As feared Forbidden Journey is Not for Many

[phamton]

I also wanted to point out they weren't too caring yesterday. When I asked why they weren't allowed to push at all the girl was ignorant.

Do you honestly think that team members are allowed to talk about Universal Studios safety procedures? Decisions such as this are not shared with those outside the company and sometimes not even with those who run the ride. I am going to take some guesses. Maybe since many people were being denied boarding because of size, the number of complaints may have had them re-contact the manufacturer to see if 3 clicks was necessary. Or maybe the restraint locks were readjusted to fit more people by the manufacturer. I personally am just thrilled that the change was made so more people could fit. I hate to see anyone turned away.

I hope that TM gets screamed at this entire summer.

Wow! I don't know what to say about that statement.

 

[damo]

Do you honestly think that team members are allowed to talk about Universal Studios safety procedures? Decisions such as this are not shared with those outside the company and sometimes not even with those who run the ride. I am going to take some guesses. Maybe since many people were being denied boarding because of size, the number of complaints may have had them re-contact the manufacturer to see if 3 clicks was necessary. Or maybe the restraint locks were readjusted to fit more people by the manufacturer. I personally am just thrilled that the change was made so more people could fit. I hate to see anyone turned away.

Wow! I don't know what to say about that statement.

Thanks phamton. I think you just saved some of us losing some privileges around here.

 

[ilovefh]

Do you honestly think that team members are allowed to talk about Universal Studios safety procedures? Decisions such as this are not shared with those outside the company and sometimes not even with those who run the ride. I am going to take some guesses. Maybe since many people were being denied boarding because of size, the number of complaints may have had them re-contact the manufacturer to see if 3 clicks was necessary. Or maybe the restraint locks were readjusted to fit more people by the manufacturer. I personally am just thrilled that the change was made so more people could fit. I hate to see anyone turned away.

Wow! I don't know what to say about that statement.

While I don't think the TM's should be yelled at, I think asking why they aren't allowed to push on the harnesses is a valid question. Especially when one day they do and the next they don't...and two days later they do...and then a few days later they can't...and so on. It is just not consistent. So by being allowed on one day where they were allowed to push them down and not the next day because suddenly they aren't "allowed" to push them down is not right. Pick a policy and stick with it.

I read reports over the past few weeks of TM's pushing the harnesses down and then I read reports that they were no longer allowed to do that but when I went on Sunday the girl asked if it was okay for her to push it down. Because of the things I read on here I double checked and asked her if she was allowed to do that. She said yes and the people loading will do the same. But if I have gone yesterday I would not have been able to ride because suddenly they weren't pushing them down.

I think it is a valid question...why can they push them down some days but not others? (and this was not just one girl allowing it...I tried the indoor test seats, asked her and she said yes, then asked the person by loading and he said yes, and then asked the guy actually loading our bench and he said yes)

 

[damo]

While I don't think the TM's should be yelled at, I think asking why they aren't allowed to push on the harnesses is a valid question. Especially when one day they do and the next they don't...and two days later they do...and then a few days later they can't...and so on. It is just not consistent. So by being allowed on one day where they were allowed to push them down and not the next day because suddenly they aren't "allowed" to push them down is not right. Pick a policy and stick with it.

I read reports over the past few weeks of TM's pushing the harnesses down and then I read reports that they were no longer allowed to do that but when I went on Sunday the girl asked if it was okay for her to push it down. Because of the things I read on here I double checked and asked her if she was allowed to do that. She said yes and the people loading will do the same. But if I have gone yesterday I would not have been able to ride because suddenly they weren't pushing them down.

I think it is a valid question...why can they push them down some days but not others? (and this was not just one girl allowing it...I tried the indoor test seats, asked her and she said yes, then asked the person by loading and he said yes, and then asked the guy actually loading our bench and he said yes)

Since the ride is still in soft openings, I think changes are to be expected.

 

[ilovefh]

Since the ride is still in soft openings, I think changes are to be expected.

Absolutely! But since the grand opening is on Friday they need to find a consistent policy and stick with it. I obviously benefitted from them pushing down the harness, but I really don't care which way they go with their policy. I think having a consistent policy will help keep guests from getting angry. I don't tend to get mad very often so if I was able to ride one day and not the next it wouldn't bother me (also not a HP fan really either), but it would bother a lot of people. I would think it would benefit Universal to have one consistent policy that was enforced.

 

[phamton]

I would think it would benefit Universal to have one consistent policy that was enforced.

Absolutely and I am sure they will in the near future. The ride is new. Technically, it is soft openings and no one (no matter what size) is guaranteed to ride since it is not officially opened. IMO, adjustments, communications with the manufacturer, timing, guest satisfaction balanced with safety, and everything else will come together soon.

 

[ilovefh]

Technically, it is soft openings and no one (no matter what size) is guaranteed to ride since it is not officially opened. QUOTE]

Tell me about it! We got there 5 minutes after they closed it Saturday. We did have fun exploring though and had a great meal at Three Broomsticks! After a while they opened the que just to walk through so we did that. My mom LOVED it! And there was no rush to keep up with the person in front of you since it was just a walk through so she could stop and take tons of pictures! Maybe we got lucky....maybe Saturday was a day they weren't pushing down harnesses so I woudn't have been able to ride? Who knows!

 

[Kronk N Tink]

So, Kronk, from someone who has also spent several days at Canada's Wonderland, I can tell you that Universal Studios parks are first rate, and in my humble opinion, the rides and theming are at least equal to, and in many cases exceed, the similar ride at Disney. It in no way resembles Canada's Wonderland. For every ride Disney has, Universal has something similar that is better, faster, more thrilling, and you only have to go to two parks, which you can easily walk between in 10 mins, to find them. The notable exceptions are Mickey's Philharmagic, which I think is second to none, and the Spectromagic, which I have to see at least once during every visit.

I suspect as much from the comments I've seen... but from the outside it really does look just like any other park (which is why is has to try harder to seem otherwise). My only Universal experience was the first year the Studios opened and I hated it, the crowds were huge, a few rides broke down making waits that much longer and the maybe 3 rides we actually got on didn't really impress me at all.

To be fair to them I'm sure things have improved since then, but when I start reading about how bigger people such as myself can have trouble fitting onto rides (a problem I have had at Canada's Wonderland... and because of the way they dealt with it wont go back there anytime soon) it makes me rather timid to try them again unless there's a big ticket item that I can get really excited about such as Harry Potter... but with the centerpiece of Harryland a Forbidden Journey to myself I'll have to wait until I read that things have been fixed up before I waste the money to see.

I have nothing against Universal in itself and if they get thtese problems fixed I look forward to seeing what they have in store.

Although now that Tink's read this she's rather offended and may not go on principal.

 

[DBEAR]

I never said I yelled at her and I did talk to a manager. I got the same BS about them taking guest feedback and seeing what could be done in the future. Sorry but she was ignorant. Telling me I was lucky to ride the other day. I rode because they were pressing on the harness. She lightly pushed down and got 1 click and wouldn't proceed any further. I had 3 clicks a fews days ago. Sorry but if you give me an ignorant answer like "I'm lucky that I rode the other day" then I hope you have a lot of fun days ahead. There is no reason to be ignorant or rude to a paying guest. Nothing has changed, it is still 3 clicks and always was. All they have to do at least be friendly and consistant. So I guess it's ok if the TM is rude to the guest. Sorry but NO. I guess it's not ok to talk against Harry Potter or Universal on this forum.

 

[Albytaps]

Can't you pull it down for the 3 clicks? I mean, I'm thinking about yanking that thing down hard!

 

[bumbershoot]

I never said I yelled at her and I did talk to a manager. I got the same BS about them taking guest feedback and seeing what could be done in the future. Sorry but she was ignorant. Telling me I was lucky to ride the other day. I rode because they were pressing on the harness. She lightly pushed down and got 1 click and wouldn't proceed any further. I had 3 clicks a fews days ago. Sorry but if you give me an ignorant answer like "I'm lucky that I rode the other day" then I hope you have a lot of fun days ahead. There is no reason to be ignorant or rude to a paying guest. Nothing has changed, it is still 3 clicks and always was. All they have to do at least be friendly and consistant. So I guess it's ok if the TM is rude to the guest. Sorry but NO. I guess it's not ok to talk against Harry Potter or Universal on this forum.

FWIW, I've noticed that people in some areas of the country use the word "ignorant" in a different way that others do. My friend from NJ uses it as a description for an attitude from another person...she's not saying "that person is stupid", she's describing the other person's attitude.

I have a feeling that you are using "ignorant" in the same way.

When people hear/read others using the word in that way, when they aren't used to hearing it, it sounds jarring, uncomfortable, insulting, rude, and just plain weird. It took me about a year to get used to my friend from NJ using it, until I stopped having a knee-jerk "wow is she mean or what" reaction.

And I can't help but wondering if that's how others were hearing it, which is why they were having a strong reaction to your words here.

By the way I totally got that you did NOT go off on her...that you just were thinking it in your head... (and in that way you differ from my aforementioned friend, LOL)

 

[patster734]

I'm no expert, but if the TMs were helping the riders with the harness previously, but not now, it's possible that they had a complaint from a rider that the TMs had made the harness too tight when they pushed on it.

 

[amery]

There is no reason to be ignorant or rude to a paying guest.QUOTE]

This should be emblazened on every wall in every behind the scenes area of every amusement park in every country of the world and in every language.

Having spent much of my professional career in management, training and development and customer care, it pains me to see that today's service-industry employees are rediculously lacking in common sense and sensitivity.

Perhaps I'm old fashioned. While US strives to be all things to all guests, its employees should be extra specially nice and accomodating to those of us who unfortunately but inevitably become inconvienced.

That said, there are the obvious exceptions. My advice is to try not to allow an experience of this nature to ruin an entire vacation especially when you are likely sharing it with others.

 

[zenkatt]

it seems from some of the previous posts that some people have been forced to go on diets during there trip in order to fit on FJ. perhaps this is universals master plan in order to combat the childhood obesity epidemic.it's your choice junior, one more butter beer or flying with harry.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't see the TM's comment as rude but then I couldn't hear her tone. I don't know how she meant it so maybe she was rude. All I know is that the visitors can be awfully rude too at times and some even on this forum. No one here is responsible for anyone's problems but there do seem to be a few that are angry and might be taking it out on this forum. I understand the frustration but I resent a few of the comments.

Off my soapbox now. I sincerely hope that everyone gets to ride. This ride is still in soft opening and is until Friday. Hopefully it will be just right at that time.

 

[Indy Denise]

Absolutely! But since the grand opening is on Friday they need to find a consistent policy and stick with it. I obviously benefitted from them pushing down the harness, but I really don't care which way they go with their policy. I think having a consistent policy will help keep guests from getting angry. I don't tend to get mad very often so if I was able to ride one day and not the next it wouldn't bother me (also not a HP fan really either), but it would bother a lot of people. I would think it would benefit Universal to have one consistent policy that was enforced.

I was there the first days and they changed the restraint " helping" twice. First, no help..then help, then no help due to complaints about guest's discomfort.
They were giving out rubber bands to keep flipflops on, then one day they stopped. Not sure about now.
They also changed the size of butterbeer. You could buy it in the tavern in a larger size without having to buy the stein. One day, you couldn't.

 

[ilovefh]

I was there the first days and they changed the restraint " helping" twice. First, no help..then help, then no help due to complaints about guest's discomfort.
They were giving out rubber bands to keep flipflops on, then one day they stopped. Not sure about now.
They also changed the size of butterbeer. You could buy it in the tavern in a larger size without having to buy the stein. One day, you couldn't.

I think it is more than twice. I read no here at first they weren't helping, then they were and then they weren't due to "guest discomfort." This was all before I left for FL on June 10. June 13 they were helping and there was a report that on Tuesday June 15 they weren't helping again. Hopefully as the grand opening approaches they will find a consistent policy. I know if I worked at FJ I would want one for sure! It's not fun to get yelled at by a guest beacuse they were allowed to ride with help yesterday but can't ride today because I have been told helping is not allowed!

 

[schumigirl]

Gosh I really feel for TM`s working this ride!!!

It seems they are not ever going to be right for being wrong. No-one EVER deserves to be screamed at for doing their job.

I say this as someone who may not fit in this ride, but in no way would I take that out on anyone else.

I am so looking forward to seeing everything else about this new area of IOA, not just the new ride.......as well as the rest of US/IOA of course

 

[damo]

I was there the first days and they changed the restraint " helping" twice. First, no help..then help, then no help due to complaints about guest's discomfort.
They were giving out rubber bands to keep flipflops on, then one day they stopped. Not sure about now.
They also changed the size of butterbeer. You could buy it in the tavern in a larger size without having to buy the stein. One day, you couldn't.

Updated policy on Butterbeer is both sizes in plastic disposable cups are available in the tavern but they only give a straw with the frozen.

Updated policy on Flip Flops is that they won't fall off so don't worry about them.

They are also now selling a lemon icee drink in carts outside.

 

[Graciesmom77]

My plane leaves in 3 hours! Wish us luck and see some of you there! I will be the lady crying cause she has never left her kids and now is leaving them for 3 days!

Have fun everyone! I am excited to go, just nervous about leaving my kiddos. Have a great Grand Opening everyone!!!