harry potter at universal
 

my husband and i are planning on going the first weekend of april -- are the lines super long? any tips? what to hit first? etc???

There are several threads on here about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It's really pretty small in area, but absolutely amazing in execution. There are three main rides/attractions (2 rides and Ollivander's wand shop). The restaurant is good and the butter beer is fun (although very sweet). There are some cute shops and they've done a good job at having the lines along "storefronts" that have interesting things to see in the windows while you wait.

My #1 tip - don't eat before the big ride (Forbidden Journey) because it IS very jerky and causes motion sickness (and I rarely have problems with that). But it's a lot of fun to ride along with Harry above the Quidditch field. They did a GREAT job recreating Hogswart and Hogsmeade. Everything is first rate. And the lines can be long. Enjoy!

http://themeparks.about.com/od/islan...terPreview.htm

http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/

It takes about 4 hours to see it all.

Oh. First week of April. You'll have lines.

The WWHP is in Islands of Adventure at Universal. Follow the signs to it and then directions to the WW. But, very probably they will be diverting you to another line that originates in Jurassic Park. You'll stand in one of those long, zig zag, theme park lines until you get to the front of THAT line and are given a ticket. Then you'll head back to the WW and give that ticket in order to get in. It sounds confusing but moves fairly swiftly. I think the extra line took about 30-40 minutes. The line for the Forbidden Journey was estimated at 120 minutes. We did take a short cut by going into the singles line. I think we missed a lot of things to see in Hogswart as the line worked it's way through the castle.

The best tip I can give during busy times? Stay at an Universal resort so you can get in early. They will close the park when it reaches capacity.

A friend who was there earlier this month suggested getting in the single rider line for the Forbidden Journey ride to avoid the long regular line. Lines to the wand shop "where the wand chooses the wizard" are famously long. If you just want to buy a wand, go to the Dervishes and Bangs shop. Everyone recommends the butterbeer!

Yep, 321go, we did that :-)

You can buy a wand in shops and on the streets (from carts). Someone told us to skip the "show" at the wand shop. We were both glad we didn't. It was a little bit of magic (no pun intended when I wrote that) ;)

The butter beer comes in frozen and regular. It was too sweet for either of us to finish. If you can share, do. But it IS good.

When it is crowded they have been giving out timed tickets telling you when to come back to get into WWHP.
Go to this site for lOADS of first hand up to date info:
http://www.disboards.com/forumdispla...0811f6f00&f=30

Are you staying at an on site hotel? If so you will have early entry to the park.

unfortunately we're not staying on property. we're in the leesburg area for a wedding that weekend and figured we'd spend one day at the harry potter park! thanks everyone!