What are Harry Potter Lines like now that it is the "slow" season? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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What are Harry Potter Lines like now that it is the "slow" season?
Just curious...we are planning a trip to see Harry's World during a slow time (Jan) so was wondering what everyone's experience has been so far this month.
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We were there 8/31 and The Forbidden Journey had a 30 min wait. Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge were both about 15 min. waits. We left that area around lunch time and the crowds were picking up.
I was there the week before last (at opening) and the wait was about 20-30 minutes for Forbidden Journey, 10-15 for Dragon Challenge, and around 5-10 for Flight of the Hippogriff. The waits for the latter remained the same for the latter while FJ grew to about 45-60 minutes. When I rode it the second time I used the single rider line (ask a staff member about it) and it was about 15-20 minutes. The line for Butterbeer at the Butterbeer wagon was pretty long throughout the day, but Ill let you in on a little secret that most people dont seem to know about. Hogshead also sells Butterbeer with a very minimal wait time (a few minutes). Everyone is allowed in there, including kids. Also I thought the frozen was better than the non frozen.
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Last edited by home4us123; 10-03-2010 at 03:48 PM..
Reason: fp181
We were there three weeks ago, week of 9/12 , in the afternoon. By then, it was crowded. We waited about 45 minutes for forbidden journey. The rest of the rides had 10-15 minutes waits. The line for the wand shop was very long so we didn't go there. The rest of the park's rides were almost walk ons.
Liz
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We were there this past Wednesday (Oct 13). We arrived around 1:00 and went on a few rides on our way to Harry Potter. The wait time at 2:30 when we got in line was posted as 70 minutes but we were on the ride in about 55 so I'd say crowded but nowhere near as bad as when we were there in late August.
A friend of mine just returned from Universal and WDW she said they had those cool go to the front of the line at HP because they stayed at Universal Hotel (which she added was well worth it) My friend told me that there was no wait even if you didn't have the "room key" card. She just got back last week.
I did the single rider line on FJ twice and waited about 5 minutes each time. On your first ride, it might be good to wait in the castle. It helps your eyes adjust to the dark ride. I went into the castle and did the single rider line. During my ride, my eyes didn't get a chance to adjust and everything was black. I only heard growls from the monster. I could see the monsters on my second ride, as my eyes adjusted to the darkness.
We were at IoA on Thursday, October 14. We had early entry, since we booked through Universal. We had no waits for either roller coaster or The Forbidden Journey. However.....once the park opened to the public, the line for The Forbidden Journey extended through Jurassic Park (towards Toon Lagoon). Olivander's Wand shop had a line starting at 8:00 a.m. Crowds were generally heavy in the area after park opening (while the rest of the park was basically empty).
I'm surprised that onsite hotel guests can use their room key at the HPatFJ attraction because it doesn't have Express Pass. Onsite guests enter through the Express line. Is there some other type of procedure for this attraction?
We were there on Saturday 10/16. Wait for Forbidden Journey was 75 min at 11:30am. Definitely go thru the castle for your first ride, Best. Ride. Ever. Flight of the Hippogriff was 30min (didn't ride), Dragon Challenge was 30min. All times throughout the WHOLE park were approx 10 min off, not in our favor.
The whole HP section was amazing to walk through, I felt like I was in the movie. My only upset was the lines to get into the stores I understand they are small inside but over an hour wait to get into Dervish & Banges?!?! Forget it. We did wait 15 min to enter Honeydukes and Zonkos and all I wanted was a chocolate frog ($10 btw), after waiting 20 min in line to pay, someone told me all items are available at the store by the exit. We also waited about 10 min to get into the Hog's Head for butterbeer and an ale which was much shorter than waiting in the butterbeer line in the center of Hogsmeade. Couldn't imagine what it must have been like in July Florida heat!
Another thing about waiting in line for the stores, they have employees stationed at every imaginable door throughout Hogsmeade. We had to go up to all of them to find out is this the entrance (no), where is the entrance (around the back) - next person, is this the entrance (no) where is the entrance (keep going around the back) - next person, is THIS the entrance (yes) great! (over there is the line to get thru the entrance). Needless to say, we didn't make it into the Owl Post, Dervish & Banges, Olivanders or Three Broomsticks. If you are looking for a door without a line, go to the Men's bathroom
That being said, it was still an awesome sight. Approaching the entrance to Hogwart's Castle, I realized it's how I must have felt upon seeing Cinderella's Castle for the first time. Breathtaking for sure.
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I understand they are small inside but over an hour wait to get into Dervish & Banges?!?! Forget it. We did wait 15 min to enter Honeydukes and Zonkos and all I wanted was a chocolate frog ($10 btw), after waiting 20 min in line to pay, someone told me all items are available at the store by the exit. We also waited about 10 min to get into the Hog's Head for butterbeer and an ale which was much shorter than waiting in the butterbeer line in the center of Hogsmeade. Couldn't imagine what it must have been like in July Florida heat!
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