What to expect in October?

[jm106]

I am starting to panic about crowds due to new HP area. We havent been since '04 to US/IOA. I know it still gets crowded at HP. I guess I am just not sure how to plan. I assume at park open we head right to HP first but I picture just immensely long lines and us seeing practically none of it. Should I even bother trying? Please, talk me down

We will be 2 adults and an almost 9 and 6 year old (who love any thrill ride but tend to be shorter. We did look at heights. Yds might be 48 " by then with shoes but not counting on it.) Yds LOVES super heros. We will buy 2 day P2P from USSA when exp becomes available for our dates.


We are off site (points so free rooms at Double tree @ entrance to US the first night then a Time share a mile away, also free so staying on site isnt an option to get what ever pass it allows.)
We plan to be at IOA Sunday 10/5 and US 10/8.

I appreciate any help, I am researching and learn about it all and confusing myself. I dont remember being so confused with disney for first family trip but we also didnt really plan back then.

 

[KeroKero]

I myself am going in October; solo for 3 days and then meeting up with family at WDW afterward.

Make sure to check in advance that the days you will be going to US the park hours, if Halloween Haunt is happening that night, the park will close early for the hard ticket event. This will make a difference in your planning.

The two days I plan to to be in the parks, US will close at 5, so ... I have to accommodate for that. I'll be hitting Diagon Alley at open for Gringotts for sure!

 

[johde]

Right now, October is expected to be moderately crowded. With the Hogwarts Express, I'd consider park hopping both days but focusing on just one. For example, you could spend the bulk to the day at Universal Studios then ride Hogwarts Express and do Lost Continent and Suess Landing. The other day, you'd start at IOA, then Hop to Universal Studio on the Hogwarts Express and pick up stuff you missed the first day,

 

[jm106]

Thanks, I checked park hours in advance and aware of HHN.
I am not a park hopper normally, is there any reason to actually hop other then riding Hogwarts express? I would rather just complete each park as best we can and use the option to hop for things they might want to do again the second day. Sorry if its a dumb question, I just don't really understand hopping.

 

[RMulieri]

Thanks, I checked park hours in advance and aware of HHN.
I am not a park hopper normally, is there any reason to actually hop other then riding Hogwarts express? I would rather just complete each park as best we can and use the option to hop for things they might want to do again the second day. Sorry if its a dumb question, I just don't really understand hopping.

Well the parks are literally next to each other, like so close they could be one huge park.we like to hop just because we can .Especially since we finish IOA pretty quickly, but the studios take longer since the attractions are longer and alot of the shows run at different times( The Disaster attraction is 26 mins long, Twister is long , Terminator is long, Despicable me and Shrek are longer too).The shows are often in the afternoons and sometimes at the same times as each other so it makes seeing them all a challenge.We often start over at IOA and move over to the studios when we have our fill over at IOA.

 

[jm106]

Well the parks are literally next to each other, like so close they could be one huge park.we like to hop just because we can .Especially since we finish IOA pretty quickly, but the studios take longer since the attractions are longer and alot of the shows run at different times( The Disaster attraction is 26 mins long, Twister is long , Terminator is long, Despicable me and Shrek are longer too).The shows are often in the afternoons and sometimes at the same times as each other so it makes seeing them all a challenge.We often start over at IOA and move over to the studios when we have our fill over at IOA.

Thanks,that helps. I have been so I know they are close which is great. I can see doing shows later each day but I just didnt understand doing some in one park then hopping to another instead of just finishing.
My concerns really are, if we will be able to get onto new HP rides with reasonable wait times arriving at park opening or if it will be a nightmare. Can we return later in the day on second park day to see more HP or expect it to be jammed?

 

[KeroKero]

My concerns really are, if we will be able to get onto new HP rides with reasonable wait times arriving at park opening or if it will be a nightmare. Can we return later in the day on second park day to see more HP or expect it to be jammed?

I would do just that. Hit the HP rides, Gringotts especially in the morning to have the most minimal wait til you'll see all day. FJ as a single rider line, which we LOVE. Not sure if Gringotts will have one too.

Having a single rider line over at FJ has allowed us 4-6 rides a day sine we love it so much!

 

[jm106]

We can't do single rider, kids are 6 and 8. Thanks anyway.

 

[hpfan100]

We can't do single rider, kids are 6 and 8. Thanks anyway.

You could have each adult go through single line while family waits. I've seen family's use the single before just send one adult first then kids and second adult last do you have one waiting for the kiddos at the shop after the ride. If you're six year old isn't tall enough then look into chd swap

 

[jm106]

You could have each adult go through single line while family waits. I've seen family's use the single before just send one adult first then kids and second adult last do you have one waiting for the kiddos at the shop after the ride. If you're six year old isn't tall enough then look into chd swap

Thanks. Yds will be big enough for most and we really want to experience it together rather then saving time going as singles. good idea though

 

[agavegirl1]

I was at US/IOA in November of 2010 when HP 1.0 had opened in the summer. This was a "slow" time according to crowd calendars. I used the early entry for onsite guests but I was still stunned by the crowds in the HP area. During the day, the WWoHP did close to capacity a time or two. I was there 4 days. First thing in the morning is the minimal wait but don't expect a walk on or anything like that if you are off site.

 

[mickey1968]

How were the waits in the rest of the park affected by the original HP section? Did they remain fairly stable? I haven't been to US in a decade so I don't have a feel for this there. I am hoping for my trip Nov. 19-22 that the HP crowds will have evened out to be manageable. I don't want to spend tons of time waiting to get into Diagon Alley, then wait at every single shop, only to wait even more for Gringotts.

 

[agavegirl1]

The rest of the park will be very manageable! Transformers and Despicable Me may still have lines.

 

[jm106]

Thanks. Not expecting walk on, rather the opposite, closures and long lines, like what you described. I'll hope for the best but be prepared to ditch new HP area and enjoy the rest if needed

 

[disneyfan80858]

My husband and I visited US and IOA in October of 2012. Wait times were very manageable. I think the longest wait we had was 30 minutes at Dudley Do-Right. We did hit the Harry Potter section first and were able to get on to Forbidden Journey fairly quickly and jump on to the Dragon ride nearby right afterward.

However, I realize things may be different now with the new HP sections open. Good luck!

 

[agavegirl1]

One thing I found in 2010 after HP 1.0 opened was the incredibly positive attitude of the guests. Waiting in the very well themed line for FJ wasn't the least bit "painful". It was part of the experience. Talking to other guests, exclaiming over the detail was fun in and of itself. FJ went down during our first time in line. We got to see a lot of detail in the queue. The next time, for early entry, we whizzed right by the detail and almost wished it didn't move so fast. Just be sure to be there for park open and enjoy.