WWYD - Harry Potter World

[Darcy03231]

I've planned a trip to WDW for the first week of June, 2011. Its going to be me and my mom. We've both done multiple trips to WDW and US/IOA, but never just the two us -- we've always had kids in tow. This trip is all about taking things at a bit of a slower pace and spending more time seeing/doing the things we want to do, not just a lot of rides. Plus we have free dining.

My mom is a huge Harry Potter fan and said she wants to go see Harry Potter world. Neither one of us really care about seeing anything else. I just did a US/IOA trip with my kids in April (spent a fabulous week on-site), and I've never read the HP books or seen the movies.

To go and stay on-site for one night/two days will add about $650 on to the cost of the trip (1 night at RPR $300, 2 day base tickets $250, food $100). While I'm sure HP is great, I don't think I want to spend $650 just to see HP!

I'm thinking of just getting a one day base ticket and taking a cab from WDW to US/IOA, getting there for park opening and just spending the day. While its still a lot of money for one day, its better than $650.

My question to those of you that have been to HP, do you think this will give us enough time to really see/do HP? We'll definitely ride FJ and maybe the smaller roller coaster. Definitely not Dragons. My understanding is there is no express access for on-site guests so to me that negates the reason to stay on-site.

I really don't want to put this off for another trip. Mom is 75 (will be almost 76 when we go). While she's in great health, who knows what will happen in the future and I don't want to not go due to cost and then have her never be able to see it.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[fairyprincess88]

If all you want to do is Potter then your plan should be fine. Im a huge Potter fan and I did it the same way you are planning, only we had a 2 day ticket park to park as we also wanted to do USO. My cousin and I are the Potter freaks in the family so we got up and over to IOA from the Poly by 7:30 AM. They let us line up in Jurassic Park while the onsite guests got in early. They let us into the WWoHP at around 8:30. Lines were not long at all that early for FJ, we were on and off by 9:15-ish. We then quickly hit the stores as guests were starting to pour into the area. Ollivander's was the only store with a long line that early(it always has a long line). FotH was about a 15 minute wait as well. You should easily be able to see everything Potter has to offer in one day and then some.

I basically was most interested in FJ and shopping. So for me, I was just all about beating the store lines. The shops get crowded and fast during the day. I came back to WWoHP later in the evening before park closing and had a much easier time exploring the details of the village, and there were no lines for the shops(except Ollivander's). FJ had a constant 60 minute wait, but we used single rider to get a few last rides in with 5 minute waits.

It is easy to get the full experience without staying onsite if all you are really wanting to do is the WWoHP. Just get there early, get the big stuff out of the way, go explore the rest of IOA midday and then come back and discover Hogsmeade at night. It's gorgeous and cooler at night.

 

[HelenParr]

I agree with PP, if you are interested only in WWoHP, one day will allow you to do all of it. We're generally WDW only guests, but HP was too much of a draw to miss. We've driven rental over form WDW three separate days (in July and August) and we were able to do everything, other than Ollivander's. But it was hot, and 45 minute line, entirely in the sun, not for us. We would have had time --just didn't have the will.

By the third trip, after we had the drill down, we went over after 3pm (IofA was open until 9pm) and did everything. It was a little cooler, and the moon and night effect on the Hogwart's castle was wonderful. We religiously watched the HP crowd thread here to guestimate best times and days. Worked great.

Having said all of that, I can see the draw of staying onsite for a quick trip, and being able to go back and rest.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

I think you'll definitely be fine with only one park day since your only "must-do" is the HP area of the park. Worst case scenario, if the line for FJ is insane, you could do the single rider line. (At the very least, I think you should also check out Spiderman since you'll already be at IOA, but that's just me ). Have a great trip!

 

[Darcy03231]

Thanks everyone. I just wanted to make sure one day would do it!

Gr8t Fan - I'm sure we'll be able to sneak a ride in on Spiderman! Both Mom and I think its the best ride in Orlando.

 

[jason10mm]

You could totally do EVERYTHING at WWHP in a day. Much less than a day! There is really only 3 rides, 2.5 stores, and a restaurant/bar there. The rest is basically window dressing.

So I would show up to the park around opening and go to the big store on your right FIRST. They sell damn near every HP themed item there, so see if the candy, wands, and stuff there satisfy you so you can buy on your way out.

THEN make your way to WWHP (folks will be sprinting there, so don't try to keep up), and do FJ first, to get it done. STASH YOUR BAGS FIRST (lockers by the train is what I would recommend)! This keeps you out of the long locker line for the ride. Then do the ride in the regular line. You will wan tto go slow, once you get past the greenhouse area the themeing is insane and you won't want to rush. Enjoy the ride!

Then you can check out Hogsmeade. There is a wand cart just outside of FJ where you can check out most of the wands without having to wait in the insane Ollivander line. There is a covered seating area in front of Dervish and Bangs where you can sit and relax. Plus there is a cart around the corner where you can buy postcards to send out from Hogsmeade. Bring your own pen and stamps though, the ones they sell are pricey (but themed). There are several butterbeer stands, but before 11 or so the easiest way to get it is to head into Three Broomsticks and get it there. There is shaded seating behind the restaurant that offers a nice view of the little lake, a wooded area, and Hogwarts. Chill there, eat some lunch. Then you can ride the other two rides and sightsee some more.

Basically done at this point! Unless there is a very specific item you want in a store that isn;t available at the front, no need to wait to get into the candy/toy store or D&B unless you just want to admire the effort they put into the themeing. Those lines will be substantially shorter in the afternoon, so I'd just stroll around the park a bit.

 

[fairyprincess88]

To go along with what Jason10mm said, yes a good portion of the basic Potter merch is available in the main IOA gift shop at the front of the park. However, if you are a true Potter fan, do not skip the stores in Hogsmeade. They truly did keep them exact to the books and films and they are worth walking through despite the crowds, not too mention there is a ton more merch in them, besides the typical wands, chocolate frogs, ect.

If you're just interested in the staple merch like the wands, robes ect then by all means avoid the long lines in the stores, but if your mom is really that big of a Potter fan, get there early and get through the stores. A lot of the best props from the books/films are displayed in these stores such as the Monster Book of Monsters, a moving Firebolt and Nimbus 2000 and tons of other small things that offer almost a museum like feel(a few of the things were also once used in the traveling Harry Potter exhibit). The stores also offer a larger selection of merch and specialty items not found in the main IOA store. I learned this the hard way when I figured I could just pick up the pajama pants and Mauraders Map I wanted in the main IOA store instead of going back to the crowded WWoHP, only to be told certain items are only available in Hogsmeade and I would have to go back to get them.

 

[work4livin]

Darcy,

How did your trip to US go? My family plans to do the same thing in December. We are staying at WDW and have a one-day ticket to both parks at US but HP is what we really want to see. You mentioned that you were planning to take a cab, did you have that arranged before you went to WDW or did you set it up once you got to WDW? We have never been to WDW or US and I have learned a lot on these boards. I would appreciate any info. and tips you would like to pass on.

Michelle

 

[fairyprincess88]

Darcy,

How did your trip to US go? My family plans to do the same thing in December. We are staying at WDW and have a one-day ticket to both parks at US but HP is what we really want to see. You mentioned that you were planning to take a cab, did you have that arranged before you went to WDW or did you set it up once you got to WDW? We have never been to WDW or US and I have learned a lot on these boards. I would appreciate any info. and tips you would like to pass on.

Michelle

I've always taken a cab to USO from WDW. Just go outside the main lobby doors of your resort and there will be a cast member that will grab a cab for you. There are usually plenty of cabs stationed right at the resort. No need to call and schedule one. When leaving Universal just go down to the cab stand(it's where they drop you off, under the parking garage) and there will be a person there that will call a stationed cab over for you and send you on your way. Easy and quick.

 

[Darcy03231]

Darcy,

How did your trip to US go? My family plans to do the same thing in December. We are staying at WDW and have a one-day ticket to both parks at US but HP is what we really want to see. You mentioned that you were planning to take a cab, did you have that arranged before you went to WDW or did you set it up once you got to WDW? We have never been to WDW or US and I have learned a lot on these boards. I would appreciate any info. and tips you would like to pass on.

Michelle

Michelle:

We haven't gone yet. We plan to go the first week of June, 2011. I've done multiple trips to US/IOA before, though, just all prior to HP being open.

You can get a cab right outside your WDW hotel. There's usually a few out there. If not, just let them know at the front desk that you want one and they'll get one for you. You can also make arrangement ahead of time if you want with Mears Transportation. You call the day before and arrange for a time. We did that when we had a big group, but with just me and mom I plan to just grab a cab out front.

Darcy

 

[Darcy03231]

Thanks for all the info everyone. We don't plan to buy anything, but will definitely walk through the shops just to see everything. Mom's at the age where she really doesn't want to buy anything anymore and my kids aren't fans. I do plan to take lots of pictures for her scrapbook though!

 

[Nellas Elensar]

Don't forget to take crowds into consideration. You are planning to go in June, which in my experience, is one of the busiest times for the parks. WWHP will be crowded with all the kiddies off from school. When you get to IOA, make absolutely sure you hit that area first, approaching from the Lost Continent/Seuss Landing side. That way, you should be able to get in and get to the rides with little to no wait. Then, you can roam around the shops, watch the shows (there are two) that take place in the performance plaza (I'm sure it has another name, but that's the name I've given it), experience Ollivander's, and have lunch at the Three Broomsticks. That would be my advice to you.

 

[Darcy03231]

Don't forget to take crowds into consideration. You are planning to go in June, which in my experience, is one of the busiest times for the parks. WWHP will be crowded with all the kiddies off from school. When you get to IOA, make absolutely sure you hit that area first, approaching from the Lost Continent/Seuss Landing side. That way, you should be able to get in and get to the rides with little to no wait. Then, you can roam around the shops, watch the shows (there are two) that take place in the performance plaza (I'm sure it has another name, but that's the name I've given it), experience Ollivander's, and have lunch at the Three Broomsticks. That would be my advice to you.

Thank you. We plan to be there for park opening and going to do FJ first. I'm not sure we'll even do the other two rides. I definitely know we won't do Dragons, and I don't know about the smaller roller coaster. Neither mom nor I are roller coaster fans. While I can tolerate the smaller ones, she can't even ride The Mummy (she tried it once - she's a trooper). I think she really just wants to be able to see the area, walk around the shops, see the shows and that will be enough for her. Maybe send some postcards from Hogsmead.

 

[Nellas Elensar]

Thank you. We plan to be there for park opening and going to do FJ first. I'm not sure we'll even do the other two rides. I definitely know we won't do Dragons, and I don't know about the smaller roller coaster. Neither mom nor I are roller coaster fans. While I can tolerate the smaller ones, she can't even ride The Mummy (she tried it once - she's a trooper). I think she really just wants to be able to see the area, walk around the shops, see the shows and that will be enough for her. Maybe send some postcards from Hogsmead.

You two will have a great time, then. I didn't ride Dragon Challenge to Flight of the Hippogriff, but I still had a great time touring the area and seeing the shows and window displays and walking around the shops. Just a comment about the 'sending of postcards', you will need to bring your own postage stamps with you...the stamp they give you at Owl Post is just that...a stamp, but it's cute and whoever you send it to will like it.