FOTL for HRH Guests

[Jon360]

--"Universal made me book trips for a product that will not be delivered." Come on Jon...how did they "make" you?--

They advertised the product as having a certain feature. That is why I purchased it. No company forces anyone to purchase a product, however I chose to purchase it based on the experiences of others and my own past experience with FOTL.

--You can continue carrying on but you are only upsetting yourself. It clearly states and no it is not "always in microscopic fine print", SUBJECT TO CHANGE.--

My airline ticket says subject to change. However, if they changed my flight time from 6pm to 6am, my travel agent would notify me and promptly offer a refund. When Universal is changing it's policy my travel agent does not notify me, it is a surprise for when I get there.

--I also believe and yes Jon, it's my opinion, that you are now resorting to ficticious post names in order to continue your rants on this board. I suppose you are entitled to them, I just hope they have been productive for you.--

This is the most ludicrist thing I have ever read. I think you have spent so much time on this message board you are coming up with baseless accusations against people whose views you disagree with.

If you have any doubts as to who I am just e-mail me at Jon360@aol.com and I would be more than happy to talk to you over the phone or in person on Long Island to tell you how I feel about the changes!

 

[Jon360]

Thefoyboy,

I hope that the information you received is correct!! That would be awesome! Maybe someone at Universal was listening!!!

And Jessica if it is true that they have decided not to limit it anymore, maybe you can thank me and the other people on this board who didn't just accept it as fact and voiced their concerns about the changes.

 

[Earl]

I guess this one just will not go away, so here's the spark for the new firestorm of rebuttals ....

Anyone thanking anyone, and not accepting it as fact. I'm sorry, but please. It was fact until a couple of days ago. As a matter of fact, I posted there was a change a few days ago. Now, if you must know, there is a reason for the change. Whenever the issue is settled, there will be a limit for on-site. It will be along the lines of every couple of hours, or so many times a day per attraction. For one of the reasons, the system cannot stand riders getting off and right back on, over and over again, in the numbers that the hotels can generate. Remember, 2 hotels now, third under construction, no more than a 15 minute wait in Express. The unlimited phrase has been removed from all of the advertising, for good.

It's still going to be the best access system in any theme park. If you honestly think it's so bad, why don't you call the mouse and see what they'll do for you.

 

[thefoyboy]

Jon360,

I know it is correct. I have a way of digging through the clutter and the people who may be misinformed and getting to someone who knows for a fact plus taking names does help a lot.

As for thanking anyone and being sanctamonious about it I will not do. Yes, maybe the complaints is what changed it, but I'll just be happy that it did and not gloat about what maybe we accomplished.

In the meantime, keep letting them know your thoughts and checking in lest they think we get complacent and not mind it changing again at least in the immediate future.

As for the room comparisons to the previous poster whose name I cannot recall now and apologize for such, our Embassy room was easily half as much as what we are paying at HRH and the amenities and service were excellent, so it is comparable, I can't argue with you about the Clarion since I've never stayed at that one. POint is your paying for the name and perks when you stay onsite and you are charged as such, so the goods need to be delivered. To say there isn't better for less is just in error since I have at least pointed out one. We just decided to try this once for now and see what we think. Maybe a better thought about it will come after when I'll drop my two cents here about it.

Travel Junkie

 

[thefoyboy]

Earl,

I'll just say this in kind reply. I don't know exactly what your position at Universal is, but I respect you no matter what it is.

Nonetheless, the customer service reps on the front end are not going to be in the habit of giving out blantantly false or outright lies in the performance of their duties along with giving their complete names lest their job be in jeopardy.

If they were to do so they'd be misrepresenting Universal and be subject to legal recourse. They weren't just trying to massage my concerns, they flat out and confidently assured me of what I posted in an earlier reply.

You are welcome to say what you will, but if Universal is so messed up that you and others you work with have one set of info yet the folks on the front line have no idea and are giving out false information to customers and booking them under these assumptions, then Universal hasn't even begun to see the firestorm yet.

Travel Junkie

 

[Earl]

Please let me start out by saying out not trying to put anyone down, or out post anyone. I'm only stating what I know as correct and to date have not posted any incorrect information here. I read the previous post about the change. It says until further notice, access is not changed. There's no forever about this. It may be a month, or a year. You can bet on it being done by the time the Royal Bali opens. I know the specific reason why it has not been implemented, and just like any other information I don't post, it's nobody's business outside of Universal. It's not because of calls or complaints, it's a logistical issue.

All I'm trying to do is to avoid anyone from getting incorrect information. It would bother me if someone was dissapointed by their trip because someone gave them incorrect information that I could have corrected. One thing for sure, Universal is not about to give somebody something based on the fact that they read it on a public forum. Universal isn't mis-representing itself and no one is subject to legal action, hopefully no one posting here will be. Give out enough wrong information and have it cost someone some money and see.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Earl,

I would like to thank you for the information that you give us here. I know that you have taken a lot of heat regarding the FOTL issue; and yet you have continued to keep us up to date on what is happening. I hope you know that you are appreciated by many!

 

[xl]

Give it up Earl! <IMG WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="15" SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif" alt="razz">

 

[thefoyboy]

Earl,

Let me just put it this way. Someone here is wrong or you might have even left yourself an out by saying it might be implemented in a month or in a year. Now that is somewhat different from what you were saying before. Nonetheless, FOTL is unlimited for now and the near future per Universal Representatives on an OFFICIAL basis. You are considered unofficial since you wish to post that way and really it is all you can do here.

As per the legal aspect, if your saying that it is still going to change very soon and I and others like me who had previous reservations won't get FOTL unlimited, then your in effect saying Universal is lying to me and or others here. How can I say that? Well, if I call the official company reservation line, as I did, and am told without reservation that FOTL is unlimited for me and other guests previously booked, then they have to honor that or they are blantantly misrepresenting known policy and risking legal action because of deception.

Now I don't want to go into that, but that point is known and made. At this juncture it isn't a problem because OFFICIAL Universal Reps have cleared up the confusions for now and the current future, but I will continue to check in every week until arriving there.

In the meantime, either your blowing smoke or Universal customer service reps are deceiving customers. Either way, someone is in the wrong unless you want to open another avenue for escape for yourself like the month or year comment.

Travel Junkie

 

[Earl]

What are you talking about? What is this blowing smoke? What about mis-representation? Do you read all of the words or just the ones that you want to? I have not mis-spoken. All I said is it's the way it is now, and that it will change at some point. I didn't say very soon, just that it will. It could be a month, it could be longer. That's what I said. When the change takes place, the repsonse that you get from reeservations will change as well. Nobody's blowing smoke, misleading or being deceiving. There's a reason for the change being delayed, it's perfectly logical, but it's not any of your business. Leave myself a way out for what I posted before? I didn't need to leave myself an out. I posted a reply last week that there was a change, I just didn't give the details. More words that didn't get read I suppose. All this and it's your first day posting, at least under this name. All of that history on this board just going to waste.

I'm trying to keep it straight so everyone, including you, doesn't get mis-informed. Letsbgoofy, thanks, you get the point.

[This message was edited by Earl on 02-11-01 at 10:05 PM.]

 

[thefoyboy]

Earl,

Was it not you that said this was going to happen on the 15th and there was going to be no further FOTL unlimited and you had the paperwork on your desk verifying that fact? If not, then I apologize, but I think I recall that in going back and reading some of your posts.

Second, are you so insecure with me and my assertions that you would imply I am someone else hiding behind another name? How lame is that? Why maybe your a Disney employee trying to stir up trouble for Universal? Sounds about as nuts as your questioning my validity.

Finally, up to this point I have been very generous in granting you your positions, but it sounds now like your getting cold feet of sorts. I could say there is going to be change to this program within a year and probably be right about it and not have to be a Universal employee to see that one. The implication I gathered from you and your statements was that the changeover was happening nearly immediatly, nothing could change it, and if anyone else at Universal told us different they were wrong.

Me thinks you doth protests too much, but hey, go for it. You do make one good point. No one here can misrepresent anything since anything you say is unofficial and unprovable since this is a message board.

Travel Junkie

 

[larworth]

Earl misrepresent something. Come on. Why we can beg, plead, try to guess, even threaten to visit his office, and he still never tells us anything he shouldn't.

Earl, I appreciate you trying to let us know ahead of time. Obviously, there are changes in the works and I'm sure it is not the first time things change at the last minute. Don't let this dampen your participation, regardless of how little you sometimes actually tell us (lol).

I too hold HRH reservations for later in the year. Yes, FOTL all day was the key factor as I have always stayed off-site. If they change the policy before my trip, than it would be a great gesture of goodwill if they grandfather those who had prior reservations.

I don't know what my reaction will be if they don't. I have been holding off telling the kids as I didn't want them to get bummed out.

 

[thefoyboy]

Lar,

Why bother checking with Earl for the policy? Why not contact Universal on an official contact basis and get the straight skinny rather than rely on someone who may or may not be able to give the exacts on things as he is now saying.

My attempt is not to demean him, but IMO his explanations have modified somewhat over the last couple of weeks which brings questions to mind.

I appreciate any insight someone can give, but it was being made to sound like on-site guests, no matter when they made their reservation or what any OFFICIAL rep of Universal told us, were going to lost the FOTL unlimited privilege and that is now been indicated to not be so no matter what reason is tossed out.

Finally, I don't expect Earl to tell me anything he isn't supposed to which is why I call Universal for the OFFICIAL line. If he shares information unofficially, that's great, but of course consider it isn't an official release so it is subject to change...<grin>

Travel Junkie

 

[Earl]

It's amazing. It must be the cold weather. I said I had the policy, then I said there was a change. On top of everything else, the hardware's not ready. You can male one of your calls to IBM, there are doing the system.

Otherwise, get over it. If there's anyway in the world it can happen, I do hope you enjoy your next visit.

 

[MrNonacho]

The information that Earl has provided us (by his own generous free will) has proved to be remarkably accurate. Thefoyboy, if you so desire, you can look back at all the posts made by Earl in the past year or so. You'll find that he's been spot-on for pretty much everything he said was going to happen.

Weeks and weeks ago, he and CoasterFEV broke the news of this new Express system. They explained that there would be kiosks and alternate entrances to accomodate this new system. If one called the OFFICIAL Universal sources, you would have been told that there would be no changes to Express in the foreseeable future. Sure enough, even though Universal said it wouldn't change, there are new signs popping up at many attractions pointing to new entrances. Also, I noticed yesterday that there is a big new sign outside Back to the Future that currently reads simply "Distribution," as well as what seem to be four "spaces" for the kiosks. I'm sure there will soon be more like it. So, sometimes even the official Universal sources can be a little behind or misinformed.

I do not think Earl is trying to mislead us or misrepresent Universal or its services. Like someone here said recently, a lot of this argument wouldn't have occurred had the communication channels within Universal been a bit more effective.

Based on his past gifts of information, I'd believe Earl when he says that unlimited FOTL is enjoying only a temporary encore. (On reading this again, I realize that it never went away. In fact, pretty much the only people who knew that it would be going away were people from this board and people who had other "inside" sources. This just lends further credence to Earl's assertion that guest complaints were not the reason for continuing unlimited FOTL.)

Thanks for everything, Earl, and don't let anything said on these boards get to you. A year from now hardly anyone is going to remember this bumpy transition. How many of you remember the days before ANY Express access? They weren't that long ago.

[This message was edited by MrNonacho on 02-11-01 at 10:59 PM.]

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Earl, I just wanted to let you know that there are many on this board that are happy you chose us to devulge bits and pieces of upcoming happenings for UO. Having FOTL access or not, is not stopping me from choosing HRH or PB from my hotel destination. Even the once a day FOTL is a far better a deal than the mouse up the road can do.

 

[thefoyboy]

MrNonacho,

I don't doubt that Earl has been accurate. In fact, I gave him that assumption based upon my limited knowledge of him or CoasterFEV since I have only begun reading these boards in the last 2 months and only decided to start posting this weekend.

The only thing I questioned was this FOTL issue and his take on it which seemed to be it was going to happen period, persona non grata no matter what other Universal Reps said or promised. In this case what they say is much more important since this perk is a big deal and their word is an OFFICIAL representation which they can be held to account on. Earl, good as he is, cannot since his posts here are strictly unofficial.

I'll say it again. Earl sounds like a good Universal source of information, but he's only as good as what Universal's official representatives are willing to promise you. This knowledge directly affects customers wanting to stay onsite. A change in scenery, rides, ticket types, etc, tend to be less of an inconvenience in general compared to an onsite guest who doles out the money because of promised perks.

I am always willing to listen, learn, and acknowledge those who have something to share. I only get a little bit concerned when I hear something that doesn't seem to blend with the official policy where it affects my plans in a large way potentially. When things are more personal to you, that tends to be the case for all I'm sure.

To those I have offended, my apologies as it was not my intent. Rather it was only to question and get to the bottom of this as has now been done. Sadly by taking a long route...

Travel Junkie

 

[Dave OBrien]

This is rediculous. First off, Earl has been around here a long time and not to my knowledge, has ever given inacurate information, nor does he have to drop an inside tidbit here and there. We greatly appreciate this Earl-my deepest thank you's. As far as babbling on ad-nauseum about "getting screwed" for FOTL, if this is the worst thing that ever happens to you in life, well you've lead a charmed existance. On and on about legal action-come on, give it a rest. Go on vacation and enjoy it for what it is- a vacation. I think that chip on your shoulder is so large, it blocks out any way you'd be able to enjoy yourself as you'd always be trying to find ways you thought you were getting the shaft. Lighten up a little. Life's too short.

"Compose your final, loathesome dirge!"

 

[No11's Mom]

Earl, just want to give you my vote of support for whatever it is worth. I have enjoyed all of your posts and appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us.

thefoyboy - you seem to have way to much time on your hands. But I do hope you can relax enough to enjoy your trip.

 

[Molokai Gram]

Mahalo nui, Earl.

Even if you are trying to have me "deported", I do appreciate your posts. Those that "saved" FOTL for the rest of us would not even have known there was a problem if you hadn't given us the heads up notice. I know we will continue to alert and help each other in planning our perfect vacations, hopefully with more aloha spirit and less nastiness.

However,I do not appreciate your too short notice for chat!
Aloha.