2017 Holiday Events Start 11/18 This Year

They're not doing that anymore, apparently guests would not take directions and would put more strain on cast working the balloons

Thanks for the update on this as we were going to try and participate during our trip.
I'm totally not surprised by the reason.
 
There's a good chunk of construction/backstage too that has some to do with it. Balloon handling was fairly fun if everyone is on board. If it's a windy day it can be terrifying though.
 
y a projection at 7:40pm, then around 7:55pm and the last one was done around 8:10pm no additional ones after that one, not sure if the timing will change depending on crowd levels.

They seem to be changing things up nightly to figure out how to best deal with the crowds. On Sun they ran two shows in pretty quick succession (probably 5 mins apart) and then they were spaced out the 20 mins.

Last night we were practically tackled by TMs for trying to go up the wrong side of the street to get to 3 Broomsticks. They did let us thru when we told them that but that’s different than Sun pm too.

It seems like they’re getting better at managing the crowds each night.
 


We were just down the street in front of the Palace arcade marquee and did scope a spot right on the curb 30 mins before start but the space behind us didn’t fill in until right before the parade started. We stayed sitting so behind us was a good spot. Not everyone stayed sitting though.

Edited to add that we could not see Santa lighting the tree from there. If that is important to you, you’ll need to be closer to the tree. We did have the confetti and snow blown down on us though.

Thanks.

Santa lighting the tree would be cool, but it's not important enough to wait an hour for or jostle with an unruly mob. We're not really parade people, but if there's a spot where we can walk up just as its starting we would watch.
 
They seem to be changing things up nightly to figure out how to best deal with the crowds. On Sun they ran two shows in pretty quick succession (probably 5 mins apart) and then they were spaced out the 20 mins.

Last night we were practically tackled by TMs for trying to go up the wrong side of the street to get to 3 Broomsticks. They did let us thru when we told them that but that’s different than Sun pm too.

It seems like they’re getting better at managing the crowds each night.

I was hoping with the show playing over and over all night there wouldn't be mobs of people like that. I'm sure that's what Universal was hoping to when they designed a show like this as opposed to one big show like HEA.

We're going at a low crowd time so hoping if we wander in there towards the end of the night it won't be too bad. Probably Thanksgiving crowds making it worse this week too.
 
They're not doing that anymore, apparently guests would not take directions and would put more strain on cast working the balloons

Thank you very much for the update...you just saved us time searching for the signup area that day. I certainly understand the reasoning, but sooo disappointed. We were really looking fwd to trying this. :sad1:
 


They're not doing that anymore, apparently guests would not take directions and would put more strain on cast working the balloons

My daughter loved this experience when she did it a few years back. Pity that (as always) a few noncomplying guests spoiled it for everyone. People like my daughter, who know how to listen and take directions, are the ones who ultimately pay the price for the fools who take nothing seriously and risk the safety of all involved *sigh*
 
My daughter loved this experience when she did it a few years back. Pity that (as always) a few noncomplying guests spoiled it for everyone. People like my daughter, who know how to listen and take directions, are the ones who ultimately pay the price for the fools who take nothing seriously and risk the safety of all involved *sigh*

So true...we listen so carefully, respect and follow every rule or procedure in a situation like this and would be so thankful just to have the opportunity, we wouldn't want to risk messing up. It makes me so mad that those fools ruined it for everyone.

I wish rather than canceling altogether, management had come up with a less-critical role some guests could still enjoy - like maybe a chance to enter to win a spot to ride in the parade...create a float or two that could house 50-75 guests...where they could smile and wave, being part of the fun.
 
I'm looking for some opinions. My family is heading to Orlando for a quick trip to check out the Christmas offerings at WDW and I'm thinking of trying to slip over and check out the Harry Potter stuff. My oldest son and wife are huge HP fans, but we'd only have about 3 hours on Friday, 12/8, to do this. We've never been to Universal at all and will be going next June, so this would only be to experience the holiday offerings. What do you think? Thanks!
 
I'm looking for some opinions. My family is heading to Orlando for a quick trip to check out the Christmas offerings at WDW and I'm thinking of trying to slip over and check out the Harry Potter stuff. My oldest son and wife are huge HP fans, but we'd only have about 3 hours on Friday, 12/8, to do this. We've never been to Universal at all and will be going next June, so this would only be to experience the holiday offerings. What do you think? Thanks!

If the 3 hours include time after dark (6 ish) you could see the castle projections which are beautiful. The Frog Choir does a Christmas show with Christmas songs which is very good but wouldn’t be enough for me to justify going. There are wreaths up but the Christmas decorations are pretty subtle IMO so I also wouldn’t go just for those. Very nice just not something I would go out of my way for.

One day park to park tickets are pretty expensive (although most holiday things are at Hogsmead so if you’re doing one park that would be the one to do). I wouldn’t be able to justify it for 3 hours for us but everyone has different calculus on that.
 
I'm looking for some opinions. My family is heading to Orlando for a quick trip to check out the Christmas offerings at WDW and I'm thinking of trying to slip over and check out the Harry Potter stuff. My oldest son and wife are huge HP fans, but we'd only have about 3 hours on Friday, 12/8, to do this. We've never been to Universal at all and will be going next June, so this would only be to experience the holiday offerings. What do you think? Thanks!
If you can afford it and the 3 hours are in the late evening, why not :)
 
If you can afford it and the 3 hours are in the late evening, why not :)
Sorry, I should have mentioned that this would be our reason to purchase an AP that will also cover our upcoming June trip, so ticket cost is negligible. It would be from 5pm to 8 pm, so definitely late evening. Should we stick to a single area for that short of time or is it possible to take in both Potter areas if we're not doing rides?
 
Sorry, I should have mentioned that this would be our reason to purchase an AP that will also cover our upcoming June trip, so ticket cost is negligible. It would be from 5pm to 8 pm, so definitely late evening. Should we stick to a single area for that short of time or is it possible to take in both Potter areas if we're not doing rides?

If you're not doing rides you should have no problem scoping out both areas as long as there isn't a long wait for the train to the other side.
 
Went to the castle show tonight. Saturday the 25th.
My plan and worked mostly was get to US at 430 for parade spot, then watch Mannheim at 7 then train to Hogsmeade from DA. And watch castle show at 8ish.

How it really went, got to US at 430 and got a parade spot across from Jimmy Fallon ride. Fun location. Hashtag the panda played with the crowd from the upper windows. Watched parade and tree lighting. Done at 615. They then let people sit for Mannheim. We got a good spot against the tailing so we could lean. Then panic started to set in. I was watching HE times from DA and they kept going up 10 min, 20 and then 70! Wait was everyone going to the castle show??? So I panicked and we watched about 10 minutes of Mannheim and left. My wife suggest we walk out of US and over to IoA. Good call we made there and to Hogsmeade in about 10 minutes.
I knew from reading here that the line would be massive but just wait and we would get through. But many people didn't and kept pushing and shoving. They also kept walking to the left into the exiting crowd. We only had to wait one show and we were in. We stood near the bridge in front of the Butterbeer Cart. Great view. Very short show only 6 minutes. It was cool but a lot of effort and anxiety for it.
However the hot butterbeer is hands down the best ever!!!better than the original!

At the end of the day o felt bad that I didn't stay for Mannheim or I probably shouldn't have tried to do it all. Oh well.
We did a lot for one day and headed out. I was stopped on the way out by a survey taker and I told him that they need some better crowd control at Hogsmeade and someone with a microphone at least to tell people how the cattle hearding process works.
 
Just letting y'all know that I think we hit the sweet spot with lower crowds during the castle show tonight. We had tried a week ago and crowds were horrible so we left, knowing we had more times to try. Granted, that was the Sunday before thanksgiving week, but it was still far worse than I expected. This time, again on a Sunday, we decided to shoot for the second show instead of the first. We had tried the first before and couldn't get close to the castle even well before the show. (We were going to have to wait more than one show to actually see it and it was not pleasant in that crowd!) This time, we figured we would shoot for just after 6:15. (We were told the first show was at 6:15 when we went the week before so figure it would be a little earlier now). We arrived to lots and lots of people coming out after their show and got great spots less than five minutes before the next show. Though it was a lower crowd day, I think it also helped that it wasn't the first show and it was a bit on the early side for all of the post-parade rush to get over there. Crowds were quite manageable and the TM's did a good job of herding people tonight.
 
Just letting y'all know that I think we hit the sweet spot with lower crowds during the castle show tonight. We had tried a week ago and crowds were horrible so we left, knowing we had more times to try. Granted, that was the Sunday before thanksgiving week, but it was still far worse than I expected. This time, again on a Sunday, we decided to shoot for the second show instead of the first. We had tried the first before and couldn't get close to the castle even well before the show. (We were going to have to wait more than one show to actually see it and it was not pleasant in that crowd!) This time, we figured we would shoot for just after 6:15. (We were told the first show was at 6:15 when we went the week before so figure it would be a little earlier now). We arrived to lots and lots of people coming out after their show and got great spots less than five minutes before the next show. Though it was a lower crowd day, I think it also helped that it wasn't the first show and it was a bit on the early side for all of the post-parade rush to get over there. Crowds were quite manageable and the TM's did a good job of herding people tonight.

I'm figuring for the week of Dec. 10th it will be like this too. If we wander in for one of the later shows I'm hoping it will be half empty. Especially Monday-Thursday that week.
 
We are staying on-site and have park to park and express passes one day monday 12/18. We have about 10 rides we would like to do but even with that I have pared it down to our MUST DOs vs wants as we have been a few times and the holiday shows are priority.
Priority rides are: Gringotts, Kong, Spider-Man, ET, Minion, Mummy, Flight of Hippo
We would like to also do Race through NY, Transformers, Hulk, Forbidden Journey But these can be cut.

I’m wondering if the following is doable.
Park hours at both 9-9 and the parade is at 8pm. Arriving to park approximately 10-10:30

Arrive to US and go to grinchmas show at 1045.
Kong, Spider-Man, hippo, Frog Choir

Hop to IOA, Celestina Warbeck Gringotts Mummy ET Minion (could save Minion for after parade)

Hop to US - **maybe 5pm? In anticipation for first castle show (6pm?)
Hogwarts Express back to US for parade.

Will have lunch and snacks packed and would like to eat at Diagonal for dinner about 4ish or if our plans are delayed maybe eat dinner after the parade.

I’d like to see a later castle show but my concern is HE line will be uamageable to get back to US for the parade. Any opinions would help tremendously.
 
If you do the later castle show, it will be quicker to walk to the other park rather than take HE

This what my friends did this week as HE would have eaten up
40 minutes of their time

It took them 10 minutes to change parks
 
If you do the later castle show, it will be quicker to walk to the other park rather than take HE

This what my friends did this week as HE would have eaten up
40 minutes of their time

It took them 10 minutes to change parks
So maybe if we were running late and got a 645 or 7 show just walk over to US and find standing room somewhere along the parade route. That’s a good contingency. We aren’t fans of sitting somewhere for an hour for a parade so don’t mind coming in last minute for one. Thanks!
 

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