The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[WebmasterPete]

You announced Wizarding World of Harry Potter travel packages with a travel date of May 28. But today, you announced a June 18 grand opening date. What’s going on? Are the packages still good?
We are confident in our ability to provide those who have already purchased travel packages featuring entitlements in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter the experience they are looking forward to having -- with all the great benefits we have listed and we will make special arrangement to accommodate them. As always, specific operating hours and availability of attractions and shows are subject to change. The June 18 date is meant for a larger, more public, opening.

If I purchased The Wizarding World of Harry Potter package with a travel date of May 28 will I still get to experience all of the rides?
That is our intention and we will make special arrangement to accommodate them but as always, all rides and attractions are subject to availability.

Can I still purchase The Wizarding World of Harry Potter travel package with a travel date of May 28?
We are now sold out of packages with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter entitlements for arrivals prior to June 18. However, packages are still available for purchase after June 18.

If I bought a regular ticket or vacation package to Universal Orlando Resort after May 28, will I be able to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
At the moment, only people who have purchased packages from Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations or Virgin Holidays featuring the specific The Wizarding World of Harry Potter package entitlements will be accommodated.

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In short, if you didn't book the specific HP package and are arriving prior to the Grand Opening - they will not allow you access to that area of the park. Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger.

Pete

 

[damo]

They never guarantee soft openings though and never announce them. I think this is just their way of making sure that hoards of people don't show up expecting the park to be open because of the package dates. I still think there will be soft openings way before June 18. They just won't be announced or guaranteed.

 

[Rags]

One quick question. What about Dragon's Challenge (aka dueling dragons)??? I can understand all the other areas of WWoHP but I hope I can ride the coaster!

 

[damo]

One quick question. What about Dragon's Challenge (aka dueling dragons)??? I can understand all the other areas of WWoHP but I hope I can ride the coaster!

Right now there is a covered pathway through parts of Hogmeade to DD so people can ride. Nobody is sure if this is going to stay like that for a bit or be closed down after spring break.

 

[tttessa]

<snip>

If I bought a regular ticket or vacation package to Universal Orlando Resort after May 28, will I be able to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
At the moment, only people who have purchased packages from Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations or Virgin Holidays featuring the specific The Wizarding World of Harry Potter package entitlements will be accommodated.

-------------------------

In short, if you didn't book the specific HP package and are arriving prior to the Grand Opening - they will not allow you access to that area of the park. Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger.

Pete

mmmm - if they have soft openings - sorry dumb reply of mine - WHEN they have the soft openings.... it is to test out the full thing under full load with lots of us daft ordinary people who will do daft ordinary (or otherwise...) things, so I would think anyone who happened to be there then would be allowed in... they won't of course give advance notice of soft openings - or they would be mobbed.

Lets face it, any time it is open for the forseeable future - whether pre-grand-opening or post, it will be busy as heck...

Tessa

 

[shl1108]

You announced Wizarding World of Harry Potter travel packages with a travel date of May 28. But today, you announced a June 18 grand opening date. What’s going on? Are the packages still good?
We are confident in our ability to provide those who have already purchased travel packages featuring entitlements in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter the experience they are looking forward to having -- with all the great benefits we have listed and we will make special arrangement to accommodate them. As always, specific operating hours and availability of attractions and shows are subject to change. The June 18 date is meant for a larger, more public, opening.

If I purchased The Wizarding World of Harry Potter package with a travel date of May 28 will I still get to experience all of the rides?
That is our intention and we will make special arrangement to accommodate them but as always, all rides and attractions are subject to availability.

Can I still purchase The Wizarding World of Harry Potter travel package with a travel date of May 28?
We are now sold out of packages with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter entitlements for arrivals prior to June 18. However, packages are still available for purchase after June 18.

If I bought a regular ticket or vacation package to Universal Orlando Resort after May 28, will I be able to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
At the moment, only people who have purchased packages from Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations or Virgin Holidays featuring the specific The Wizarding World of Harry Potter package entitlements will be accommodated.

-------------------------

In short, if you didn't book the specific HP package and are arriving prior to the Grand Opening - they will not allow you access to that area of the park. Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger.

Pete

Pete,
when I talked to a rep yesterday, they stated that also included would be people who had booked onsite hotel prior to yesterday for the dates of 5/28-6/17.
I don't see any of that mentioned in your email above.

 

[Preds]

I was also told by a rep last night that onsite guest booked prior to yeserday would have access to the WWoHP. And I specifically asked if that included onsite gues who purchased hotel only and was told yes, as a hotel only onsite gues I will have access to WWoHP for our May 28-31 stay.

If this turns out to be untrue, I'm going to be royally pissed at Universal.

 

[Lucky4me]

This sounds like crowd control more than anything else at this point.
I predict riots.

 

[lildamo]

This sounds like crowd control more than anything else at this point.
I predict riots.

I think the issue is that they're anticipating having everything pretty much fully open and operational before May 28th, but don't want to make any promises to anybody unless they absolutely have to to a) not have a huge influx of bookings prior to June 18th and b) cover themselves if it's *not* fully operational by then. Soft openings will more than likely occur considerably earlier than the May 28th date, but for Universal to set a date sets them up for a lot of angry people if they can't follow through on it. Promising access to a much smaller number of people (package holders) isn't as big of a commitment for them, and then they can play the rest by ear.

I really wouldn't be worried about not being able to access anything yet, there are still two months until May 28th and if the past few weeks have been any indication of how fast they can work, a LOT can be done between now and then (and it doesn't look like there's a lot left to do!).

 

[Lucky4me]

Just imagine a million Vernon and Petunia Dursleys with their Dudleys in tow, all trying to get to The Forbidden Journey ride at the same time. Riots I say....

 

[GenieCat]

http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12181441

This apparently happened last weekend. Glad to hear everyone is OK.

 

[shl1108]

You announced Wizarding World of Harry Potter travel packages with a travel date of May 28. But today, you announced a June 18 grand opening date. What’s going on? Are the packages still good?
We are confident in our ability to provide those who have already purchased travel packages featuring entitlements in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter the experience they are looking forward to having -- with all the great benefits we have listed and we will make special arrangement to accommodate them. As always, specific operating hours and availability of attractions and shows are subject to change. The June 18 date is meant for a larger, more public, opening.

If I purchased The Wizarding World of Harry Potter package with a travel date of May 28 will I still get to experience all of the rides?
That is our intention and we will make special arrangement to accommodate them but as always, all rides and attractions are subject to availability.

Can I still purchase The Wizarding World of Harry Potter travel package with a travel date of May 28?
We are now sold out of packages with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter entitlements for arrivals prior to June 18. However, packages are still available for purchase after June 18.

If I bought a regular ticket or vacation package to Universal Orlando Resort after May 28, will I be able to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
At the moment, only people who have purchased packages from Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations or Virgin Holidays featuring the specific The Wizarding World of Harry Potter package entitlements will be accommodated.

-------------------------

In short, if you didn't book the specific HP package and are arriving prior to the Grand Opening - they will not allow you access to that area of the park. Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger.

Pete

I received a confirmation email that yes
from May 28 to June 17, our plan is to offer a
preview of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to those guests who have
already booked an on-site hotel roomYAHOOOO!!!!

 

[mcbailey]

I received a confirmation email that yes
"Please know that from May 28 to June 17, our plan is to offer a
preview of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to those guests who have
already booked an on-site hotel room. Since you have already booked, you
will be able to participate in this preview."

YAHOOOO!!!!
I am bringing that email with me to the gates!

Who-hooooo!!!

I didn't get that e-mail, but I'm psyched if it is true....

 

[Rags]

I received a confirmation email that yes
"Please know that from May 28 to June 17, our plan is to offer a
preview of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to those guests who have
already booked an on-site hotel room. Since you have already booked, you
will be able to participate in this preview."

YAHOOOO!!!!
I am bringing that email with me to the gates!

Congrats!! How long did it take you to get a response back?
I emailed Universal Guest Services this evening.

 

[shl1108]

Congrats!! How long did it take you to get a response back?
I emailed Universal Guest Services this evening.

Just about 24 hrs

 

[Rags]

Just about 24 hrs

Thanks and have a wonderful trip!!!!!!

 

[LJF]

I received a confirmation email that yes
"Please know that from May 28 to June 17, our plan is to offer a
preview of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to those guests who have
already booked an on-site hotel room. Since you have already booked, you
will be able to participate in this preview."

YAHOOOO!!!!
I am bringing that email with me to the gates!

I was told this too...but I would love to know exactly what they mean by "preview".

 

[shl1108]

Thanks and have a wonderful trip!!!!!!

Thanks! You too! I think we might be extra lucky and have small crowds for the preview dates, before the big Grand Opening....better than I had imagined for sure when booking back in January!

 

[Indy Denise]

Fancy word for " we are letting you in before grand opening" ?

I noticed that all of the reps I talked to got real bent out of shape if I said the dreaded words " soft opening" .

You would have thought I was saying a nasty four letter word..

If I find out I am not allowed in I am going to call guest services and whisper "soft opening " over and over again.

 

[Sphyrna]

I'll be in Orlando Memorial Day weekend through the first week of June. My major plan is to do Disney. I'm debating on what to do the first half of the week then thought about doing Universal/IOA. I figure with the "Grand Opening" June 18, there's a good chance it will be in soft opening then. I remember when I took a trip to Universal and they were doing a soft opening for IOA. It was so awesome going through an empty park!