WWOHP with a Non-Fans

[figment814]

I will be going to IOA on Saturday December 18 with my DBF and his 21yo DS.

I am a Harry Potter lover, but not a lover of lines and huge crowds.
DBF doesn't know Harry Potter from Harry Truman, but also doesn't ride many rides.
DS doesn't care much about Harry Potter but does love rides, and really want to ride FJ.

Oh, and did I mention, they are not so much the getting up early type people?

I do have a solo trip to WDW that I am planning next October when I will plan a day to do WWOHP the way I want to, so I am not concerned about doing everything.

What I plan on doing:FJ
FJ Single Rider line (DS will do single rider also)
Filchs (this is where FJ lets out...I think?)
FJ tour only line with DS and DBF
Try a Butterbeer
Dragon Challenge with DS (with Express)

What I don't:
Ollivanders (I don't think either DBF or DS would like it)
Honeydukes (unless there is miraculously no line)

What I May or May not do:
Zonkos
Dervish and Banges
Three Broomsticks
Flight of the Hippogrif

Does what I want to do sound possible, even if we are there in the middle of the day on a Saturday?

Can you buy HP candy anywhere besides Honeydukes?

Am I missing anything?

TIA!!!

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

How do I handle this one.. Plan to arrive in the middle of the day on a Saturday, don't plan to see it all.

Your must-do's are easy enough though and yes, there's a few edible items at the Trading Company, the main store in front of Islands.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Zonkos and Honeydukes are connected together. You have to enter via Honeydukes and then can walk around both parts of the store(s).

Filch's is the gift shop where FJ lets out. I recommend explaining what the ride does to DS, as he may get more of a kick out of the technological aspects than the story aspects.

For Butterbeer, you may as well go to Three Broomsticks, or to the Hog's Head Pub in the back of Three Broomsticks. Either of these will have shorter lines than the butterbeer carts. Have butterbeer AFTER riding FJ and Dragons.

You can buy *some* of the HP stuff in the Island Trading Company (big store at the front of the park with a little of everything), but most of the cool candies are sold in Honeydukes only.

You should be able to get most of what you want done on a Saturday afternoon.

 

[Planogirl]

Ugh, middle of the day? WWoHP is really nice whether you're a HP fan or not. It also gets quite crowded. You can get these things done but you might find it nicer earlier or even later in the day.

 

[Orlando313]

Some people mentioned a few things previously but I was going to add that I took my cousin who is religious and very anti Harry Potter, but she ended up really liking the area because of the wonderful theming and cool rides. So if someone doesn't like Harry Potter or doesn't care for it, they might still like the area.

Also, I second the not having butterbeer until AFTER the rides!

 

[figment814]

How do I handle this one.. Plan to arrive in the middle of the day on a Saturday, don't plan to see it all.

Your must-do's are easy enough though and yes, there's a few edible items at the Trading Company, the main store in front of Islands.

I wish I could see it all...will try and do that next fall!

Zonkos and Honeydukes are connected together. You have to enter via Honeydukes and then can walk around both parts of the store(s).

Filch's is the gift shop where FJ lets out. I recommend explaining what the ride does to DS, as he may get more of a kick out of the technological aspects than the story aspects.

For Butterbeer, you may as well go to Three Broomsticks, or to the Hog's Head Pub in the back of Three Broomsticks. Either of these will have shorter lines than the butterbeer carts. Have butterbeer AFTER riding FJ and Dragons.

You can buy *some* of the HP stuff in the Island Trading Company (big store at the front of the park with a little of everything), but most of the cool candies are sold in Honeydukes only.

You should be able to get most of what you want done on a Saturday afternoon.

Appreciate the advice on where AND when to get the butterbeer. Not sure how much HP stuff I'll buy, but glad to know I might have an option.

I do think the DS will love FJ the ride...I just don't know that he'd enjoy waiting in line! I think him going on the ride and spending time in WWOHP is his way of saying thank you for planning our trips.

Ugh, middle of the day? WWoHP is really nice whether you're a HP fan or not. It also gets quite crowded. You can get these things done but you might find it nicer earlier or even later in the day.

We may try late in the day, but early will not happen...I think they'd do it if I asked...but it wouldn't be worth the whining!

Some people mentioned a few things previously but I was going to add that I took my cousin who is religious and very anti Harry Potter, but she ended up really liking the area because of the wonderful theming and cool rides. So if someone doesn't like Harry Potter or doesn't care for it, they might still like the area.

Also, I second the not having butterbeer until AFTER the rides!

THanks! I think the will like the area! They do like to make me happy....as long as it doesn't involve lines!

 

[Planogirl]

You could arrive midday and check out the crowds. If FJ is just too jampacked, I understand that things often settle down later in the day. But hopefully with the single rider line and the time of year you'll be fine.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

FWIW, I've never waited more than 10 mins in FJ's single rider line, even when the regular line was been posted 60-90 mins!

 

[mollybeasley]

I'm the biggest HP fan in my group of 5 adults. We are not early risers either, and if we go on our arrival day, we might not even get there until 2 pm. If the line is long when we get there, we plan to go to the Single Rider line of FJ first. After the ride, we'll ask to be let into the part of the castle tour that isn't in the main line. That will probably be enough for them, but I'll go back later in the day for the full castle tour (while they're doing the wilder rides that I don't want to do). We plan to get a snack or lunch at Three Broomsticks, including frozen Butterbeer. We want to see Zonkos and get some everyflavor beans if the lines aren't too long. I expect WWOHP is where we will all START our day at IOA, and it's where I will END my day there (maybe alone, maybe with them).