Hp world busiest worst planned park in world what were they thinking?

[Pembo]

The beauty of Universal is the express pass especially when you stay on site. I actually felt special bc I was staying there! Unlike Disney where staying there doesn't give you fp.

 

[AlexandNessa]

OP, I know what you mean. Hubby and I went 12/29-1/4. To keep ourselves sane, we just avoided HP like the plague. If we had really wanted to do it, we'd have given ourselves a VIP tour of IOA, but HP isn't worth that to us.

We really enjoyed our time at the Studios, but once HP takes that over too, our Uni days may be over.

 

[Planogirl]

All I see when I hear about these crowds is Universal doing well. Deservedly so too.

 

[damo]

All I see when I hear about these crowds is Universal doing well. Deservedly so too.

I agree. HP has done wonders for them. Universal/IOA was in a pretty bad situation previously. I heard that Universal was pretty dead over the holidays where IOA was hopping. Good thing some changes are on the way for the studios. It will be interesting when the attendance numbers come out for 2011.

 

[Metro West]

We really enjoyed our time at the Studios, but once HP takes that over too, our Uni days may be over.

That's what concerns me too. I have a feeling the relaxing, lazy days of strolling through the parks are going to come to an end when/if HP is expanded into the Studios. The crowds are going to keep lots of people away. Just imagine trying to get into the parking garage with TWO HP crowds! I think the crowds are going to increase more this summer with Despicable Me opening but nothing compared to another HP area.

I just don't know....

 

[damo]

That's what concerns me too. I have a feeling the relaxing, lazy days of strolling through the parks are going to come to an end when/if HP is expanded into the Studios. The crowds are going to keep lots of people away. Just imagine trying to get into the parking garage with TWO HP crowds! I think the crowds are going to increase more this summer with Despicable Me opening but nothing compared to another HP area.

I just don't know....

We were there in February, June and September this year. All had very manageable crowds but the Studios were absolutely dead in June and September. There is no way they can be making any profit there. Sure it is nice to wander around an empty park but from a business standpoint, the park can't continue to exist like that. I'd rather see huge crowds in busy season than have to close the parks or have them totally stagnant and working with skeleton staffing because of lack of attendance and profit.

 

[AlexandNessa]

That's what concerns me too. I have a feeling the relaxing, lazy days of strolling through the parks are going to come to an end when/if HP is expanded into the Studios. The crowds are going to keep lots of people away. Just imagine trying to get into the parking garage with TWO HP crowds! I think the crowds are going to increase more this summer with Despicable Me opening but nothing compared to another HP area.

I just don't know....

Yes. I know that UO needed a cash infusion, but HP just overwhelms it, IMHO.

 

[dsmom]

i agree jodie! i am in the minority i know, but i hate and despise harry potter.

we never go into that part of ioa. i sure hope it doesn't take over the studios

too.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Not to mention...Disney has FREE fastpass..the fact that universal charges for its express pass and the price goes up with the crowd prediction( last week the expres pass was going for $99),Sticks in alot of peoples craws..I had a friend that just came back and was LIVID that Universal/IOA were so packed and that they charge for "fastpasses" and she is NEVER going back or giving Unversal a dime of her money..blah blah blah.. ..Apparently no matter what Universal does or doesn't do, people find fault with it...The news station that had that woman on should have mentioned that last week DHS,MK ,AK,US,IOA ,Seaworld and legoland ALL CLOSED to capacity

I was talking to some current and former Cast Members the other day who were saying how bad Disney's Fast Pass system is. Because it's free most people take advantage of it, making the fast pass line longer than the standby line and making the standby line much longer for everyone else. Because Universal charges for Express Pass (meaning less people will have it), it remains a true express pass. That's why people who bought them last week had 10 minute waits compared to 120 waits.

 

[RMulieri]

I was talking to some current and former Cast Members the other day who were saying how bad Disney's Fast Pass system is. Because it's free most people take advantage of it, making the fast pass line longer than the standby line and making the standby line much longer for everyone else. Because Universal charges for Express Pass (meaning less people will have it), it remains a true express pass. That's why people who bought them last week had 10 minute waits compared to 120 waits.

Oh I know...But lots of people that come to these boards and people I know think that Disneys way of doing it is much better since it is free to all..I don't care either way to be honest as long as I save time and not have to wait on lines.I would pay for Unversals pass if it wasn't included in the resort perks, since it is good for almost all rides and doesn't require any running to Fastpass machines etc.I do remember when universal switched from a similar system as Disney to the current system it has now and people were TICKED off.

 

[Victoria3]

I was talking to some current and former Cast Members the other day who were saying how bad Disney's Fast Pass system is. Because it's free most people take advantage of it, making the fast pass line longer than the standby line and making the standby line much longer for everyone else. Because Universal charges for Express Pass (meaning less people will have it), it remains a true express pass. That's why people who bought them last week had 10 minute waits compared to 120 waits.

Of course people are gonna take advantage of fastpass. It's free for everyone. I've never seen the fastpass longer than the standby line.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

What do you mean take "advantage" of fastpass? It's free for everyone. I've never seen the fastpass longer than the standby line.

That's what I meant (maybe a bad choice of words on my part)- because it's free, most people use it. I haven't seen it personally either, but I don't visit the Disney parks all that often and never during really busy times. I'm just repeating what these cast members have told me, both of whom have worked in attractions that used the fastpass system.

 

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

Of course people are gonna take advantage of fastpass. It's free for everyone. I've never seen the fastpass longer than the standby line.

I've seen it. DH and I went to a MNSSHP this year in Oct. We got in the standby line for Splash because the wait said 30 min. (Anything over, we get a fastpass). Soon a whooooooole bunch of people starting going through the FP line, and soon the FP line was longer than SB. And it stayed that way. So, we ended being in line for 80 minutes; when we got close to the CM taking tickets I looked at the tickets she was taking while we were standing there, and noticed every single ticket had an earlier return time.

So yeah, I've seen it happen.

 

[mesaboy2]

I've seen it. DH and I went to a MNSSHP this year in Oct. We got in the standby line for Splash because the wait said 30 min. (Anything over, we get a fastpass). Soon a whooooooole bunch of people starting going through the FP line, and soon the FP line was longer than SB. And it stayed that way. So, we ended being in line for 80 minutes; when we got close to the CM taking tickets I looked at the tickets she was taking while we were standing there, and noticed every single ticket had an earlier return time.

So yeah, I've seen it happen.

Well, the flaw with this is that there are no FPs during Disney's hard-ticket parties. More likely one of these lines was to see the Seven Dwarves.

And as much as I would like to go there, late FP debates don't belong on this particular board, so I'll abstain.

 

[nytimez]

I've seen it. DH and I went to a MNSSHP this year in Oct. We got in the standby line for Splash because the wait said 30 min. (Anything over, we get a fastpass). Soon a whooooooole bunch of people starting going through the FP line, and soon the FP line was longer than SB. And it stayed that way. So, we ended being in line for 80 minutes; when we got close to the CM taking tickets I looked at the tickets she was taking while we were standing there, and noticed every single ticket had an earlier return time.

So yeah, I've seen it happen.

bullpuckey

 

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

Well, the flaw with this is that there are no FPs during Disney's hard-ticket parties. More likely one of these lines was to see the Seven Dwarves.

And as much as I would like to go there, late FP debates don't belong on this particular board, so I'll abstain.

Sorry, should have made myself a little more clear: This was BEFORE 7 pm, we got in line at about 5:30. We didn't get off until 7. They DO take FP's until 7, when the actual party starts, even though they let people in at 4. But I know you knew that already.

bullpuckey

Um...you weren't there, so how could you possibly know? Get your facts first before you call "bullpuckey" on someone.

 

[Planogirl]

I agree. HP has done wonders for them. Universal/IOA was in a pretty bad situation previously. I heard that Universal was pretty dead over the holidays where IOA was hopping. Good thing some changes are on the way for the studios. It will be interesting when the attendance numbers come out for 2011.

Why aren't the Studios ever dead in August? It is not as busy as IOA of course but 30-45 minute waits are not unusual for us.

To those who think that the parks will be overly crowded if both include Harry Potter areas, I thought that two distinct HP sections might help distribute the crowds a bit more. At least that's what I hoped.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

If Universal had free Express passes once again, waits would just be longer in the regular line. By limiting Express access to hotel guests and those who opt to purchase it, it keeps Express lines short and regular lines shorter. Trust me. I remember the days of Express when even Shrek 4D had 180 minute waits. I kid you not.

You probably might not want to give Disney a dime of your money considering they open their parks one hour earlier a day or three hours later at night exclusively for their on-site hotel guests. Yes, believe it or not, even Disney makes you pay for certain perks.

 

[nytimez]

Sorry, should have made myself a little more clear: This was BEFORE 7 pm, we got in line at about 5:30. We didn't get off until 7. They DO take FP's until 7, when the actual party starts, even though they let people in at 4. But I know you knew that already.



Um...you weren't there, so how could you possibly know? Get your facts first before you call "bullpuckey" on someone.

I know when I smell a story that makes no sense. It would take roughly 1,400 people all coming at once to suddenly add 50 minutes to a wait time at Splash Mountain. The idea that you inspected the tickets of 1,400 people and they were all using "late" FPs is absurd on the face of it.

More likely, the ride broke down - as it often does - and you were looking for someone to blame.

But this is getting OT for Universal... post it in the Theme Parks board and we can carry on there if you wish.

 

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

I know when I smell a story that makes no sense. It would take roughly 1,400 people all coming at once to suddenly add 50 minutes to a wait time at Splash Mountain. The idea that you inspected the tickets of 1,400 people and they were all using "late" FPs is absurd on the face of it.

More likely, the ride broke down - as it often does - and you were looking for someone to blame.

But this is getting OT for Universal... post it in the Theme Parks board and we can carry on there if you wish.

Lol whatever. Think what you want. You weren't there.