WWoHP at Night & Eating at 3 Broomsticks

[Pinkdiamond816]

Ok so I know that WW "clears out" in the evening. Does anyone have some experience with what time the mass crowds start to leave? I will be there June 24th, at US, and I would like to hop over to IOA around 5pm if I can get into WW.

I know we are going at a peak time, (and I am a spoiled January visitor) but I don't mind dealing with crowds I just refuse to 1. Wait 30 mins to get a table at a counter service and 2. Wait 30 mins or more to get into a store.
Do you think this plan will help us avoid both of those cases?

My ideal plan would be get to WW around 6pm. Walk around, have a butterbeer (or real beer) in Hogs Head, and do our shopping then. Then have a late dinner at 3 broomsticks, like 8pm. We have express pass so we may ride one of the other rides, or ride FJ single rider if time permits.

We will have early entrance on the 25th, so the plan is get to Olivanders and ride FJ once or twice with the single rider and take the castle tour then. Possibly see the two shows, and then leave for the rest of IOA.

Other option is to have an early lunch (11:30am) on the 25th.

Is there usually a long line at Olivanders in the evening, we could also do that then.

And with a park closing at 10pm, will the stores stay open a little later? Is it best to wait till 9/9:30 to do our shopping?

Please & Thank you for your input!

 

[2tink4u]

You know, I'm torn about this also. I plan to do it all in the am and then return in the evening as well. However, there is some disagreement here as to weather or not it will work.
Some have said that on busy days where they have to hand out times to return, we will not be able to get in, in the evening. Where others have said it was a light evening crowd.
My thinking is be sure to do it all in am, so your not unhappy if you can't do things in the evening.
I also would like to be there with it all lit up. our first day is June 13th, and I'm hoping it won't be as busy yet.

It appears the busier the day the less chance of this working out.

In the past the stores closer to the front of the park have stayed open till 11 pm. So, we were able to shop all the way out.

 

[mesaboy2]

I did what the both of you are considering three nights in a row over Presidents Day Weekend in February. We arrived each evening no more than 2 hours before close and had a terrific experience each time. Two nights we ate at 3B as late as possible and enjoyed an almost empty restaurant. Then we emerged into WWoHP after hours (we entered 3B right at park close) and the atmosphere outside was even better! I would guess only a couple hundred people max anywhere, and the stores were open 30-45 minutes past park close. Of course the attractions were closed, but we had short lines for everything before we ate.

It wasn't summer and peak season, but it was a holiday weekend and they did use the timed-entry system earlier each day. YMMV.

 

[La2kw]

Last summer the evening crowds were almost as big as the morning crowds. The single rider FJ line was much worse at night.