Just returned from the opening day of Diagon Alley - Here are some of my quick thoughts:

- While there were a lot of people there, the crowds were nowhere NEAR what I was expecting.

- I wasn't actually expecting to even get into the area today, nor get on the ride, and I did both with minimal wait, especially for an opening day of such an insanely hyped up attraction.

- I'm not a Potter person, and while much of the 'story' of the ride was lost on me, I actually liked it, much better than Forbidden Journey.

- Gringotts is BARELY a roller coaster. It has a small coaster section, about the size of half of Hollywood's Mummy or maybe ... *maybe* as long as the coaster section of Journey to Atlantis (Orlando version.)

- The ride is mostly a Spider-Man/Indy type of dark ride with 3-D media, physical sets, and motion vehicle movements. If you're expecting a roller coaster like 'Mummy', that's not what this is. Not at all.

- We ended up getting to the park at 7:15 in the morning, was let into Diagon Alley at 8:20, got in the single rider line for Gringotts at 8:55, and was done by 11:00am. I feel that's not bad at all for opening day!

- From what we could tell it looked like they were running the ride at half capacity. They were only using one loading station and four ride vehicles. It also broke down (we think) five times during our two hour wait for probably an average of about 10 minutes. The single rider line actually was moving pretty quickly when the ride was working!

Here are some photos and video clips from our morning...

We arrived at 7:15am....

Current crowd status entering at Universal Studios Orlando Citywalk ... NONE!

Wow! Pathways leading up to at Universal Studios Orlando are empty! Was not expecting this!

Special at Universal Studios Orlando park map for the opening of Diagon Alley.

No line at the turnstiles right now! (Thanks to Attractions Magazine for this photo!

Last chance to get your Coca-Cola products before entering the Coke-less world of Harry Potter!

Current crowd to get into Diagon Alley only back to old Amity restrooms. Not bad at all! Was expecting much worse!

I see ClubTPR members in line for Diagon Alley! REPRESENT!

2nd group walking into Diagon Alley now - 20 min after official opening.

Letting crowd in through one of the exits to avoid crowd control issues.

Here is the actual entrance. I think if all the people try to pour through this at one time it might have been trouble!

Lots of people inside Diagon Alley - Crowd not moving anywhere, though.

C'mon Dragon... You know you want some!!!

Gringotts is open but line is sort of chaotic. No clue if we are waiting for the ride or not!

Current wait 150 minutes. Mixed signals if single rider is open or not. No one seems to really know!

"I breathe fire on you because that's what I do!"

Currently waiting in a mass of people in line for Gringotts. Lots of line jumping. Very unorganized.

Quick selfie with Michael Aiello and Patrick! Congrats on Diagon Alley guys!

Temporary queue area now being set up for Gringotts. Park is starting to get the line under control now.

Line for Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts now up to 300 minutes. Single Rider line OPEN!

We've moved pretty far in the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts single rider line in only 15 minutes!

Click here for Page 2 of Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley Opening Day Photos

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley Opening Day - Page 1 2 3

Click HERE to return to Theme Park Review