Universal Studios - WWOHP

[Ride Junkie]

We are going to Universal Studios Hollywood next week. For anyone who has been there recently, what is the best strategy for WWOHP? Our plan right now is to hit that area of the park first to ride Forbidden Journey. It is an early entry day, and I'm not sure yet if our tickets qualify (their website is currently having problems with ticket purchases). Is that area of the park consistently busy throughout the day? Thanks for your input.

 

[l4dyj8]

We were there the weekend before Memorial Day weekend. We were trying to go before the summer crowds hit. So, my experience may differ. From what I've heard, no predictable crowd pattern yet.

We arrived on a Saturday at about 10am. Bought our tickets online and didn't experience any lines at security or at the gate. We stayed in HP area pretty much the entire day. The crowds came and went. I would say that crowds picked up around 11:30. But everyone crowds the entrance

We have a 6 year old and a 6 month old. So we didn't line up on the main ride at Hogwarts. Hippogrifth ride was about 45 minutes. Olivanders was 45 minutes. They also had a line to just get into the store. Extremely crowded and they were at capacity within the stores.

The stores are all very tight spaces. Worst in the morning. I think everyone heads straight to HP. Late afternoon, no line for Three Broomsticks. I would go here for dinner rather than the busy lunch period.

their website also has live wait times that seemed accurate. Overall ride wait lines got longer throughout the day plus olivanders. But go into the stores at the end of the day. Also view wands up close at the outside kiosk or at the store near the entry. Olivanders is so crowded you may not get a good look. ( should you want to buy an interactive wand)

 

[StageTek]

My experience is that everyone goes there first thing. Late afternoon it's much less crowded. On Sunday (29th) during the last hour of the park being open the line at FJ was under 10 minutes.

 

[Ride Junkie]

Thanks for your input! This gives me a good idea of what to expect. We'll be there on Friday.

 

[sprousehouse]

sorry - double post.

 

[sprousehouse]

I would love anyone's advice. We are going next Wed (probably afternoon into evening) and then Thursday from entry. HP is the priority but kids (6 & 8) will want to do Minions and Transformers too.

I'm thinking HP for early entry but what about Wed evening? Thinking of going there for dinner - anyone know how late they seat?

Any tips would be welcome.

 

[DisneyAngel05]

Hello, I am heading to Wizarding world of harry potter later this year and am very excited! Can you please tell me if there are spiders in the Forbidden Journey ride? If so, roughly when do they appear? Sorry to sound nuts but I am severely aracnophobic and I need to be aware of these things.

Thanks in advance!

 

[StageTek]

I'm thinking HP for early entry but what about Wed evening? Thinking of going there for dinner - anyone know how late they seat?

They typically stop seating one hour before the park closing time.

 

[Catvondita]

Hello, I am heading to Wizarding world of harry potter later this year and am very excited! Can you please tell me if there are spiders in the Forbidden Journey ride? If so, roughly when do they appear? Sorry to sound nuts but I am severely aracnophobic and I need to be aware of these things.

Thanks in advance!

There are a lot of spiders in a dark forest scene with a large one I think in the center. They spit "venom" at you. This is right after the scene where you encounter the dragon.

 

[DisneyAngel05]

There are a lot of spiders in a dark forest scene with a large one I think in the center. They spit "venom" at you. This is right after the scene where you encounter the dragon.

Thanks Cat! I really appreciate the info - that sounds way too freaky for me.

 

[mmmears]

We are thinking about spending a day at US later this summer, mostly to see the HP stuff. It sounds like late afternoon is the best time... does that give you enough time to see/do most things?

 

[StageTek]

Late afternoon will give you time too see/do everything in WWoHP.

 

[Ride Junkie]

Back from our trip. We went to Universal on Friday 6/10. Got there just after opening time of 9:00am (although it was an early entry day for those ticket holders). The HP area was crowded, mostly people stopping and taking pictures. We went straight to Forbidden Journey, which had a 45 minute wait time posted. The wait ended up only being 25 minutes. We rode Flight of the Hippogriff afterwards, which was about a 25 minute wait. By the time we were passing FJ again, the posted wait time was 75 minutes, so it was starting to get busy (around 10:45).

We left to check out the rest of the park. Came back to WWOHP around 3:00pm. Ollivander's was a 20 minute wait (cool little show inside the shop), and we rode FJ again and only waited around 30 minutes. Went to all the spots where you can use the interactive wands; most only had a couple of people waiting (if any). We didn't go into any other shops besides Ollivander's, so I didn't notice if they were crowded. There were long lines for the butterbeer carts, so we didn't get a chance to try it.

Like a previous poster said, the crowds come in waves. Either hit it first thing in the morning, or wait 'til it clears out in the afternoon. Overall we really enjoyed it. The theming was really cool and the ride was just off the hook! Loved the whomping willow! All the effects were amazing.

 

[Ride Junkie]

There are a lot of spiders in a dark forest scene with a large one I think in the center. They spit "venom" at you. This is right after the scene where you encounter the dragon.

This is correct. If you think it will be too creepy, close your eyes right after the animatronic dragon. You can open them again after Hermione says to watch out for the whomping willow.