Disney Padawan
Imagining Imagineering. RCT3 Coaster Designe
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2007
- Messages
- 811
Hello everyone!!! Just got back from our 1 week stay at Universal Orlando and it was great!!! 
First of all, let me start by saying a big thank you to everyone that's helped me these past few weeks by answering all my questions.
The information on this site is sometimes invaluable.
I'll try not to make this into a full trip report but I did want to share some of my experiences and also some of the rumors I heard.
We stayed at the PBR for 8 days/7 nights and it was clearly one of the best resorts I've ever seen! Everyone there was nice and courteous and we really felt special from the moment we pulled in. I had booked a Garden View King Room and was upgraded to a Lake view which looked spectacular! The rooms we're spacious and nice and way better value than what I would pay at Disney. We had a minor issue with the bathroom door not closing and it was fixed right away. We usually spend 2 days in each park and 1 resort day but since Harry Potter was in town, we decided to stay 3 days in each park.
I know that this may sound like too much to most of you but we really like to take our time and enjoy every detail. We hit Universal first and most rides were under 15 minute wait. The only one that was 35 minutes was RRR. We managed to do many attractions that 1st day alone and all was well, except for me because most of the day my mind was on Harry Potter. You see, ever since the threads with the size restrictions of this ride got posted, I've been worried. I played a lot of football during my school years so I've got a slightly bigger build than some of my friends, 6' 236lbs. Most rides with the over-the-shoulder harness fit me just fine but It's always a little tight around my chest and shoulders plus the seatbelt hardly ever has anymore give once I lock it in place. So naturally, I've been worried about not fitting on FJ. The very 1st day we hit IOA I made a beeline torwards WWoHP. I didn't even bother eating breakfast yet because I wanted to have as much space as possible.
Anyway, there was a much taller and larger man in front of me trying out the test seats outside and with a little help, he got the green light. I sat right after him and he and his family were cheering me on, at first I thought I was in trouble but a quick buttock shift later and I was able to pull down the harness and get the green light myself! From that point on, I knew that I'd be alright.
I must say that Universal Creative and everyone else involved in this project did a fantastic job!!! Sure things could've been a little bigger but they did the best they could in the time they had. Plus, it does stay truer to the books and movies that way, I think. The shops and Hogwarts were amazing and it's easily the best queue I've ever been on! The ride was fantastic and I think it's on par with my other favorite ride of all time: Spider-man! I hope this area will continue to grow and improve as time goes on. The wait times were never over an hour and at night, they were walk ons. The stores can get crowded fast and I'd hate to see how they were in the summer.
Over the span of the next 4 days we got to see and do pretty much all of the attractions at both parks. We only did Ollivanders once and though I did enjoy it, wish there was a way of making multiple show rooms so the lines aren't so darn long. (I got my Reed wand with a Phoenix Tail Feather core. 
) My Fiancee enjoyed Butterbeer way more than me, She's a sugarholic and loves sweets. I'm the opposite so a few sips was enough for me. I did like the Frozen version better but my favorite of all the drinks there was the Pumpkin Fizz.
I do hope since WWoHP is done that UO concentrates on tweeking some of their othe rides. For example, Hulk needs some paint and a way to make it smooth as it once was. (Busch Gardens did this for Kumba and it worked out great.) The mummy needs to have some of its effects and screens working again, they've been this way for years now. Don't get me started on Cat in the Hat, it's like a Disney ride now! I know it's a kids ride and I understand what happened and why it was changed but they could add a few more spinning effects, even if they're mild. I mean, the part where you're going thru the whirlwinds you don't spin but you do 1 spin in the next scene? And after that, where Thing 1 and Thing 2 are climbing up the stairs and doing a sommersault, the ride vehicle has you facing the other way, so you totally miss that effect! Anyway, I hope it gets the attention that it deserves pretty soon.
Ok that's enough ranting, on to the good stuff: Rumors. I'm taking this with a grain of salt and I think everyone else here should too. I will admit that while some employees said they weren't able to talk about anything many that did kept repeating the same 2 things. Ususally employees don't know too much to begin with, as far as rumors go, because they get their info from the net just like us. I did happen to speak with several managers and 1 in particular who's been there 30 years was able to tell me a lot of info. I did promise to him not to mention certain things about the company, the President of Universal etc. We spoke for a good hour and everything sounds great so far. The things I could say are as follows: According to him, over the span of the summer, IOA has had a attendance increase of over 500,000 people. The plans for a new hotel, possibly Egyptian themed, is still in the works. The main rumor, that I don't agree with, is that they're thinking of re-theming The Lost Continent into Middle Earth!!! Now, unless they find more space, I don't think it should be done there. So where you ask, if not at IOA? How about a new park with lands like Far Far away, Middle Earth, Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory!! If this sounds too good to be true, it's because it probably is. They're right now trying to figure out how to extend WWoHP and have it all make sence. They're most likely to transform The lost Continent into Middle Earth but I told him, along with the many other people that mentioned this, that LC is too small to hold a Middle Earth, so we'll see. Unless they've got the space for it, they should put that idea into their 3rd gate.
Anyway gals and guys, thank you for reading this long post, I'll be more than happy to answer any questions that I can. Here's hoping that UO continues to expand and get better and better each year.
Thank you all once again, see you on the boards. 
First of all, let me start by saying a big thank you to everyone that's helped me these past few weeks by answering all my questions.
The information on this site is sometimes invaluable. I'll try not to make this into a full trip report but I did want to share some of my experiences and also some of the rumors I heard.
We stayed at the PBR for 8 days/7 nights and it was clearly one of the best resorts I've ever seen! Everyone there was nice and courteous and we really felt special from the moment we pulled in. I had booked a Garden View King Room and was upgraded to a Lake view which looked spectacular! The rooms we're spacious and nice and way better value than what I would pay at Disney. We had a minor issue with the bathroom door not closing and it was fixed right away. We usually spend 2 days in each park and 1 resort day but since Harry Potter was in town, we decided to stay 3 days in each park.
I know that this may sound like too much to most of you but we really like to take our time and enjoy every detail. We hit Universal first and most rides were under 15 minute wait. The only one that was 35 minutes was RRR. We managed to do many attractions that 1st day alone and all was well, except for me because most of the day my mind was on Harry Potter. You see, ever since the threads with the size restrictions of this ride got posted, I've been worried. I played a lot of football during my school years so I've got a slightly bigger build than some of my friends, 6' 236lbs. Most rides with the over-the-shoulder harness fit me just fine but It's always a little tight around my chest and shoulders plus the seatbelt hardly ever has anymore give once I lock it in place. So naturally, I've been worried about not fitting on FJ. The very 1st day we hit IOA I made a beeline torwards WWoHP. I didn't even bother eating breakfast yet because I wanted to have as much space as possible.
Anyway, there was a much taller and larger man in front of me trying out the test seats outside and with a little help, he got the green light. I sat right after him and he and his family were cheering me on, at first I thought I was in trouble but a quick buttock shift later and I was able to pull down the harness and get the green light myself! From that point on, I knew that I'd be alright.I must say that Universal Creative and everyone else involved in this project did a fantastic job!!! Sure things could've been a little bigger but they did the best they could in the time they had. Plus, it does stay truer to the books and movies that way, I think. The shops and Hogwarts were amazing and it's easily the best queue I've ever been on! The ride was fantastic and I think it's on par with my other favorite ride of all time: Spider-man! I hope this area will continue to grow and improve as time goes on. The wait times were never over an hour and at night, they were walk ons. The stores can get crowded fast and I'd hate to see how they were in the summer.
Over the span of the next 4 days we got to see and do pretty much all of the attractions at both parks. We only did Ollivanders once and though I did enjoy it, wish there was a way of making multiple show rooms so the lines aren't so darn long. (I got my Reed wand with a Phoenix Tail Feather core. ) My Fiancee enjoyed Butterbeer way more than me, She's a sugarholic and loves sweets. I'm the opposite so a few sips was enough for me. I did like the Frozen version better but my favorite of all the drinks there was the Pumpkin Fizz.I do hope since WWoHP is done that UO concentrates on tweeking some of their othe rides. For example, Hulk needs some paint and a way to make it smooth as it once was. (Busch Gardens did this for Kumba and it worked out great.) The mummy needs to have some of its effects and screens working again, they've been this way for years now. Don't get me started on Cat in the Hat, it's like a Disney ride now! I know it's a kids ride and I understand what happened and why it was changed but they could add a few more spinning effects, even if they're mild. I mean, the part where you're going thru the whirlwinds you don't spin but you do 1 spin in the next scene? And after that, where Thing 1 and Thing 2 are climbing up the stairs and doing a sommersault, the ride vehicle has you facing the other way, so you totally miss that effect! Anyway, I hope it gets the attention that it deserves pretty soon.
Ok that's enough ranting, on to the good stuff: Rumors. I'm taking this with a grain of salt and I think everyone else here should too. I will admit that while some employees said they weren't able to talk about anything many that did kept repeating the same 2 things. Ususally employees don't know too much to begin with, as far as rumors go, because they get their info from the net just like us. I did happen to speak with several managers and 1 in particular who's been there 30 years was able to tell me a lot of info. I did promise to him not to mention certain things about the company, the President of Universal etc. We spoke for a good hour and everything sounds great so far. The things I could say are as follows: According to him, over the span of the summer, IOA has had a attendance increase of over 500,000 people. The plans for a new hotel, possibly Egyptian themed, is still in the works. The main rumor, that I don't agree with, is that they're thinking of re-theming The Lost Continent into Middle Earth!!! Now, unless they find more space, I don't think it should be done there. So where you ask, if not at IOA? How about a new park with lands like Far Far away, Middle Earth, Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory!! If this sounds too good to be true, it's because it probably is. They're right now trying to figure out how to extend WWoHP and have it all make sence. They're most likely to transform The lost Continent into Middle Earth but I told him, along with the many other people that mentioned this, that LC is too small to hold a Middle Earth, so we'll see. Unless they've got the space for it, they should put that idea into their 3rd gate.
Anyway gals and guys, thank you for reading this long post, I'll be more than happy to answer any questions that I can. Here's hoping that UO continues to expand and get better and better each year.
Thank you all once again, see you on the boards. 
so much to draw upon....sigh
