What size of bag is permitted at WWoHP ?

[marcelorsc]

Hi, reading here I realized that bags must be locked in FJ in WWoHP.

Is it really forbidden, or "not recommended"?


But what size of "bag" or carry-on item may be the limit to be allowed? (please inform the highest # you think will be allowed to be carried)

1) Nothing, not even in the pockets
2) A compact camera in the pocket...
3) Just a SLR* camera (with no bag) hanging on the neck...
4) A SLR* camera and a compact camcorder hanging on the neck...
5) A small (SLR) camera bag - 8" x 6" (may be fixed to the belt)
6) A camera bag - about 10" x 8" size (hanging on the side of the body)
7) A small flexible bag (around 12" tall, 8" wide, on the back)
8) A normal sized backpack... (around 16" tall, 12" wide)

* "SLR" is a big camera, around 5" wide, 8" long

What about coats/jackets? Should be locked? May be tied around the waist? Or must be dressed?

I read somewhere about someone that could go with a small bag... The idea is to avoid the locker lines, that ware told very long.

Thanks in advance!

NOTE: Due this restriction, I can imagine that all shopping MUST be done after riding...

 

[Elcheetah]

Hi, you may carry a fannypack, no loose items (cameras, glasses...). You may keep your wallet ( we always take some money in case we exceed the free time), as long as it is in your pocket. The lines aren't that bad, they've got tons of lockers, as for your sweaters, you most keep them on. Hope this helps

 

[roxysmum123]

Just a tip, if the line up is out the door it's generally people waiting to get set up with a locker for their stuff. Go to the right and through Filches Emporium and put your things in a locker from the "back" end, this is where you go after getting off the ride anyways and then you can bypass the zoo of people trying ot figure out how to work the lockers.

 

[zack123]

It depends on who is working. Some TMs will let you through with a small waist pack (must fasten around your waist with a three-prong clip, no neck/shoulder/crossbody bags or backpacks) - some will tell you absolutely no loose articles, only what you can put in your pockets. I had a waist pack, about 6" x 8", at least one TM told me I had to put it in a locker. You can wear flip flops in line, then take them off when you get on the ride and hold them.

Fair warning - I got off the ride behind several people who were frantically patting their pockets, saying "Oh no, I lost my phone/camera on the ride." If your pockets don't close securely, don't put anything important in them.

I would not take an SLR or any camera larger than pocket-sized on the ride. I had a Sony a-230 with a kit (18-55) lens with me, which is small by SLR standards, and I put in a locker. The ride moves you around quite a bit, I would not want something that heavy bouncing around and hitting me during the ride, or jabbing me in the stomach if stuck between the restraints and my body (one or the other would be likely on this ride). Not to mention the seats on this ride are pretty tight, there is not a lot of room to fit bulky items with you in the seat - there are "walls" on three sides of you. You can go through the castle tour later with your SLR if you want to take photos with it. It is unlikely the TMs would let you get on the ride with anything like an SLR/camcorder hanging around your neck. You *might* get away with it in a small belt pouch, if you are a rather thin person, it is securely fastened to your belt, and you have one of the very smallest SLRs and lenses. Keep in mind the cost of replacing these items if they get lost or broken on the ride - it's probably not worth the risk. Also consider the damage it could do if it fell off and hit another rider.

I did ride a few other rides with my waist pack (contained a P & S camera, among other things) and found it very annoying during fast rides with lots of movement. I was afraid I was going to smash my camera, or that the pack might fall off. Sometimes the pack poking into me made the ride very uncomfortable, and I am a small person.

Go in the back entrance to avoid the long locker lines - most people stop in the very first section, they don't realize there is a whole second room of lockers available.

 

[damo]

There is a new queue at FJ to attempt to handle the lines better. Everyone (except castle tour people) now enter the queue that runs alongside the castle and from there you are sorted into your appropriate line. Hopefully this will help to avoid the long locker lines that can extend out of the castle.

 

[mesaboy2]

Hi, you may carry a fannypack, no loose items (cameras, glasses...). You may keep your wallet ( we always take some money in case we exceed the free time), as long as it is in your pocket. The lines aren't that bad, they've got tons of lockers, as for your sweaters, you most keep them on. Hope this helps

Fannypacks okay, just about anything else not. No loose items allowed. You can wear your glasses, and I've worn only a lanyard around my neck but I tuck it in my shirt.

I have gotten in the habit of emptying my front pockets, as I feel stuff such as keys, phones, and coins moving around in there. I could see something falling out.

As for the OP's scale, I would say nothing past #2.

 

[marcelorsc]

Hi people, thank you very much for the tips!

I'll try do not carry anything, but as advised if necessary due the children it seems it will not be a nightmare to use the lockers (also because Ill be there on January).

I didn't realize that it was almost like a coaster ride.

Two questions...

-is it possible (allowed) to take pictures (with compact camera) during the ride?

-I see that the "line" for FJ is the actual tour thru the castle - so can I do that with the large camera (SLR) to only take pictures, then when arriving the ride actual entrance skip it? Would it be allowed?

Thanks again!

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Hi people, thank you very much for the tips!

I'll try do not carry anything, but as advised if necessary due the children it seems it will not be a nightmare to use the lockers (also because Ill be there on January).

I didn't realize that it was almost like a coaster ride.

Two questions...

-is it possible (allowed) to take pictures (with compact camera) during the ride?

-I see that the "line" for FJ is the actual tour thru the castle - so can I do that with the large camera (SLR) to only take pictures, then when arriving the ride actual entrance skip it? Would it be allowed?

Thanks again!

If you want to bring a small camera on the ride it should be in the small compartment in the back of the seat or in a secure pocket... or you better pray the hand strap works!

While you can walk through the regular queue and exit near the end of the line,there is a separate castle tour in which you'll see most of everything. Just ask any student when you get to the gates of Hogwarts and they'll point you in the right direction. You can take as much time and as many pictures as you want in the tour

 

[zack123]

Hi people, thank you very much for the tips!

I'll try do not carry anything, but as advised if necessary due the children it seems it will not be a nightmare to use the lockers (also because Ill be there on January).

I didn't realize that it was almost like a coaster ride.

Two questions...

-is it possible (allowed) to take pictures (with compact camera) during the ride?

-I see that the "line" for FJ is the actual tour thru the castle - so can I do that with the large camera (SLR) to only take pictures, then when arriving the ride actual entrance skip it? Would it be allowed?

Thanks again!

I wouldn't try taking pictures during the ride for a couple of reasons:

- The ride moves you around a lot. I would hate to lose a camera on the ride.
- I would feel horrible if I dropped my camera and it injured another person on the ride.
- I would also feel bad if they had to stop the ride because my camera messed something up when it fell.
- Much of the ride is rather dark, and that combined with the types of special effects used and the speed/movement of the car, would make it difficult to get any decent pictures during the ride with an inexpensive camera. I'd need a very expensive compact camera with a large sensor and fast shutter, which is not worth the risk of losing.

There is a separate (self-guided) castle tour line which is better than the regular line for most photos, because you can move at your own pace rather than the pace of the ride line. It follows most of the regular line and exits just before regular riders get on the ride. I happened to hit it once just before park closing, it was nice because there was no one in line waiting to ride and I got a lot of really great pictures. The TMs let me walk through the child swap lane and get some pictures of the Sorting Hat and ride cars as well.

 

[damo]

Zack, you give such concise, well thought out and well written answers!!!! Good job!

 

[cigar95]

There is a new queue at FJ to attempt to handle the lines better. Everyone (except castle tour people) now enter the queue that runs alongside the castle and from there you are sorted into your appropriate line. Hopefully this will help to avoid the long locker lines that can extend out of the castle.

Can you expand on this a bit? Does "alongside the castle" refer to that area outside the front gate?

Does this mean that the shortcut of entering the locker area through Filch's will no longer work?

(Not sure why I'm asking, exactly - I didn't like the ride at all, but I suppose it's one of those things that one must do when visiting the park.)

 

[LaceyLace]

Seriously? You can't even carry sunglasses onto the ride? That's the only thing I will be wearing/carrying around the park. Going to be a pain if I have to get a locker at every ride just to put my sunglasses in.

Really don't want to put them in a pocket for fear of breaking them. I can't hold them in my hand or attach to my shirt or put them on top of my head?

 

[Csaks]

Seriously? You can't even carry sunglasses onto the ride? That's the only thing I will be wearing/carrying around the park. Going to be a pain if I have to get a locker at every ride just to put my sunglasses in.

Really don't want to put them in a pocket for fear of breaking them. I can't hold them in my hand or attach to my shirt or put them on top of my head?

As others have said you get tossed around a bunch. They wouldn't last 30 seconds on the top of your head. The best you could do is put the main part of the glasses inside your shirt with the arm outside but even then depending on the way the restraints work with you they may get crushed . I have them on those string things and tuck it in my shirt and hope for the best.

 

[Lynne G]

Seriously? You can't even carry sunglasses onto the ride? That's the only thing I will be wearing/carrying around the park. Going to be a pain if I have to get a locker at every ride just to put my sunglasses in.

Really don't want to put them in a pocket for fear of breaking them. I can't hold them in my hand or attach to my shirt or put them on top of my head?

Ah, yeah. I put my sunglasses in my fanny pack so I wouldn't loose them. Unless you wear them like glasses and they are tight enough on your face, they very easily could fly off and be lost or hit someone if you pushed them back on your head. There is a small box in the back of the seat. I've seen people put sunglasses, wallets, and small cameras back there without a problem. And they would not get squished in that box.

 

[LaceyLace]

I prefer just to hold my sunglasses in my hand like I do on every rollercoaster I've been on. Just want to make sure they're not going to make me get out of line to go put them in a locker...

 

[zack123]

Seriously? You can't even carry sunglasses onto the ride? That's the only thing I will be wearing/carrying around the park. Going to be a pain if I have to get a locker at every ride just to put my sunglasses in.

Really don't want to put them in a pocket for fear of breaking them. I can't hold them in my hand or attach to my shirt or put them on top of my head?

There's a small box in the back of your seat. You can put your sunglasses in there for safekeeping while you ride.

ETA: You get turned on your back during the ride, they might fall off if you leave them on top of your head.

 

[hydrotony]

The seats rotate above horizontal and any item in your pockets will likely slide out. Coins, keys, cell phones, cameras...all gone. Put all loose items in a zippered enclosure like a small fanny pack strapped under your shirt or, and I did this, a zip lock baggie snugly fit into a front pants pocket. I wear regular glasses and never had a problem. Sunglasses on the top of your head...say good bye.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I prefer just to hold my sunglasses in my hand like I do on every rollercoaster I've been on. Just want to make sure they're not going to make me get out of line to go put them in a locker...

You can definitely hold on to them or clip them onto your shirt. TMs only pull people out of line for bags/huge items and SLRs with large lenses.

 

[LaceyLace]

Thanks, Brink! That's what I was hoping for - that I could just hold my glasses in my hand rather than put them in my pocket, or worse, have to get a locker for them.

 

[damo]

Can you expand on this a bit? Does "alongside the castle" refer to that area outside the front gate?

Does this mean that the shortcut of entering the locker area through Filch's will no longer work?

(Not sure why I'm asking, exactly - I didn't like the ride at all, but I suppose it's one of those things that one must do when visiting the park.)

It runs alongside the castle over towards the JP area. TMs then sort everyone into the proper directions. The only people who don't use the new line are those taking the castle tour. I don't know if they are monitoring the Filch's area but I don't see how they could since people are still coming out of the locker bay to ride the ride.