Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Harry Potter world

88 replies

fenulla · 06/12/2021 14:16

I want to take my children to HP world but there are no available dates before February 22
AIBU to think I might be able to find a way to score some tickets for dates between 23-31 December?

OP posts:
amusedbush · 06/12/2021 23:16

Keep checking a few times a day because they sometimes become available. We were down in London for my 28th birthday in 2018 and DH managed to snag two tickets for the next day - he booked them while waiting for me outside a public toilet Grin

It was absolutely brilliant. I'm a lifelong Potter obsessive but even DH, who isn't particularly bothered and hasn't read the books - enjoyed it. We both had a great time.

Cakepig · 06/12/2021 23:28

If you wake up in the night, check then. Keep checking, tickets are returned and come back online. I've bought some last minute at 3am before! Good luck

kolo · 07/12/2021 00:20

We've just been to Hogwarts in the snow - it's lovey and festive!

My tips for visiting would be:
Allow yourself plenty of time. Think the website suggests 3 hours, we take all day! There's so much to see!
Lots of people dress up. I've never seen so many people dressed up at art week - maybe a Christmas thing? But whole families were dressed in theme. Lots of little Harrys and hermionies running round normally, but we saw plenty of adults dressed up too.
The food outlets are expensive and not exactly extensive. The only hot food in the main 'backlot' cafe is burgers/hotdogs (about £10 per adult meal). There's also a few sandwiches. So you might want to take your own food, which is fine to do, there's plenty of space to eat a packed lunch.
The set up is one way, a bit like ikea. There's one path round the studios. They say the backlot cafe is about half way round, but I tend to think it's more like 3/4. Although there's a few more attractions after the backlot cafe now, with gringots bank. But think about taking drinks and snacks for the bit before the cafe, because the last thing you want is to have to miss loads of stuff because the kids are hangry.
You can buy souvenirs from the gift shop for £££££££££ or just whizz your kids through without looking (though there are some really nice things in the shop). Or, get some more value for money souvenirs before going to studios (everywhere does Harry Potter paraphernalia these days) and whip it out of your bag for the kids instead of doing the gift shop.
The staff are HP experts, so ask them anything, or just ask them to tell you a secret.
You don't have to be a massive HP fan to really enjoy the tour. It's really well done, plenty to do, interactive stuff. And the sets are just lovely to look at/walk through. It's incredible to walk through diagon alley.

Anordinarymum · 07/12/2021 00:31

@NellePorter

If you're in the North of England, try the Forbidden Forest experience, my DC said it was better than the studio tour.
Can I ask what was good about it and where it is please?
AmyandPhilipfan · 07/12/2021 02:33

I couldn’t get any in the summer but then I woke up early one day, decided to check again and there were some available for that day so I booked up straightaway. I think returned/cancelled tickets get put back on the system at 7 or 8am kind of time.

Doyourememberthetime · 07/12/2021 03:08

We’re going this Friday and we only booked last Friday! I think they release tickets bit by bit and not all at once. The availability kept changing when we were refreshing, even showing different times of the day. Was quite surprised to get tickets. I’ve been 3 years ago and the whole of December was fully booked so we went in January.

ExcaliburBaby · 07/12/2021 06:57

Another vote here for the Forbidden Forest Experience! It’s at Arley Hall in Cheshire and is a sort of special effects light trail with music etc. All official Warner Brothers licensed etc. There’s a food and drink village at the end where you can have Butterbeer/toast marshmallows etc and a big shop. It’s amazing!!

ChessieFL · 07/12/2021 07:02

Do you mean the Harry Potter Studios in Watford or do you mean Harry Potter World in Orlando? Most pps are assuming you mean the studios but if you do mean the one in Orlando the answers may be very different!

Original poster
fenulla · 07/12/2021 07:12

Mumsnetters are the best
The perfect date became available
Thank you so much 💖

OP posts:
Original poster
fenulla · 07/12/2021 07:16

Now all I have to do is prevent DH from blabbing to the Dcs

OP posts:
Ubiquery · 07/12/2021 07:16

Do you mean the Harry Potter Studios in Watford or do you mean Harry Potter World in Orlando?

Brilliant!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 07/12/2021 07:17

Have you tried Last Minute.com?
We’ve found “sold out” tickets for attractions on there in the past.

RampantIvy · 07/12/2021 07:22

Brilliant update. Avoid the butterbeer. It's vile.

Original poster
fenulla · 07/12/2021 07:22

@RampantIvy

Brilliant update. Avoid the butterbeer. It's vile.
Ha ha I'm actually so disappointed with that
OP posts:
BarkminsterBlue · 07/12/2021 07:24

The butterbeer is truly foul.

girlmom21 · 07/12/2021 07:25

The butterbeer is horrible but I feel like you have to try it anyway. It's part of the experience Grin

Original poster
fenulla · 07/12/2021 07:32

@girlmom21

The butterbeer is horrible but I feel like you have to try it anyway. It's part of the experience Grin
😆 What does it taste like?
OP posts:
girlmom21 · 07/12/2021 07:33

Tonic water mixed with watered down orangeade was my takeaway 😂

willithappen · 07/12/2021 07:33

Harry Potter 'world' is in Orlando
Harry Potter studio tour is in Watford

Which one do you mean?

scrumpledtitskin · 07/12/2021 07:36

For those of you who have been before, we're going on this weekend and our slot is at 4. I've been worrying that we'll have to rush through it? Is it like ikea, in that you go round one way, or can we freestyle?
I've been waking in the night stressing about it!
It's not helped by having one child who struggles to stay awake past 7pm... 🤦‍♀️

girlmom21 · 07/12/2021 07:36

@willithappen

Harry Potter 'world' is in Orlando Harry Potter studio tour is in Watford

Which one do you mean?

She's got tickets. Everyone knows which one she meant. Stop trying to be difficult and read the updates.
bumble2012 · 07/12/2021 07:37

We managed to get last minute tickets over half term. As did another family we told this tip to. They seemed to release them around lunchtime for the day or two after. You need to keep refreshing and checking the website but you may get lucky!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 07/12/2021 07:37

I liked the butterbeer, but not the ice cream. I realise I am in the minority.

willithappen · 07/12/2021 07:37

@scrumpledtitskin

For those of you who have been before, we're going on this weekend and our slot is at 4. I've been worrying that we'll have to rush through it? Is it like ikea, in that you go round one way, or can we freestyle? I've been waking in the night stressing about it! It's not helped by having one child who struggles to stay awake past 7pm... 🤦‍♀️
I'm going to assume you mean the studio tour with my answer (really wish we'd get some clarity on which one we are talking about here haha)

It's technically a one way system you follow round, but you can dawdle as much as you want, step back if you want, sit down to eat etc etc
It can take as quick or as long as you'd like

RampantIvy · 07/12/2021 07:38

Butterbeer is very sickly and horribly sweet. It tastes a cross between cream soda and butterscotch. The first mouthful is OK subsequent mouthfuls become more and more sickly. There is a wet waste barrel next to the stall selling it - for good reason Grin