The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[Caribbeanprincess]

True, but still not a position I'd like to be in if the ride stopped and had to be re-set.

Well, that's pretty much the position you're in when going back down to earth in Spaceship Earth and the ride usually stops there when unloding handicapped riders, so I think I can deal.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I think it's just up to the individual person. I, personally, think there's a better value of going to Disney or Six Flags, when taking into consideration the rides/lines/size of/team members at IoA. Others will think differently. Everyone gets what they want.

 

[Caribbeanprincess]

I've never been to Six Flags, but after hearing all the horrible tragedies that have happened in the parks throughout the years and horror stories about maintanance of rides, I'd rather have a Disney/Universal vacation.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I've never been to Six Flags, but after hearing all the horrible tragedies that have happened in the parks throughout the years and horror stories about maintanance of rides, I'd rather have a Disney/Universal vacation.

The last incident at my Six Flags park was 25 years ago. I feel pretty safe.

 

[FINFAN]

I am soooo bummed! I heard that they were letting the general public in today.. heard it while I was packing up my over night to head home... My DD had to be at work by 4pm today & we live 3 hours away. I didn't want to go & leave at noon.. so we just headed home without going...

If they WERE letting the GP in, it appears that things ran smoother and were possibly less crowded, according to the new entry rules. Do you mean letting the GP in after the 8-10 window for the preview/package/on-site guests? If so, that interestes me as they may be getting ready for evening access!

 

[mysteriouspnai]

I am soooo bummed! I heard that they were letting the general public in today.. heard it while I was packing up my over night to head home... My DD had to be at work by 4pm today & we live 3 hours away. I didn't want to go & leave at noon.. so we just headed home without going...

They let in the general public?? This is getting to be ridiculous. I called Customer Service several times and was informed that only the package holders and on-site hotel guests would be allowed in. Our exclusive preview has just been cut from a 2 hour preview down to a 1 hour early morning admission. Anyone know what we get for breakfast at 3B if you're a package holder?

 

[lildamo]

If they WERE letting the GP in, it appears that things ran smoother and were possibly less crowded, according to the new entry rules. Do you mean letting the GP in after the 8-10 window for the preview/package/on-site guests? If so, that interestes me as they may be getting ready for evening access!

It was only open to package holders and on-site guests today. Latest rumour is general public softs tomorrow, but realistically there's been rumours of almost every day for the past week, so who knows

 

[MrBryan]

AFAIK no GP were let in today

 

[inkkognito]

Wow, 4 times in a couple of hours, amazing-like spiderman on steroids. That sounds close enough to perfect to me. I am really starting to wish I hadnt decided to wait until October. I would gladly be willing to deal with the few issues I am hearing because these reviews are getting me really hyped for the WWOHP.

Spidey had plenty of issues for its first year or two, and Test Track at Epcot was something like a year late in opening. I really think Uni is getting the bugs out of FJ quickly considering we rode it once yesterday, then wasted an hour waiting because it broke down. By comparison, today it was up and running from open till close, with four rides and only one minor issue (we were on our backs, not upside down). It was only for five minutes or maybe a bit more. Crazy person that I am, I was half-hoping we'd be evacuated so I would have a unique experience. But between that and the improved morning let-in, improvements are apparent in only two days.

I was prepared to maybe "like" FJ but it takes a lot for a simulator-type ride to really impress me because I am more of a coaster junkie (think SheiKra...I live to plummet 200 feet face down). I didn't really think Uni would have something on the cutting edge of techology, but after 5 rides I can truly say they do. The way that robot arm moves you around (and relatively smoothly at that) as you move seemlessly through movie screens and actual animatronics is a true work of art. Those robot arms have never been used for amusement rides other than on a very limited basis, like Sum of All Thrills or Legoland. Uni is going out on a limb with hoping they'll work at the capacity they need, and I truly hope they do. I am hard to impress but FJ was truly much more than I expected. When single riders or Express opens my butt will be on that ride a LOT.

I do think Uni misprepresented the packages and I feel sorry for the people who feel mislead or ripped off, but I can't complain personally because the change in policy allowed me to get a preview (and considering how much $$ we dropped on butterbeer, a wand, shirts, and the like, it was well worth their while).

 

[melly]

I've never been to Six Flags, but after hearing all the horrible tragedies that have happened in the parks throughout the years QUOTE]

eh

3 employees died at Disney last year.

 

[Musashi450]

So I felt compelled to join this forum (which I've been reading off and on here in preparation for my vacation ) I just got back from 7 full days of disney (for the first time) staying at the grand floridian and absolutely loved it. Anywho here is my beef... Also for those that were defending universal earlier...just don't.

My girlfriend and I just graduated, she from college and I from medical school. I seriously haven't been on a vacation in probably 6 years. Our graduations felt like a huge accomplishment in our lives and we decided to both treat ourselves to a big get away at disney ending with WWOHP for 2 days (My GF is a HUGE HP fan...and while I love the series, she puts me to shame). I literally arrive after my disney stay to the doubletree across from universal today very happy to experience all of the great things I keep hearing about. While checking in, I get a tiny little letter. It went along the lines of "Dear Mr. XXX, thank you for choosing univeral and our harry potter world preview of the park from 8-9... "

now hold on....I based the celebration of the end a journey of blood sweat and tears to end with an experience I was paid good money for (I ordered the package back in April) Now I'm being told THE DAY OF MY ARRIVAL for the first time, this isn't an all day thing?! This is nothing short of immoral on universals part, and questionably illegal. I called their line twice while at the hotel and talked to one employee who said "She can't believe they are doing this, it isn't right, but that's what they have chosen to do and she feels terrible being the messenger" I sympathized with her as they have told the employees literally nothing apparently. I called again later still heated and received the most ******* response from an individual who obviously failed his PR training. Something along the lines of this was a preview which I signed up for and was very clearly stated. This was his opening line when i told him I booked the package, I had not even begun to get angry with him! With this many people pissed off, they obviously screwed up. Frankly they aren't going to do anything for those of us who planned and paid good money it seems.

That is why I'm urging everyone to do the following: Contact the better business bureau and file a complaint. I'm going tomorrow and if it is not a full day opening, I plan on doing atleast that much. This is truly the only way I think people will respond. With a good reason I would, of course, be understanding, however all I've been told so far is sorry but no.

Am I heated? yes. Have I taken the time to cool down and think about this? yes. I realize this post comes off a tad pretentious and entitled and all I can do is tell everyone that I am probably one of the more understanding people you'll ever meet. Never the less, I won't stand for this and I would encourage everyone else to do the same. Here's hoping for a wonderful experience for everyone else out there.

 

[*LittleMermaid*]

To all of the people that purchased the package to see WWOHP

Sometimes things do not go as planned. Things and problems arise that change the outcome of things. I'm sure Universal did not do this on purpose to cause inconvenience or rip off anyone... And I do understand your frustration and why you are upset

Now my question is this

WOULD IT HAVE BEEN BETTER IF UNIVERSAL HAD JUST CANCELLED YOUR VACATION AND REFUNDED YOUR MONEY INSTEAD OF DOING A PREVIEW THING FOR A FEW HOURS? (not shouting, just want to stand out lol)

 

[melly]

Now my question is this

WOULD IT HAVE BEEN BETTER IF UNIVERSAL HAD JUST CANCELLED YOUR VACATION AND REFUNDED YOUR MONEY INSTEAD OF DOING A PREVIEW THING FOR A FEW HOURS? (not shouting, just want to stand out lol)

Wrong question.

The question should be "would it have been better for UNIVERSAL to cancel the vacation and lose all the money they had re-couped or just let everyone in, keep the money and come up with some retrospective c**k and bull story about a preview at the very last second"

Dont even pretend that Universal are doing a favour here or something good. This story about a preview is a way of not cancelling and then keeping all the money they have already charged.

 

[bbangel]

To
Now my question is this

WOULD IT HAVE BEEN BETTER IF UNIVERSAL HAD JUST CANCELLED YOUR VACATION AND REFUNDED YOUR MONEY INSTEAD OF DOING A PREVIEW THING FOR A FEW HOURS? (not shouting, just want to stand out lol)

It would have been better is Universal had communicated AT ALL with those who have purchased a package. I have received nothing from them on anything. If I was not a reader of these boards I would be showing up expecting what I had paid for. To not communicate with people and give them options is what is making me upset. Since I have no idea what the situation will be once I arrive (days before GO) I will not get upset about what hasn't happened yet. Do I feel at the moment that I'm going to get what I've paid for no. Will it affect any future plans to visit their parks? Yes. Do I understand that things don't always go as planned? Yes, but as I said there has been no communication from them to let people know. If my airline can send me an email to let me know the tv's might not work on my flight, I should think Universal could contact package holders and let them know their options.

 

[polkadotminnie]

At the very least, the package people deserve a free night onsite for a later date to compensate not having access to the park all day. I am not booked on a vacation package but would be very upset with only a couple of hours per day if it was not made clear when booking. I realize for many that this is a one time vacation but it would show that Universal cares for it's customers. Universal would benefit from the people who take advantage of the free night since they will spend money at the parks again.

 

[Musashi450]

Wrong question.


Dont even pretend that Universal are doing a favour here or something good. This story about a preview is a way of not cancelling and then keeping all the money they have already charged.

Precisely. Again I'm a very understanding person and believe me I of all people know that things can happen and you just have to go with the flow. The issue here though is, again, what reason!? I've been given none. Furthermore after doing some research it appears the park has had limited hours for a couple days now. No correspondence? Of course I'm not going to cancel my ticket now that I am staying literally accros from universal however, if I had known the "preview" was 2 hours of potentially limited access to a park, I would have spent that money on a cheap cruise. That is why I believe some form of refund is in order. This isn't what I believed I was purchasing, and it's simply a flat out lie for them to state it was clear. It obviously was not... When a forum full of people who understand their system, and have taken more trips there than I am years old are confused, their is a problem. Furthermore I've noticed that on this forum people are EXTREMELY detail oriented. Take a step back and really look at what they are doing to people here. Again, nothing short of immoral. Which is why people in this position need to make their voice heard in a way businesses understand, the BBB.

 

[LJF]

Anyone know what we get for breakfast at 3B if you're a package holder?

From a Facebook fan posting:

There is an English breakfast (with black pudding, sausage, bacon and eggs) an American breakfast with scrambled eggs & bacon & sausage and potatoes, a pancake breakfast with bacon and sausage, an oatmeal breakfast and a fruit breakfast.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

At the very least, the package people deserve a free night onsite for a later date to compensate not having access to the park all day. I am not booked on a vacation package but would be very upset with only a couple of hours per day if it was not made clear when booking. I realize for many that this is a one time vacation but it would show that Universal cares for it's customers. Universal would benefit from the people who take advantage of the free night since they will spend money at the parks again.

I think Universal needs to offer refunds to people who truly want them. A lot of people don't come down to Orlando often, if ever, and might not have any use for a free night in the future.

 

[polkadotminnie]

I think Universal needs to offer refunds to people who truly want them. A lot of people don't come down to Orlando often, if ever, and might not have any use for a free night in the future.

I agree but was thinking more of the people who can't cancel due to losing airfare...

 

[Musashi450]

Agree with the response about the refund and not simply another day (although anything would admittedly leave a better taste in my mouth). I'm from Illinois and because of the job I'm moving to, don't plan on having another large vacation for a couple of years...