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

[Bluer101]

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!

The thing is park hopping at Universal is nothing like Disney. When we go we visit both parks multiple time a day. It is just to easy to walk next door. Sometimes grab lunch or dinner in Citywalk on the way by.

 

[kaylasmom07]

No I'm not bothered by it, but I like universal and consider it a vacation destination in its own right, not just a day trip from Disney.

Oh but I can see the people that don't know about this, or didn't do their research who show up to HE with a 1 park 1 day ticket and are told they can't ride the ride unless they upgrade their tickets. I'd hate to be the TM that has to deal with that.

 

[Bluer101]

Oh but I can see the people that don't know about this, or didn't do their research who show up to HE with a 1 park 1 day ticket and are told they can't ride the ride unless they upgrade their tickets. I'd hate to be the TM that has to deal with that.

But that is not Universals fault. It's up to the consumer to research and figure out what's included.

This goes with lots of people, no one reads the whole contract before signing on the line or purchasing anything, do your research. Besides it's all spelled out on Universals website they are not hiding anything. This is not against anyone here but the person pissed off after they arrive to find out they bought the wrong tickets and did not do there homework.

 

[kittengal13]

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.

But it's not just $42.60 for a ride on the HE, it's access to a whole other fantastic theme park, it's not universals fault that others aren't interested in seeing the remainder of the park

 

[team weasel]

But that is not Universals fault. It's up to the consumer to research and figure out what's included.

This goes with lots of people, no one reads the whole contract before signing on the line or purchasing anything, do your research. Besides it's all spelled out on Universals website they are not hiding anything. This is not against anyone here but the person pissed off after they arrive to find out they bought the wrong tickets and did not do there homework.

Agreed. BUT...you know the TMs are still going to catch crap because of it. Those first few weeks/months are likely to be a challenge for them.

To the PP who mentioned the $200 APs, thank you! After a little research, I've decided this will be the ticket option for me. YAY for 12 months of P2P Universal!

 

[ADP]

I'm not really upset by it at all. The trend with theme parks these days is when they build an attraction or land they tend to incorporate some sort of money making/cost increase opportunity to pay for it. Open a new attraction ? A gift shop opens next door. Open a new land ? A new restaurant, shop, and/or additional cost experience opens with it. In the case of Diagon Alley it's the upgrade to park hopper where they are going to reap the benefit for paying for the land. Rarely do we or will we see a new attraction open without some sort of money making or revenue generating opportunity attached to it. It's the new way theme parks are making sure they don't lose their shirts when spending millions on a huge new attraction.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

Although I like the idea of riding the Hogwarts Express between the parks, I do wish there wasn't a $40 difference between park-to-park and single park tickets when you are buying more than one-day passes. Without Hogwarts Express, we'd be happy going to one park per day. We've never had WDW park hoppers either because we like to stick to one park at a time.

If you have tickets for two or more days, Hogwarts is really the only significant advantage to park-to-park tickets, so my family will spend an extra $200 just for the privilege to ride. Of course, we'll do it once for my HP fanatic's 11th birthday next year, but it's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip.

 

[EvangelineG]

Not bothered at all. As a PP said, I am really glad they did it this way so that the crowds are dispersed.

I look at going to Universal more like going to DL than WDW. I would never go to DL and not have park hoppers, because the two parks are very close, and having the freedom to move back and forth between them makes for a better trip for us. Same for US and IoA- we go back and forth between the two multiple times a day.

Plus I am the world's biggest Harry Potter fan, but there is so much more at US than just the HP stuff!!! The themeing at IoA is some of my favourite anywhere, and the Mummy is my all time favourite ride. It is well worth it to explore both parks!

 

[damo]

Not bothered at all. As a PP said, I am really glad they did it this way so that the crowds are dispersed.

I look at going to Universal more like going to DL than WDW. I would never go to DL and not have park hoppers, because the two parks are very close, and having the freedom to move back and forth between them makes for a better trip for us. Same for US and IoA- we go back and forth between the two multiple times a day.

Plus I am the world's biggest Harry Potter fan, but there is so much more at US than just the HP stuff!!! The themeing at IoA is some of my favourite anywhere, and the Mummy is my all time favourite ride. It is well worth it to explore both parks!

It is exactly like DL where you hop back and forth all day. I could never do either without park hoppers.

 

[toddinboston]

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.

agree 100% that for a one day visit, the price hurts...for my family of 6, a one day trip with PH (and food/trinkets) will set me back a cool $G...uggh...

the price per day does reduce dramatically for 2 (or even better 3) days, which is what I plan to do on our next visit to FLA...

the real test will be the quality of the Hogwarts Express ride??...if it turns out to be a "nice" ride, but not necessarily a must do, then i'll stick with single park tix during future visits...

 

[Seeker615]

What I don't think people realize is that Universal's park's are so close to each other that they are almost like one big park.

i love hopping between the parks when we are there. We start our day in one and then hit Citywalk for lunch and then walk over to the other park. It is so easy.

I also don't "get" why people just plan on seeing the HP stuff. There are so many great rides and shows at both parks besides HP.

IOA - Hulk, Dr. Doom, Jurassic Park, Cat in the Hat and Spiderman just to name a few. Not to mention that the theming all around is great.

Studios - Rip Ride Rocket, Despicable Me, Mummy, Horror Make up Show, Animal Actors, The Simpsons, Men in Black and Transformers. Again the theming in this park is amazing as well.

I highly encourage buying a park to park tickets and exploring all of Universal. You won't be sorry. There is so much to explore.

 

[Magpie]

What I don't think people realize is that Universal's park's are so close to each other that they are almost like one big park.

i love hopping between the parks when we are there. We start our day in one and then hit Citywalk for lunch and then walk over to the other park. It is so easy.

I also don't "get" why people just plan on seeing the HP stuff. There are so many great rides and shows at both parks besides HP.

IOA - Hulk, Dr. Doom, Jurassic Park, Cat in the Hat and Spiderman just to name a few. Not to mention that the theming all around is great.

Studios - Rip Ride Rocket, Despicable Me, Mummy, Horror Make up Show, Animal Actors, The Simpsons, Men in Black and Transformers. Again the theming in this park is amazing as well.

I highly encourage buying a park to park tickets and exploring all of Universal. You won't be sorry. There is so much to explore.

I sometimes think there are people who feel like they're betraying Disney somehow, if they do more than the bare minimum of Harry Potter stuff at Universal.

They're usually the ones who say things like, "There's nothing for young children at Universal." "It's just a whole lot of extreme roller coasters, and I'm not into that kind of thing." "I don't have teenagers, so why should I bother with Universal?" "Universal's basically just a collection of thrill rides with no theming, outside of the Harry Potter World stuff." "The cast members aren't as nice." "It simply doesn't have the Disney MAGIC!"

Mind you, the flip side of this are the folks who say that Disney's just for toddlers and preschoolers, and little girls who are into Princesses, and there's no reason to visit if you don't have young kids.

Personally, I think it's all silliness. Both companies offer very similar products. Disney's just much, much bigger, which can be either a positive or a negative, depending on your particular vacation needs.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Eh, the train itself is a park-hopper so it makes sense that you would need park-hopping capabilities. I don't love the idea of being dropped off backstage and left to schlep back to the park your ticket is only good for.

 

[johde]

I've always gotten park hopper at Universal so It's not a big deal to me. In fact, I like the fact that we now have an option at the back of both parks to get between parks. When I think about it, I like this solution better than the current monorail solution at Disneyland in California.

At Disneyland, there is currently a Monorail stop at the far end of DTD and in Tomorrowland. The monorail travel through Disney's California Adventure but doesn't have a stop there. It also travels through Disney's Grand California Resort but doesn't stop there either. As it is, the monorail is only convenient for people staying at the Disneyland Hotel, or people going to a DTD restaurant from the interior of Disneyland.

 

[bumbershoot]

I also don't "get" why people just plan on seeing the HP stuff. There are so many great rides and shows at both parks besides HP.

I agree. I'll admit that HP was the pull to get us to Uni on our very first Orlando trip, but we knew that we would try out the other stuff, too. Made our first trip a 4 nighter at Uni (10 nights at WDW) to really do it right. HP got us there, but the whole place KEPT us there and kept us coming back.

I don't love the idea of being dropped off backstage and left to schlep back to the park your ticket is only good for.

As it is, the monorail is only convenient for people staying at the Disneyland Hotel, or people going to a DTD restaurant from the interior of Disneyland.

And you have to have a ticket to even get on it! Annnnnd if you've already been to DCA that day, your ticket has to be a hopper.

This is just furthering my Disneyland = Universal theory. I tell you, our trip that started at Disneyland and ended at Universal in Orlando was the best. Someday we'll do it again, though for jet lag's sake we're going the other direction.

 

[JustPeachy2014]

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

This. I find it crazy that to ride the train you need a park hopper. Never heard of anything like that before at a theme park. However, I love theme parks and I love HP, so I will do it.

FWIW, I have never bought a park hopper before in my life. To me, it is not an efficient use of money. I'd rather just hit one park a day and save $. I show up to the park at or near opening and stay at that one park until I'm tired and ready to go back to the hotel for the day. If I want to go back out later, I go back to the same park because there is plenty to do at each park IMHO (whether talking about Disney or Universal). My first park hopper purchase will be for HP.

 

[huey duey & luey]

I agree. I think people are mistaking hopper for multi day pass. I NEVER get a hopper at WDW, and we aren't commando tourers. One park in the morning midday break and back to the same park in the evening, We are going to universal for our first trip this summer, and originally planned for 4 day single park tickets. 2 days in each park. To add the hopper is an additional 200$ for my family in 5, so yes for us in essence it is a rather pricey train ride.

 

[ep4244]

agree 100% that for a one day visit, the price hurts...for my family of 6, a one day trip with PH (and food/trinkets) will set me back a cool $G...uggh...

the price per day does reduce dramatically for 2 (or even better 3) days, which is what I plan to do on our next visit to FLA...

the real test will be the quality of the Hogwarts Express ride??...if it turns out to be a "nice" ride, but not necessarily a must do, then i'll stick with single park tix during future visits...

What I do is buy myself an annual pass and then use that to buy discounted tickets for the 4 kids I bring along. I have the preferred pass and it's 15% off tickets and 10% food/merchandise. With 5 people the savings add up quick.

I know that won't work for everyone, but it's a good option, atleast for us.

 

[hermionesnape]

I agree. I think people are mistaking hopper for multi day pass. I NEVER get a hopper at WDW, and we aren't commando tourers. One park in the morning midday break and back to the same park in the evening, We are going to universal for our first trip this summer, and originally planned for 4 day single park tickets. 2 days in each park. To add the hopper is an additional 200$ for my family in 5, so yes for us in essence it is a rather pricey train ride.

Are you staying onsite? See about getting one annual pass for your group. The hotel discount is hefty ($50 per night for me). Then you also get discounts on the others 4 day park to park tickets.

Another option is the 3 park unlimited ticket from Undercover Tourist. It's $201 for adults and slightly less for kids (taxes and fees included as well as shipping). It's good for 14 days after first use at Universal, IoA and Wet n Wild. Park to Park access is included.

 

[huey duey & luey]

Are you staying onsite? See about getting one annual pass for your group. The hotel discount is hefty ($50 per night for me). Then you also get discounts on the others 4 day park to park tickets.

Another option is the 3 park unlimited ticket from Undercover Tourist. It's $201 for adults and slightly less for kids (taxes and fees included as well as shipping). It's good for 14 days after first use at Universal, IoA and Wet n Wild. Park to Park access is included.

Yes we are at HRH, I have checked for annual pass discounts but so far none have popped up that are cheaper than the SMSM rate,

I saw that 3 park unlimited ticket thanks. We are actually at HRH for 5 days was planning just a pool day midway through our stay but now maybe will go to Wet and Wild our spend some time at a park on the extra day,