was very busy in 2013

Was there a specific reason or is that just the way late August always is?

 

[Metro West]

Was there a specific reason or is that just the way late August always is?

The parks won't start calming down until after Labor Day once all schools are back in session. You will have to wait quite a bit longer for cooler temps I'm afraid...it's still very uncomfortable into October in most cases so be prepared for hot and humid conditions.

 

[maddiebee]

The parks won't start calming down until after Labor Day once all schools are back in session. You will have to wait quite a bit longer for cooler temps I'm afraid...it's still very uncomfortable into October in most cases so be prepared for hot and humid conditions.

Hah, chiller was the wrong word to use. I am very aware of our trip to the surface of the sun in August I'm more concerned about crowds. I just want it to hurry up and open so we can get better info!

 

[Minniesgal]

Was there a specific reason or is that just the way late August always is?

I don't know it is the first time we have been in August and we found Universal overwhelmingly busy even with express. We waited an hour to do Minions in the express line.

 

[RMulieri]

I agree with the pp..We went late August last year and it was ALOT BUSIER then we were expecting.I seriously wouldnt count on it dying down for a few months after HP expansion opening.We are going in December and I am planning on it being busier than usual

 

[FargoBear]

Robert Miles is reporting the Gringotts ride will accept the Express Pass, for what it's worth. He even mentioned where the line will form and break, sending the line outside the bank for those without Express passes.

 

[damo]

Robert Miles is reporting the Gringotts ride will accept the Express Pass, for what it's worth. He even mentioned where the line will form and break, sending the line outside the bank for those without Express passes.

Forbidden Journey also has an express pass lane. However, it isn't used. It is used as a castle tour instead. They may do the same for Gringotts.