Islands of Adventure - Happy Potter question...

[ILoveMyGirls]

I am new here and am wondering if anyone knows if the Harry Potter part of Islands of Adventure will be open to the public vs. only people who bought packages with that in it?

Does anyone know for sure if/when this will happen?

 

[JoShan1719]

I believe opening to the GP (general public) is June 18th

 

[plutotek]

Based on what I've seen in the Universal section, they've been opening it for like half a day, giving package purchasers a chance to enter the land, but have also been picking people from the park to check it out. It appears that people will line up near the entrance, and may or may not get chosen to enter.

 

[Metro West]

I am new here and am wondering if anyone knows if the Harry Potter part of Islands of Adventure will be open to the public vs. only people who bought packages with that in it?

Does anyone know for sure if/when this will happen?

WWoHP's official opening is 6/18 but the first time the general public will get in enmasse is probably 6/19. I expect LOTS of media and celebrities on 6/18 so I don't think it will open until later in the afternoon...if at all. That's just a guess though.

 

[susiesk]

We got in yesterday right when the park opened, they had the gate open and were welcoming everyon in. They shut the rides down though by about 11:00am and closed it down I think about noon.

This morning we tried again and gave up by 10:30 when they hadn't let any GP in yet.

I wouldn't make a special trip to try soft openings as it seems to be quite speratic. We were very lucky to get in once since this is a once in a lifetime trip!

 

[DIZNUT57]

Quick question. We booked at HRH in Feb. for 5 nights arriving 6/12/10. My question is will they continue to let us preview all the way up until 6/18/10 or will they stop beforehand? We plan on going at least on the Monday 6/14 an possibly 6/16. Just trying to decide if they will limit access closer to GO.

 

[Metro West]

Quick question. We booked at HRH in Feb. for 5 nights arriving 6/12/10. My question is will they continue to let us preview all the way up until 6/18/10 or will they stop beforehand? We plan on going at least on the Monday 6/14 an possibly 6/16. Just trying to decide if they will limit access closer to GO.

I think they will still let the hotel people in but they might cut back on the general public coming in.

 

[ILoveMyGirls]

Thanks for the info. gang. IMO I think the way they are doing this stinks.

 

[atigeg]

true, but 1 hour for the GP is better than none.

it is just going to be the most crowded area of the park all summer

the ad's have been running for months, and the 30 minute commercial last sunday on NBC got more people excited.

 

[Albytaps]

Happy Potter!

 

[Indy Denise]

Happy Potter!

Happy Potter? I would be happy too, if I was a Pot-ter

 

[NashvilleTrio]

We went to IOA yesterday around 11:30am and there were team members in Port of Entry telling everyone that HP land was open and we should check it out. I was surprised at this since I thought they were still only doing the early previews for onsite guests and package holders. So we decided to go on over and try for another FJ ride. (We had already been 3 times earlier in the week since we were staying at the HRH.) We did get to ride with about a wait of about an hour and we didn't leave that area until around 2:00 and it was still open to everyone. So, it seems that they've started soft openings??? We're thinking about going back over to IOA tonight for one last hurrah before we head home in the morning. I'll be interested to see if HP will be open to the public tonight. I'll let you know...
-Melissa

 

[cressy]

We went to IOA yesterday around 11:30am and there were team members in Port of Entry telling everyone that HP land was open and we should check it out. I was surprised at this since I thought they were still only doing the early previews for onsite guests and package holders. So we decided to go on over and try for another FJ ride. (We had already been 3 times earlier in the week since we were staying at the HRH.) We did get to ride with about a wait of about an hour and we didn't leave that area until around 2:00 and it was still open to everyone. So, it seems that they've started soft openings??? We're thinking about going back over to IOA tonight for one last hurrah before we head home in the morning. I'll be interested to see if HP will be open to the public tonight. I'll let you know...
-Melissa

Thanks! I'd love to know-didnt make it back last week and I wanna try once again before the 18th.

 

[NashvilleTrio]

We went back to IOA around 7:30 tonight. We got back to HP around 9:00 and the area was so beautiful at night. The lighting on the trees is really neat. Anyway, the walls that have been around the area are now completely gone, but FJ wasn't running as of 9p. Hippogriff was running as well as DC and we got into Olivander's with about 10 other people. Good stuff.

 

[Metro West]

Thanks for the info. gang. IMO I think the way they are doing this stinks.

Soft openings are normal for any new attractions...there is no set schedule. However...the problem here is Universal did not allow for any additional "testings" aside from the hotel packages and yes...that was not a good idea. I really don't understand why it was done this way. Since GO is this Friday, I hope it doesn't come back to bite them with all the press coverage that will be there.

 

[damo]

GP was let in on Monday and Wednesday last week when we were there.

Sounds like it was open to GP also on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for longer periods of time during the afternoon and evening. This sounds like normal softs now.