| Posted By |
Message |
Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
|
How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
We have 3 days of parkhopper tickets at Universal. Wondering how much time we need to allocate for HP at Universal and Islands of Adventure. We are not all day theme park goers so we will most likely only spend 5-6 hrs per day at the parks.
Our kids are 4 and 6 so we will not be riding the big HP rollercoasters. 6yo will ride the kiddie HP roller coaster at IOA. I think that is the only actual ride besides the trains that connect the 2 parks.
Is 2 hours enough for HP at IOA?
I was thinking DH could ride the HP coaster with 6yo DS while 4yo DS and I go buy butterbeer at 3 broomsticks.
What exactly is there to do at HP at US?
I know we will walk around and take some pictures but don't think we will be riding anything there.
|
Posted 9/25/15 1:52 PM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
|
How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
I would spend a few hours depending on when you go. It gets crowded. There is a tame coaster, I would do that. Flight of the Hippogriff is the name. I would also go to Olivanders Wand shop right when the park opens. Your children could get picked for their "show". It's neat inside. Line gets longggg. So go first. The frog choir is neat to see. The shops are nice to browse in. The Hogwart Train, We haven't been since Diagon was added. Check out Orlando Informer for a good touring plan
|
| Posted 9/25/15 2:00 PM |
| |
|
MommaG
Yay Spring!
Member since 5/05 5133 total posts
Name:
Gloria
|
How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
If your DC want an interactive Harry Potter wand, you will be there awhile. There are about twenty spots where they can use the wand to make "magic". If they don't want an interactive wand, you can see all the shops and walk the streets at both, take the train, ride the coaster in about three hours depending upon how long the wait is for the coaster and how long you stop to look in the stores.
|
| Posted 9/25/15 4:41 PM |
| |
|
MrsP23
LIF Infant
Member since 9/14 232 total posts
Name:
K
|
How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
If you go when the park opens and get in line to go to Olivanders Wand shop you will be out of that in half hour/45min. If you go later in the day that alone could take 2 hours. If you let them get an interactive wand that could take another hour or more depending on your kids. If you just walk around then I say half hour to 45min. If you have a park hopper then ride the train it is pretty cool. So I say min 2 hours for both areas but you could end of being there 4 hours if you get there later in the day.
|
| Posted 9/25/15 5:46 PM |
| |
|
Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
|
Re: How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
Posted by MrsP23
If you go when the park opens and get in line to go to Olivanders Wand shop you will be out of that in half hour/45min. If you go later in the day that alone could take 2 hours. If you let them get an interactive wand that could take another hour or more depending on your kids. If you just walk around then I say half hour to 45min. If you have a park hopper then ride the train it is pretty cool. So I say min 2 hours for both areas but you could end of being there 4 hours if you get there later in the day.
2 hrs for the wand store?!?!
I am naïve. haha I thought we could just go to the store and check it out in 10 min and maybe pick up a souvenir.
|
| Posted 9/25/15 9:07 PM |
| |
|
Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
|
Re: How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
Posted by MommaG
If your DC want an interactive Harry Potter wand, you will be there awhile. There are about twenty spots where they can use the wand to make "magic". If they don't want an interactive wand, you can see all the shops and walk the streets at both, take the train, ride the coaster in about three hours depending upon how long the wait is for the coaster and how long you stop to look in the stores.
Are there long lines for the magic spots?
We are undecided about the wands.
|
| Posted 9/25/15 9:08 PM |
| |
|
CallaLily
Thank you, Saint Gerard!
Member since 10/07 4937 total posts
Name:
|
Re: How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
There is so much to see that IMO 2 hours would not be enough. Even without the rides, there are tons of shops in Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley and Hogsmeade, cute places to eat like The Leaky Cauldron, and the Hodwarts Express to take you back and forth. It also depends on the time you go and how big the crowds are.
|
| Posted 9/25/15 11:50 PM |
| |
|
Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
|
Re: How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
Posted by CallaLily
There is so much to see that IMO 2 hours would not be enough. Even without the rides, there are tons of shops in Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley and Hogsmeade, cute places to eat like The Leaky Cauldron, and the Hodwarts Express to take you back and forth. It also depends on the time you go and how big the crowds are.
We are going in mid-October for Columbus Day weekend. Crowds are projected to be moderate.
US has this Horror Night in the eve that requires a separate ticket. I don't know if that will increase or decrease daytime traffic. I know I would not want to walk around a theme park all day and attend an eve event but I know some ppl would not mind that.
Do the lines get long for the Hogwarts Express?
I was under the impression that US is not as crowded/busy as Disney.
Message edited 9/26/2015 2:03:04 AM.
|
| Posted 9/26/15 1:59 AM |
| |
|
BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
|
How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
Harry Potter World is much more crowded then the rest of the park. It is naive to think it won't be super busy during a holiday weekend.
|
| Posted 9/26/15 9:43 AM |
| |
|
MommaG
Yay Spring!
Member since 5/05 5133 total posts
Name:
Gloria
|
Re: How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
Posted by Bridex100
Posted by MommaG
If your DC want an interactive Harry Potter wand, you will be there awhile. There are about twenty spots where they can use the wand to make "magic". If they don't want an interactive wand, you can see all the shops and walk the streets at both, take the train, ride the coaster in about three hours depending upon how long the wait is for the coaster and how long you stop to look in the stores.
Are there long lines for the magic spots?
We are undecided about the wands.[/QUOTE
Some spots are more difficult to find than others (they do give you a map and employees will help you find them). Sometimes we walked right up and there was no one there and other times there were four or five people ahead of us. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but the wand is tricky to use and sometimes you have to try two dozen times before you get it to work. The kids start to get frustrated so you help them but all this takes time. A wand that is not interactive is about $8-$10 cheaper.
|
| Posted 9/26/15 9:52 PM |
| |
|
MrsP23
LIF Infant
Member since 9/14 232 total posts
Name:
K
|
Re: How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
Posted by Bridex100
Posted by MrsP23
If you go when the park opens and get in line to go to Olivanders Wand shop you will be out of that in half hour/45min. If you go later in the day that alone could take 2 hours. If you let them get an interactive wand that could take another hour or more depending on your kids. If you just walk around then I say half hour to 45min. If you have a park hopper then ride the train it is pretty cool. So I say min 2 hours for both areas but you could end of being there 4 hours if you get there later in the day.
2 hrs for the wand store?!?!
I am naïve. haha I thought we could just go to the store and check it out in 10 min and maybe pick up a souvenir.
There a short show where the pick one kid that gets a free wand. That line gets pretty long mid day so thats why the 2 hour wait. If you go to a regular souvenir show you can get a wand. However then you miss the Olivanders experience.
|
| Posted 9/27/15 9:33 AM |
| |
|
Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
|
Re: How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
Posted by BargainMama
Harry Potter World is much more crowded then the rest of the park. It is naive to think it won't be super busy during a holiday weekend.
I should have added that we plan to go to HP at opening.
I am glad I learned Ollivander's gets 2 hr waits. We will go there first.
|
| Posted 9/27/15 3:16 PM |
| |
|
Sixofus
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/13 594 total posts
Name:
|
How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
The HP areas are not huge and get very crowded quickly. I was there Columbus Day weekend as well and by late morning it was wall to wall people. We arrived on Thursday and did Ollivanders that first afternoon. Glad I did because the line always seemed to be long the rest of the weekend, except for first thing. Our strategy was to do one HP area first thing one morning(we did Diagon Alley first, because US was the park with early entry), and the other one the next morning. We then moved on to the rest of the park, where we could use express passes. HP is incredibly detailed and fun to explore. I am not much of a fan and still really enjoyed it. Ds could have spent the entire trip there. Honeydukes is the candy store from the movie-lots of yummy treats to buy. The interactive wand is great-my younger son was not into it at first and I ended up having to get him one too! I don't remember any long waits for the Hogwarts express. They seemed to move people through quickly.
|
| Posted 9/27/15 6:19 PM |
| |
|
MommaG
Yay Spring!
Member since 5/05 5133 total posts
Name:
Gloria
|
Re: How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
Posted by MrsP23
Posted by Bridex100
Posted by MrsP23
If you go when the park opens and get in line to go to Olivanders Wand shop you will be out of that in half hour/45min. If you go later in the day that alone could take 2 hours. If you let them get an interactive wand that could take another hour or more depending on your kids. If you just walk around then I say half hour to 45min. If you have a park hopper then ride the train it is pretty cool. So I say min 2 hours for both areas but you could end of being there 4 hours if you get there later in the day.
2 hrs for the wand store?!?!
I am naïve. haha I thought we could just go to the store and check it out in 10 min and maybe pick up a souvenir.
There a short show where the pick one kid that gets a free wand. That line gets pretty long mid day so thats why the 2 hour wait. If you go to a regular souvenir show you can get a wand. However then you miss the Olivanders experience.
The child doesn't get to keep the wand. My DS was picked and after the show, they walk you out to the store and explain to you how much the wand is and ask if you want to purchase it.
|
| Posted 9/28/15 1:41 PM |
| |
|
FranM
And so it goes....
Member since 9/05 2217 total posts
Name:
|
How much time should we allocate to Harry Potter?
You can spend a lot of time on the interactive wand and just exploring everything. If you are big HP fans you can easily spend a few hours ea day there. Not counting wait time for the big rides. We were there for 3 days in late Aug, and visited each day. Try to get there one time at night. The atmosphere is really cool and there are some great effects best seen at night.
|
| Posted 9/29/15 4:51 AM |
| |
|
