Forbidden Journey closed Dec 1-18

[chasingthtdream08]

This is so frustrating. We rearranged our trip because of the adoption of my daughter and decided to go Dec. 2-11th. It's not like we can rearrange all our work schedules plus airline tickets. If you are from out of state this takes a lot of planning. Does anyone know if Universal will compensate you? Like offer tickets for breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron or something?! We won't be able to go back for a long while.

I called today and expressed my disappointment. Also asking if the castle tour will still be available (basically walking through the queue) and they said it's a possibility and management is working together to see if it's possible and how. I asked about compensation (because I'm spending $500 for one day at UO for two people) and they said they were not offering compensation because it's only one attraction and they have many more to offer.

It definitely is a bummer but we will still have a blast at Universal!

 

[damo]

I just got a Touring Plans Crow Calendar update for our dates, 12/4-12. All the weekdays dropped. Coincidence?

The parks are empty in early December.

 

[Squirlz]

The parks are empty in early December.

I know. I was just commenting on the fact that predicted levels dropped days after the closing was announced.

 

[perditax]

I know. I was just commenting on the fact that predicted levels dropped days after the closing was announced.

They dropped massively for my February trip too. Got the email this morning; some days for my trip went from an 8 to a 2.

If I had to guess I'd say people are scaling back on travel plans due to recent world events.

 

[Flounder89]

We're going Dec 2-3. -.- Not happy is an understatement.

 

[Flounder89]

I called today and expressed my disappointment. Also asking if the castle tour will still be available (basically walking through the queue) and they said it's a possibility and management is working together to see if it's possible and how. I asked about compensation (because I'm spending $500 for one day at UO for two people) and they said they were not offering compensation because it's only one attraction and they have many more to offer.

It definitely is a bummer but we will still have a blast at Universal!

Following...I would hope we can do the castle tour...

 

[perditax]

With such short notice is it possible the ride has a significant technical problem?

 

[damo]

With such short notice is it possible the ride has a significant technical problem?

I think they are doing work to some of the interior animatronics such as the whomping willow. This has been rumoured since May. I think they were just waiting for a slow time.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Well, there goes the one ride my entire family of six was going to ride. And probably never will now. :-(

 

[Kirbie]

They dropped massively for my February trip too. Got the email this morning; some days for my trip went from an 8 to a 2.

If I had to guess I'd say people are scaling back on travel plans due to recent world events.

That's interesting. I totally understand the December drop, but February is a bit weird. Could be like you said, people are holding off until things settle down a bit before travelling? My friend and I are now flying home on inauguration day (as a result of changing plans due to FJ). My friend said she is more concerned about flying on that day than the week before on Friday the 13th I think we'll be fine. But it's a bit nerve wracking.

 

[snoopboop]

This is so frustrating. We rearranged our trip because of the adoption of my daughter and decided to go Dec. 2-11th. It's not like we can rearrange all our work schedules plus airline tickets. If you are from out of state this takes a lot of planning. Does anyone know if Universal will compensate you? Like offer tickets for breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron or something?! We won't be able to go back for a long while.

I have a difficult time not getting really fired up about the notion that apparently some people believe that Universal owes them something because a single attraction is closed during their visit. I can't wrap my head around this. I feel so badly for the customer service representatives who are likely inundated with angry customers demanding to be "compensated" over this. :-/ I'm also concerned about people openly posting here about special accommodations provided for them by Universal in extenuating circumstances. That seems to me like a really great way to get Universal to stop doing those nice things altogether.

 

[perditax]

I have a difficult time not getting really fired up about the notion that apparently some people believe that Universal owes them something because a single attraction is closed during their visit. I can't wrap my head around this. I feel so badly for the customer service representatives who are likely inundated with angry customers demanding to be "compensated" over this. :-/ I'm also concerned about people openly posting here about special accommodations provided for them by Universal in extenuating circumstances. That seems to me like a really great way to get Universal to stop doing those nice things altogether.

I agree. While I don't believe in letting huge companies push people around (and I vote with my wallet), there's a certain segment of people who are privileged enough to be able to travel who are also very "compensation"-oriented. I understand if the company is obviously at fault (although even then I lack the patience to hound some customer service rep for 'compensation'), but in this situation the ride obviously needs to be worked on.

No matter when it happened, it would impact *someone's* trip of a lifetime. No matter how much notice they reasonably gave, someone would say it wasn't enough.

I was lucky enough to have tickets to see Hamilton in September. Even though it was a Saturday night, two of the lead roles (Hamilton and Eliza) were subbed in by understudies. I didn't find out until I was in the theater and the playbook was in my hand. The show was still fantastic.

 

[Kirbie]

I have a difficult time not getting really fired up about the notion that apparently some people believe that Universal owes them something because a single attraction is closed during their visit. I can't wrap my head around this.

For me the frustration stems from the fact that it was such short notice. According to the podcast, Universal knew about the closure and for some reason chose not to share until three weeks before the closure; and that's what frustrated me. Had Universal chosen to share the information prior to three weeks, people could have arranged their schedules around it. For some people this could be a one time trip, and the Forbidden Journey is a very big attraction.
ETA: I chose to share my experience with customer service because I thought it was very generous of Universal to offer express tickets to me. I was sharing my appreciation for the kindness of the customer service at Universal and how wonderfully they've handled the feedback. They actually called me after I left feedback on their website, simply expressing my disappointment in the short notice. I was pleasantly surprised by the offer, and am very much looking forward to my trip in January!

 

[Flounder89]

I am also not expecting to be compensated, and will not change my plans to go there because it is closed, I am just equally upset this was not communicated earlier. Harry Potter is the main reason we choose to spend more time at Universal than we used to, and closing the best ride based on that franchise on a weekend where the holiday events begin that might draw some extra visitors seems like bad timing.

 

[yaddakal]

Crud. I'm doing a Disney trip 11/28 - 12/3 and December 1st was my Universal day. Debating whether to move it up a day or not...but that would be a HUGE pain.

Does this mean we also can't see the inside of the castle? This will be my first time to WWOHP and that was one of the things I was looking forward to the most.

I'm in same exact scenario and everything is already set! So not happy!

 

[Squirlz]

I have a difficult time not getting really fired up about the notion that apparently some people believe that Universal owes them something because a single attraction is closed during their visit. I can't wrap my head around this. I feel so badly for the customer service representatives who are likely inundated with angry customers demanding to be "compensated" over this. :-/ I'm also concerned about people openly posting here about special accommodations provided for them by Universal in extenuating circumstances. That seems to me like a really great way to get Universal to stop doing those nice things altogether.

Absolutely. Every guide you read warns you that a tradeoff for low crowds is the risk of attraction closure. We will miss FJ for our entire trip, but frankly I'd be embarrassed to admit asking for special compensation.

 

[damo]

No matter when they announced this, there would be people who had planned their trips before the announcement. They can NEVER please people in a situation like this. I understand the frustration but there are always going to be upset people, no matter when they announce.

 

[yaddakal]

No matter when they announced this, there would be people who had planned their trips before the announcement. They can NEVER please people in a situation like this. I understand the frustration but there are always going to be upset people, no matter when they announce.

That's true I think we are actually going to reverse the order of our trip which is a pain but at least I saw it on here so I knew

 

[J-Dog]

No matter when they announced this, there would be people who had planned their trips before the announcement. They can NEVER please people in a situation like this. I understand the frustration but there are always going to be upset people, no matter when they announce.

I disagree. As others have stated, unless this is closed due to sudden, catastrophic issues, the main reason that people are upset is the extremely short notice. Disney typically gives 6 months+ notice for major ride closure. I agree that someone would be mad no matter what, but if they had give more notice, I think a lot less people would be mad.

 

[damo]

I disagree. As others have stated, unless this is closed due to sudden, catastrophic issues, the main reason that people are upset is the extremely short notice. Disney typically gives 6 months+ notice for major ride closure. I agree that someone would be mad no matter what, but if they had give more notice, I think a lot less people would be mad.

You agreed with what I said. All I said was that someone would be mad no matter what.

Disney World typically gives more notice. Disneyland does not. I have personally experienced DL closures with under a month's notice.