Ok I got to the park yesterday at 8:30 AM, was in the park waiting for the Grinch
Still took an hour because waiting for the area to open and 30 more mins for the Grinch to show up but it went by like a snap after that. This is my first time ever meeting hr grinch and it was great would not want to wait that long again, so my advice is just show up to the Grinch area 15 mins after it opens and hope the line is short and he hasn't arrived by then
Couple of other notes
Grinch has now been moved to the other side of the plaza, so he is across the street from Mel's Dinner now
Max was not there at night time and he used to be, also max spot moved to over near where the Grinch used to meet people when you would walk in the plaza coming in from Starbucks
Cindy Lou now has a here own area to read to and meet kids, it's across from Dreamworks Theater in the Plaza.
The Court yard near Paris is back open (yayyyyy)
The Holiday Singing show in Whoville is pretty good, the songs these choose were a good selection and its a fun show
The Nighttime Grinchmas tree lighting show is similar to last year but not the same, for sure recommend it for the snow and ending lights
The Hogwarts Castle show is 1 to 1 the same, I was hoping maybe they would surprise us with Drones...no it's the same show. It's still good but the Dark Arts will just be the best show until another show gets Drones of something else that is as big of a wow factor
The Lights in most lands are the same but will say at night the place is just an attraction in itself walking around the lands, so if you do come make sure to enjoy all the lands at night because they are just so well done.
I'd say this year Universal did a great job, I would like one more show again at Grinchmas, The Potter show to add something like if not Drones for a bigger finisher and can't wait to see if they ever Dress up SNW but if your going you should have a great time by the time the lights dime because the park is just beautiful then