I'm really enjoying your updates! I wish the WWoHP weren't so tiny and crowded but maybe by the time we get there, the crowds will have died down.
Amanda
Last year was the opening, of course, and this summer was the release of the final movie, so I am sure those two things have helped to feed the crowds. I don't have a sense of what crowds are like at quieter times of the year, but I suspect they are much more manageable, like they are at Disney or anywhere else that attracts schoolaged children.
Thank you again for this report! We are learning so many great things about IOA. Can't wait!!
Great!
More great Universal updates. My one sister prefers the frozen butterbeer too. I got the regular one and liked it but the frozen one is definitely not as sweet. I agree about the stores. I get that JK Rowling wanted to keep it authentic by having them be smaller but they were SO tiny! We had to wait in line half an hour to get into one of them! I remember feeling bad for the people who work there. I could not handle working in a place so crowded all day.
Was your wait at Olivanders? Or even one of the other shops?
Love the updates! WWoHP continues to look amazing and lunch looks like great fun! How frustrating with the disconnection at 10:20. We had phone reception problems in DHS once (shortly before an Ecpot lunch ADR) and I thought we were never going to reconnect. I ended up racing to guest services to change our ADR, but it was very frustrating. So glad a sympathetic TM (?) helped out at WWoHP in the end!
Now, I have to ask about the butterbeer - is it possible to describe it?
And Amanda, that's what's I'm counting on - low crowds by the time our pre-schooler is old enough for WWoHP!
P.S. I see Ben is wearing his t-shirt from your Barcelo stay!
I get so incredibly jumpy when our family splits up. We had a problem at Atlantis once when Ben and I were separated from Mark and Nate for over an hour and we had no meeting plan. Finally we both figured we should return to where our towels were. Since then, having a plan B meeting spot has been important, but we were not good at Universal because we were so unfamiliar with the parks, where things are and how long things would take.
I need to write a letter to Uni complimenting Inez for helping us out, without revealing that she actually went against the rules to do so.
Thankfully, bubba's mom has chimed in with a description of the butterbeer. We ordered enough that I should actually be able to figure out the flavor and ingredients, but I really didn't get a chance to taste a lot of it. The boys were pretty territorial about the drinks. It is quite addictive.
I think I made butterbeer for Nate's birthday party and it did indeed involve butter, but I can't remember what else. Sure it is tucked away here somewhere. There are also a bunch of recipes floating around the Universal forums.
Good eyes- yes that is Ben's shirt from Xplor in the Mayan Riviera. It has a dinosaur in a hard hat, since this was going to be a "dino day". I was able to get him to wear a Del Sol color changing pirate shirt on our MK day without him knowing what was going on. Turtle shirt for Sea World.
Nah, I don't think I have a problem!
sort of like cream soda...without the carbonation
Frozen or on tap for your family?
Thanks so much for all the WWoHP pics and reviews. We will be at IoA next May, 2012 so I hope it is not as crowded as you experienced. Can't wait to try a butterbeer!
I'm definitely interested to hear about how the crowds differ throughout the year.
I can certainly tell you that our experience was that early was better than later.
