Is anyone else a little irritated that Park Hopper is needed to see all the HP stuff

[kathy884]

I applaud Universal for the interesting looking new HP areas. We will do a day there to see these later this year. It does sort of irritate me, though, that to do all the HP stuff, instead of just spending $96 for the day, I'll be spending somewhere around $135 for the one day park hopper. Am I the only one or is anyone else irritated by this?

Actually, it's a brilliant marketing move on their part because there are probably lots of people like me who just want to do one day and even if they are a little irritated to have to pay extra to see all the HP stuff, like me they will probably do it, giving Universal in a sense a 40% premium for many one day visitors. It will I think get them to see a return on their investment pretty quickly, and I realize it's certainly their prerogative to do this.

 

[Bluer101]

Nope. If I want to see all of Disney I need a park hopper too. Just because it's Harry Potter in both parks it 2 separate adventures.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

Irritated? Not really. I would buy at least a 2-day pass anyway, to see the other attractions at USF. That is what we bought the last time we visited, before diagonal Alley. So I'm sure we would get those again.

 

[sadossey]

Are you asking because they split the HP stuff between 2 parks or because you have to have P2P tix to ride the train?

 

[kathy884]

I was asking because they split the HP stuff into two parks. Our party is just wanting to do one day over there to see the HP stuff. We're not particularly interested in other attractions.

With the park hopper though and the low crowds predicted for our day we plan to hit a few other attractions at each, as time permits.(Twister, Lucy, ET, and Animal Actors at US) and (Dragon Challenge, Jurassic Park, Spiderman, and Hulk at IOA) are our top picks for add on stuff.

And I know too, last October when I just had two days in Orlando, I did actually buy a one day Disney park hopper and did a few favorites at MK and Epcot. The Universal one day hopper and Disney one day hopper are similarly priced.

 

[TaylorsDad]

Its a good marketing strategy to be sure but not really different than say having a child the loves the little mermaid but having to have WDW hopper passes to visit Ariels Grotto in MK and see the show in Hollywood Studios. Or the Nemo ride in Epcot and the show in Animal Kingdom. Or Enchanted Tales with Belle in MK and Beauty and the Beast musical in Hollywood Studios. I am sure there are more examples but those are the three that come to mind. For myself and family though I wouldn't try just one day for WDW just like I couldn't see only one day for Universal/IOA. Now if I lived close by that might be a different story. Either way if Diagon Alley is only a tenth as good as WWOHP it will be money well spent IMO. OP, I like your list of rides and attractions to add if time permits but would also suggest Transformers in US if you like Spiderman or Simpsons.

 

[got4boys]

I am NOT happy that you are forced to buy a 2 park pass for 1 ride.

If you do the math and buy a 1 day pass for both parks is $144.84 on the Universal Orlando website. The one day 1 park pass is $102.24 so the cost of the Hogwarts train ride is $42.60. That is rather steep.

 

[buckeev]

I hate price increases of any kind, no matter how "justified" they are. Gas, bread, milk, WDW/USO Theme Park tickets...you know-all of life's necessities....they all go up in price, but it is what it is.
This one was totally expected though, and although several family members could care less about HP, some are very excited to see the new stuff later this year.

 

[FargoBear]

The cost is higher than I would like but I won't complain. The expansion is one of the driving forces pulling me down to Orlando for the second time in 13 months despite the 1,800-mile trip. Some things are worth paying for to experience.

 

[agavegirl1]

I guess I don't mind, although I don't just do one day at US/IOA. It is a marketing strategy very similar to the idea of Stay More Play More or Disney's pricing structure for park tickets for multi-days. Universal wants your dollars just like Disney does. If you stay at US/IOA with park to park passes or WDW with Hoppers for part of your vacation then go to the other park for a day or two, don't both parks want you to experience all they have to offer at top dollar for your minimal time investment?

Stay at a Universal resort with park to park for four days and go to Disney to ride a few favorites in multiple parks...pretty much the same as the other way around. Universal has just made both of their parks more equally appealing.

 

[Planogirl]

We preferred the studios to IOA anyway so this just makes the second park even more valuable. Disney does exactly the same.

By the way, those of you visiting and adding other attractions consider checking out the Mummy's Revenge. It's my favorite ride anywhere so I have to give it a plug.

 

[damo]

Nope. I buy the annual pass for $199 and renew it for even less which is an absolute steal, so I can't complain.

All park to park tickets are still cheaper than buying the same ticket at WDW or DL, so seems fair to me.


Nobody is forcing anyone to ride the Hogwarts Express. It isn't like the one park per day ticket has been eliminated.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

Nope. If I want to see all of Disney I need a park hopper too. Just because it's Harry Potter in both parks it 2 separate adventures.

I agree, not bothered in the slightest about having to buy hoppers, ....We're doing a split trip this time 1/2 at Universal and 1/2 at WDW...I've bought hoppers for both places Really excited about the Universal portion of our trip

 

[Bluer101]

I am NOT happy that you are forced to buy a 2 park pass for 1 ride. If you do the math and buy a 1 day pass for both parks is $144.84 on the Universal Orlando website. The one day 1 park pass is $102.24 so the cost of the Hogwarts train ride is $42.60. That is rather steep.

No it's not $42.60 to ride the train. It is $42.50 to experience a whole other park with transportation in between.

There are plenty of other things inside all theme parks that require you additional money to experience. Besides its on universals website saying to experience it all you need a park to park ticket. There is no surprise when you get there. If this bothers someone before your trip then don't go. Everyone can make their own choices, no one is forcing you.

 

[Bluer101]

I was asking because they split the HP stuff into two parks. Our party is just wanting to do one day over there to see the HP stuff. We're not particularly interested in other attractions. With the park hopper though and the low crowds predicted for our day we plan to hit a few other attractions at each, as time permits.(Twister, Lucy, ET, and Animal Actors at US) and (Dragon Challenge, Jurassic Park, Spiderman, and Hulk at IOA) are our top picks for add on stuff. And I know too, last October when I just had two days in Orlando, I did actually buy a one day Disney park hopper and did a few favorites at MK and Epcot. The Universal one day hopper and Disney one day hopper are similarly priced.

When I go to Disney and want to see only a few headliners then I have to buy the hopper in order to do so. One park in mind is Hollywood Studios. I don't like buying a hopper sometimes just to ride RNR and TOT. So guess what, I don't do it. Also any HP fan that is going just to see HP would want to see both sides of HP regardless of Hogwarts Express. Actually HE is not really a ride in either park. The ride happens in the back lots.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

No it's not $42.60 to ride the train. It is $42.50 to experience a whole other park with transportation in between.

There are plenty of other things inside all theme parks that require you additional money to experience. Besides its on universals website saying to experience it all you need a park to park ticket. There is no surprise when you get there. If this bothers someone before your trip then don't go. Everyone can make their own choices, no one is forcing you.

This!!!! There is a lot to experience in both parks and if all you want to experience is the train, then you're missing out on some amazing attractions for the bargain price of $42.50!

 

[RMulieri]

Nope..Not in the least.I always get the park to park tickets anyway since the parks are literally next door to each other and it makes hopping easy.It is NO different than wanting to ride ToT and Test track at Disney..2 different parks , I need a park hopper to do it.

 

[disneydka]

We are planning two days at Universal and I was just going to get two single park tickest doing a park a day but in order to do Hogwarts Express we need the park to park. It amounts ot be a little over $132 for the 4 of us to get park to park vs single day and that is just to experience that one attraction.

 

[team weasel]

I'm a little annoyed, but mostly because P2P doesn't fit our typical UOR touring strategy (or Disney for that matter). We just are not park hoppers. With that being said, I will gladly fork over the extra money so that I can ride the Hogwarts Express. At least this once.

If I find the HE experience isn't epic enough to justify P2P then I will revert to a single park per day strategy for future trips.

Either way, I am SO EXCITED about seeing the new additions!

 

[Rip]

I'm actually glad they put it in the Studios as it will help disperse the crowds.