Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[Downhere]

In all honesty, the rides will be nice but I'm looking forward more to the spectacle of walking around the actual park, seeing how they reproduced everything for the commercial aspect. Seeing what kind of products they will make millions of dollars on... pretty much just wanting to be there and experience the closest thing to what we read in the books vs just going for the rides.

I definitely agree with you on the spectacle of walking around HP Island. It will definitely be magnificent and the attention to detail should be astounding. But, rides are cool too...lol. t:

 

[knowsbleed]

Of course, rides are cool... but not as cool as waiting in the line for the rides for about 2 hours.

 

[Downhere]

Of course, rides are cool... but not as cool as waiting in the line for the rides for about 2 hours.

lol. That's why they have fast pass. Although, you can only use it once per ride.

 

[Erzengel]

Also depends on when you go. I remember going through Universal Theme Park in less than 6 hours and I went on all the major rides.

 

[El_Citrus]

I can only imagine how amazing this section would be around Halloween. Roaming Death Eaters ftw?

 

[The Lizard]

Which is the same ride they had in the Lost Continent section of Islands of Adventure. I'm super excited for HP Island and will most likely buy an annual pass next year to visit frequently, but I am a tad disappointed that they didn't add an additional completely new ride/show. I'm hoping HP and the Forbidden Journey will be so amazing as to forget that disappointment, which I can see happening, but still...would have been nice to have one more new attraction.

One thing is for sure, the theming should be fantastic as Universal puts great attention to detail in all their rides. Especially at Islands of Adventure. The Lost Continent is one of the best themed areas in a theme park. So, I'm sure HP Island will be super fantastical. I definitely want to go to the joke shop and definitely want a wand.

This is pretty much how I feel.

It's kind of unfortunate that there's not more big ride stuff that's totally new, but I always thought the Lost Continent section of the park was very creative, so it's a strong base to build from.

I'm going to miss those cool giant broken sections of Poseidon's statue and the big hollow tree dining area, however.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

It's not like Spoons is going to take you.

Haha. So Erz, when do you wanna go?

 

[Erzengel]

Let's go when the park isn't so busy. Like Feb or early March.

 

[Raiden]

I might go there and visit, if I ever get the chance to visit Orlando. Too bad our Universal Studio: Hollywood doesn't have cool stuff like this.

 

[Downhere]

Also depends on when you go. I remember going through Universal Theme Park in less than 6 hours and I went on all the major rides.

Really? Was it not that packed? I mean, I was there like 2 days a couple of months ago and still didn't do everything. On the second day, I even bought the fast pass. I plan to go again soon, and will ride the Mummy for the first time. I just hope it's not that scary...lol. I'm not the roller coaster type of person. Although, I did the Woody Woodpecker one, which was pretty intense for a kids coaster. lol.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I'm thinking about going there Jan. 2011, there's a marathon around the Disney parks I want to run, so I figured I'd wait until the Harry Potter area opened before running that, go a few days early to hit the parks before the race.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Really? Was it not that packed? I mean, I was there like 2 days a couple of months ago and still didn't do everything. On the second day, I even bought the fast pass. I plan to go again soon, and will ride the Mummy for the first time. I just hope it's not that scary...lol. I'm not the roller coaster type of person. Although, I did the Woody Woodpecker one, which was pretty intense for a kids coaster. lol.

Three of the four times I've gone to Orlando with my family was around Thanksgiving, that's a pretty good time to go, the crowds have never been bad. Last time, I think 2004, we went to Islands of Adventure the first day and went on all the rides three or four times, without the fast pass, it was just that dead.

 

[Erzengel]

Really? Was it not that packed? I mean, I was there like 2 days a couple of months ago and still didn't do everything. On the second day, I even bought the fast pass. I plan to go again soon, and will ride the Mummy for the first time. I just hope it's not that scary...lol. I'm not the roller coaster type of person. Although, I did the Woody Woodpecker one, which was pretty intense for a kids coaster. lol.

I mean just the Universal Theme part, not the Islands of Adventure. But we went on the Mummy, MIB, Back to the Future, Shrek, Twister, T-2, Jaws, ET, Disaster and think we did the Universal Monster show too.

 

[Downhere]

This is pretty much how I feel.

It's kind of unfortunate that there's not more big ride stuff that's totally new, but I always thought the Lost Continent section of the park was very creative, so it's a strong base to build from.

I'm going to miss those cool giant broken sections of Poseidon's statue and the big hollow tree dining area, however.

I was hoping for a show of some type. Maybe like a Defense Against the Dark Arts Dual show or something. I mean, the technology is there for something cool, show wise. Another ride would have been good as well considering two of the rides are roller coaster based, for which I will go on the kiddie one and not the dueling dragons/dragon's challenge one. lol.

 

[Go Web Go!]

Just got a job at Universal Studios, so free Harry Potter world for me every day of the week

Not if they fire you between now and then.

 

[Downhere]

I mean just the Universal Theme part, not the Islands of Adventure. But we went on the Mummy, MIB, Back to the Future, Shrek, Twister, T-2, Jaws, ET, Disaster and think we did the Universal Monster show too.

I don't know, I tried doing everything in one day at Universal and it didn't work...had to finish up, minus the mummy, the next day and then head over to Islands of Adventure. But, I usually kind of don't rush things so maybe that's why. I like to savor everything.

 

[Erzengel]

There were really no lines. Besides I'm partial to the Mouse so I've been to Disney twice since the last time I was at Universal.

 

[Downhere]

There were really no lines. Besides I'm partial to the Mouse so I've been to Disney twice since the last time I was at Universal.

I enjoy both equally. Both are different and great at the same time. It had been like 10 years since I went to US and IOA and it's been longer since I've been at Disney. lol. It's sad, cause I live in Florida and am probably an hour drive away. But, I hope to hit up Disney soon and of course go back to US/IOA.

 

[The Lizard]

There were really no lines. Besides I'm partial to the Mouse so I've been to Disney twice since the last time I was at Universal.

A really good time to go to any Orlando theme park is during the first 2 weeks of December (preferably on a weekday), after the Thanksgiving crowds are gone and before the Christmas crowds kick in. Lines are short to non-existent.

 

[Go Web Go!]

I went last year right before Thanksgiving. The parks looked like a ghost town. We were there for a good 4 or 5 days and never waited more than 10 minutes in any line.

 

[Erzengel]

I like the way the parks are done up for Christmas. I'd like to go during Halloween or when you have beers from different countries there.

 

[Go Web Go!]

I just came back from Disneyland. They were already putting up Christmas decorations along the Main Street USA section of the park.

 

[danoyse]

I just came back from Disneyland. They were already putting up Christmas decorations along the Main Street USA section of the park.

They do that at Disney World too. They usually do it at the same time they put up the Halloween decorations/lights so they don't have bring in the construction crews twice. No one likes an ugly construction crane hovering over the castle in their vacation photos.

I haven't been to Universal since my friend's backpack was stolen out of a locker, but I will go back for this. It looks amazing!!

 

[The Original Bamfer]

Not if they fire you between now and then.

Which is likely.

 

[danoyse]

A really good time to go to any Orlando theme park is during the first 2 weeks of December (preferably on a weekday), after the Thanksgiving crowds are gone and before the Christmas crowds kick in. Lines are short to non-existent.

That's when I went to WDW last time and it was great - it's not nearly as crowded and hot as it is in the summer. We actually went on Expedition Everest 11 times in a row one day.