WWoHP...Overrated?

[sportzboy698]

Alright, so I keep digging for information on this place almost everyday. However, I need to say having been to UO in October during the height of HHN, there really weren't many crowds. I mean every single ride at IOA had 5 min wait the entire day. So here is what I'm saying. Is it possible to rule out that many people may not be going to see Harry Potter as we think there will be? I mean obviously the first few weeks will be crowded, but do you think the economy will take a toll on the parks profits in the long run during the summer?

 

[damo]

No, I think it will be packed.

 

[Timmy Boy]

No, it's going to be a madhouse. If you went in October, that was the slow season, and if IOA closed at 6 or 7, then that's normal for the park to have low wait times. During the Christmas break in 09, every ride at IOA and USF was a 90 to 120 minute wait. You just went during a slow time.

 

[aubriee]

I agree with damo. It's going to be packed. There is a thread going on right now over on the WDW theme parks board, asking how many people that normally just do WDW are going to go over to Universal this year, just due to Harry Potter. There are tons (including me). I've never had the slightest interest in Universal, but have already bought the $99.00 2 park unlimited admission tickets for both my May and Oct WDW trips. If it wasn't for HP I wouldn't be going over there.

 

[Metro West]

No, it's going to be a madhouse. If you went in October, that was the slow season, and if IOA closed at 6 or 7, then that's normal for the park to have low wait times. During the Christmas break in 09, every ride at IOA and USF was a 90 to 120 minute wait. You just went during a slow time.

 

[damo]

I agree with damo. It's going to be packed. There is a thread going on right now over on the WDW theme parks board, asking how many people that normally just do WDW are going to go over to Universal this year, just due to Harry Potter. There are tons (including me). I've never had the slightest interest in Universal, but have already bought the $99.00 2 park unlimited admission tickets for both my May and Oct WDW trips. If it wasn't for HP I wouldn't be going over there.

Here is the link. Sounds like lots of people planning to do non-disney trips because of it too.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2377649

 

[Planogirl]

I'm afraid that us Universal fans are just going to have to expect big crowds for a while. Of course, time will tell if that's true but I can't see any other possibility right now.

 

[chrisn]

I agree with everyone else. We will be going down this fall exclusively for HP since we will be missing it next month. I think it's going to draw HUGE numbers for quite a while.

 

[TaylorsDad]

I am expecting the worst. I think even the estimate wait times people are giving on here will prove to be conservative at best. Just look at how many people are posting on here lately saying they are Universal newbies looking for info for first visit this spring, summer, etc. If HRRR had lines 2-3 hours long, just think how much more popular Harry Potter is. I fear the relaxing little to no wait days of a Universal/IOA vacation are about to become a thing of the past, at least for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, though I am just fearing the worst and will be proven wrong.