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Wizarding World of Harry Potter (WWoHP) First or Last?
We are looking to visit the Universal Parks during a long weekend visit to Orlando in May. We'll be staying off-property.
I am wondering if it is better to arrive before IoA opens (is it called "RD" at Universal? LOL) then head directly to the WWoHP first... OR ... save it until last and head over to WWoHP at 6 or so while most of the crowds would be heading to dinner? The park closes a 8 p.m. the nights we would be there.
Instinctively, my first thoughts are to go directly there in the morning. However, being that on-site guests have early admission one hour earlier than off site guests (us), there is already going to be a crowd there. So I am wondering if going there first doesn't really save any time and doesn't maximize our touring. BUT ... the WWoHP is definitely a MUST DO. If we were to wait and go back later only to be shut out because of big crowds, we'd be disappointed.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Any advice?
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Do it first thing! Take your group by the hand and walk directly to the area no stopping for photos or such! Go there and wait then later after you have toured the parks, go back and check the line times, if you have no other plans, wait again. But chancing it until the end of the day may just leave you disappointed.
FYI My group went first thing as off site guests in Oct 2012 and it was an hour wait - after running straight from the gate no stopping. However later in the day whilst the younger kids did the small coaster we redid the Forbidden Journey ride twice around 5.30ish and it was a very short wait. There was no way our group was going to hang out all day without checking out WWoHP so it was nice to have the time to check out the castle whilst slowly moving through the line in the morning. Have fun!
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We did it last a couple of trips ago. It was the worst experience of the trip. Universal employees are the WORST!
Oh ... I am sorry to read that your experience was so awful. Were your issues with the park itself? The WWoHP? Or just the employees?
Quote:
Originally Posted by HiddenMickey
I've had no problems with Universal's work force, and I've visited there three times now.
I'm glad your experiences were pleasant.
From what I am reading, most people seem to advise that when going to Universal it's important to keep an open mind and to never assume it is anything like WDW - because it is not. At least that's the message I seem to be pulling out of what I read. So, I'm definitely trying that mindset and hopefully won't be disappointed.
Now I've just got to get a better idea of what my "must do's" are within the parks and the order in which to do them ...
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Last edited by TinkRocks; 04-07-2014 at 03:49 PM..
Have to agree that the employees aren't as Disney-like as some people would like; however, everyone DH and I have encountered have been awesome! We've also been when it's not as crowded -- or hot! -- so maybe that can cause more crankiness? All-in-all, we enjoyed the parks and the "CMs" and can't wait to go back.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
I've been to Universal several times and stayed on site four. I have never had a problem with an employee (I have had a few really bad ones at Disney). I think like all things there are good and bad.
One thing I would not do is wear Disney clothing unless you like to be teased a bit. Also, I found most of the Disney jokes pretty funny. Do remember that Disney is not G-d and the jokes are all in good fun.
My BIL and I visited IoA in mid Sept 2012 and was able to ride Forbidden Journey several times using the single rider line. We were staying off property and went into the park an hour or so after opening. We went straight to WWoHP and found the line to be very manageable. However, this was NOT the case when I took my DGD to the park in mid July 2013. Once again, we were staying off property and arrived shortly after the park opened and used valet parking to minimize the time to walk into the park. We went straight to WWoHP and found that the crowd was extreme. The line for Forbidden Journey was directed outside the castle and through the greenhouse. It was over an hour and a half before we got to the point where we had to go to the lockers and could make a choice to use the single rider line. We chose to stay together and use the regular line. This took more than an hour from this point before we got on the ride. All totaled, we were in line for over TWO and a HALF HOURS for the ride. I had already decided that this would be the only time we would do this on that visit. My decision did not matter as DGD had decided that the ride was NOT worth the wait no matter if it were short or long. She really did not like the ride. I thought it was great. Another thing to consider is that when you finally get into the castle you have to put all of your loose items into a locker before you get back into line. These FREE IoA lockers are timed so that if you do not get back to them before they time out, you will be required to pay a fee to get them opened. This happened to us on the Dragon ride because a rider had gotten sick and the ride was shut down while it was cleaned. The employee manning the locker area said that we still had to pay (even though the problem was NOT our fault.) Oh well, even with the bad lines and the locker problems, I still plan to go back to IoA and USF when I go back to the area in Mid September this year. This is due to the scheduled opening of the train ride and Diagon Alley. Of course, this will depend on what type of ticket deals are offered at that time. I really only want to do one day but that could be too costly since I will have to pay for parking and get a "Two Park" ticket in order to ride the train and see both sides of WWoHP.
Have to agree that the employees aren't as Disney-like as some people would like; however, everyone DH and I have encountered have been awesome! We've also been when it's not as crowded -- or hot! -- so maybe that can cause more crankiness? All-in-all, we enjoyed the parks and the "CMs" and can't wait to go back.
Thanks for the feedback. I'm cranky too when it's too hot, so it stands to reason that a CM could be that way too
Quote:
Originally Posted by Huntermom
I've been to Universal several times and stayed on site four. I have never had a problem with an employee (I have had a few really bad ones at Disney). I think like all things there are good and bad.
One thing I would not do is wear Disney clothing unless you like to be teased a bit. Also, I found most of the Disney jokes pretty funny. Do remember that Disney is not G-d and the jokes are all in good fun.
I agree ... you can have good or bad experiences anywhere. And thanks for the tip about the clothes!
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhinohunter
Another thing to consider is that when you finally get into the castle you have to put all of your loose items into a locker before you get back into line. These FREE IoA lockers are timed so that if you do not get back to them before they time out, you will be required to pay a fee to get them opened. This happened to us on the Dragon ride because a rider had gotten sick and the ride was shut down while it was cleaned. The employee manning the locker area said that we still had to pay (even though the problem was NOT our fault.) Oh well, even with the bad lines and the locker problems, I still plan to go back to IoA and USF when I go back to the area in Mid September this year.
To get on the Forbidden Journey you must wait in line at Hogwarts (the castle) and then once you get in the castle and through the lockers you wait in another line? Or is this just the same line?
Riders are required to put loose items (I am assuming this includes a small bag, like a baggalini?) into a locker before getting on the Forbidden Journey ride? What is the timing? It seems really unfair to make you do this and then make you pay for it if you aren't back in time due to something going on with the ride.
As far as the Dragon Challenge goes, are there separate lockers - and a similar policy - for that? I see that it is not adjacent to the castle and seems to be on the opposite end of Hogsmeade on the map, so I am assuming it is a separate locker system. I'm not sure we'll ride that one anyway, but it is always good to know.
They are separate locker systems. At Forbidden Journey in July last year, we were in line for over an hour before we got into the castle where the lockers are. The original line dumps you into a room where you make some choices: (1) If you are not carrying anything you can continue with the line, (2) If you are not carrying anything you can choose to get in the single rider line and bypass most of the rest of queue in the castle, (3) if you are carrying things such as backpack, purse, camera bag, DSLR camera, etc you have to leave the line and put these items into a locker. Once you are not carrying anything you then get back into the line and have the same decisions as 1 & 2 above. We were in line early in the morning and from the time we got into line until we got on the ride we had spent several HOURS in the queue. Was it worth the wait? To answer this, I will say we only did it one time. Most of the queue is devoid of any form of entertainment. You are just walking around in circles, a lot of which are outside. This ride also did NOT participate in their equivalent of the fast pass system. While I would like to see the new addition and the train ride in September, I believe that it will be a lot like the waits when the original ride opened. That is EXTREMELY long. I am not sure I want to go through that. I will have to wait till I get there to see if it will be worth it.
I would get there at opening. Some off site hotels are universal partners and also get early opening. Not sure if yours is one of these? At ant rate, plan to be at the park at least 30 min before opening. You want to be at the front of the hordes!!
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Were your issues with the park itself? The WWoHP? Or just the employees?
All-in-all, we enjoyed the parks and the "CMs" and can't wait to go back.
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