you probably already know this, but Harry Potter is [crowded] - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Yes, it has been and it will continue to br crowded for a loooong time. Even die-hard Disney-ites are taking a day to venture over. US / IOA are both very cool parks to visit. IOA has many killer rides
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We were there on Tuesday morning last week. Unfortunately I forgot the Park opened at 8am, and we got there for what I thought was a 9am opening. So there was already enough people in WWoHP that we had to get "entry tickets" for a 9:30 entry to the land. We did Jurassic Park without a wait while we waited for our time. Then we entered the WWoHP at 9:30 and found that the lines for the shops were already long and that the Forbidden Journey ride had a 90 minute wait. We got in line and actually waited 60 minutes before we were on board. When we came out Dueling Dragons (is that the old or new name) was down. We ended up with early lunch without much problem in Hogsmead Tavern. Went and did other areas of the park and returned in mid-afternoon (no need for entry tickets at that time) and did Single Rider line with virtually no wait for Forbidden Journey at that time (regular line listed as 75 minutes if I remember right). Still could not get into Ollivanders or Durvish and Bangs without waiting in the hot sun, so we decided to skip after a short wait in line (that didn't move) and I rode Dragons while DD waited with no wait at all. There was no problem getting in the other shops, but they were crowded.
If you go, get there at park opening. Get in Ollivanders line first. Do the rides after the shops.
We were there on Tuesday morning last week. Unfortunately I forgot the Park opened at 8am, and we got there for what I thought was a 9am opening. So there was already enough people in WWoHP that we had to get "entry tickets" for a 9:30 entry to the land. We did Jurassic Park without a wait while we waited for our time. Then we entered the WWoHP at 9:30 and found that the lines for the shops were already long and that the Forbidden Journey ride had a 90 minute wait. We got in line and actually waited 60 minutes before we were on board. When we came out Dueling Dragons (is that the old or new name) was down. We ended up with early lunch without much problem in Hogsmead Tavern. Went and did other areas of the park and returned in mid-afternoon (no need for entry tickets at that time) and did Single Rider line with virtually no wait for Forbidden Journey at that time (regular line listed as 75 minutes if I remember right). Still could not get into Ollivanders or Durvish and Bangs without waiting in the hot sun, so we decided to skip after a short wait in line (that didn't move) and I rode Dragons while DD waited with no wait at all. There was no problem getting in the other shops, but they were crowded.
If you go, get there at park opening. Get in Ollivanders line first. Do the rides after the shops.
Wow! I will definitely check park opening time and make sure my family gets ready promptly that morning. We are staying onsite and will most difinitely take advantage of the one hour early entry we get with that!
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Originally Posted by HiddenMickey
We were there on Tuesday morning last week. Unfortunately I forgot the Park opened at 8am, and we got there for what I thought was a 9am opening. So there was already enough people in WWoHP that we had to get "entry tickets" for a 9:30 entry to the land. We did Jurassic Park without a wait while we waited for our time. Then we entered the WWoHP at 9:30 and found that the lines for the shops were already long and that the Forbidden Journey ride had a 90 minute wait. We got in line and actually waited 60 minutes before we were on board. When we came out Dueling Dragons (is that the old or new name) was down. We ended up with early lunch without much problem in Hogsmead Tavern. Went and did other areas of the park and returned in mid-afternoon (no need for entry tickets at that time) and did Single Rider line with virtually no wait for Forbidden Journey at that time (regular line listed as 75 minutes if I remember right). Still could not get into Ollivanders or Durvish and Bangs without waiting in the hot sun, so we decided to skip after a short wait in line (that didn't move) and I rode Dragons while DD waited with no wait at all. There was no problem getting in the other shops, but they were crowded.
If you go, get there at park opening. Get in Ollivanders line first. Do the rides after the shops.
Guess I'll be waiting too! Was thinking about it for March 2012... But since the little one still isn't tall enough for most rides, we will wait HIM out!
Just got back from our WDW and Universal Studios trip. WWOHP was very crowded. Our family arrived early for the park opening. As so as you go through the gate everybody goes right to WWOHP The first day I waited in line for about 30 mins for the Journey ride . There was alot of grumbling about the ride not working. I asked various park employees if the ride was down and either recieved no answer or they had no clue. (this is where I learned how spoiled I was by WDW) The line for Olivanders was always packed , didn't even attempt that store. We did get on the other rides fairly easy. The Town of Hogsmeade was very true to the story. Butterbeer was awesome! The journey ride was not a express (similar to fastpass). If you do not stay on Universal property you have to pay extra for the express pass. (beware it is for a one time use for each ride that has xpress. Also the price for July Aug was 49.99 per person . This another way we are spoiled by disney, the ability to get a fast pass is available for everyone who buys a ticket no extra charge) Other then the insane crowd, both US/IOA were alot of fun. Disney World of course was Awesome!!!!! No complaints loved every minute of it. Contemporary was a treat. We watched the fireworks every night from our room. (This was great for the kids for they have trouble with the loud noises.) I enjoyed every morning having coffee and sitting on the balcony looking out over the Magic Kingdom. I was sad to leave my Happy Place. Oh well time to plan my return trip lol
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We just got back from Universal. We went last Monday and Tuesday. The morning wait time was 2 hours. BUT if you went back in the afternoon, it was only 45 minutes both days. Everyone seems to rush there in the morning. We took our time and were able to shorten the wait time in half. We didn't even attempt Ollivanders but did wander about Hogsmeade.
I went last July and found that arriving closer to closing was actually a lot better. There was only about a 30 minute wait to get into Honeydukes (we sipped butterbeer while we waited) and it was about the same amount of time to get into the Three Broomsticks for fish and chips. We got there about 2 hours before closing.
We also were able to attend a special event where our group was let into the park after closing time but found it was actually easier to shop when the park was open! (of course riding the Forbidden Journey was much easier when the park was closed to the public). That ride will probably always be crowded but if shopping is your thing, get there a couple of hours before closing while everyone is in line for a last minute ride on the Forbidden Journey and shop it up!
We went to US/IoA three times between 7/31 and 8/8 (Sun 7/31, Sat 8/6 and Mon 8/8), and were able to do everything in good time....longest posted wait-times for Forbidden Journey was 60 minutes (and that was mid-morning.... wait times were 40 minutes or less in late afternoon). It is imperative to be at IoA at park opening and head straight for WWOHP.
Also, there are two other entrances to the store that you can purchase wands from. There's a queue set up that people stand in line for to get admitted to Ollivander's, where the wand-selection process is performed, but after that process/show is done, those guests are shuttled off to the same store that has entrances to the right of the Olivander's door and at the rear of the building to purchase the wands.... If you are not interested in seeing the wand-selection process (and note that not everyone in the wand-selection process actually has a wand select them - it's only a few from each group), just enter the door to the right or at the rear of the building... it may be crowded, but there was no wait to get into those doors on the days I was there while the queue for Ollivanders was quite lengthy.
Also note that character wands are also available from a cart at the top of the hill to the right of the entrance to Forbidden journey, and also at the giant store at the front of IoA (Port of Entry).
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I will definitely check park opening time and make sure my family gets ready promptly that morning. We are staying onsite and will most difinitely take advantage of the one hour early entry we get with that!
) The line for Olivanders was always packed , didn't even attempt that store. We did get on the other rides fairly easy. The Town of Hogsmeade was very true to the story. Butterbeer was awesome! The journey ride was not a express (similar to fastpass). If you do not stay on Universal property you have to pay extra for the express pass. (beware it is for a one time use for each ride that has xpress. Also the price for July Aug was 49.99 per person . This another way we are spoiled by disney, the ability to get a fast pass is available for everyone who buys a ticket no extra charge
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