Worth going to see WWoHP?

[birmantaz]

We have 2 dd's ages 7 and 8. We are going to Disney in Sept and my 8 yo loves Harry Potter! I was thinking of going 1 day, but it is worth it to just see the wand shop etc and not go on any of the rides? They won't be tall enough.. To go to Universal we would have to rent a car and stay an extra night at a hotel too. Picking out a wand sounds cool for her, but is there a lot of other things to see/do in WWoHP to make it worthwhile without rides?

 

[Harry Potter]

The other day we had someone asking if it would be worth it to come to Universal simply for the rides at WWoHP, and no other section of the park.

Now you want to come to Universal and the WWoHP not for any rides or attractions, but just for a wand shop?

Well, my honest advice to you, would be to buy your wands online or at Orlando Airport. It is not worth paying admission for a family just to queue for probably hours at Ollivanders.

Are you sure your daughters would be too small to ride Forbidden Journey? Surely they will be tall enough for Flight of the Hippogriff?

Anyway, WWoHP is the best-themed area of a theme park in the world. Some people, like myself, would happily walk around in that place for hours. Although I would not recommend it to you if you have small (short) children.

Save up for another year, and instead of doing Disney in 2012, come and stay for, say 3 nights at the Royal Pacific Resort. Not only will you get more time to explore the whole areas of Universal Orlando's parks, not only will your daughters likely for an extra few inches high, but you will also benefit from the early hour pass that all resort guests have who stay onsite.

 

[mesaboy2]

If wands are your main thing, then I don't know that's enough to justify a special trip, IMO. Wands are about $30 and don't do anything other than look nice. There are about a dozen kinds that you can choose based on your birthday. There's about another dozen or so for various characters featured in the books and films.

You have probably heard about Ollivander's there. You can't actually buy a wand there--it is merely a short show that recreates the scene from Book 1 where a wand chooses HP. In this case, groups of 25 or so enter the show area, a terrific looking shop full of wands. The storekeeper will then pick one (out of everyone--do the math) person, usually a kid, who then casts various spells with various wands. The right wand produces the right effect, everyone oohs and aahs, and then everyone, including the person chosen, walks empty-handed out of the show into an adjoining shop where they can then buy a wand. If you want a wand, I believe they are available at the Universal store in CityWalk also, saving you the cost of park entry.

Other than Ollivander's, WWoHP has three rides, including a kiddie coaster that would be perfect for their ages. There is also one sit-down restaurant, very well themed but otherwise not particularly noteworthy. And there are several well-themed shops, but they are small and usually crowded.

I hate talking you out of it as it is all pretty cool.

Consider that the rest of IoA, which WWoHP is part of, also has a number of other rides your DDs might enjoy. There is all of Seuss Land, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, and Marvel Superhero Island. Each of these have at least one attraction that would be fun for the whole family. Scope out Uni's website for more info if you care.

 

[ky07]

I with the other just to go to WWOHP just to buy a wand doesn't make sense cause your going thru one of the most well themed parks IOA and not ride anything or spend time to look around

 

[Metro West]

We have 2 dd's ages 7 and 8. We are going to Disney in Sept and my 8 yo loves Harry Potter! I was thinking of going 1 day, but it is worth it to just see the wand shop etc and not go on any of the rides? They won't be tall enough.. To go to Universal we would have to rent a car and stay an extra night at a hotel too. Picking out a wand sounds cool for her, but is there a lot of other things to see/do in WWoHP to make it worthwhile without rides?

In a word...no. As others have stated, WWoHP is pretty small and frankly $82.00 per person plus parking and the cost of a rental car is a little much to spend just to pick out a wand. If you aren't interested in spending the day at IOA and seeing what else there is to experience then I would say don't go. There should be attractions your kids could do and I'm sure they would enjoy themselves.

 

[tinydancer09]

It would be worth if if you would want to do other sections of the park. But paying admission, parking, rental car, and hotel is a bit much for one section of one park without rides. I would suggest thinking about the other rides of the park, determining if your kids could ride many of the other rides and deciding. If you really think thats the only reason then I'd say no.

There is always next year... crowd levels might start decreasing by then , never mind I'm kidding myself, and you kids might grow so they can ride. If they're anything like I was at their age they won't have a hope in the world though (4'8'' 20yr old) sheesh.

 

[~Tonga Wingo~]

I can't really answer the "is it worth it." However, my sister and I have never been and fully intend to go just for Harry Potter in a few weeks. However, we are huge fans and intend to ride (except dueling dragons for me). We are not adverse to doing things in the rest of the park if we have time, but will stay in Harry Potter until we've had our full of it. I think though if you do not intend to ride anything, it is probably not be worth it unless you take advantage of the rest of the park. Otherwise, you are spending a great deal of money just to shop and thus spend even more money.

 

[kwdw]

If your daughters are huge HP fans - I think one day is worth it.

1) Be there before opening. Do the mad rush to WWOHP. Get in line for the Wand Shop. See the show - then spend LOTS of time deciding if you want to buy anything at D&B. I recommend bringing a pen - and buying postcards and Hogwart's stamps. Have the girls mail themselves a postcard at the Owl Post with the Hogsmeade postal code (have them fill out the postcards at lunch).

2) Go to Honeyduke's and Zonko's. Browse well, as the later in the morning it gets, the more crowded. Don't buy chocolate frogs now. You can buy those at the front of the park in the main store. Spend time browsing, buy now if you want, as later in the day, there will be a line to get in the store.

3) Have lunch at Three Broomsticks. Plan this about 11:15-11:30 - or you will wait in line to get in. Order your Butterbeer in the mug now - so you don't have to wait in the Butterbeer line.

4) Go on the CASTLE TOUR only of the FB ride. It is NOT obvious how to do this - but if you keep asking staff - they will get you to the right spot. Be sure to spend the time to watch the little shows that happen during the line. There will NOT be a line for this.

5) Try to catch one of the little shows that happen outside. You can get your picture taken with the cast afterwards.

6) Get your picture with the conductor by the train.

7) Be sure to take the time to LOOK in all the store fronts. For example, every so often - the music pages fly in the windows of the music store. The detail is amazing - and it takes time to appreciate it all. Try pumpkin juice.

8) Once everyone agrees you have seen WWOHP - then leave. I suspect your girls will like Seuss Land - and there are a couple rides they can go on there. And check the ride heights/shows in the rest of the park to see what might interest them. IOA is VERY nicely themed - it is quite attractive to walk around and see stuff. Don't be surprised if your girls want "Thing" T-shirts by the time you leave.

9) You can buy wands, choc. frogs, and the HP plush pets at the main store at the front of the park. Personally, I think it would be more fun to buy the wand in WWOHP. You can't buy everything at this store though - so I would buy the must have "thing" in WWOHP - even though it's so tight to move around in the stores there. Just be patient.

For true fans - even without doing any rides - I think you can spend 4-5 hours in Hogsmeade. It can be overwhelming - and you can be tempted to leave out of frustration from the size of the crowd. Don't rush out because of that. Sit down, take a break, and enjoy the view. Hogsmeade is brilliantly done - the attention to details is great. But you have to take the time to stop and LOOK at it. Maybe even do the castle tour twice.

And the rest of the park is nice, too. You can get your money's worth out of a one day ticket!

 

[undertheseas]

If your daughters are huge HP fans - I think one day is worth it.

1) Be there before opening. Do the mad rush to WWOHP. Get in line for the Wand Shop. See the show - then spend LOTS of time deciding if you want to buy anything at D&B. I recommend bringing a pen - and buying postcards and Hogwart's stamps. Have the girls mail themselves a postcard at the Owl Post with the Hogsmeade postal code (have them fill out the postcards at lunch).

2) Go to Honeyduke's and Zonko's. Browse well, as the later in the morning it gets, the more crowded. Don't buy chocolate frogs now. You can buy those at the front of the park in the main store. Spend time browsing, buy now if you want, as later in the day, there will be a line to get in the store.

3) Have lunch at Three Broomsticks. Plan this about 11:15-11:30 - or you will wait in line to get in. Order your Butterbeer in the mug now - so you don't have to wait in the Butterbeer line.

4) Go on the CASTLE TOUR only of the FB ride. It is NOT obvious how to do this - but if you keep asking staff - they will get you to the right spot. Be sure to spend the time to watch the little shows that happen during the line. There will NOT be a line for this.

5) Try to catch one of the little shows that happen outside. You can get your picture taken with the cast afterwards.

6) Get your picture with the conductor by the train.

7) Be sure to take the time to LOOK in all the store fronts. For example, every so often - the music pages fly in the windows of the music store. The detail is amazing - and it takes time to appreciate it all. Try pumpkin juice.

8) Once everyone agrees you have seen WWOHP - then leave. I suspect your girls will like Seuss Land - and there are a couple rides they can go on there. And check the ride heights/shows in the rest of the park to see what might interest them. IOA is VERY nicely themed - it is quite attractive to walk around and see stuff. Don't be surprised if your girls want "Thing" T-shirts by the time you leave.

9) You can buy wands, choc. frogs, and the HP plush pets at the main store at the front of the park. Personally, I think it would be more fun to buy the wand in WWOHP. You can't buy everything at this store though - so I would buy the must have "thing" in WWOHP - even though it's so tight to move around in the stores there. Just be patient.

For true fans - even without doing any rides - I think you can spend 4-5 hours in Hogsmeade. It can be overwhelming - and you can be tempted to leave out of frustration from the size of the crowd. Don't rush out because of that. Sit down, take a break, and enjoy the view. Hogsmeade is brilliantly done - the attention to details is great. But you have to take the time to stop and LOOK at it. Maybe even do the castle tour twice.

And the rest of the park is nice, too. You can get your money's worth out of a one day ticket!

WOW! This is just the info I was looking for!!! Thank you! Now a couple of questions, can you take photos in the castle tour and I can go through with the baby in the stroller for the tour?

 

[damo]

WOW! This is just the info I was looking for!!! Thank you! Now a couple of questions, can you take photos in the castle tour and I can go through with the baby in the stroller for the tour?

Yes you can take pictures. I don't believe that strollers are allowed in the queue.

 

[undertheseas]

Thank you!!!