to take a 6pm slot for harry potter world

[Sarah510]

just wondering from anyone who has been before, would this be a 'waste', trying to book a slot for my dd's birthday in September and its nearly fully booked out except for a couple of slots at 6pm. wwyd TIA

What time does it close? As long as you have a couple of hours to go round you should be okay.

My friend went on a 6pm slot and had plenty of time, left before they closed. Can't understand how people need longer.

I've been twice and spent the entire day there both times. No way I could do it all if I didn't go until 6.

How old is your daughter and how much interest do you think she'll have?
My thinning being

1. if she's usually in bed at 7.30 how much of it are you going to see before she's overtired and getting grumpy, and then it feels like a waste
2. If she's a massive film buff and is going to want to look at every prop and cos

Sorry posted too soon somehow!
Was going to say if she's a massive film buff and going to want to look at every prop and costume she will probably feel rushed going that late and disappointed she can't take everything in.

Last time we went at 3pm and I think it was probably going on 7pm when we left - but that was with looking at stuff in quite a lot of detail.

We did it last year, it was fine (Dc ranging from 13-3. Coming out late made it all the more magical!

I went to a birthday party there last year, where most of the group had a 6pm entry slot. It closed at 10pm I think, so they felt they had enough time.

I got in earlier at 4pm and arranged to meet them inside. I just had enough time to do the full tour - plus all the extras on the ipad. I would have felt rushed entering at 6pm.

I guess it depends whether they want to look at everything in detail and discuss it all, or whether they are happy to just look and not stop to read everything (I guess they would be being younger).

It also depends if they want to do any of the greenscreen activities or grab a butterbeer. There were long waits in some of the lines and I skipped them. To be honest the greenscreens were too expensive for me to justify anyway.

Also some of it is outside, so depending on the time of year some of it can be quite dark for posing for photos with the Knight Bus etc.

My friends were happy with their 6pm slot and to be honest we weren't kicked out of the shop when it reached 10pm and we were still shopping. I don't think we actually left until about 10.20pm.

Best time is late afternoon. Much more relaxed. We went in at 5.30 last time and had loads of time.

I think it closes at 10pm. Is 4 hours enough for you? It wouldn’t be for me (plus I’d start to get tired)

Seems quite late but really depends on the age of your dd. If she’s older it might be fun to make it an evening thing.

We took a few hours both times we went I think.

We went at 6pm last Christmas and it was great! Plenty of time to have a good look round and being dark outside made it seem more magical.

I'm taking my DD next weekend at 5pm, I'm hoping it will be fine!

If it closes at 10 as pps mention I think you’ll be fine time-wise. We spent about 3 hours there and that was enough for us to see/so everything we wanted to. You could have an early dinner somewhere first.

Depends on dd’s age though and how late she normally stays up - if she’s quite young will she be too tired to enjoy it by 10pm?

They don’t make you wait til 6 on the dot before they let you in - we entered an hour before our time slot (long story why) and it wasn’t an issue at all- they just checked us in as normal. So if you wanted to squeeze in a bit more time you could arrive a bit earlier.

I work there and the six slot should be ok

Tips. The shop isn't open pre tour for browsing due to covid tho if you have a long journey you can use loo. Get coffee etc. Even eat before going in.

You can get in the carpark 30 mins before your tour.

The tour currently has reduced capacity so you dont have to queue much at all meaning it is taking slightly less time to do it all.

No cloakroom facilities right now.

Make sure you have a mask.

I've know guests take 13 hours to do it all MEGA fan. But the average is 3-4 hours.

Enjoy.

However that was pre covid and maybe they are stricter now.

Please Don't get there mega early. The tour is sticking to ticket times due to covid restrictions.

Dunno... took us far longer than two hours. However, there will be limited access to the shop and facilities.
If your children love Harry Potter.. they'll love it!
Go for it... if it's not what your envisaged then go again another day.

I went in December to a slot around that time. We managed fine with time, but It was just me and my partner and I was 6 months pregnant at the time so didn’t want to be standing around a lot

I don’t know if it is still the same but when I tried to book a few years ago, I couldn’t get in as it was half term. When I rang, they said to check the website in the early hours as some tour companies release their unsold tickets back to the studio so slots become available. This might not be happening due to Covid though.

thanks everyone, she's 16 so late won't be a problem, it could be for ds though as he's 12, though he should be ok! Thanks everyone for all the tips. just have to see if we can get home that late now, we'll be on public transport. How did you all get there, thx so much

The Harry Potter bus isn't running due to covid so you will need to book a cab or order an Uber to get to train station. I hope that's helpful.

does anyone know how I can find out about the last shuttle bus from h.p. world to Watford station. presumably they will still run until it closes? trying to find that out before I book. don't think I could face driving there

ah ok thanks a mil

I was there for about 4 hours when i went, plus theres always a special exhibit (was the new aragog when i went) so much to see and read and then the giftshop and cafe for a butterbeer if they are doing them due to covid.

Took us around 3 hours