This post is going to be in two posts. The first is my experiences from when I first visited last year in October 2015, and the second this week (10th May 2016) - yes I did go back and it was so much better a second time!
October 2015 visit
Lee (my husband) and I decided to take my sister (Laura) on the tour for her birthday. I tried to book tickets in August for around her birthday (late September) but they only had really late tickets left for a Sunday so instead we decided to wait until October when the Christmas theme started as thought this would be pretty cool. As we needed disabled tickets we had to ring and book them. The lady was very nice and explained it all. It's just a bit of a pain, as with other places, that you have to ring up to book disabled tickets even though you don't have to show proof until you collect your tickets.
I usually use a motorised scooter for long distances and build up areas but unfortunately on the tour these aren't allowed (and probably for a very good reason if Diagon Alley is anything is to go by, which I'll get onto later), so I took my wheelchair, but they do have wheelchairs you can borrow, along with perching stools which I saw them hand to one lady.
We booked for a Saturday (as we had no holiday left from work) and made the journey by car from Essex to Watford. Getting there was quite easy and it was also really easy to park. To get your tickets you have to queue outside which isn't great in the winter (it was freezing!). Prior to our visit I had pre-booked audio guides for all three of us, butterbeer and a guidebook. When the lady gave me our tickets and vouchers for the pre-booked items she suggested not getting the book until after the tour as it was more pictures as a momento.....I kind of regretted getting it as I thought it was more of a guide book, but it was a nice keepsake for my sister.
When we got in we were told that the disabled toilet was broken at the entrance but they kindly escorted us to the staff disabled toilet (which was a bit of a way through corridors but better than nothing, I was just glad I was in a wheelchair!) We were told when we were ready to go through to go to guest services who would direct us to a side entrance to miss the zigzag queue. We went to get our audio guides but were told we were too early and as the batteries only lasted a little while we had to check with guest services (the next window) to see if we could go in and then go back to them. So we queued up, were told yes we could go in, queued again for our audio guides, then queues again for guest services! We were then advised to go and wait by a door and we were let into a holding area and told to go right by the left door so we could get a good seat and avoid the rush. A few minutes later they let in people from the main queue, showed us a short video and then let us into the cinema. I was sat in the front row which was ok but I couldn't watch most of the short film they showed as it made me get really motion sick with all the swooping, but it sounded good!
Then came the magic part where they lifted the curtain to show the doors to the great hall. You would think being in a wheelchair and at the front that I would have been able to see the door, but there was a stampeed and people stepped infront of me even though we had gone forward. We then went into the great hall and the same thing happened again! I went towards the sides to see and then people would climb across me! I did get to see things in the end (apart from the christmas puddings being lit) as we held back, but time in this room is limited so that the next group in the cinema can experience it (which I understand).
We then experienced our first issue, which was with the audio guide. This is an ipod touch but we were given no directions other than to just press the numbers when we saw a number on an exhibit but mine had a blank screen and we couldn't seem to fix it and had been told if there were any issues to ask a cast member....which is what my sister tried to do by the great hall exit but she was told to go away as the next group of people were due soon and the lady didn't even listen to her. Luckily we got it working as no one else was around.
The main area was so busy and with the wheelchair I had a lot of issues with accessing (and getting out of) the areas such as the boys bedroom and common room as the viewing areas left little room to turn around and people were so rude and not willing to move (even though it would have meant they would have got to the space I had been in). People also had a habit of climbing over my feet and then tripping on the foot rest .... I'm not that tall and people could see over me but they wanted to get in front.
The train area was much quieter. We took photos of Lee and Laura with the luggage trolley and then we had a European lady asking us to take photos of her on her phone and getting frustrated as she counted down and then jumped but her phone was delayed and she didn't get the particular photo she wanted (i.e. both legs in the air).
Laura then went on the train to have a look while Lee and I looked round the shop (the train is step access only so I missed that bit) and then we went to look at the end carriage (which was flat). They had a really cool area where you could sit in a train carriage and be filmed while a scene played on the window to make it look like you were in the film, but this didn't seem accessible for me due to steps, but it was also quite expensive so I didn't mind missing out as it would have been a bit of a waste.
I loved the next bit which showed some of the newspapers and graphic design from the film in glass cases.
Then came the best bit for my husband - the butterbeer! We had paid for 2 butterbeers as Lee and I had tried it in Universal Florida and liked it, but we weren't sure if Laura would. It was a bit annoying that we pre-ordered and only had the option of buying it in a plastic tankard (although it was pretty cool and a nice souvenir) but we could have got it cheaper in a disposable cup. The canteen area was really busy but we managed to get a table and settled down with our packed lunch and butterbeer. I'm glad we only got 2 as Laura wasn't too keen and it was so sweet that Lee ended up drinking his and half of ours. Still amazing stuff!
The canteen area has large windows which look out onto the outdoor area and as we were sitting there it started snowing! Faux snow but Lee was in his element, butterbeer and snow! It really was amazing. Once we had finished we cleaned the mugs and put them in the plastic bags I had brought in preparation!
We then went outside but it was so cold and rainy that Laura and I went round quickly and then went into the next area and to use the toilets. Lee took a few photos but didn't spend too long outside.
Now the bit I was a bit worried about. I have an irrational fear of sharks. I didn't know (and Laura didn't tell me) while watching the films about the half man-half shark which completely freaked me out (glad I watched it at home on the TV and not in the cinema) and I was aware that there was a model in the next area, but luckily it was on top of a cabinet and looking up so I was ok. The room with all the models was pretty cool but so packed that when we got home and Lee saw some of my photos he hadn't seen the life size models of the characters and asked where I'd seen them even though the room was quite small.
Now came Diagon Alley - the main reason I think scooters are banned and when I regretted drinking the butterbeer! The cobblestones are so crazy bumpy and it goes up hill. Poor Lee took over pushing me here and we had to stop a few times for him to get his energy back and for me to calm my stomach! A cast member saw me and advised me that they weren't actually real stones, just cast like it (with a little laugh), he must have seen my face! It was amazing though (the look of the alley, not the bumpy ride!)
We then joined a queue which went through a room of drawings and models which was really interesting.... and then to the Hogwarts model. Being the Christmas theme it was covered in snow and looked so pretty. There were touch screen videos round it which showed how it was used which was really good. I also loved how the lighting changed from night to day.
Then came the end of the tour and the wand room. We had a quick look at the names and it was so amazing that each one was individually made.
We then came out at the gift shop. So many lovely things but so expensive! I spotted a tea cup with cats on which was tacky but pretty cool at the same time but I forgot to buy in. I did however get a lanyard, as did Laura, and Lee got some jelly beans for his brother (I really want to try them but I hate the jelly bean texture so even nice flavours would be horrible for me lol!)
We ended our day and headed back home. It was good but the number of visitors, and their attitudes kind of ruined it for me in the wheelchair but I didn't want to put a downer on the day so decided to try and go again another time when it might be quieter. I didn't post a review on TripAdvisor as I didn't want to be really negative since it was more the visitors rather than the actual tour itself that spoilt it.
I did go onto book tickets again and I'll post my next part shortly with my May 2016 review.
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