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

[fairyprincess88]

Interesting. The link that was in the email sent me to that screen we've all seen where the premiere package is blocked out and only the celebrations package is available. But up above it says:

"Q&A with cast members
Q&A with the filmmakers and Universal Orlando's creative team"
Have you seen where it had the Universal O. creative team on there before? Did I just miss it or was it just added?

Yeah I got the same email and tried to upgrade only to get the same page as before with the premire package blocked out. And when I called I was told, "that's strange. It sold out the first day. Nothing here about an upgrade." As if I wasn't already ticked off at Universal over this Celebration, let's add more flames to my fire.

 

[Tramp68]

My guess is they have "extra" packages available since the over seas ones are not sold out.

It looks like they are making them available only to the first few celebrations buyers and will expand the list for as long as they still have availability. It would be totally infair for them to just reopen the sale and let people jump in who didnt even try to purchase earlier.

This brings up an interesting point though. What about those that didnt want to go for just the celebration package and backed out when there was no availability. Maybe a "waitlist" should have been started.

It is not right that they are still doing this without releasing the full guest list. How about letting people know the full list as well as the way everything is going to work and then let people decide if they still want to go before doing all of this...

 

[Tramp68]

Yeah I got the same email and tried to upgrade only to get the same page as before with the premire package blocked out. And when I called I was told, "that's strange. It sold out the first day. Nothing here about an upgrade." As if I wasn't already ticked off at Universal over this Celebration, let's add more flames to my fire.

The email says ONLY on THURSDAY...makes sense that you can't upgrade yet...

 

[fairyprincess88]

Mine did not say Thursday. It says, "You can upgrade at anytime from Weds 10/12/11 starting at 9 AM est thru 10/13/11 ending at 5PM. Package upgrades may sell out quickly."

Now I'm confused.

 

[HPMonkey4]

Mine did not say Thursday. It says, "You can upgrade at anytime from Weds 10/12/11 starting at 9 AM est thru 10/13/11 ending at 5PM. Package upgrades may sell out quickly."

Now I'm confused.

Well I guess just keep trying. Maybe it will be just tomorrow, and they didn't decide to do that until after you got your email? I dunno. Keep trying today though since you never know.

 

[dahoov2]

700 bucks to get three autographs and a free park dinner doesn't hardly seem worth the extra to me. You won't get to hang out with the celeb! I think we're way overpaying. Unless that gala is something so spectacular beyond what I am thinking, there's no way it's worth the extra cash. Unless your rich! LOL

 

[Tramp68]

700 bucks to get three autographs and a free park dinner doesn't hardly seem worth the extra to me. You won't get to hang out with the celeb! I think we're way overpaying. Unless that gala is something so spectacular beyond what I am thinking, there's no way it's worth the extra cash. Unless your rich! LOL

Well, it is only $339 extra...for the Gala, Autographs and Breakfast.

the initial $369 includes park tickets, DVD set, hotel, pin and Q&A session.

It is a bit steep expecially depending on how many autographs/who they are and what the Gala actually is...

 

[dahoov2]

Ah but it's per person and there are two people to a package... so that's a lot more and you don't get DIFFERENT autographs; you get the same ones. I am not dissing the autographs, but they're not that expensive as they have cards you can get or do some by other means. I've gotten some for 10 pounds each ( about 15 US dollars ). So... just sayin'

 

[fairyprincess88]

After thinking about it more today, not sure if I still want to do the upgrade or not if it is available. So far none on the cast list are ones that I haven't met before so the autographs are not a big selling point for me. I really would love to go to the Gala though, just not sure if it's worth that much additional cost with no details. I do get a Q&A with my current package so I will get something involving the actors. Just really not sure anymore if the Gala alone is worth the extra cash.

I'm attending the Farewell to Harry Potter taping this Friday night with Dan as the special guest, so that might make me all Potter drunk to where I'll come home and make the purchase if it's still available without thinking. Luckily I think the upgrade period will be closed so if I do decide not to do it, then I can stick by that decision.

 

[vivaciousdame]

I'm thinking if the gala were something like the yule ball in GoF then the extra seven hundred bucks MAY be worth it.
But since they haven't released any info on it I don't think that is what it will be. (besides them saying wear amusement park type clothes...)
But as it is right now even if the celebrities were there and could mingle I don't think it would be worth it.

I know there are those on here who want to meet the celebrities so bad that it is worth the 700 bucks for them, but not me. Sorry!

 

[TaylorsDad]

I'm thinking if the gala were something like the yule ball in GoF then the extra seven hundred bucks MAY be worth it.
But since they haven't released any info on it I don't think that is what it will be. (besides them saying wear amusement park type clothes...)
But as it is right now even if the celebrities were there and could mingle I don't think it would be worth it.

I know there are those on here who want to meet the celebrities so bad that it is worth the 700 bucks for them, but not me. Sorry!

Just like anything else the percieved value is subjective. Perhaps for you and others its not worth the price difference.For us its not about wanting to meet the celebrities so bad that it is worth an additional 700 bucks, but rather the experience of meeting them while at the WWOHP and more fully immersing ourselves in the Harry Potter experience.
The final book and movie has been released and who knows if there will be other such events at Universal. I dont know what the gala will be like but know the entire trip will be amazing and that is the mindset we will have going there. We will be going there as a second honeymoon as well as first real trip without our daughter and extended family.

 

[HPMonkey4]

Just like anything else the percieved value is subjective. Perhaps for you and others its not worth the price difference.For us its not about wanting to meet the celebrities so bad that it is worth an additional 700 bucks, but rather the experience of meeting them while at the WWOHP and more fully immersing ourselves in the Harry Potter experience.
The final book and movie has been released and who knows if there will be other such events at Universal. I dont know what the gala will be like but know the entire trip will be amazing and that is the mindset we will have going there. We will be going there as a second honeymoon as well as first real trip without our daughter and extended family.

I agree. The negativity is really starting to make me frustrated. If the upgrade cost isn't for you then don't upgrade. But...don't ruin it for the rest of us. My husband and I are also going to this as a second honeymoon and our first trip without the kids. We decided to go all out for our vacation, so we are excited. The vast amount of complaining and debates is making coming on here depressing. I was coming on here to get news about the trip as well as discuss the excitement with others who are going....so why can't we all look forward to it instead of argue about if the cost is worth it and etc since a lot of us already bought tickets which makes debating pointless honestly.

 

[fairyprincess88]

I really didn't see much negativity, just people disucussing if the upgrade price is worth it to them or not. I went back and forth on it, but decided not to go for it. However it took a lot of internal debating and I'm still wondering if I made the right choice or not.

The upgrade/Premier package is more than worth it for those who want the experience. It's all about what experience you want to have and what works the best for you. Having others think it's not worth it or whatever, just means it not worth it to them, and should have no bearing on what works for you. Just go, and have a blast.

 

[vivaciousdame]

Thanks Fairyprincess!
As I've said before this is our honeymoon, we purposely changed the weekends we'll be in Orlando just because of this. We are still super excited to go, before we were just going one day, now it is three because of the HP celebration.
For me I've just been discussing the events as they happen and giving my opinion. If I come off as more negative than discussive then I'm sorry. I've been disgusted with the lack of information from Universal or WB. So I guess I'm better off just reading what everyone else says on here and keeping my opinion to myself. I'll try to keep the rain to my own parade.

 

[HPMonkey4]

I really didn't see much negativity, just people disucussing if the upgrade price is worth it to them or not. I went back and forth on it, but decided not to go for it. However it took a lot of internal debating and I'm still wondering if I made the right choice or not.

The upgrade/Premier package is more than worth it for those who want the experience. It's all about what experience you want to have and what works the best for you. Having others think it's not worth it or whatever, just means it not worth it to them, and should have no bearing on what works for you. Just go, and have a blast.

Very true. I guess it comes across as negative when it just seems like someone is always upset. But then again I will enjoy it no matter what. I'm just pregnant so extra emotional.

Thanks Fairyprincess!
As I've said before this is our honeymoon, we purposely changed the weekends we'll be in Orlando just because of this. We are still super excited to go, before we were just going one day, now it is three because of the HP celebration.
For me I've just been discussing the events as they happen and giving my opinion. If I come off as more negative than discussive then I'm sorry. I've been disgusted with the lack of information from Universal or WB. So I guess I'm better off just reading what everyone else says on here and keeping my opinion to myself. I'll try to keep the rain to my own parade.

It is ok. I wish there was more info too, but I keep reminding myself that information is promised on the 26th in an email. I keep counting down to that day, since we will have all of the information. It keeps me excited. Maybe we should all keep our hopes up, since I'm sure we will have fun no matter what.

 

[alicia1506]

there's a part of me that wants the opportuntity to pay an extra $355 pp to upgrade to the gala and the meet&greet, as this is a once in a lifetime trip for us... we will be on a 14hr flight to get there as it is, so the opportunity to upgrade may make the difference for us between 'omg, that was awesome' and 'i wish we could've gotten into that event, it looks/sounds awesome'.

we tried for the premiere package when it first came online, but technical issues blocked us then it was sold out... now... if we get an email offering ... i dunno i guess we'll have to think about it...

 

[wdhinn89]

there's a part of me that wants the opportuntity to pay an extra $355 pp to upgrade to the gala and the meet&greet, as this is a once in a lifetime trip for us... we will be on a 14hr flight to get there as it is, so the opportunity to upgrade may make the difference for us between 'omg, that was awesome' and 'i wish we could've gotten into that event, it looks/sounds awesome'.

we tried for the premiere package when it first came online, but technical issues blocked us then it was sold out... now... if we get an email offering ... i dunno i guess we'll have to think about it...

Where are you coming from that it is a 14 hour flight?

 

[alicia1506]

australia

it's 14 hrs just to get to the west coast

 

[HPMonkey4]

It is just another week until we get the email with more information. It seems to be coming quite quickly. It is only like 23 days until the celebration too.

 

[SharonLowe]

I was on the celebration page today and noticed that the FAQ has been updated since I last looked and it lists some of the cast members attending. It also has a link to another contest sponsored by the Today show, which will be broadcasting live from Universal on the 11th.