ChrisFL
Disney/Universal Fan and MALE
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2000
- Messages
- 9,236
This isn't really a trip report since it's only regarding the WWOHP.
Although I live in nearby Tampa, I hadn't had the chance to experience the Wizarding World until today, so finally my friend Tim and I went to check it out today.
I will say while in the Wizarding World about 15-20 feet, they have done a great job of making it feel like you're no longer in IOA (or Florida for that matter), and in an entirely different place. Walking through was quite interesting and there is a LOT to look at. I will say I think they should have moved/removed the last Lost Continent things right before the entrance, as it is a bit abrupt, something like a small break in the theming of the two areas would have been better IMO.
It is interesting how Dragon Challenge is quite well tucked away, almost hidden unless you're looking for it. Unlike the previous incarnation, you don't really notice the coaster tracks very often while walking through.
We walked past the shops for now to head up to Hogwarts...un-believeable view. Forced Perspective brought to a high art form...it's so small in reality, yet looks so big while looking up at it.
Wait time was only 30 minutes posted, although there was a brief technical delay, so probably more like 40 minutes total.
The greenhouse area was actually not as detailed as I had expected, not much going on there, but the rest of the castle was very well done and something new to see and watch around every turn. Picture taking is rampant and people were slowing down a bit because of this (I later found this through all of WWOHP, I can't remember ever seeing people taking this many pictures everywhere at any park!). I am not complaining about this, just an observation...I think it's awesome that there IS so many things to take pictures of, and I was also taking LOTS of them (might as well since everyone in front of me was doing the same)
I've seen the first 6 films and were mostly familiar with the things going on, but I think the queue would still be interesting even if you weren't a fan, or hadn't read the books/watched the movies.
I do like the different effects you get when Ron tries to cast a spell in the queue.
Then we get to the ride itself....just incredible....going in directions in ways I never experienced in a theme park before, when Hermione says "you did it, you're flying!" it's an amazing feeling...plus the incredible set pieces are completely seamlessly added with the film portions of the ride.
Yes, there are some close encounters with slightly scary things, but overall I don't think it would be that bad for most older kids over 48" which would be riding.
It did remind me of the first time I rode Spiderman, coming off being overwhelmed and not able to recall everything that happened, there is a LOT of action, a lot of movement and it all comes very quickly. I only rode once today due to the longer lines and getting over a stomach bug, but I will definitely ride it again soon.
Being a wannabe imagineer/universal creative person, I'm interested in the technical aspects of it, although I do have some information on how the whole thing works, I really couldn't tell any of it from being on the ride.
It even blows away Spiderman in that regard... the way it all comes together and where you can't tell how the set pieces end and the film begins, it's brilliant. Spiderman is still an awesome ride of course, but this takes a lot of the same ideas and brings it to another level.
For example, most rides you'll see things just above you, or left and right...but when your ride vehicle has so much movement potential and so many angles possible, you're really going THROUGH everything..there's things above you, below you, left, right, and you're going in many directions all the time and since you're nowhere near the track itself, you really can't tell where you will be going next. You also can't see any other ride vehicles...maybe only once I saw another one, so it's that peronally immersive.
So that's Forbidden Journey. Next we headed back into Hogsmeade to try some butterbeer....we tried the non-frozen one and mmmmmmmmmm....very good stuff! and at $3.25, not really a bad price compared to most prices of drinks. Apparently everyone likes it, because I saw people with it EVERYWHERE, all over the park they either were enjoying it, or keeping their nice butterbeer mugs (more expensive I guess, but I don't know the price)
Ollivanders had a massive line, and Dervish and Banges also had a small line, we checked out all of the shops...yes, they're small, but they have many many unique things. Not being a huge HP fan I didn't buy anything, but stuff was nice to look at, and there's TONS of detail and things happening everywhere you look.
Before WWOHP opened, I remember one of the Disney bloggers posted about how Universal had a major problem when everyone would be disappointed that there was nothing to do or see there...well my friend and I spent a good 3 hours, with low crowds and still didn't see everything there was to do. If we went to do everything, it probably would have been a good 4-5 hours easily, and that's only riding FJ once, and you really should ride 2 or 3 times just to grasp everything that happens I expect.
Although I live in nearby Tampa, I hadn't had the chance to experience the Wizarding World until today, so finally my friend Tim and I went to check it out today.
I will say while in the Wizarding World about 15-20 feet, they have done a great job of making it feel like you're no longer in IOA (or Florida for that matter), and in an entirely different place. Walking through was quite interesting and there is a LOT to look at. I will say I think they should have moved/removed the last Lost Continent things right before the entrance, as it is a bit abrupt, something like a small break in the theming of the two areas would have been better IMO.
It is interesting how Dragon Challenge is quite well tucked away, almost hidden unless you're looking for it. Unlike the previous incarnation, you don't really notice the coaster tracks very often while walking through.
We walked past the shops for now to head up to Hogwarts...un-believeable view. Forced Perspective brought to a high art form...it's so small in reality, yet looks so big while looking up at it.
Wait time was only 30 minutes posted, although there was a brief technical delay, so probably more like 40 minutes total.
The greenhouse area was actually not as detailed as I had expected, not much going on there, but the rest of the castle was very well done and something new to see and watch around every turn. Picture taking is rampant and people were slowing down a bit because of this (I later found this through all of WWOHP, I can't remember ever seeing people taking this many pictures everywhere at any park!). I am not complaining about this, just an observation...I think it's awesome that there IS so many things to take pictures of, and I was also taking LOTS of them (might as well since everyone in front of me was doing the same)
I've seen the first 6 films and were mostly familiar with the things going on, but I think the queue would still be interesting even if you weren't a fan, or hadn't read the books/watched the movies.
I do like the different effects you get when Ron tries to cast a spell in the queue.
Then we get to the ride itself....just incredible....going in directions in ways I never experienced in a theme park before, when Hermione says "you did it, you're flying!" it's an amazing feeling...plus the incredible set pieces are completely seamlessly added with the film portions of the ride.
Yes, there are some close encounters with slightly scary things, but overall I don't think it would be that bad for most older kids over 48" which would be riding.
It did remind me of the first time I rode Spiderman, coming off being overwhelmed and not able to recall everything that happened, there is a LOT of action, a lot of movement and it all comes very quickly. I only rode once today due to the longer lines and getting over a stomach bug, but I will definitely ride it again soon.
Being a wannabe imagineer/universal creative person, I'm interested in the technical aspects of it, although I do have some information on how the whole thing works, I really couldn't tell any of it from being on the ride.
It even blows away Spiderman in that regard... the way it all comes together and where you can't tell how the set pieces end and the film begins, it's brilliant. Spiderman is still an awesome ride of course, but this takes a lot of the same ideas and brings it to another level.
For example, most rides you'll see things just above you, or left and right...but when your ride vehicle has so much movement potential and so many angles possible, you're really going THROUGH everything..there's things above you, below you, left, right, and you're going in many directions all the time and since you're nowhere near the track itself, you really can't tell where you will be going next. You also can't see any other ride vehicles...maybe only once I saw another one, so it's that peronally immersive.
So that's Forbidden Journey. Next we headed back into Hogsmeade to try some butterbeer....we tried the non-frozen one and mmmmmmmmmm....very good stuff! and at $3.25, not really a bad price compared to most prices of drinks. Apparently everyone likes it, because I saw people with it EVERYWHERE, all over the park they either were enjoying it, or keeping their nice butterbeer mugs (more expensive I guess, but I don't know the price)
Ollivanders had a massive line, and Dervish and Banges also had a small line, we checked out all of the shops...yes, they're small, but they have many many unique things. Not being a huge HP fan I didn't buy anything, but stuff was nice to look at, and there's TONS of detail and things happening everywhere you look.
Before WWOHP opened, I remember one of the Disney bloggers posted about how Universal had a major problem when everyone would be disappointed that there was nothing to do or see there...well my friend and I spent a good 3 hours, with low crowds and still didn't see everything there was to do. If we went to do everything, it probably would have been a good 4-5 hours easily, and that's only riding FJ once, and you really should ride 2 or 3 times just to grasp everything that happens I expect.
and then it was fenced off so if I left for one, I couldn't get back in. There were no lines in the restaurant that early, so I did get a butter beer without waiting at all. 
I was there for the preview and was floored by it.
