How did the Harry Potter evening show work for Christmas?

[slpeters]

We are looking at being at Universal this December. Universal's site talks about the Harry Potter projection show and the Christmas version of it. I read some reviews of it this last year and it seems really cool. But it also seems like for most of December the parks are only open until 7 which isn't that long after sunset--Touring Plans actually indicates that the show wouldn't be on for most of our trip because there isn't enough time between sunset and park close. Surely that's not actually how it works. Can someone tell me how it worked for Christmas this last year?

 

[PantherPete]

I saw it in late November. It gets dark around 530ish so you shouldn’t have to worry about the timing.

You enter on the Lost Continent side because they want to restrict traffic to exit only on the bridge to Jurassic Park. Depending on the crowd and the time you go to see it, it could be crazy busy and will seems like an unorganized disaster. But be patient and follow the masses. After a couple of showings, you will be close enough to get a good spot. Afterwards, ride Forbidden Journey. Very short wait - pretty much walk on. Because of the crowds, don’t expect to do much there other than ride FJ and see the show. As for the show, it is great. And I’m not much of a Harry Potter fan. You’ll really enjoy it.

 

[cschaaf]

Skip the first 2 or 3 shows of the night and go to the later ones - A. it'll be darker and B. they will be less crowded.

We were there for Christmas and went to the later showings and, while they were crowded, we never had an issue getting to stand where we wanted to stand.

Flight of the Hippogriff also had short lines since the bulk of the people are in the open areas waiting for the show.

 

[slpeters]

Thanks to both of you for your responses. I know it's kind of ridiculous that I'm even looking at TP this far out but when it kept saying the Christmas show wouldn't run because the park wasn't open late enough it sort of freaked me out. I'm looking forward to it.

 

[cschaaf]

Thanks to both of you for your responses. I know it's kind of ridiculous that I'm even looking at TP this far out but when it kept saying the Christmas show wouldn't run because the park wasn't open late enough it sort of freaked me out. I'm looking forward to it.

You're on DisBoards, we're all ridiculous.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

I glad you asked about this. We are considering a December trip and I like knowing little bits of info like this. Very helpful !!

 

[princessebird]

I saw it last December around 6:30pm. I think the show itself was enjoyable (though short), the crowd control was problematic. I kept thinking, "What would a Fire Marshal think about this??" The only entrance open is from Lost Continent. We just wanted to go on FJ, but you can't reach FJ (or FoH) without standing in the the line for the castle show. Like many things at UO, I think that more communication would have been better. TM were kind but not particularly helpful. If there were instructions on the app (such as "Enter from Lost Continent, stand to the right. The path on the left on the other side of the wall is only for the bathroom and exiting Hogsmeade" etc) we would have been better prepared for the madness. We wound up watching the castle show and then going on FJ. I wouldn't make a point of seeing it again.

 

[georgina]

I ran into that a bit in February, and it wasn't even very crowded. Had to enter through Lost Continent, but at least the other bridge from Jurassic Park to the Lost Continent was open so I didn't have to go all the way back to the entrance. I had seen the light show the evening before and just wanted to ride FJ, but had to wait until the crowd from the previous show had dispersed and they allowed us in.

 

[brave321]

We went early January. It was crowded in the Hogsmeade area where you wait until the previous show ends and then go up in front of the castle. It was a lot less crowded once you got up there (at least the one we made it to was). It was a bit disorganized, but I contribute a lot of that to the fact that Hogsmeade and the castle weren't designed for large shows like that. FJ was only supposed to have a 15 minute wait during the show we watched and it was a bit funny watching people sprint after it ended.