My letter to Universal (re: Sept. closures)

[TigerLaw]

tell me what you think-I hope it doesn't come off too harsh, but I am upset.

To All Universal Orlando Executives:

I am writing this letter to express my concern regarding the number of ride and attraction closings at Islands of Adventure during the month of September. First off, let me state that I will be staying onsite for the first time from September 24-28th. After adding in hotel, airfare, annual passes, meals, etc., I anticipate that I will spend well over $2000 on this trip. I believe this is a sizable investment in Universal Orlando, so it truly upsets me when I learn of all the ride/attraction closures during September. As of today, I have been told by your staff that the following attractions will be closed: Popeye’s, triceratops encounter, JP discovery center, sinbad, and storm force (during weekdays). In addition, I have also been informed by your staff that dueling dragons will not actually be “dueling” during my trip, as only one side will run at a given time. Therefore, by my count, approximately one-third of the rides and attractions that adults can experience at IOA (thus, I am not counting the flyers or the kid’s play areas) will be closed during my trip!

Now I understand the need to perform rehab work on rides and attractions during the “slow season.” However, your staff has explained to me that Popeye’s is the only ride that is closed for rehab work. Instead, all of the other attractions will be closed due to it being the “slow season.” Given that I am making a sizable investment in Universal during this down economy, is it too much for me to ask that I be able to experience at least most of the rides and attractions? I hope you do not take offense to the comparison, but at Disney World, there are two seasonal attractions at Magic Kingdom. The difference between what they do and what I believe you are doing is that when these attractions are closed, there are still several dozen rides and attractions to see. By my count, there will only be twelve rides and attractions open at IOA during my visit, which hardly makes IOA a full day park. Please tell me what is the point of paying more to stay onsite if there is no need for Front of the Line Access because there are so few rides and attractions actually open? If I am paying full price to come into the park, why does my money not allow me to experience nearly the same experiences that someone who came one month earlier to IOA got to experience? Why should I be penalized because September is the only time of the year I can take a vacation?

The bottom line unfortunately is this. With less then two weeks to go before my dream vacation was supposed to begin, instead of counting down the minutes in excitement, I am constantly checking the internet to see what is and is not going to be closed when I visit. Much of the excitement and anticipation for this trip has been lost. I respectfully request that you please reconsider all of these closures (particularly with regards to dueling dragons, as without both sides running, it simply isn’t the same ride, a fact which I am confident you are aware of) so that “off season” guest are no penalized for their continued support of Universal Orlando.

 

[AlexandNessa]

TigerLaw, looks like you and your GF are about the same age and in the same boat as me and my BF. We're going Sept. 18, and I am just devastated by the "Dueling" Dragons track closure. That, along with the other closures, and different stories as to what will be closed for slow season, HHN, refurb, or otherwise has really caused me to lose a lot of excitement for our trip. It's a lot to be closed at once.

When we went to Disney in May 2002 for my 30th, Figment was closed, and I was a little disappointed in that, but everything else was open so it was easy to deal with.

Can you either post or PM me the address you are sending your letter to? I'd like to send one of my own. Strength in numbers.

 

[AlexandNessa]

P.S. No, your letter wasn't too harsh. You made your point and supported it.

 

[strawberryblonde]

Did I read your letter right? The playlands and the flyers will be closed?!! We have been waiting all summer to go to US/IOA because DH could take a week off late Sept. My sisters family is joining us as well. Kids will range in age from 3-8 and the playlands were to be quite important to us, the flyers too . Rehab is one thing but closing just because it is slow season is not good enough for me. They are already closing at 5:30-7 pm every night (there goes going back to room for a nap/rest). I consider the early closing their cost cutting measure for the season, closing rides/attractions to save more $$ while still charging full price at the gate stinks IMO. thanks for letting me vent, better to find out now and prepare the kids for it then to beeline for these things once in the park.

 

[TigerLaw]

strawberry, sorry to alarm you, the flyers and kid area will be open (except for possibly my ship the olive, but I'm not sure on that one) my point was that when I called yesterday, they started listing all these "attractions" that I could still enjoy, including the three kid areas (olive, zoo, and camp jurassic) they also listed the talking fountain as a still open attraction. what got me upset was that they also said I could go on the flyers, even though I had already told the person I wasn't coming w. kids, so in fact, I can't ride the flyers!

alex, unfortunately, so far, I haven't been able to locate any other addresses besides the guestservices@universalorlando.com address.

 

[strawberryblonde]

Just wrote up a response and lost it..............

Don't fret, you didn't mean to alarm me. I called and was told that the flyers would be running but that 3 playlands would be closed for our trip. Curious George, Fival (Oct 1st on) Me Ship Olive. I was really counting on these playlands.

Also mentioned as being closed : Sinbad show, popeye barges, storm force, triceratops, wild west show (for good), and Jaws (Oct 1st on). put a damper on the trip. At least I'll be over it by the time we get to the parks.

 

[polkadotminnie]

This makes me seriously reconsider buying tickets. Maybe we'll just swim at the pool, if they don't close that too! My husband is coming to Orlando on business so the hotel is paid for , but if the tickets aren't discounted it is not a good investment with so much closed.

 

[damo]

Although your letter is heartfelt and I agree that you should let management know how you feel, I don't agree that there is enough closed for people to reconsider going to the park. Other than Popeye, the attractions are all minor ones, ones that our family rarely even go to, certainly not enough to not alter my park experience if they were gone. We've been down in many off seasons and have experienced rides and restaurants being closed. But when I look around me and there are so few people in the park, the management really has no choice. You are getting a great advantage by being able to experience what is there with no line ups and pushing and shoving. You will have plenty of time with their hours to do everything and then some. Take the time to enjoy what is there and not ruin your own vacation by being upset about what is closed.

I'm not flaming you for being upset, but now that you have done what you can, enjoy what you've got! I've been to many parks where rides will be down while we are there and yes it is a shame but try to look at the park as mostly full instead of mostly empty! There are still many, many good attractions that are most deserving of your admission price!

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

I too, am shocked that they are only running half of Dueling Dragons. That is really a joke, and should be reconsidered. If I had my children on my coming up trip, I would be very upset about the play areas closing also, as my kids had a blast doing them.

Tiger- I believe you should state how you feel. I would find as many addresses as you can and send them to as many people as you can. This is your vacation, and you should enjoy it. That being said, This is your vacation and you must not let the fact that these attractions won't be running ruin your trip. I would take a deep breath, and let it go after you write the letters. You will have a great trip, if you have a great attitude.

Also, don't forget to capitalize all the ride names in the letter that you actually send.

 

[polkadotminnie]

Originally posted by damo
. Other than Popeye, the attractions are all minor ones, ones that our family rarely even go to, certainly not enough to not alter my park experience if they were gone

I have a four year old who would disagree with this. To her Storm Force is a major attraction. She isn't tall enough for Hulk, but throughly enjoyed Storm Force while we took turns riding Hulk. We won't be there on the weekend either.

 

[Whoville_Nut]

It might be said these closed attractions are the least popular and less visited areas in the park. Also it is worth mentioning they are closed because they will be used for HHN's 13 and not because of a "slow season".

Popeye has closed every September since the park opened, so it's not something anyone could say was unexpected.

Dueling Dragons will never and has never run one track at a time. It would not be run that way either, people speculated that it might be ran that way when it was being repainted and Universal did not do that because it woudn't be as you said "dueling". I am not 100% on this but I don't think it's going to have another rehab this year since it already had one at the beginning of the year.

 

[damo]

Originally posted by polkadotminnie
I have a four year old who would disagree with this. To her Storm Force is a major attraction. She isn't tall enough for Hulk, but throughly enjoyed Storm Force while we took turns riding Hulk. We won't be there on the weekend either.

No, I'm sure she thinks it's great but 4 year olds change their minds pretty quickly. Perhaps she will find a new favourite in the Flyers!!! I'm surprised that they are keeping this one open as it was closed when we were there in May. I guess it is a compromise. Storm Force doesn't see a lot of business in off season.

I guess I'm not having a lot of sympathy for people complaining that attractions will be down. That's the way parks work, unfortunately, and we've all experienced it with one ride or restaurant or show or another. The parks do not guarantee that every ride will be open.

Even Mythos was closed one time we were down. DS's absolute favourite restaurant in the world and we travelled all the way from Canada just to eat there!!! It was open the next time, however, and I'm sure he's totally forgotten that disappointment as will all the park visitors that will be there this season!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We'll be there in the end of the month too, 26-29th, and this is my 12 yr. old neice's first visit. It really stinks that so much will be closed. Also, any word on when Curious George is closing? We were there in Sept. 2001 and one side of it was closed, but not the whole thing. Any hope for that?

 

[TigerLaw]

Damo,

"I guess I'm not having a lot of sympathy for people complaining that attractions will be down. That's the way parks work, unfortunately, and we've all experienced it with one ride or restaurant or show or another. The parks do not guarantee that every ride will be open."

sorry to disagree with you, but have you ever been to the park when ONE THIRD of it is closed down?!? Even if it is mostly secondary attractions to you (and many others) the point is it all adds up. of course, I am not going to spend hours in the discvoery center, but I still want the chance to see it. September guests are already getting reduced hours, which I think we all expect given the history of off-season touring. I think we also all expect that there will be some rides or attractions under rehab. What my issue is centers arround the fact that Popeye's is the only closed ride/attraction that is being "rehabbed." (and I think its a whole separate issue that the "rehabbing" is to prepare the queue for HHN, a separate hard ticket event) the rest of the stuff is closed not for rehab, but simply to save money. Isn't the money saved by cutting the operating hours enough?!? Running DD one side at a time is BAD SHOW, plain and simple. yes, I understand that the parks do not guarantee that every ride will be open, but I really think closing a third of the rides/attractions is pushing the line.

 

[MrNonacho]

Originally posted by Whoville_Nut
Dueling Dragons will never and has never run one track at a time.

They did run this way for a short while during the cutbacks that took place soon after the terror attacks. They would run one side for about an hour then switch to the other.

 

[damo]

I'm not trying to get into a battle here. I agree it's not the greatest but it's not unusual. We have been there when Popeye, Flyers, Triceratops Encounter and Sinbad and Mythos were closed.

There are not one third of the attractions closed. Basically it's the same stuff that is closed every year at this time or in the spring:

Closed:
Storm Force (on weekdays)
Popeye(for refurbishment until december not just for HHN)
Discovery Centre
Tricerotops Encounter
Sinbad (is it closed yet?)

Open:
Hulk
Doom
Spiderman
Dudley
Pteranadon Flyers
Camp Jurassic
Jurassic Park River Adventure
Cat in the Hat
Poseidan's Fury
Talking Fountain
One Fish Two Fish
Caroseussell
If I ran the zoo
Flying Unicorn
Dueling Dragons (alternately--not the same I agree but still open!)
Character performances throughout the park

20 attractions...15 rides open ... 5 closed - 4 on weekends
That's 1/4 and 1/5 of the rides and really Discovery Centre and Tricerotops are one attraction. Maybe I am unaware of more things that are closed? And if we put the two parks together then the ratio is even lower. I'm only aware of Wild, Wild West and the Curious George play area.

I agree, it would be nice to have all rides open but once you get there and see how many people are actually in the park, maybe you will understand the decision of the park. The advantage of being there in off season is that you get to go on the rides multiple times and really enjoy all the amazing little details where those in high season would not. You will still get your money's worth.

We could discuss this forever of how wrong it is. I've been there about 6 times or so and never has everything been open and most of the time 3 or more things are closed. That's just Universal and until attendance gets better, I don't foresee any changes. I'm not saying it is right, that's just the way it is and has been!

 

[polkadotminnie]

If a fourth of the rides are closed, then tickets should be discounted atleast a fourth since the park hours are shorter. Children's tickets should be further discounted since the attractions closing affect them the most.

 

[MrsMud]

Okay, I was disappointed before about Popeye's, Storm Force, Disc. Center, Triceratops Enc, Sinbad, and WWW West. NOW I am unhappy. The playlands and Jaws, too?
I am sorry I purchased my tickets already, if I hadn't I would do WDW and SW, and forget about Universal!

 

[ngrier13]

I will be staying at the HRH on Sept.8th for one week..Can someone tell me where I can find out what rides will be closed during that time? Thanks.

 

[ninac.]

Dueling Dragons is not a minor attraction and i think it is disgraceful if it is indeed true that they will only run one side at a time. I don't ride rollercoasters but my children would be absolutely livid if this was the case. You have every right to be angry. Anyway, I'm sure you'll still have a wonderful time and make the best of the park. I hope your letter (which was written very tastefully and not offensive at all) reaches the proper authorities and hopefully something will be done about it. Enjoy your trip!!!

nina