Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1215
July 2, 2014
Hogwarts Express REVIEW [Minor Spoilers]
All aboard the Hogwarts Express at Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter. (photos by Seth Kubersky)
As PotterWatch wraps up with the approach of Diagon Alley’s July 8 official opening date, I’m proud to present Touring Plans’ first in-depth review of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions. During the recent VIP preview week, I spent nearly 12 hours exploring the expansion at Universal Studios Florida, and was the only member of the media to successfully ride the Gringotts attraction three times. I’ve distilled that first-hand experience into the following Hogwarts Express review, which will appear in edited form in the 2015 edition of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, as well as other affiliated titles.
Bear in mind, the following opinions and information are based on a preview of the attraction, and is subject to change once the area is open to the public. BEWARE: Minor spoilers ahead.
Hogwarts Express
4 1/2 STARS
APPEAL BY AGE
PRESCHOOL 4 stars
GRADE SCHOOL 5 stars
TEENS 4 stars
YOUNG ADULTS 4 1/2 stars
OVER 30 4 1/2 stars
SENIORS 4 stars
What it is Transportation attraction with special effects.
Scope and scale Super-headliner.
When to go Immediately after park opening.
Special comments Expect lengthy waits in line. A park-to-park pass is required to ride.
Authors’ rating A moving experience; Not to be missed; 4 1/2 stars
Duration of ride 4 minutes.
Probable waiting time per 100 people ahead of you 7 minutes.
Loading speed Moderate.
DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS
Part of the genius of creating Diagon Alley at USF is that it is connected to Hogsmeade at IOA by the Hogwarts Express, just as in the novels and films. The counterpart to the Hogsmeade Station in IOA (see xref) is Universal Studios’ King’s Cross station, a landmark London train depot that has been recreated a few doors down from Diagon Alley’s hidden entrance. (It’s important to note that King’s Cross has a separate entrance and exit from Diagon Alley; you cannot go directly between them without crossing through the London Waterfront.)
The passage to platform 9¾, from which Hogwarts students depart on their way to school, is concealed from Muggles by a seemingly solid brick wall, which you’ll witness guests ahead of you dematerializing through. [Spoiler: the "Pepper's Ghost" effect creates a clever but congestion-prone photo op, but you only experience a dark corridor with wooshing sound effects when crossing over yourself.]
The Hogwarts Express inside King’s Cross Station.
Once on the platform, you’ll pass a pile of luggage (including an owl cage with animatronic Hedwig) before being assigned to one of the 3 train cars’ 7 compartments. The train itself looks exactingly authentic to the n-th degree from the billowing steam to the brass fixtures and upholstery in your 8-passenger private cabin. Along your one-way Hogwarts Express journey, you’ll see moving images projected beyond the windows of the car rather than the park’s backstage ares, with the streets of London and Scottish countryside rolling past outside your window. The screen isn’t 3-D, but it’s slightly curved to conceal the edges and create a convincing illusion of depth. Even more impressive is the frosted glass doors you enter through, which turn out to be amazing screens that makes it seem like someone is standing on the other side. You experience a different presentation coming and going, and in addition to pastoral scenery there are surprises appearances by secondary characters (Fred and George Weasley, Hagrid), and threats en route (bone-chilling Dementors, licorice spiders) augmented by temperature and sound effects in the cars.
[Note: Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson did not return to film new footage for the attraction. Harry and pals' CGI stand-ins look okay, as they are never seen up close, but Hermione's voice double is dreadful.]
Hogwarts Express isn’t an adrenaline rush in the same way that Gringotts is, but for those invested in the Potter lore it may be even more emotionally thrilling. And unlike most Potter attractions, it can be experienced by the whole family, regardless of size.
Touring Tips
Universal was somehow surprised by a survey that showed guests considered the Hogwarts Express an attraction rather than merely transportation connecting the two parks. This “revelation” threw the creative team into a tizzy about how they could increase the capacity of the train—a task made all the more difficult because the stations and track were already under construction.
The Hogsmeade Station end of the Hogwarts Express’ journey.
There’s a capacity-versus-authenticity issue front and center with the Hogwarts Express—and if you know J. K. Rowling’s reputation for perfectionism where adaptations of her books are concerned, you know the sticky wicket this presented for Universal. The train cars from the films and novels are divided into private compartments that seat eight, but replicating those compartments means fewer seats and longer loading times (and longer queues, too).
As a result, not everyone in one or the other park will be able to experience the train, because its carrying capacity is relatively small and the track can accommodate only two trains, each moving in a different direction and passing one another in the middle of the journey. This leaves Universal with a few crowd-mitigating options.
First, because using the train for a one-way trip involves park-hopping, one-way passengers will need a valid two-park ticket. Disembarking passengers must enter the second park and, if desired, queue again for their return trip. You’ll be allowed (nay, encouraged) to upgrade your one-park pass at the station entrance.
Second, Universal Express is ironically unavailable for the Hogwarts Express, at least for the time being.
Third, you will only be permitted one ride per day on the Hogwarts Express. If you wish to take a same-day return trip, you will be relegated to a secondary queue that promises to be exponentially slower than the already glacial standby queue.
Fourth, on days of peak attendance, Universal could close off the entry to King’s Cross from outside the London Waterfront and mandate a timed return ticket for entry, as with Diagon Alley (see below).
At the other end, the Hogsmeade Village station lies within the footprint of the Dragon Challenge roller coaster and provides pedestrian access to Hogsmeade and IOA’s Lost Continent themed area. On days of low-to-average attendance, disembarking guests will be allowed directly into Hogsmeade, less than a minute’s walk away. On days of heavy attendance, they’ll be directed to the bridge between The Lost Continent and Jurassic Park, where they’ll have to either queue to enter Hogsmeade or obtain a free timed-entry ticket to visit The Wizarding World at a specified time.
Park-to-park ticket-purchasing Potterphiles should make the train their first attraction of the day. If, for example, Diagon Alley is your top priority of the day, enter Islands of Adventure as early as possible and line up at the Hogsmeade Village station for the train to London King’s Cross. Then get a return ticket (if necessary) to reenter the London area.
Guests exiting in Hogsmeade have a chance to take a photo with the locomotive before it backs out for its next run. Guests departing from Hogsmeade should pose with the static train outside the station before queuing.
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Hogwarts Express REVIEW [Minor Spoilers] is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disney World Crowd Calendar Update – July 2014
Every day we track all things Disney, including park hours, park schedules, FastPass+ usage and rules, plus weather and dozens of other factors. We also track how these factors affect your wait times in the parks.
Today we’re publishing an update to the Crowd Calendar for the rest of 2014 and early 2015, taking into account Disney’s recent schedule changes and the effect FastPass+ is having on wait times.
Here’s a snapshot of one of our updated models in action:
Posted Standby Wait (in minutes)
You can check these charts every day for every attraction to see what we predicted and what actually happened in the park. It’s the most accurate Disney crowd calendar available.
Below you’ll find more detail on the what went in to this latest Calendar update. Here’s a quick summary of the changes to the calendar by month:
Crowd Calendar Updates By Month
Dates/Parks
Here’s What’s New
Aug 1-18
We felt our estimates for the first few weeks of August were too low, especially at The Studios. Now that we have adjusted our 1 to 10 scale, park levels are up one or two levels across the resort, three or more at The Studios.
Aug 18-25
The ’6′s, ’7′s and ’8′s we had at Animal Kingdom in mid-August were too high given the wait times we have seen in the last few months. Those are now ’3′s, ’4′s and ’5′s.
Sep 17-
Oct 4
Crowd Levels during Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival are a perennial oddity. Waits times are low but the park is packed with guests. This update features some increases to Epcot’s crowd numbers in the fall to better match how the park feels.
Oct 27-
Nov 22
Similarly, this update features increases of 3 or more index levels for Epcot and the other parks in late October and November (before Thanksgiving). Most of these are a result of the redistribution of our ’1′ to ’10′ scale.
Jan 2015 – May 2015
We have reviewed our projections for park schedules in 2015 and combined with our other adjustments, this has pushed many of the crowd levels up 3 or more notches, most notably at The Studios, to a lesser extent at Animal Kingdom and Epcot and rarely at Magic Kingdom.
And the other things that went into this calendar update:
Extra Magic Hour (EMH) Schedule
Summary of the new schedule
Most MK evening EMHs move to Saturday from Friday
Epcot’s evening EMH move to Wednesday during Food & Wine
Disney Hollywood Studios’ evening EMH is still Monday during Summer and January 2015, moves to Sunday for the fall
Animal Kingdom’s morning EMH is now spread evenly over Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Magic Kingdom
Morning EMH on Thursday stays the same
Evening EMH has shifted from Sunday to Saturday for vast majority of weeks. There are only 4 evening EMHs on Sunday from July through January, typically around holidays:
July 6, 2014 (July 4 Holiday weekend)
August 31, 2014 (Labor Day weekend)
December 21, 2014 (Week of Christmas)
January 11, 2015 (WDW Marathon Weekend)
There’s also the usual extended hours around July 4 and Christmas. On July 4 and again on a couple of days in December, MK will have both morning and evening EMHs.
Epcot
Morning EMH on Tuesday stays the same
Evening EMH on Friday for most of the year EXCEPT during Food & Wine, when it switches to Wednesday.
Disney Hollywood Studios
Morning EMH on Saturday stays the same
Evening EMH on Monday stays the same for July and August, one date in October and two in November, 2014. Switches to Sunday for most of September, October, November, and a two dates in December, plus one in January 2015.
Animal Kingdom
Still no evening EMHs
Morning EMHs here have the most changes. Monday and Wednesday are still popular days for EMHs. By month, here’s the schedule:
August 2014 – Sunday/Wednesday (with one Friday)
September – Monday/Friday (with one Sunday, one Wednesday)
October – Monday/Friday (with one Sunday)
November – Half Sunday, Half Monday, most Wednesdays, one Friday
December – Monday/Wednesday (with one Sunday, one Friday)
January 2015 – Sunday/Wednesday (with one Monday)
FastPass+
Standby waits shorter for Super Headliners, longer for Major Attractions
FastPass+ has changed the way guests are distributed throughout the park. For a complete article on the effect of FastPass+, check out Steve’s blog. In general, standby wait times are lower at attractions that were popular with Legacy FASTPASS (the old way) and standby wait times are higher at attractions that either did not have Legacy FASTPASS or were less popular as FASTPASS options. So, for example, Space Mountain, Soarin’, Toy Story Mania and Kilimanjaro Safaris are seeing lower waits, while Pirates of the Caribbean, Spaceship Earth and Dinosaur are shower higher waits.
Interestingly, when you look at all days, the average wait time is going down but the minimum wait time is going up. This means the distribution of wait times is flatter and the distinction between crowds is getting smaller.
Park Schedules
Park Hours, Event Schedules, Parades, Fireworks, etc.
Today’s update accounts for all the events and schedules that we believe may have an impact on crowds in the parks.
Refresh the Thresholds That Define the ’1′ to ’10′ Scale
Crowd Numbers Up, Especially at The Studios
Since FastPass+ has affected the wait times in the park we need to adjust the thresholds that define the ’1′ to ’10′ scale so that our numbers match how the crowds feel in the parks. Previously, for example, a busy day would see an average posted time of Toy Story Mania around 105 minutes.
Today we expect that same level of crowd would see an average around 85 minutes. We want to make sure that we have a reasonable number of days at each level. So, we have made some adjustments. You can see how we define our scale here. This way, the numbers are still comparable, so if you visited in 2012 on a level ’5′ day, the new level ’5′ will feel pretty much the same.
More Accurate Models
More data, more research, better results
We are always testing new statistical models to predict wait times. This allows the models to adapt to changing crowd patterns, and ensures we publish the most accurate estimates possible. (Also because we’re suckers for doing things as well as we can with the coolest statistical tools available. It’s a problem.)
For advice on what to do if the calendar numbers have changed for your scheduled visit, see here.
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The Happiest Place on Earth: Disney World Tips to Avoid a Meltdown
Avoid becoming Grumpy by following these simple tips!
It has happened to all of us. You’re in the grocery store, and you hear a child having a tantrum. Perhaps it’s your kid on the floor screaming; because you didn’t agree to buy the Lego set that is so conveniently located right in the check-out line. Now you’re heading to Disney World, and you’ve heard it’s the “happiest place on earth.” Is it possible that this Disney magic you’ve heard so much about is going to prevent this from happening on vacation? What about yourself? Are you going to be able to handle the crowds and the chaos without losing your cool? Let’s hope all goes smoothly, but just in case, here are some tried-and-true Walt Disney World tips for avoiding meltdowns by the young and old alike.
Manage Expectations - We’ve all seen National Lampoon’s Vacation, right? Nothing will kill a vacation quicker than unrealistic expectations. Walt Disney World is enormous; about the same size as San Francisco. You wouldn’t expect to see everything a large city has to offer in a day or a week, so give yourself a break. Create a reasonable touring plan to follow, and then try to relax and enjoy each moment. When looking back on your vacation, it won’t be about how many attractions you experienced, but rather about the special memories that you made.
Feed your chipmunks before they go nuts!
Stay Hydrated and Nourished - Fatigue and irritability can set in fast if you let yourself get overly thirsty or hungry. Take a few minutes to refuel and try some of the tasty food and beverage choices that Disney World has to offer. This will help give you the energy you need to keep going. And did you know that our mobile app, Lines, has a menu search to help you find the closest Mickey bar or cheesy pretzel?
Take a Break – After a few hours of touring, give yourself and your family the chance to take a break. Whether you head back to your room for a quick nap or check out one of the many shows with comfy seats and air-conditioning, set aside a few minutes to cool off and rest your feet. You’ll feel refreshed and maybe even have a second wind.
Get your Sleep - Several days of going from rope drop to the last firework can wear out even the most hardy theme park tourist. Give yourself permission to get a full night’s sleep at least a couple times during your trip. Need help finding a quiet hotel room? Use our room finder for all Disney hotels.
Take a Deep Breath – From time to time you may encounter rudeness even in Walt Disney World. On my most recent trip, my boys and I were entering the queue for “it’s a small world” when a woman began shouting at us that the line was behind her. There was no line behind her. We had arrived at the entrance about a half of a second before her entering from the left as she was entering from the right. We just stopped, smiled and let her and her child go ahead of us. It was only 10:00 AM, and this poor woman was clearly in need of some pixie dust. Now in your regular daily life you might be thinking that you would never tolerate something like that. Remember how you handle these situations will leave a lasting impression on your children. So take a deep breath and follow the wise words of one of our favorite Disney movies and just “let it go.”
Do Random Acts of Magic - Because we are all at Disney World to have a great time and make some magic, why not join in on the fun? Congratulate the couple wearing the cute bride and groom Mickey Mouse ears, thank a cast member for the job they do, or offer to take a photo for a family so everyone can be in the shot. You never know. Your kind gesture just might help someone else avoid a meltdown of their own.
So there you have it! With these few simple tips, you are well on your way to a magical and less stressful Walt Disney World vacation!
What about you? Do you have any helpful hints you follow to keep your group happy and having fun? Please let us know in the comments below!
Please welcome Kristi Fredericks to the TouringPlans blog team. Kristi lives in Colorado and has been visiting Disney parks since she was an infant. See more of Kristi’s work at www.disneyworldenthusiast.com.
You may also enjoy our article on favorite quiet places in Walt Disney World by Bob Whitten.
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The Happiest Place on Earth: Disney World Tips to Avoid a Meltdown is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
July 1, 2014
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts REVIEW [Minor Spoilers]
A panoramic view of the majestic Gringotts bank lobby. (photos by Seth Kubersky)
As PotterWatch wraps up with the approach of Diagon Alley’s July 8 official opening date, I’m proud to present Touring Plans’ first in-depth review of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions. During the recent VIP preview week, I spent nearly 12 hours exploring the expansion at Universal Studios Florida, and was the only member of the media to successfully ride the Gringotts attraction three times. I’ve distilled that first-hand experience into the following Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts review, which will appear in edited form in the 2015 edition of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, as well as other affiliated titles.
Bear in mind, the following opinions and information are based on a preview of the attraction, and is subject to change once the area is open to the public. BEWARE: Minor spoilers ahead.
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
5 STARS
APPEAL BY AGE
PRESCHOOL 2 stars
GRADE SCHOOL 4 stars
TEENS 5 stars
YOUNG ADULTS 5 stars
OVER 30 5 stars
SENIORS 4 stars
What it is Super-high-tech 3-D dark ride with roller coaster elements.
Scope and scale Super-headliner.
When to go Immediately after park opening or just before closing.
Special comments Expect loooong waits in line; 42″ minimum height requirement.
Authors’ rating The ultimate realization of “Ride The Movies!”; Not to be missed; 5 stars
Duration of ride 4 1⁄2 minutes.
Probable waiting time per 100 people ahead of you 4 minutes.
Loading speed Moderate-Fast.
DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS
Owned and operated by goblins, Gringotts is the Federal Reserve of the wizarding economy, and the scene of memorable sequences from the first and final Potter installments. It’s known for its toppling column facade, chandelier-adorned lobby, bottomless caverns…and the heart-stopping rail carts running through them. The theme park adaptation is the centerpiece of Diagon Alley, and the the ultimate expression of the “virtual reality” rides Universal has been refining since IOA opened.
Like Forbidden Journey at IOA, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts incorporates a substantial part of the overall experience into its elaborate queue, which (like Hogwarts Castle) even non-riders should experience as an attraction in of itself. You enter through the bank’s lobby, where you’re critically appraised by glowering animatronic goblins. Your path takes you to a “security checkpoint” where your photo will be taken (to be purchased afterwards as an identity lanyard in the gift shop, natch), and past animated newspapers and office windows where the scenario is set up.
#GoblinSelfie (I think it will catch on…)
Unlike Forbidden Journey, Gringotts doesn’t rush you through its queue, but allows you to experience two full pre-shows before approaching the ride vehicles. In the first, goblin banker Blordak and Bill Weasley (Ron’s curse-breaking big brother, played by Domhnall Gleeson in the best Musion hologram yet) prepare you for an introductory tour of the underground vaults. Then you’re off for a convincing simulated nine-mile plunge into the earth aboard an “elevator” with a bouncing floor and ceiling projections. All this is before you pick up your 3-D glasses (identical to those at Transformers) and ascend a spiral staircase into the stalactite-festooned boarding cave where your vault cart awaits.
The Gringotts rail car that serves as your ride vehicle through the vaults.
Also unlike Forbidden Journey, and indeed all the Wizarding World, Gringotts is not set in a nebulous “moment frozen in time” where incidents from various stories simultaneously coexist. Instead, visitors enter the bank at the exact moment that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Griphook have arrived to liberate the Hufflepuff Cup Horcrux from Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault. Only in this retelling of Deathly Hallows Part 2‘s iconic action scene, you (as Muggles opening new bank accounts) are ingeniously integrated into the action. Familiar film moments featuring the vaults’ guardian dragon play out in the ride’s background, as (in scenes that could have been taking place just off camera) Bellatrix and Voldemort appear to menace you with snakes and sinister spells, before the heroic trio pauses their quest to save your hapless posteriors. The storytelling, which is much more coherent than Forbidden Journey’s collage approach, may disorient scholars of Potter canon, but it’s an intelligent way to allow fans to relive a favorite adventure without merely recapitulating the plot.
Gringotts’ ornately industrial ride vehicles consist of two-car trains, each holding 24 people in rows of four. The ride merges Mummy‘s indoor launched roller coaster aspects, with Spider-Man‘s seamless integration of high-resolution 3-D film (the finale dome completely surrounds your car) and massive sculptural sets (some of the rockwork inside is six stories tall), while adding a few new tricks like independently rotating cars and motion simulator bases built into the track.
The result is a ride that, though it doesn’t break completely new ground like Forbidden Journey and Spider-Man did, combines favorite innovations from its predecessors in an exhilarating new way. It isn’t quite the perfect attraction some might be anticipating. The visuals are sometimes murky, and the dialogue difficult to discern. And it’s slightly disappointing that no animatronic figures, moving set-pieces, or actual pyrotechnics appear in the ride, though you will get spritzed with water, blasted with warm air, and sprayed with fog — this is Universal, after all. Finally, though Helena Bonham Carter and Ralph Fiennes reprised their screen roles, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson did not return. Harry and pals’ CGI stand-ins look ok, as they are never seen up close, but Hermione’s voice double is dreadful (an error even more apparent aboard the Hogwarts Express).
Nitpicks aside, whether Escape from Gringotts is THE greatest themed thrill ride of all time, or merely ONE of the greatest, can be happily debated by park fans until the next great leap forward comes along.
TOURING TIPS
Looking for the Gringotts ride? Just follow the crowds to the fire-breathing dragon!
Gringotts is the pot of gold at the end of Universal’s rainbow that a kazillion crazed guests are racing toward. Though the interior line is gorgeous and air-conditioned, the mostly-unshaded outdoor extended queue holds 4,000 guests; you don’t want to be at the end of it. If you’re a Universal resort guest and you qualify for early entry, use it. Otherwise, arrive at the turnstiles, admission in hand, 35–45 minutes before park opening and be ready to haul butt. On most days you will need to retrieve a return time ticket (see xref below) before attempting to enter Diagon Alley, and then queue up again for Gringotts. As an alternative, try the attraction at the very end of the day. As long as you are inside the entrance before closing time, you should be allowed to ride, as long as it doesn’t break down. But be warned that, as with any ride this advanced, Gringotts can be expected to experience some downtime almost daily, at least during its initial months of operation.
As far as physical thrills go, Gringotts falls somewhere between Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Space Mountain, with only one short (albeit unique) drop and no upside-down flips. It was designed to be less intense (read: less nauseating) and therefore more appealing to families, with fewer height, weight, and size restrictions. The restraints are similar to the Mummy’s, with bars across your lap and shins, but slightly more restrictive. Use the test seat to the left of the front entrance if you are unsure, and request the 3rd or 6th row for additional legroom.
The ride feels noticeably different depending on which row you are seated in. The front is closest to the action, and has the scariest view of the drop, 3-D effects look better further back. The 6th row gets the most coaster action, especially from the initial fall, but the screens are slightly distorted. Row 3 may be the sweet spot.
Like most of Universal’s thrill rides, you must leave your bags in a free locker. Luckily, unlike Hogwarts the lockers were separated from the attraction entrance, greatly improving guest flow. Universal Express is NOT currently accepted at this attraction. If you don’t have bags, and don’t mind breaking up your group, the singles line will greatly cut your wait, but you’ll skip all the pre-shows past the lobby. If you want to see the queue but not ride, ask an attendant if a “bank tour” is available.
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Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts REVIEW [Minor Spoilers] is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Disney Adds Two New VIP Tours at Walt Disney World
Just one of the attractions you’ll get to ride on “The Ultimate Day for Young Families – a VIP Tour Experience.”
If you are someone who enjoys experiencing the ultimate indulgences while visiting the Walt Disney World Resort and would enjoy partaking in a special VIP tour, you are in luck! Disney is now offering two brand-new unique tours to choose from–one with the thrill-seeker in mind and one geared towards families with little ones.
The first is “The Ultimate Day for Young Families - a VIP Tour Experience.” This tour caters to families with children under 10 years of age and features family-friendly attractions.
The tour begins in the Magic Kingdom, where guests will get the chance to enjoy Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, it’s a small world, The Barnstormer, Tomorrowland Speedway, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Peter Pan’s Flight, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid. After a tour of the Magic Kingdom, guests will enjoy a table service lunch at a Disney resort. The tour will then continue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios where guests will enjoy Disney Junior-Live on Stage! and Toy Story Midway Mania! Finally, guests will head to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where the tour concludes with Festival of the Lion King and Kilimanjaro Safaris.
This tour is offered Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday. The tour begins at the Tomorrowland Terrace at 8:15 a.m. (check-in is 15 minutes prior) and lasts for approximately 6-7 hours. The cost is $299 per person, plus tax, but there is a 15% discount that is available for guests with Disney Visa, Disney Vacation Club, or an Annual Pass. Guests under 18 will require a participating adult with them and photo ID is required. In addition, ECVs are not permitted and photography will be prohibited in backstage areas.
The second tour that is being offered is called, “The Ultimate Day of Thrills – a VIP Tour Experience.” This tour is geared towards those looking for Disney’s best thrills.
The tour starts at the Magic Kingdom where guests will have the opportunity to ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean. After lunch at a table service restaurant at one of Disney’s resorts, the tour will continue on to Disney’s Hollywood Studios where guests get to enjoy the thrilling rides of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Rock n’ Roller Coaster, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Toy Story Midway Mania! The day will end at Disney’s Animal Kingdom where guests will get to ride Expedition Everest and DINOSAUR.
This tour is offered Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday, The tour begins at the Tomorrowland Terrace at 8:15 a.m. (check-in is 15 minutes prior) and lasts for approximately 6-7 hours. The cost is $299 per person, plus tax, but there is a 15% discount that is available for guests who have a Disney Visa, own DVC, or an Annual Pass. Guests under 18 will require a participating adult with them and photo ID is required. In addition, ECVs are not permitted and photography will be prohibited in backstage areas. The tour is available for ages 10 and up and there is a minimum height requirement of 48″.
Valid Park Hopper Tickets are required to take part in either tour. To schedule these two VIP tours, call (407) WDW-TOUR or (407) 939-8687. Guests can make reservations up to 180 days in advance.
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Frozen Summer Fun Events Added To Personalized Touring Plans
By David Davies
Are you planning to enjoy Frozen Summer Fun – Live at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World this summer? Disney announced the event last week, and now our personalized touring plans support the special attractions associated with Frozen Summer Fun.
These are listed as “seasonal” items in our system, so you’ll find most of them at the bottom of the list of attractions once you click “Add Attraction” on your personalized plan. The screenshots at the bottom of this post illustrate where to find seasonal items.
Enjoy all that Frozen Summer Fun!
First, click Add Attraction at the bottom of the screen.
Then you scroll to the bottom of the attractions list to find Seasonal Items
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PotterWatch: Hogsmeade Interactive Wands and Vacation Package Previews
PotterWatch is rounding its final corner and racing into the home stretch, as we are now one week away from the July 8th grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley. Hardcore Potterwatchers have been camped out in Universal Studios Florida for weeks, but aside from special vacation package previews, there have be no public soft openings of the area yet. That doesn’t mean there aren’t magical developments across the resort, as Hogsmeade interactive wands have quietly made their debut.
Hogsmeade Interactive Wands
As we’ve previously reported, storefront windows around Hogsmeade have been quietly upgraded over recent months with new special effects triggered by the interactive wands that will be sold inside Diagon Alley’s new Ollivanders shop. As of early this week, almost all of those windows were made functional, and guests can now practice casting spells in advance of Diagon’s big debut.
Interactive wands are now available and active inside Hogsmeade at IoA.
On the first day the windows were active, some guest reported being instructed not to use them by Universal team members. But as of Monday, June 30, employees were stationed at many of the interactive locations to instruct and encourage guests in their use.
As an unpublicized bonus, the original Ollivanders in Hogsmeade is now selling the interactive versions of the Celtic zodiac wands, having run out of their stock of the old non-interactive versions. While the team members are not yet advertising the interactive features, the wands do include a map of the window locations in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.
Better yet, the wands (as of yesterday) were still ringing up at the original $35 price, instead of $45. If you stop by before July 8 (or whenever they update the cash registers) you can snag yourself some substantial savings.
Vacation Package Previews
While the Leaky Cauldron’s mystical wall hasn’t yet opened for non-media Muggles, the first paying guests got inside Diagon Alley on June 30th as part of a Vacation Package preview. Starting June 29, visitors purchasing special hotel packages through Universal Vacations are eligible for guaranteed admission to Diagon Alley, including a meal at the Leaky Cauldron.
Until the official opening on July 8, that park perk takes the form of special previews that started at 5 p.m. on June 30. Guests received a letter designating a 2-hour period when they were permitted into Diagon Alley, and began arriving an hour or more early to check in.
After being held in the London Waterfront area, guests entered Diagon Alley promptly at 5 p.m., and were able ride the Hogwarts Express as well. The Gringotts ride was reportedly operating at the beginning of the event, but was not running well enough to allow the hundreds of day guests anxiously waiting outside to enter.
Even though there is officially Diagon Alley entry for day guests before July 8, word spread about the possible soft opening, bringing big crowds into the park during the evening. Plan on this scene continuing throughout the holiday week.
Large lines of guests trying to get into USF for a rumored soft opening that never happened.
Wizarding World Early Entry Update
Finally, we have a late-breaking update on early entry into the Wizarding World for onsite hotel guests. There is confusingly contradictory fine print on Universal’s website that has caused some to question whether early entry to Diagon Alley would be offered to all hotel guests, or if certain hotels (like Cabana Bay) might be restricted to Hogsmeade only.
This morning, I received the following statement from Tom Schroder, Universal Orlando’s head of public relations.
We will be offering our on-site guests Early Park Admission to both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure beginning July 9.
As soon as we have more details on early entry, such as exactly what attractions will be open, we’ll share it here. And be sure to follow @touringplans on Twitter for the latest #PotterWatch news.
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Entertainment to Get You Excited for Disney
By Erin Foster
A while back I posted a list of movies to show your kids before your Disney trip, films that would educate them about the Disney canon so that they would be familiar with park iconography. Watching princess movies is definitely going to get the kiddos psyched for your Disney vacation.
Everyone wants to get in the princess mood, even sitcom characters.
But what about you?
You know alllll about pixie dust. You’ve been there, done that with Cinderella (glass shoe, bibbidi bobbidi, yadda, yadda, yadda). You are fully familiar with dwarf nomenclature and know P. Sherman’s address by heart. So what entertainment do you, grown-up person, consume to get psyched for your Disney vacation? Here are some ideas.
All items are currently available on iTunes, among other places. So load up your phone, tablet, or classic iPod (yep, they still make those) to keep you pepped up during the plane ride to MickeyLand. Some items listed here are specific to Disney World or Disneyland but, in my opinion, any of them will pump you up no matter which coast you’re headed for.
TRAVEL PLANNING and PROPAGANDA VIDEO
Sometimes you need some information with your inspiration. These ex-TravelChannel videos, while now fairly dated, will fill you in on the highlights of a Disney parks visit.
Undiscovered Disney Parks. Focuses on backstage experiences and less popular attractions.
Disney Parks: Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Get up close and personal with youngest Disney World theme park.
Walt Disney World Resort: Behind the Scenes. A look at some of the WDW infrastructure.
Ultimate Walt Disney World. A look at the Disney World thrill rides.
Disneyland Resort Behind the Scenes. Go backstage in Anaheim.
Samantha Brown Great Weekends, Volume 1, Episode 5: Orlando. Sam shows things to do if you’ll be spending some time off Disney property.
Also note that there dozens of other old Travel Channel and Food Network episodes which cover aspects of the wonderful world of Disney. (R.I.P. Great Hotels, Season of Disney, and a billion Food Network Challenge Disney cakes.) You can find some these on tapes or DVD, but they are not readily available for quick download.
TELEVISION VISITS, MOCKS, or OTHERWISE REFERENCES DISNEY PARKS
These are episodes of standard TV shows where the characters either visit parks or discuss Disney themes as plot points during the show. If Disney World is good enough for Uncle Jesse, then it is absolutely good enough for me. (And yes, MANY other TV series have visited Disney locations or riffed on Disney themes, but not all are readily available in digital format, nor are all of them actually watchable.)
Full House, season 6, episodes 23 and 24: The House Meets the Mouse. The quintessential example of the ABC-makes-sitcoms-visit-Disney genre. Practically perfect in every way. The Step by Step, George Lopez, and Roseanne Disney episodes pale in comparison.
Mad Men, season 4, episode 13: Tomorrowland. In which Don and Megan take the kids to California and Disneyland.
Modern Family, season 3, episode 22: Disneyland. Gloria wears impractical footwear to tour Disneyland. Theme park pros nod knowingly.
Pretty much the entire Once Upon A Time series can be somehow related to a Disney visit.
iCarly, season 2, episode 21: iTake on Dingo. Yes, this is a kids’ show, but really it’s an awesome piece of Disney satire. Carly and crew plot to liberate the cryogenically frozen head of “Charles Dingo,” founder of Dingo Studios. Hilarity ensues.
The Big Bang Theory‘s Southern California location makes it ripe for Disney reference. Episodes with notable mentions include:
Season 5, episode 16: The Vacation Solution. Sheldon mocks Disney World as a vacation destination.
Season 3, episode 20: The Spaghetti Catalyst. In which Penny takes Sheldon to Disneyland and we learn that Sheldon has Goofyphobia.
Season 6, episode 18: The Contractual Obligation Implementation. The women go to Disneyland and come back dressed as princesses.
Boy Meets World, season 3, episode 21: The Happiest Show on Earth. Cory travels to Disney World to win back Topanga’s love.
The Simpsons, season 4, episode 13: Selma’s Choice. Many Simpsons episodes dig at Disney, but Selma’s Choice, in which Bart and Lisa visit Duff Gardens theme park is perhaps the diggiest.
Saturday Night Live, many sketches throughout the years. Notably:
Lindsey Lohan hosts: Season 29, episode 18. Debbie Downer at a character breakfast.
Lohan hosts again: Season 37, episode 16. Real housewives of Disney.
Anna Kendrick hosts: Season 39, episode 17. Monologue and Little Mermaid sketches
Zac Efron hosts: Season 34, episode 20. High School Musical goes to college sketch.
Family Guy, season 4, episode 16: The Courtship of Stewie’s Father. Peter and Stewie visit Walt Disney World.
RANDOM VACATION FUN WITH AMUSEMENT PARK MOVIES
National Lampoon’s Vacation. I’ll admit that it took me about 10 years to recognize the WALLY World – WALT Disney connection. Some of my family vacations have been closer to this than I care to admit.
Adventureland (2009). Hanging out at an amusement park can change your perspective on the world.
Big (1988). The amusement park scenes were filmed at tiny Rye Playland in Westchester County, New York, but the “I want to be a kid again” theme is a nice fit for a grown-up looking to reclaim some childhood with a Disney parks visit.
Beverly Hills Cop III (1994). Eddie Murphy hunts a killer in a theme park. The Sherman brothers, composers of the earworm enducing It’s a Small World theme song, actually penned the purposefully annoying attraction song in this movie.
Escape from Tomorrow (2013). An fairly creepy film most notable for being filmed almost entirely on Disney parks property without Disney’s knowledge or permission. Frequent park goers will like playing “Where was that scene shot?”.
Jurassic Park (1993). Yes, it’s a ride at Universal Studios, but there are several Disney references and an overall send-up of theme parks in general.
Music & Lyrics (2007). Hugh Grant plays and aging pop star reduced to booking gigs at theme parks. The Eat to the Beat concert series needs to book this guy.
That Thing You Do (1996). A brief scene show that boy band The Wonders know they’ve hit it big when they visit Disneyland.
Dark Ride (2006). Horror is not my genre, but if you want to watch folks get terrorized in an amusement park environment, feel free to partake.
Marvin’s Room (1996). Notable for scenes filmed at Walt Disney World with Disney’s permission.
MUSIC PLAYLISTS
With all the wonderful Disney music out there, it’s completely legit for an adult to load up his iPod with animated film soundtracks and Alan Menken scores. If you want to spend your flight to Orlando blasting an endless loop of Let It Go through your noise-canceling headphones, then I’ve got your back. But if you want an added degree of difficulty, try constructing some “Get Psyched for Disney” playlists which don’t include any actual Disney music.
Some topics you might want to include are:
Being on vacation. For example, The Go-Go’s Vacation or Vacation by New Numbers.
Hot weather and sun (especially if you’re escaping Northern climes during the winter). For example, Buster Poindexter’s Hot, Hot, Hot, Sunshine Day by the Brady Bunch, Too Darn Hot from Kiss Me Kate, or Katrina and the Waves’ ubiquitous Walking on Sunshine.
Family togetherness (good and bad aspects). For example, Sister Sledge’s We Are Family, REM’s Shiny Happy People, or Kids from the Bye Bye Birdie soundtrack.
Princesses or other characters. For example, Daughtrey’s Cinderella, Call Me a Princess by Kerry Butler, Toni Basil’s Mickey, or David Byrne’s Pirates.
Fairytales in general. For example, Taylor Swift’s Today was a Fairytale, Fairytale from Sara Bareilles, or Happily Ever After from the Once Upon a Mattress soundtrack.
Florida and/or California. For example, Two by Two from the Book of Mormon soundtrack, California Dreamin’ by the Mamas and the Papas, or Anaheim from They Might Be Giants.
Rides or types of rides. For example, 50 Cent’s Amusement Park, Circle Game from Joni Mitchell, or Love Rollercoaster from Ohio Players.
Fun vacation food. For example, Buttered Popcorn by Diana Ross or Vanilla Ice Cream from the She Loves Me soundtrack.
Walking, waiting, and other procedural matters. For example, Tom Petty’s The Waiting, Ticket to Ride from the Beatles, or Walking Man by James Taylor.
Disney parks. For example, Disney Girls from the Beach Boys, Disneyland by Five for Fighting, or a new one from Disney Hipster Andrew – Let’s Move to Disney World.
Here’s one of my Get Psyched for Disney playlists. I’m a theater geek, so this is a fairly soundtrack-centric old lady list, but based on your preferences, you could certainly construct your own pop, rock, rap, or other flavored Disney prep playlist.
DOCUMENTARY FILM
Sometimes the best way to get enthusiastic about a topic is through study. Here are some Disney-related documentaries that will get you excited for a Disney visit through learning.
Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009). A behind-the-scenes look at early Disney film animation.
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story (2009). A biography of Disney composers Robert and Richard Sherman. (You saw them fictionalized in Saving Mr. Banks.)
Walt & El Grupo (2008). This is what happened when the U.S. government asked Walt Disney to be a cultural ambassador to South America.
The Hand Behind the Mouse (1999). The life of Disney animator Ub Iwerks.
The Pixar Story (2007). A look at the early years of Pixar Animation.
Frank and Ollie (1995). A biography of Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston.
READING MATERIAL
You can’t go wrong with an Unofficial Guide as your flight time distraction, but you may also want to consider works outside the travel guide genre as a Kindle companion. Perhaps:
Life, Animated by Ron Suskind. Teaching an autistic child through Disney movies.
The Kingdom Keepers series by Ridley Pearson. Fun for both adult and young adult audiences. Sorta sci-fi set in the Disney parks.
Walt Disney by Neal Gabler. Learn about the man behind the empire.
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow. A different sci-fi version of life at a Disney park.
Dream Factory by Brad Barkley and Heather Hapler. Young adult romance set at Disney World.
The Dark Side of Disney by Leonard Kinsey. Read about stuff that will get you kicked out of the parks.
Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace. Inspiration from the co-founder of Pixar.
So fellow amusement aficionados, what do you listen to, read, or watch to get you pumped up for your Disney vacation? Am I missing your favorite pre-Disney jam? Let us know in the comments below.
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June 30, 2014
Disney World Crowd Report – June 22 to 28, 2014
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Most school districts have completed the 2013-2014 school year now although crowds are still trending slightly lower than history would suggest. We saw few instances with wait times higher than predicted. Star Tours and other Studios attractions continue to operate with lower demand than usual.
Let’s look at the Disney World Crowd Report to see how the crowd levels stacked up each day last week:
Walt Disney World Resort Crowd Levels – Daily Breakdown
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
7
6
The lucky number on Sunday was ‘6’, with all parks hitting a level ‘6’ except for The Studios. Star Tours was the big surprise on Sunday with an average wait time of 16 minutes (predicted 26). A 16 minute average posted time at Star Tours represents a ‘1’ on our scale. Star Tours continues to operate at a capacity higher than its demand.
Epcot
5
6
Hollywood Studios
6
4
Animal Kingdom
7
6
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
7
7
Monday’s crowds were lower than expected except for Magic Kingdom. Our estimates at Magic Kingdom continue to perform very well with no predictions missing by more than two index levels (only Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Peter Pan’s Flight missed by two). Although Animal Kingdom was not as bad as predicted it was still the busiest park.
Epcot
6
5
Hollywood Studios
7
5
Animal Kingdom
9
7
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
8
7
Crowds went up a notch as predicted on Tuesday. Epcot was the most crowded with Test Track reaching an average posted time of 103 minutes. Perhaps even more telling is Spaceship Earth’s average posted time of 31 minutes, a definite ’10’ out of ’10’ for that attraction.
Epcot
9
9
Hollywood Studios
8
5
Animal Kingdom
9
8
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
7
7
We correctly predicted another crowd level ‘9’ on Wednesday, this time at Animal Kingdom. Kali River Rapids had an average posted time of 65 minutes, a ’10’ on its scale while Expedition Everest stayed about average at 33 minutes. Dinosaur was very busy at a 41-minute average posted time. Star Tours continues to underwhelm with an average wait of 20 minutes, the lowest of the headliners by 40 minutes.
Epcot
6
7
Hollywood Studios
8
6
Animal Kingdom
9
9
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
7
7
Slightly smaller crowds on Thursday although no park dipped below the average, ’5’. Pirates of the Caribbean reached an average posted wait of 34 minutes which is as crowded as it gets for that attraction while most other Magic Kingdom attractions stayed closer to the park wide level, ‘6’.
Epcot
7
5
Hollywood Studios
7
6
Animal Kingdom
8
7
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
7
6
Toy Story Mania (81 minutes, predicted 106) and Tower of Terror (50 minutes, predicted 79) put The Studios crowd level two lower than expected although our estimates for Great Movie Ride and Star Tours were within one minute of their predicted average. Animal Kingdom wasn’t so bad either where the highest average wait was 54 minutes at Kali River Rapids.
Epcot
7
7
Hollywood Studios
7
5
Animal Kingdom
8
6
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
5
6
Lower crowds than expected at every park except Magic Kingdom. The first time of the week we missed a crowd level by 3 index points (Studios and Animal Kingdom). Epcot’s numbers were only slightly lower than predicted with only Soarin’ and Test Track missing by more than 20 minutes.
Epcot
5
4
Hollywood Studios
7
4
Animal Kingdom
8
5
What to Expect This Week
June 29 to July 5, 2014
Disney World Crowd Calendar
School is out and summer crowds begin! July 4th is one of the busiest days at Walt Disney World, chances are good that Magic Kingdom will reach capacity at some part of the day. Although still very crowded, The Studios is a great choice for July 4th festivities if you are looking to minimize crowds.
To see Walt Disney World Crowd predictions for the days of your vacation, check the Crowd Calendar.
To get details about our predictions of future crowds or details about crowds in the past check out the Crowd Calendar and select “Jump to Date” on the left margin.
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Disney World Crowd Report – June 22 to 28, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley REVIEW and Touring Tips
Diagon Alley lies waiting just behind this London facade. Are you prepared to face it? (Photos by Seth Kubersky)
As PotterWatch wraps up with the approach of Diagon Alley’s July 8 official opening date, I’m proud to present Touring Plans’ first in-depth reviews of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions. During the recent VIP preview week, I spent nearly 12 hours exploring the expansion at Universal Studios Florida and was the only member of the media to successfully ride the Gringotts attraction three times. I’ve distilled that first-hand experience into the following Diagon Alley review and touring strategy, which will appear in edited form in the 2015 edition of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, as well as other affiliated titles.
Bear in mind, the following opinions and information are based on a preview of the attraction and are subject to change once the area is open to the public. BEWARE: Minor spoilers ahead.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley Review
Guests approach the Wizarding World’s London Waterfront from either the San Francisco or World Expo areas of Universal Studios, at the opposite end of the park from the front entrance. Wrought iron fencing surround the park-like promenade (complete with snack and souvenir stands, and a towering statue-topped fountain) with a shoreline sidewalk along the embankment bypassing the area. Guests access London through the gateway closest to the Fear Factor Live stadium, and exit towards Disaster!
Having arrived at the London area, take a moment to spot Kreacher (the house elf regularly peers from a second-story window above 12 Grimmauld Place), and chat with the Knight Bus conductor and his Caribbean-accented shrunken head. Then enter Diagon Alley next to the Leicester Square marquee in the approximate center of the building facades. As in the books and films, the unmarked portal is concealed within a magical brick wall (which unfortunately does not actually move, due to safety concerns) that is ordinarily reserved for wizards and the like. However, the endless queue of Muggles (plain old humans) in shorts and flip- flops will leave little doubt where that entryway is.
[For some Easter eggs from the attraction designers -- including the first of several tributes to Jaws, the original occupant of this area -- inspect the record albums in the music store window.]
Once admitted, look down the alley to the rounded facade of Gringotts Wizarding Bank, where a forty-foot fire-breathing Ukranian Ironbelly dragon (as seen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) perches atop the dome. To your left is the Leaky Cauldron, the area’s flagship restaurant, serving authentically hearty British pub fare like bangers and mash, cottage pie, toad in the hole, Guinness stew, and a ploughman’s platter for two of scotch eggs and imported cheeses. Meals are ordered and drinks received at a counter; then you are seated with a candle which helps servers deliver food direct to your table. You can top off your meal with potted chocolate and sticky toffee pudding for dessert, or step around the corner to Florean Fortescue’s for Butterbeer soft-serve (the newest variation of the cult-favorite beverage) or unusual hard-pack flavors like clotted cream, Earl Grey & lavender, and chocolate chili. If all that eating makes you thirsty, a variety of new novelty drinks are poured at The Hopping Pot and Fountain of Fair Fortune, both alcoholic — Wizard’s Brew (a heavy porter) and Dragon Scale (a hoppy amber), both $8.50 — and virgin ($4-$5), like Fishy Green Ale (mint boba tea with balls of blueberry juice) and Gillywater, which can be spiked with four different flavored elixirs, alongside ever-popular Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice.
Shopping is a major component of Diagon Alley in Potter lore; while Hogsmeade visitors went wild for the few wizardy shops there, Diagon Alley is the planet’s wackiest mall, with vastly expanded array of enchanted tchotchkes to declare bankruptcy over. Shops include Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, a joke shop with many of the toys previously found in Hogsmeade’s Zonko’s, plus new gags like Skiving Snackboxes and Decoy Detonators; look up through the three-story store’s “glass” ceiling for fireworks. Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, which sits at the exit of Gringotts, sells crystal balls, compasses, and hourglasses. Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions stocks school uniforms, Scottish knitted wool sweaters, and dress robes for wizards and witches. Adopt a plush cat, rat, owl, or hippogriff from the Magical Menagerie, greeting the animated animals in its windows. Shutterbutton’s will film your family in front of a green screen and insert your into a DVD of Potter scenes (about $70); Quality Quidditch Supplies sells golden snitches and jerseys for your favorite teams; and Scribbulus carries quills, notebooks, and similar school supplies. You can pay for all this loot in Gringotts bank notes, which you can purchase inside a money exchange overseen by an imperious interactive animatronic goblin, and then spend anywhere within the Universal resort (think Disney Dollars). In general, Diagon Alley’s stores are larger and more plentiful than the tiny shops over in Hogsmeade, with carefully-planned external and internal queues to corral waiting customers, but don’t expect Walmart.
To the right of Gringotts is Carkitt Market, a canopy-covered plaza where short live shows are staged every half hour or so. Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees (4 stars) showcases the “singing sorceress” swinging to jazzy tunes titled and inspired by J.K. Rowling herself, and Tales of Beedle the Bard (3 1/2 stars) recounts the “Three Brothers” fable from Deathly Hallows with puppets crafted by Michael Curry (Lion King, Finding Nemo The Musical).
Intersecting Diagon Alley near the Leaky Cauldron is Knockturn Alley, a labyrinth of twisting passageways where the Harry Potter bad guys hang out. A covered walk-through area with a projected “sky” creating perpetual night, it features spooky special effects in the faux shop windows (don’t miss the creeping tattoos and crawling spiders), and Borgin and Burkes, which sells objects from the dark side of magic to discover — just watch out for the mummified hand!
“Discover” is an important word in Diagon Alley, because this overwhelmingly intricate area actually feels like a place you can explore and get “lost” in, much like Epcot’s Morocco pavilion or Disneyland’s New Orleans Square. It can’t be overstated how seamlessly Diagon’s designers have rendered the illusion of a living word, topping even Disney California Adventure’s Cars Land. Immersion is an often-overworked buzzword in themed entertainment, but the new Wizarding World exemplifies it, enveloping fans in Potter’s world to a degree that far exceeds Hogsmeade’s high standards. And even if you aren’t a follower of the franchise, you may find yourself falling for the fictional universal after experiencing Universal’s incarnation.
Diagon Alley in all its nighttime splendor.
Diagon Alley Touring Tips
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter–Diagon Alley is the queen of the hop in the theme park world in 2014 and beyond. Because of the crowds, experiencing Diagon Alley without interminable waits is a challenge—if you visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter–Hogsmeade during its first three years at IOA, you know of which we speak. Hogsmeade opened with three rides and Ollivanders; now it has four rides plus the wand shop. Diagon Alley has another upsized Ollivanders and only two rides, one of which, Hogwarts Express, it shares with Hogsmeade in IOA. Because only half of each day’s total train passengers can board at the Studios station, Diagon Alley in essence has only one-and-a-half rides, plus Ollivanders and the various shops, to entertain the expected masses.
In other words, it’s crazy, y’all.
Once again, Universal resort guests are admitted an hour before the general public; which hotels are eligible on each day is up to Universal’s determination. Early entry is a tremendous perk if you’re staying on-property, but you’ll still be competing with thousands of other resort guests, so arrive at least 40 minutes before early entry starts. If you’re a day guest, Diagon Alley will already be packed when you arrive.
As at IOA, Universal has multiple operational options for allowing guests into USF’s Wizarding World. On low attendance days, you may be able to stroll in and out of Diagon Alley without restriction; expect days like this to be vanishingly rare for at least the next year. On most days for the foreseeable future, barricades will limit access to the London waterfront all day, and timed-entry return tickets specifying when you can visit will be distributed from touchscreen kiosks located between Men In Black and Fear Factor Live. Guests are given a selection of one-hour return windows, assuming any are still available. Once your time comes, report to the gates at the end of London near Fear Factor Live. On the busiest days, a return ticket may be required not only to enter Diagon Alley, but also the Hogwarts Express, and if you leave the London area you’ll need a new ticket to reenter. At any time, you may experience an additional wait after being admitted to the London plaza before being permitted to pass through the portal into Diagon Alley.
The earlier in the day you obtain your ticket, the sooner you’ll be admitted to Diagon Alley. It remains imperative, therefore, that you arrive at the Studios’ turnstiles 35–45 minutes before opening. Circling the lagoon clockwise to the waterfront is the shortest route to the Hogwarts Express, but it’s also the route that about 70% of guests take. Hustling to the waterfront counterclockwise through the Simpsons area is the most direct path to the ticket kiosks.
On the upside, the rush to Diagon Alley diminishes crowds and waits at other attractions. The downside to that upside: Those who can’t enter Diagon Alley right away spread to nearby attractions, particularly Disaster!, Men in Black Alien Attack, and to a lesser extent The Simpsons Ride and Revenge of the Mummy. Diagon Alley spillover affects wait times at these attractions all day, so experience them as early as possible.
In addition to guests flocking to Diagon Alley from the Studios entrance, about 168 passengers arrive from IOA’s Hogsmeade Village station every 7–8 minutes on the Hogwarts Express—making it an even tougher ticket than Gringotts. Heading first to The Wizarding World–Hogsmeade at IOA and lining up for the Express may be the best way to experience both the train plus Gringotts in the least amount of time. Hogsmeade won’t be hit with a morning inundation comparable to that of the Studios, and the queue there isn’t slowed by a Platform 9¾ effect, so waits for the train from there should be less onerous. You’ll want to grab a Diagon Alley return ticket from the opposite end of the area immediately upon arrival. If you are among the first on the train in the morning, you shouldn’t be too far behind the first wave of guests who entered USF directly.
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