The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[Thumper_Man's Wife]

Originally Posted by ChrisFL

The ride isn't an hour long, the experience from entering to the end is an hour long...including walking through a massive queue which people can visit without going on the ride.

Sorry, I should have been a little clearer. I didn't mean the actual ride itself, when I mentioned "ride" I meant it as a whole, including the experience going through hogwarts, etc. I apologize for any confusion.

[Rash]

ignore post - sorry

[damo]

cool video here

http://www.news4jax.com/video/22952060/index.html

[swwake]

Originally Posted by Thumper_Man's Wife

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201003/1818/

The link above gives a little more detail into what the Forbidden Journey will be about. It gives the same YouTube video on the scenes the actors are filming for the ride, but talks about how this is possibly an hour long ride from start to finish as it begins when you first enter Hogwarts.

This won't affect our trip, specifically, but might affect some of yours. Just an observation I have made regarding early park entry hours and Express at WWoHP.

When I pull up my current reservation for a single night at HRH, the details on early park admission are as follows:

Early Park Admission to Islands of Adventure

Traveling now – 6/17/10:

Receive Early Park admission* to Universal's Islands of Adventure. The theme park will open thirty (30) minutes early each day so you can enjoy The Amazing Adventure of Spider-man® and The Incredible Hulk Coaster® before the rest of the general public!

Traveling 6/18 – 12/31/10:

Enjoy Early Park Admission one (1) hour prior to Universal’s Islands of Adventure regular scheduled park opening. Offer valid 7 days a week for travel; valid at Harry Potter and the Forbidden JourneyTM, Flight of the HippogriffTM, Dragon ChallengeTM and The Cat in the HatTM.

*Requires theme park admission. Offer valid 7 days a week for travel from 1/1/10 to 12/31/10. Only valid for Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations guests who purchase a complete vacation including hotel and theme park tickets. If technical problems arise or the opening of an attraction is delayed another Universal’s Islands of Adventure attraction will open for Early Park Admission. Offer subject to change at anytime without notice.

Note that at the time I booked the stay, the dates were "now -5/27/10" and "5/28 -12/31/10". So this has been changed (as they warn above, "without notice.")

As for Universal Express Ride Access, all it says is "Some attractions excluded." Based on the information in the link above, "The queue will be part of the attraction (and so, no Universal Express access, at least initially) and begin the dungeons of the castle. "

So it looks like you won't be able to Express this ride (and maybe you wouldn't want to, since so much of the attraction appears to be in the queue).

My point is, people who might have booked a stay at one of the Universal on-site hotels without the package, may not be allowed to ride the Forbidden Journey if their stay is between 5/28 and 6/17, although they thought they could when they booked their trip.

Since Universal apparently says that they will honor the packages for the dates 5/28 and after, I would hope that they would also honor the early entry privilege for on-site guests (as originally marketed) as well.

[jessrose18]

Question for anybody that has booked the package for 1 night. When I search for a one night package check in 12/6-12/7 is says my breakfast and early entry is on 12/6..we are flying in that day, is it an option to change it to 12/7....I would call ressie line but I am sure they are very busy today

[Kimber767]

Does anyone know yet if the ride will be accessable for people in wheelchairs? I can get out of my chair if someone helps me transfer, but wonder if it is doable??

[tttessa]

Originally Posted by eddiemcgarrigle

So much for a spring opening, June is the blooming summer. Oh well, here's hoping for a lot of soft openings throughout May.

errrrrr -no - Spring this year runs from March 20th to June 21st. So they are just inside...

Tessa

[Maves Wife]

have then mentioned if there will be any annual passholder previews??

[OhioStateBuckeye]

woohoo, just booked June 22-27 at the Hard Rock. I was going to try to go for the grand opening, but one of the people going has a wedding on the 19-20. Oh well, it'll still be an awesome experience. I will be sure to do a TR and I will have loads of pictures.

What was up with them announcing the opening at 9:30 in the morning? I thought it was supposed to be noon.

[nerdboyrockstar]

Originally Posted by audeodream

I just got off the phone with universal after a 1/2 hour (transfer-to-department-to-department nightmare). I had reservations for June 10th (received a pin from Universal) and was told initially that the park would not be open to the general public at that time. So after being transferred to 3 different departments I came away with the information that without purchasing a package that I would not be able to get into the park. She then told me that unless I had a package for June 18th and beyond I was not guaranteed entry;I was extremely frustrated and canceled the reservation. I've never been to Universal before we are true Disney fans and this was a horrible introduction to Universal and I had yet to set foot on the property. I spoke with a supervisor and she told me that they were honoring the packages sold for during the May 28th ad but that no others would be allowed in until the June 18th date. She did let me know that after June 18th everyone will be let in and that you do not have to purchase a package to do so. I was able to breath a little easier at that time (I was dreading telling my 10ds who is a Harry Potter fanatic that we were not going) and she was able to make reservations for me at a later date honoring my original pin.

Universal is not in the wrong here. They are simply not guaranteeing anything until June 18th. I booked earlier in good faith, you did as well. But the only date they HAVE to have WWOHP open and running is now June 18th, the first date they've confirmed as official since they announced the project.

[damo]

Originally Posted by Maves Wife

have then mentioned if there will be any annual passholder previews??

No. They need to do that soon.

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Do you guys think the parks will reach capacity and have to close the first few weeks of WWOHP? Since I will be there the 22nd, I was planning on being at the gates at opening. Does Universal ever reach capacity like WDW does during Christmas?

[collcass]

Originally Posted by jessrose18

Question for anybody that has booked the package for 1 night. When I search for a one night package check in 12/6-12/7 is says my breakfast and early entry is on 12/6..we are flying in that day, is it an option to change it to 12/7....I would call ressie line but I am sure they are very busy today

When you select and click through to finish the booking, it gives you the option to choose the date

[BraveLittleToaster2]

I know the dueling dragons and the flight of the hippogriff are both roller coasters....and it seems as though the ride called "Harry potter and the forbidden journey" will be similar to Soarin right?

Will they have any family oriented rides that dont involve coasters or fast movements???

[jessrose18]

Originally Posted by collcass

When you select and click through to finish the booking, it gives you the option to choose the date

Thank you. For the people that are staying multiple days do they get early entry every day that they are staying, or just one day? Just curious.