Celebration of Harry Potter Films, Nov 11-13, at Islands of Adventure

[TaylorsDad]

You can find it on the WB website. Odd thing is it lists the Gala event as Nov 12th as well as the 13th.

 

[Blueharts]

I read that about the Gala too. Now I am confused!

 

[SnapesGirl]

Not sure if this has been mentioned before, but they're also giving 1,005 passes to annual passholders: http://www.**************.net/2011/...rity-qa-at-universal-orlando-wizarding-world/

 

[HPMonkey4]

Not sure if this has been mentioned before, but they're also giving 1,005 passes to annual passholders: http://www.**************.net/2011/...rity-qa-at-universal-orlando-wizarding-world/

Ya. I read that. 5 of the entered passholders will get premiere tickets so gala event and etc. The other 1000 will get to attend 1 q&a each.

 

[vivaciousdame]

That's kind of a wonky number, give one thousand passes for the Q & A session and only 5 for the gala/autograph session. The gala must be REALLY over the top special.
Think of it this way:
Pay (roughly) $100 for four days entry into Comic Con in San Diego. Where you get tons of Q & A sessions and all the autographs of stars you can get in line for for the WHOLE FOUR DAYS.
OR pay an extra $300 above the cost of the base celebration package and get one autograph and the gala at Universal.......

Something seems a bit off, doesn't it? Or is this just another example of "it's Orlando everything is super expensive".

And they won't even release details about the Gala to even those who've paid the extra $300 per person.... Something is fishy like they didn't get all the details straight and everything planned before they announced it. I can understand not releasing names and dates because as we all know stars sometimes don't make it to their appearances but the gala should have solid information like yes, they will be serving catered food. Yes we'll have a band there and an area for dancing. Or yes, we'll have costumes on display from the movies or SOMETHING. Not just "yeah there will ge a gala Sunday nite... Oh wait, we changed our mind, now it's Saturday too"...*rolling eyes*

Did they really add Saturday to the gala too? Or is that just a rumor?
Also in the original information there was only one autograph per person... has that changed? I hear people talking about getting multiple autographs...

 

[Tramp68]

That's kind of a wonky number, give one thousand passes for the Q & A session and only 5 for the gala/autograph session. The gala must be REALLY over the top special.
Think of it this way:
Pay (roughly) $100 for four days entry into Comic Con in San Diego. Where you get tons of Q & A sessions and all the autographs of stars you can get in line for for the WHOLE FOUR DAYS.
OR pay an extra $300 above the cost of the base celebration package and get one autograph and the gala at Universal.......

Something seems a bit off, doesn't it? Or is this just another example of "it's Orlando everything is super expensive".

And they won't even release details about the Gala to even those who've paid the extra $300 per person.... Something is fishy like they didn't get all the details straight and everything planned before they announced it. I can understand not releasing names and dates because as we all know stars sometimes don't make it to their appearances but the gala should have solid information like yes, they will be serving catered food. Yes we'll have a band there and an area for dancing. Or yes, we'll have costumes on display from the movies or SOMETHING. Not just "yeah there will ge a gala Sunday nite... Oh wait, we changed our mind, now it's Saturday too"...*rolling eyes*

Did they really add Saturday to the gala too? Or is that just a rumor?
Also in the original information there was only one autograph per person... has that changed? I hear people talking about getting multiple autographs...

I agree with the fact that there SHOULD be details ready by now. I wonder how much this has been thought through.

There is 1 autograph SESSION per person. There is speculation as to if that means with 1 star, multiple stars or every star.
I think it would be rather crappy of Universal to make it only select stars. We already took a gamble on who will or won't be there and now if we find out our favorite is there, we may be left out of their autograph because we randomly picked the wrong session....

I have not seen or found anything about a 2nd gala night. I think it was a typo on some website.

I for one will be cancelling if I find out that this turns out to be nothing special....

 

[HPMonkey4]

I agree with the fact that there SHOULD be details ready by now. I wonder how much this has been thought through.

There is 1 autograph SESSION per person. There is speculation as to if that means with 1 star, multiple stars or every star.
I think it would be rather crappy of Universal to make it only select stars. We already took a gamble on who will or won't be there and now if we find out our favorite is there, we may be left out of their autograph because we randomly picked the wrong session....

I have not seen or found anything about a 2nd gala night. I think it was a typo on some website.

I for one will be cancelling if I find out that this turns out to be nothing special....

I dunno. I'm assuming that the autograph session is for more than one star. I will hope for the best, and even if it isn't what I expected I think that it will be fun. I won't let anything ruin my one vacation without the kids. That is just me though. I always hope for the best and be ready for the worst for sure.

The 2nd gala event was a typo. There is only 1 that I've heard of, so I'm gonna ignore the rumors about the 2nd one.

As for cancelling....you CAN'T! It said before you bought...no cancelling or reselling. If you bought it then you are the one attending. There is no backing out due to people not being there or being upset that it isn't what you expected. We all took the risk when buying, so we all might as well hope for the best.

 

[HPMonkey4]

That's kind of a wonky number, give one thousand passes for the Q & A session and only 5 for the gala/autograph session. The gala must be REALLY over the top special.
Think of it this way:
Pay (roughly) $100 for four days entry into Comic Con in San Diego. Where you get tons of Q & A sessions and all the autographs of stars you can get in line for for the WHOLE FOUR DAYS.
OR pay an extra $300 above the cost of the base celebration package and get one autograph and the gala at Universal.......

Something seems a bit off, doesn't it? Or is this just another example of "it's Orlando everything is super expensive".

And they won't even release details about the Gala to even those who've paid the extra $300 per person.... Something is fishy like they didn't get all the details straight and everything planned before they announced it. I can understand not releasing names and dates because as we all know stars sometimes don't make it to their appearances but the gala should have solid information like yes, they will be serving catered food. Yes we'll have a band there and an area for dancing. Or yes, we'll have costumes on display from the movies or SOMETHING. Not just "yeah there will ge a gala Sunday nite... Oh wait, we changed our mind, now it's Saturday too"...*rolling eyes*

Did they really add Saturday to the gala too? Or is that just a rumor?
Also in the original information there was only one autograph per person... has that changed? I hear people talking about getting multiple autographs...

Well...I think that they knew that people that paid the big bucks for the premiere tickets would be mad if they had 1000 more people there, since then it'd be a "hope you get in" type of thing instead of fun. So....5 more is plenty, and the Q&As will be fun...but they are just watching them talk. 1000 more can fit at them easy since there are suppose to be quite a few of them.

The autographs will be nice. I think Comic Con is fun sounding, but really who wants to stand in line for hours to get an autograph when these premiere tickets give us a guaranteed autograph session which I'm hoping will include many or all of the stars at each. There won't be huge lines or anything that would keep us out.

I don't think that there is a 2nd gala event. It was most likely a typo. Plus the gala event is a guaranteed fun time of food, drink, and etc with the stars there. I think that is worth the extra cost.

Anyways I will enjoy my trip either way.

 

[Tramp68]

With the vague advertising and high pressure sales tactic that they used it will be extremely difficult for them to prevent people from cancelling.

There was no information pre sale date and there was no time to actually read any of the information that was provided as you were trying to make the purchase. Any lawyer would have a field day with Universal over the way this was handled.

As of this date they have no film makers, which was promised in the sales info.

 

[wdhinn89]

I believe this is where the 2nd night gala information came from.

http://insiderrewards.warnerbros.com/start/home/exclusive_sweepstakes

 

[TaylorsDad]

I am hoping others are right and it is one autograph session including multiple autographs and not a single autograph by a single cast member. And I admit the reasoning does make sense. However, I feel it best to go expecting only one autograph and if it is more I will just think of it as a bonus. If I do otherwise and things do not work out I will just be angry/disappointed. I do wish more details would be released, though. With barely over a month until the trip we should really have more details than we do. I was told the reason is that Universal is basically just hosting and the event is through Warner Brothers.

 

[vivaciousdame]

HPMonkey, at Comic Con I didn't stand very long in lines to get autographs and pictures. Actually a few had booths that I just walked right up to, but those were animation voice actors and authors.. Yes you stand in line but not much longer than standing in line for a ride at Disney! I guess unless it was somebody huge like Harrison Ford or Sandra Bullock for instance. But then again, we aren't having anyone even near that huge at the HP Celebrations! At Comic Con if anyone listed who is going to be at Celebrations were there I'd guess their lines wouldn't be huge. However that said I like the secondary characters and lesser known actors better anyway. Their egos aren't inflated enough so they still fit through the door. ha ha
I'm just really excited to be going. 35 days!

 

[HPMonkey4]

I believe this is where the 2nd night gala information came from.

http://insiderrewards.warnerbros.com/start/home/exclusive_sweepstakes

I wonder if they were trying to say stuff is going on Sat. and the gala event is on Sunday. I dunno. I guess we will have to wait and see. If there are 2 though, then that is stupid, cuz then all of the ones who paid will get the Sunday one...and the Sat. one will be the first one for who knows who. Oh well. I think that it is a typo though, since there seem to be alot of those with Universal. LOL!

 

[HPMonkey4]

With the vague advertising and high pressure sales tactic that they used it will be extremely difficult for them to prevent people from cancelling.

There was no information pre sale date and there was no time to actually read any of the information that was provided as you were trying to make the purchase. Any lawyer would have a field day with Universal over the way this was handled.

As of this date they have no film makers, which was promised in the sales info.

True, but I think most people would accept that they bought what they bought. I personally wouldn't be calling a lawyer to get back my money (yet have to pay more to sue), since I knew when I bought the tickets that I'd have no more info until closer to the event. We will get more information on Oct. 25 I think it was so be patient and wait for the email to come.

 

[HPMonkey4]

HPMonkey, at Comic Con I didn't stand very long in lines to get autographs and pictures. Actually a few had booths that I just walked right up to, but those were animation voice actors and authors.. Yes you stand in line but not much longer than standing in line for a ride at Disney! I guess unless it was somebody huge like Harrison Ford or Sandra Bullock for instance. But then again, we aren't having anyone even near that huge at the HP Celebrations! At Comic Con if anyone listed who is going to be at Celebrations were there I'd guess their lines wouldn't be huge. However that said I like the secondary characters and lesser known actors better anyway. Their egos aren't inflated enough so they still fit through the door. ha ha
I'm just really excited to be going. 35 days!

Ya I was kinda glad that they didn't announce the stars until more recently. Plus there are more names still coming. I am trying to be patient and maybe we will find out when we get our information emails later this month. It isn't too much longer. A month is no time at all. With everything I have to do and plan before I leave....it will just fly on by.

Oh and ya I like the stars that are stars but not as huge, cuz honestly I think that they are more fun to meet.

 

[Tramp68]

True, but I think most people would accept that they bought what they bought. I personally wouldn't be calling a lawyer to get back my money (yet have to pay more to sue), since I knew when I bought the tickets that I'd have no more info until closer to the event. We will get more information on Oct. 25 I think it was so be patient and wait for the email to come.

I agree with you. I do not think it will come to that.

But, as consumers we do have a reasonable expectation to what was eluded to. I just spent $4000 for myself, my daughter and her friend to attend this. If I were to find out that only 1 person would be at our Q&A and autograph session and that none of the stars will be at the Gala, I WILL be demanding a refund. If they refuse I will dispute with CC company followed by consulting any of several friends or family who happen to be a judge or a lawyer. No offense to any of the stars, but I would not have paid that kind of money (Our family just returned from spending the whole month of July in Orlando) to go down to see Filch or Lavender, etc.

Again, I agree..I am remaining optimistic and patient. I truly believe we will have all of the stars at each session. I would even be content if these were the only ones in attendance (though they did say movie makers {Director/writer/producer???} I am still unsure as to if they will be at the gala or not....

I have attended quite a few star trek conventions over the years. Most times the stars are acceptable if not the mains, but every once in awhile you get the one where the guy who played the one officer who died in 1 episode. I just choose not to attend. Universal took this option away from us. In that they were very wrong. I put my trust in their reputation...so far I have not been let down.

...waiting for more details....

 

[HPMonkey4]

I agree with you. I do not think it will come to that.

But, as consumers we do have a reasonable expectation to what was eluded to. I just spent $4000 for myself, my daughter and her friend to attend this. If I were to find out that only 1 person would be at our Q&A and autograph session and that none of the stars will be at the Gala, I WILL be demanding a refund. If they refuse I will dispute with CC company followed by consulting any of several friends or family who happen to be a judge or a lawyer. No offense to any of the stars, but I would not have paid that kind of money (Our family just returned from spending the whole month of July in Orlando) to go down to see Filch or Lavender, etc.

Again, I agree..I am remaining optimistic and patient. I truly believe we will have all of the stars at each session. I would even be content if these were the only ones in attendance (though they did say movie makers {Director/writer/producer???} I am still unsure as to if they will be at the gala or not....

I have attended quite a few star trek conventions over the years. Most times the stars are acceptable if not the mains, but every once in awhile you get the one where the guy who played the one officer who died in 1 episode. I just choose not to attend. Universal took this option away from us. In that they were very wrong. I put my trust in their reputation...so far I have not been let down.

...waiting for more details....

True. That makes sense. It is definitely alot of money. It cost alot just for my DH and I to get to go. I do have high hopes, but then again that might just mean more disappointment. But...I'll still hope for the best.

I was kinda upset that they didn't give us any options, but since I already chose to buy the package I will be just keeping an eye out for more info.

 

[ahill004]

Will IOA still be crowded from this HP event on Monday, the 14th?

 

[Tramp68]

Will IOA still be crowded from this HP event on Monday, the 14th?

Not as bad as Saturday and Sunday, but since Monday is a holiday, I would think it will be busy

 

[ahill004]

What holiday is Monday, Nov. 14th?