The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is So Popular It's a Problem
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Since opening on June 18, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has drawn huge crowds to Universal Orlando, but while this is generally a good thing, the flood of people has caused super long waits to see the attraction.The overcrowding has become such an issue that the park has printed up "Plan Your Day" cards, which suggest that guests see the rest of Universal Orlando before heading to Harry Potter land. People have been advised to visit after 3 p.m., or simply wait until the fall when all the excitement has settled down.
During an interview with a local Fox news channel, one family reported waits of nearly two hours to see the park and its attractions. Hogwarts Castle and the Forbidden Journey ride are supposed to be amazing, but waiting in the heat isn't exactly a pleasant experience. Plus, when Potterheads have limited vacation time, they don't want to spend half of it in a line.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has already had its fair share of controversy. The three-click safety measure on the Forbidden Journey ride has alienated heavier patrons, and the park's very existence in U.S. has angered London's mayor, who thinks a new Harry Potter park should be built in England.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
AmyPotterhead Jul 14th 2010 4:50PM
i haven't gone yet but i totally want to.... i'm thinking of waiting until it dies down and then maybe i'll have some money.
raptorspino Jul 14th 2010 7:09PM
...But if everyone waits till Fall, Won't the problem be in Fall then?
cnaturegirl2012 Jul 14th 2010 10:00PM
That's what I was thinking too, but then I thought about it, maybe they mean that it will be better for the people that live in Florida for them to go in the Fall instead of Summer, because of all the tourists that will be here during summer vacation bringing their kids etc. You know? Which is fine with me, because I live like an hour away from universal and I'll probably be able to afford to go by fall...But I suppose you can't wait till winter break to go either or else you'll have the same problem.
Jo Jul 17th 2010 8:23PM
I used to go to a year-round scheduled school (9-10 weeks on, 3 weeks off) and it was kind of nice going to the park in November. It was definitely populated, but not crowded. No lines! :D
filmguy78 Jul 14th 2010 8:06PM
I've been, and the wait for the rides are not that bad. It's the fact that the stores have long lines that kind of get annoying. But in my opinion, it's worth the wait.
bubbles31297 Jul 15th 2010 8:16AM
omg i love that place i went there wit my family and it was awsome i got 4 wands, sooooooooooooooo coooooooooool
smartcookie525 Jul 15th 2010 10:59AM
I'm claustrophobic.
Donna Jul 15th 2010 6:48PM
My family and I were just there last week. Being a Potter fan and having grandchildren wanting wands and seeing everything we were stuck in those long lines. We are from out of state so we only had 1 day. The hubby and kids stood in line over an hour and a half to get in the door to purchase a wand. Then after getting in myself (in a wheelchair) could not see anything or even manage through the isle ways because of being so narrow and so many others in there too. Oh and yes it was 97 degrees so everyone was dehydrating rapidly. Yes the park just opened, but we still feel that it was not a very well thought design by not accommodating everyone. Even the young boy in a wheelchair ahead of us was very disenchanted. The kids got their wands eventually and have not asked to go back.
nikki Jul 15th 2010 11:07PM
I went to the park a few weeks ago and struck up a conversation with a couple of the people who work at Harry Potter and was told that the design of all of the shops and the area in general was made to reflect the books and true English design. Most of the shops in London and England in gerneral are smaller in size and narrow, just like at the park. All they were trying to do was keep it as close as possible to the books and real life to create the feeling that you really are there within the book. They're just keeping the magic alive.
TeamPotter Jul 15th 2010 6:46PM
My husband and I went opening day (June 18) and granted the waits were INSANE but we plan to go back very soon! I am 28, and a complete child at heart. Plan to wait, this has been 10+ years in the making for all of us that have been reading the books. Its however many hundreds of thousands of fans excited to experience this.
It is worth the wait, trust me!
Darrell Jul 15th 2010 6:53PM
I was very upset that they can't accomodate larger people..Don't they know that the majority of fans are larger?
waikiki618 Jul 15th 2010 9:40PM
I agree with you I was there 2 weeks ago and waited 2 hours for the Forbidden Journey and then was told I was too heavy to get on. My son got on with my best friend I was so upset that I couldn't experience it with him.
Lori Jul 15th 2010 7:45PM
It's obvious you've never read the Potter series. This is not about witchcraft, but rather about the magic in all of us. The theme of the series is about doing what's right, rather than what's easy. Honesty, friendship, integrity and loyalty are the central values that are honored. Fighting evil, being willing to endure personal loss and staying true to your beliefs are traits that are constantly reinforced. Perhaps if you opened your mind, you'd be suprised at how many of the values you hold dear are mirrored in the books.
Kimberly Jul 15th 2010 8:24PM
I took my son for his 10th birthday and it was awesome! We started with breakfast at the three broomsticks and went on from there, the lines were really not that bad and the Castle Ride WELL worth the wait, the wand the robe the chocolate frogs the pumpkin juice and butter beer it is a wonderful fantasy world just know that there are thousands of people wanting to be a part of the dream alot extra time and enjoy a once in a lifetime treat.
slfrbc Jul 15th 2010 8:22PM
The new forbidden journey ride is great but, yes, the lines are long. Try first thing in the morning, or last thing at night. I've ridden twice, once a 9 am, once at 8:30 pm. both times the line said 90 minutes but was actually somewhat less. Midday the lines can be as much as 2 hours and those unaccustomed to the Florida heat should use caution. On the bright side, I haven't spoken to anyone who felt it wasn't worth the wait!
Tara Jul 15th 2010 8:55PM
I see the point from the mayor of London, thinking that the Harry Potter theme park should have been built in England...but what's stopping them from doing that? The only reason this one is here is because Universal chose to build it and their main theme park is in Orlando. Couldn't those in England get together and build their own park? Couldn't JK Rowling help bankroll one for England? It does seem kind of unfair to have the park in America when it is an entirely British story, but it comes down to money and resources, and we're the ones with the movie studios. I hope I get to see it someday.
lindsey Jul 16th 2010 1:10AM
I waited 9 and a half hours to actually experience something there on the opening day, june 18th. it was amazing, and so worth it. 2 hours to get into islands of adventure, 5 hours in line to get into the actual WWOHP, and then 1 and a half hour to get on the ride. Then another hour waiting to get into the souvy shop-while the butterbeer lines were short because cash only lines i found. crazy! but amazing!
joarobin Jul 15th 2010 8:54PM
In January the park was supposed to be opening in May so we planned a trip in June because we did not want to go the first few weeks. We ended up being there the weekend before it opened. They had a sneak peak for hotel guests so we we got to ride the rides and see the park. They told us it was open from 8am to 10 am only. We went there early and first then we found out it was open all day. It was great! The only lines were for the wands, the butterbeer and the souveneir shops. The hogwarts ride is the coolest thing I've ever seen! The only problem was all the other rides at universal paled in comparison. Every other ride we just thought wow that was probably cool a few years ago. I think you should do Harry Potter last so you will enjoy the rest of the parks and save the best for last. A large part of the ride line for hogwarts is inside and there are cool things to see while you are in line. I don't like long lines but this ride is worth a 2 hour wait
Cynthia Jul 15th 2010 9:00PM
We just came back from visiting Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and seeing The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in person was an awesome experience. My nieces and son absolutely loved it and we went to the Harry Potter section every day we waited until the last night we were there to stand in line for The Forbidden Journey and the wait wasn't that bad, there were fans blowing so it wasn't as hot and we were moving pretty quickly. The ride was definitely worth the wait and I can't wait to go back and do it all again.
Susan Jul 16th 2010 7:12PM
My 9 yr. old son and I went the week after it opened. We bought a special package that allowed us to get in an hour earlier than other guests and have a reserved breakfast at the Three Broomsticks. We had a wonderful experience. The Hogwart's Castle ride was amazing. The wait to go in to Olivander's to see the wand show was very long and the show very dissappointing. Skip the line and the show and just go directly into the store and buy your wand(s). Many souviners were sold out - ie. Hermaine's wand and Griffindor robes. Shops were way toooo small. The Hippogriff ride was a joke - it lasted approximately 15 seconds. The castle ride made it all worth while and seeing the village was neat. Sure wish it were larger and the other rides more interesting. Maybe if they make a park in London it will be bigger and better. It was worth the wait for two huge Potter fans but I don't feel a need to visit again soon. P.S. I don't think the crowds will die down in the fall or anytime soon since many Potter fans are adults.