Fall Out Boy Shuts down USO aka Universal Drops the Ball Big-Time

[keishashadow]

I rarely do trip reports but felt compelled to share my personal experience at our first Mardi Gras visit to USO.

We have been visiting Universal parks for nearly 20 years, generally working in a split-stay with WDW a few times a year. I consider myself a loyal patron and always have touted how amazing a visit to 'the dark side' is to my WDW-centric friends.

It pains me to report that I cannot express the extent of how Universal managed to screw up the Fall Out Boy (FoB) concert day.

We were staying onsite and arrived at USO before 11 am. As soon as we entered the park, realized it was going to be a very busy day. Went to grab lunch and discovered that the Royal Pacific made a mistake linking our credit card to charge back to the room. Didn't have enough cash on us to last the whole day, so we had to get it properly linked.

The cashier at the restaurant suggested we first try the park's Guest Services office to see if they could call over to the resort. After a short wait the TM there did call but said the desk clerk omitted the information and we had to head back to resort. sigh We were surprised when she said we better 'hurry', the park was getting close to capacity. um ok.

On way out before the turn style I noticed a group of employees speaking off to the side, heard them mention 'capacity' again and stopped. Asked if we left would we be guaranteed entrance back into the park if capacity was reached. My thoughts were since we had already entered/AP holders/onsite guests, we would. Was told "no".

Asked to speak to a supervisor to plead my case as to the CC issue. I was granted a two hour window in which to return but told it was a special exception. phew!

By the time the slow boat (due to construction of dock @ sapphire) got there, we barely had time to get the CC issue settled and return back to the park.


It was even more crowded at 3 pm. I've been there on Columbus Day, HHN, memorial day, Jersey week, etc. and never have I seen that many people.

room 1300

 

[keishashadow]

Since the express lines had long waits we decided to do the large capacity shows, enjoyed terminator & the make up one as usual.

It was after 4 pm, the Mardi Gras area was open. As we headed up past the concert area noticed that guests were lined across the street sitting down 3 - 4 rows deep. Inquired and told the concert area was full. They were planning to fill into the street after the parade passed. Appears that FoB fans are loyal!

The Mardi Gras area was very busy, set up with long lines with ropes to organize the crowd. This left little space between the lines to walk, let alone try to stand and consume the food/beer/listen to the concert. Rather odd set-up imo.

Wound up working our way thru the crowd and decided to try Finnegans. Only a half hour wait, and a good place to hang and relax before the parade started @ 7:45 pm. Service & food were good this visit. Decided to try something new, tried the steak salad which had a bit too much blue cheese, but a good choice. After an Irish coffee & a few beers to wash down the food, felt braced enough to walk across the street and stake out a parade spot in front of the Mummy near Macy's area around 6:30 pm.

There were already folks waiting but we found a space, was glad to have the curb to sit upon. As with most park parades approximately 15 minutes prior you had the latecomers who tried to squeeze out the existing guests.

One woman was pushing another in a WC. Not sure why they didn't go to the accessible area nearby which still had openings. She started to scream at people and was pushing the WC into the guests sitting on curb in front of her. A verbal fight broke out, TM was summoned who tried to sort it out. She failed miserably and called for a supervisor who was equally clueless to sort it out. More of the crowd started to engage the woman to try and calm her down, but it had the opposite affect. Surprised she wasn't booted for being so aggressive, but the TMs were very young and I assume inexperienced with this sort of scenario. Unfortunately, it was a fore-shadowing of things to come.

We did wind up giving up our space to nice young man who showed up right before the parade. His mother was struggling to push him in his WC. He was so excited to be upfront. This set off the above aggressive woman even moreso who started to scream at me for giving him my spot. Was glad to escape listening to the woman rant, wound up standing behind the accessible area, which was located on same side of street in front of Macy's.

Thought it very classy how the parade participants were making a point to give beads to those there, even going so far as to 'the parade walkers' directly handing beads out

Really enjoyed this portion of the night, wonderful floats. My iphone pics don't do them justice.

a fav stilt boy lol

 

[keishashadow]

more parade pictures

 

[Lynne G]

awesome pictures so far. Glad you decided to do a trippee.

 

[tink1957]

Love the pics...sorry you had so much trouble.

 

[keishashadow]

Love the pics...sorry you had so much trouble.

thanks, I do think you would've been greatly disappointed unless willing to line up by late am for a spot to watch the concert. There were so many unhappy fans in evidence early in the afternoon once they closed the area to new arrivals.

 

[schumigirl]

Nice pics, but wow that woman sounded certifiable!!! I couldn't imagine behaving like that!!

What an awful way to behave, you did well to keep your cool there!! I still think I'm the only one never to have heard of FoB though........

Glad you enjoyed Finnegans this time too..........

 

[dsmom]

Nice pics, but wow that woman sounded certifiable!!! I couldn't imagine behaving like that!!

What an awful way to behave, you did well to keep your cool there!! I still think I'm the only one never to have heard of FoB though........

Glad you enjoyed Finnegans this time too..........

I've never heard of FoB either? Guess I'm showing my age? I'm glad we decided to skip Mardi Gras,sounds like it might be too much for our son.

 

[tink1957]

We went during Mardi Gras last year and had a blast but we saw Trace Adkins in concert...not quite the draw of FoB. I can't stand really big packed in crowds so it's probably better that I skipped it this time. I'd rather pay to see them than put up with that mess

 

[keishashadow]

I had heard such nice things re U's take on Mardi Gras, was honestly surprised it went so badly south. Would never have put myself in that sort of position. We attend our share of concerts, none run the way this was.

If the event is that popular they should consider running the parade on several non-concert nights, park revenues would more than pay for their staffing. Other likely options would be pre-booking of a ticket (free, lottery, or small fee) supplemented by a same day stand-by policy. They need to get it together for upcoming Adam Lambert concert - pronto!

I'm told U prides themselves on a 'first-come, first-served' policy for the concerts, basically to reward locals for their patronage. However, they need to both have an adequate system in place to limit the number of guests at the concert area and be able to 'police' it so that people don't attempt to rush the area once it's full. Safety is paramount and should be universal

 

[keishashadow]

After the last float passed, there were TMs with a rope as in most parades, followed by a small smattering of guests behind them. This was the last time I saw a TM for over an hour.

Almost on cue, all along the parade route near Mummy & Macy's turned to walk down past the concert area. Many (us included) appeared to have plans to 'catch' the concert by standing in street to watch the video screens. Others were just trying to leave the park, many in wheelchairs and strollers.

As we turned the corner, we observed a huge mess consisting of:

* the throng from the Mardi Gras area (spilling into the street from the left side), who converged with

*our group (facing toward the front of park but not quite at the entrance to Mardi Gras food area), running into

*a third group coming from the front of the park, mingling with

*a fourth group who had been sitting on sidewalk for hours to hold down a spot.

It was not a happy crowd. Majority seemed to be vying for a concert spot. We changed our minds after the first 15 minutes, just wanting to leave the throng.

As expected with that many people all converging from different paths, it became a gridlock. ECVs were slowly forging a path, others tried with strollers, over which I saw people tripping. Literally, we were smashed in together, just bobbing along with the crowd. I was floating along on my tip toes at one point, rather scary. At least no chance of a stampede.

We aimed for the the entrance to Mardi Gras area and noticed several large men 'blocking' a pathway into it. Many followed but we got tangled up in the ropes for the food booths. Almost comically, the manager was screaming at us all to stop trampling his ropes. Amusement ceased when the band started to play. Crowd surged forward with urgency, so many started to cry when they realized they would be missing the concert.

All I had on my mind at that point was reaching the lake and hoping we could double back to the entrance. We did, 1-1/2 hours after the parade was over. The only TMs we saw were at the end of each street at the lake (either side of transformers). They were holding yellow signs. First one said concert area was full, second didn't.

 

[keishashadow]

I hesitate to compare Universal to the other big park down the road, but with their crowd control methodology, I've never experienced this sort of issue. They staff ample workers to direct crowd traffic & have ropes up and in place for dedicated exit routes.

U does a great job staffing HHN, hard to believe this Mardi Gras was the polar opposite.

Our situation was unsafe and unpleasant. Afterwards, we mused how emergency services would be able to reach a medical emergency such as an OD or heart attack. I would like to think that Universal will:

*own up to making a series of mistakes this evening,

*apologize to their guests,

*put new plans into place and,

*above all, quit placing the blame for this mess on their first capacity crowd at USO.

 

[marciemi]

Enjoying reading although it sounds horrible to me! You know I'm not a huge Uni fan and the HHN crowds were enough to put me off - I can't even imagine this situation. I really hope you'll let Universal know how bad your experience was and let us know what they tell you. I also don't think I'd heard of FoB before you started mentioning the upcoming concert! Sorry you had such a horrible time with the exit/aftermath/concert but at least sounds like you made the best of your day before that and had some positives!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Sorry to hear that things went so sour . Disappointing in so many ways.

On a positive note, the parade looked awesome. You got some great float shots .

I'll have to join the others in having not much of a clue of who Fall Out Boy are (is?). Heard the name, have no idea what they sing. I'll be going to get my Geritol now .

 

[FoodieFriend]

We were planning to checkout USO Mardi Gras season in '17, but your description has definitely put a damper on this idea. I'm sure we'll still go, but probably avoid the concert even tho it will be included in our admission ticket.

 

[RAPstar]

Sorry you had to go through this.

I'll always have fond memories of that croc float. It was so much fun riding it and throwing beads. I definitely tried to hit the people that were being looked over. Also, can I take the lederhosen stilt boy home?

 

[Monykalyn]

Pictures are awesome!
Really hard to fathom how badly Uni dropped the ball on the concert/crowd issue. Maybe the managers in charge of crowd control are also out of touch with the following of certain bands?? Meaning old, like me. I do know who the band is though thanks to teens in the house, but I am still old!. glad you werent trampled!

 

[macraven]

i cant believe that some never heard of Fall Out Boy.......they have been around for quite a few years.

i don't like them or their music but i would have gone for the parade...


janet, thanks for sharing your experience with us.
your pictures are delightful!

i heard it was going to be a full packed event that night early that afternoon.
its a shame you got stuck for 90 minutes trying to get out.
it had to have been miserable for you.


i've only been to a full capacity with no one let in at that point for HHN or one other time for parks.

parks are not fun when that happens!
TM's do a great job with crowd control like you said for HHN, wonder why they weren't prepared for the Mardi Gras night you went.


hopefully you will hear back from UO and they will follow your suggestions.


your wild adventure is a story to tell your grandkids someday
and you have the pictures to prove it.

glad you made it home safely!

 

[Bluer101]

Yep, lately the crowds have been a zoo for the concerts. Plus it gets grid locked by there too.

We were in 1300 a few weeks ago. The view stinks but location was good. The living room tv stand was very crooked due to broken caster wheels. I know it has a brand new coffee machine as the one we had kept blowing up the pods, lol.

 

[schumigirl]

i cant believe that some never heard of Fall Out Boy.......they have been around for quite a few years.

i don't like them or their music but i would have gone for the parade...


janet, thanks for sharing your experience with us.
your pictures are delightful!

i heard it was going to be a full packed event that night early that afternoon.
its a shame you got stuck for 90 minutes trying to get out.
it had to have been miserable for you.


i've only been to a full capacity with no one let in at that point for HHN or one other time for parks.

parks are not fun when that happens!
TM's do a great job with crowd control like you said for HHN, wonder why they weren't prepared for the Mardi Gras night you went.


hopefully you will hear back from UO and they will follow your suggestions.


your wild adventure is a story to tell your grandkids someday
and you have the pictures to prove it.

glad you made it home safely!

Oh my goodness you're right........I do know who FoB is DS told me who it was last night.........doh!!!

Yes Janet, no saving graces there on that night..........as Mac says they always do such a great job at HHN you've got to wonder why it went so wrong on that night!

Hope you do get a reply from them and they do admit their mistakes and have plans in place it won't happen again!