We have a DD10 who is just mad about all things Potter. She is absolutely convinced an owl will be arriving with a letter for her sometime after her 11th birthday.....
So of course, this year was the IOA year. After 4 years of Disney, we will not be seeing the new Fantasyland *sob*.
WWOHP was wonderful to experience! We all enjoyed ourselves massively. I don't know if yesterday was crowded, but here was our experience.
1) walked through the turnstiles (no lineup) with pre-printed tickets. There was a modest line to purchase tickets from what I saw
2) the walk through Seussland definitely had people but was not busy. I didn't see lineups anywhere (probably that is normal?)
3) Once we got to Hogsmeade, the only slow-up was families (including ours) stopping to take pictures on the bridge/walkway of themselves with the castle in the background
4) The lineup for Butterbeer at the cart (by the entrance) was about 7-9 people deep. I went to the cart in the centre of Hogsmeade and it was 3 people deep.
5) FROZEN BUTTERBEER IS AMAZING!!!!!
6) there was definitely a lineup to Ollivander's but we weren't interested (saving it for next day)
7) the shops were crowded in feeling, but curiously enough, we were helped immediately (no waiting!) - a CM (student?) helped my daughter pick out her wand. Another spent quite a bit of time chatting with her about Bertie Botts' Beans.... Another showed her some miniature dragons (we bought them), and yet another solemnly told her that the black quills were issued by the Ministry of Magic and made by the house elves strictly for use at Hogsmeade shops only
. She helped her find a regular "student's quill". Whenever we went to pay, there was no lineup. At the candy shop there was a short line of 3 or 4 people.
8) The ride in Hogwart's castle moved briskly. A tiny bottleneck to get a locker, but otherwise, we felt that the line never stopped moving...it was a fast walk the whole way and we only had just enough time to gawk at the interiors and take a few very quick pictures.... I was actually hoping to chicken out, but it seemed like the line was moving so fast... we were hustled onto our seats and off we went! (DD10 liked the ride immensely. I kept my eyes shut tight for most of it. DH said he didn't shut his eyes, wishes he did, and found the experience very intense). Let's put it this way, I can't remember the name of the ride - because we were moving along so quickly I can't remember seeing the sign for it...... I think our total time from start to finish was about 20 minutes in the castle.
We will be going back on Friday, when the weather promises to be bright and sunny. We are hoping to visit the wand shop and ride the hippogriff, and get to spend a bit more time browsing the gift shops. Any other suggestions of must-dos?
So of course, this year was the IOA year. After 4 years of Disney, we will not be seeing the new Fantasyland *sob*.
WWOHP was wonderful to experience! We all enjoyed ourselves massively. I don't know if yesterday was crowded, but here was our experience.
1) walked through the turnstiles (no lineup) with pre-printed tickets. There was a modest line to purchase tickets from what I saw
2) the walk through Seussland definitely had people but was not busy. I didn't see lineups anywhere (probably that is normal?)
3) Once we got to Hogsmeade, the only slow-up was families (including ours) stopping to take pictures on the bridge/walkway of themselves with the castle in the background
4) The lineup for Butterbeer at the cart (by the entrance) was about 7-9 people deep. I went to the cart in the centre of Hogsmeade and it was 3 people deep.
5) FROZEN BUTTERBEER IS AMAZING!!!!!
6) there was definitely a lineup to Ollivander's but we weren't interested (saving it for next day)
7) the shops were crowded in feeling, but curiously enough, we were helped immediately (no waiting!) - a CM (student?) helped my daughter pick out her wand. Another spent quite a bit of time chatting with her about Bertie Botts' Beans.... Another showed her some miniature dragons (we bought them), and yet another solemnly told her that the black quills were issued by the Ministry of Magic and made by the house elves strictly for use at Hogsmeade shops only
. She helped her find a regular "student's quill". Whenever we went to pay, there was no lineup. At the candy shop there was a short line of 3 or 4 people. 8) The ride in Hogwart's castle moved briskly. A tiny bottleneck to get a locker, but otherwise, we felt that the line never stopped moving...it was a fast walk the whole way and we only had just enough time to gawk at the interiors and take a few very quick pictures.... I was actually hoping to chicken out, but it seemed like the line was moving so fast... we were hustled onto our seats and off we went! (DD10 liked the ride immensely. I kept my eyes shut tight for most of it. DH said he didn't shut his eyes, wishes he did, and found the experience very intense). Let's put it this way, I can't remember the name of the ride - because we were moving along so quickly I can't remember seeing the sign for it...... I think our total time from start to finish was about 20 minutes in the castle.
We will be going back on Friday, when the weather promises to be bright and sunny. We are hoping to visit the wand shop and ride the hippogriff, and get to spend a bit more time browsing the gift shops. Any other suggestions of must-dos?
