New Early Entry policies - Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[schumigirl]

I'm not really sure what we will do next Wednesday and Thursday -arriving late morning on Wednesday, so we will only have EE on Thursday. Hoping we will be able to Hogsmeade on Wednesday afternoon or evening (which we have not seen yet) and then hope there is an EE for Diagon Alley on Thursday. If the EE on Thursday is for IOA, we may forego that and just do the regular opening at US depending on what we were able to do with Hogsmeade on Wednesday.

Hope you have a great trip regardless what you do

 

[freediverdude]

The people who have asked and reported on other boards are being told that there will not be early entry for EITHER park on the 8th. They are also being told that both parks will be open for early entry starting on the 9th.

 

[taliategan]

The people who have asked and reported on other boards are being told that there will not be early entry for EITHER park on the 8th. They are also being told that both parks will be open for early entry starting on the 9th.

I guess there is still the question of whether on-site hotel guests will have choice of taking EE in either park or whether they will split the hotels to a certain park each day.

 

[macraven]

i was thinking that if only one park was opened early each day, the other park would open once park guests started to use the train.

start at one park, do the train ride.
get off the train and then gain entrance to the other park.
maybe the second park would be opened once the train transported you to the other side.

 

[bluecastle]

Sorry if this question is OT, but does anyone know if any of the attractions in Diagon Alley will have Express Pass?
Also, we are staying at Portofino, not with a package, and I was told I could make breakfast reservations when we checked in. Hope that is still true and that we won't be bumped by all the package people!
And one more question, I will need to upgrade my 2 day one park passes once we arrive. Can I do that at the hotel or do I have to do it at the parks?
Thanks!!

 

[damo]

Sorry if this question is OT, but does anyone know if any of the attractions in Diagon Alley will have Express Pass?
Also, we are staying at Portofino, not with a package, and I was told I could make breakfast reservations when we checked in. Hope that is still true and that we won't be bumped by all the package people!
And one more question, I will need to upgrade my 2 day one park passes once we arrive. Can I do that at the hotel or do I have to do it at the parks?
Thanks!!

It is highly unlikely that the Diagon Alley attractions will have express pass. You won't be guaranteed a breakfast reservations because the package people come first. If there is space, you may get a reservation.

You can't upgrade tickets at the hotel. The hotels are run by Lowes, not Universal. You'll need to go to guest services at the parks.

 

[xmansmom]

Any thoughts on why Universal is waiting to announce EE business rules, other than being disorganized?

I'm also confused by the lack of info given out. I booked the package for 7/9-7/12. I'm a week out and they still can't tell me how EE will work??? I can't believe it's disorganization. There has to be some reason behind their decision. Maybe they're waiting to see how many packages are booked before making the final call??? Anyone else have any theories?

 

[bluecastle]

It is highly unlikely that the Diagon Alley attractions will have express pass. You won't be guaranteed a breakfast reservations because the package people come first. If there is space, you may get a reservation.

You can't upgrade tickets at the hotel. The hotels are run by Lowes, not Universal. You'll need to go to guest services at the parks.

Thanks Damo!

 

[damo]

I'm also confused by the lack of info given out. I booked the package for 7/9-7/12. I'm a week out and they still can't tell me how EE will work??? I can't believe it's disorganization. There has to be some reason behind their decision. Maybe they're waiting to see how many packages are booked before making the final call??? Anyone else have any theories?

I think the reason behind the decision is that Gringotts isn't working up to their satisfaction yet, so they're not sure what they're going to do.

 

[taliategan]

I think the reason behind the decision is that Gringotts isn't working up to their satisfaction yet, so they're not sure what they're going to do.

Would they still open the area on 7/8/14 even if Gringotts is not in operation?

 

[hpfan100]

I would assume since that is the grand opening date that the area will be opened on the 8th. Most new rides have glitches and shut down often in the beginning. It happened with FJ and with the racers at DCA. Get there early before the breakdowns hit.

 

[Tbella]

Hopefully only one more week of this uncertainty!

 

[sm4987]

I'll be leaving on Friday for Orlando. I had hoped there would be more concrete information before I left, but since I don't check in until Monday, I'll just hope for the best and if we don't make it inside the new land, no worries I'll make another time to go back.

 

[damo]

Would they still open the area on 7/8/14 even if Gringotts is not in operation?

They have been running Gringotts but it isn't very reliable yet. Some people got to ride it again today.

 

[RachelleBeaney]

Just read this quote from Universal Orlando RE Opening times from July 8th and Early entry until early August:

OPENING TIMES FOR JULY 8
The Grand Opening will take place at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida between 8:00 am and 8:30 am, with all other attractions opening at 9 am. Universal’s Islands of Adventure will be open at 9 am.

However, we will be ready to accommodate guests as early as 5 am on Tuesday, July 8 only. That is when the parking plaza will open and transportation from our on-site hotels will begin.

For all other days, follow the posted times listed on our website.

EARLY PARK ADMISSION
Early Park Admission (beginning one hour before the theme parks open) is available for on-site hotel guests, vacation package guests, Virgin Holidays guests, and guests who purchase a 7-Day length-of-stay ticket.

On July 8, these guests may enjoy Early Park Admission to Islands of Adventure beginning at 8 am, where they can experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade.

Starting July 9, both parks will be opening at 8 am through early August. Guests with Early Park Admission can begin enjoying Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure beginning at 7 am. We encourage you to enter through Universal Studios on one day of your trip and Islands of Adventure on another to experience all of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

HOGWARTS EXPRESS
The Hogwarts Express is scheduled to begin operation at 9 am on July 8.

On July 8, to ride the Hogwarts Express from King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios to Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure, you’ll be asked to wait in the Grand Opening queue line in Universal Studios.

On July 8, if you ride the Hogwarts Express from Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure to King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios, you will then be asked to wait in the Grand Opening line to enter Diagon Alley or to ride the train to back to Hogsmeade.

This was quoted on Snitch Seeker and I haven't been able to find that exact announcement on Universal's site - still it sounds fairly reliable

 

[Bluer101]

Just read this quote from Universal Orlando RE Opening times from July 8th and Early entry until early August:

OPENING TIMES FOR JULY 8
The Grand Opening will take place at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida between 8:00 am and 8:30 am, with all other attractions opening at 9 am. Universal’s Islands of Adventure will be open at 9 am.

However, we will be ready to accommodate guests as early as 5 am on Tuesday, July 8 only. That is when the parking plaza will open and transportation from our on-site hotels will begin.

For all other days, follow the posted times listed on our website.

EARLY PARK ADMISSION
Early Park Admission (beginning one hour before the theme parks open) is available for on-site hotel guests, vacation package guests, Virgin Holidays guests, and guests who purchase a 7-Day length-of-stay ticket.

On July 8, these guests may enjoy Early Park Admission to Islands of Adventure beginning at 8 am, where they can experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade.

Starting July 9, both parks will be opening at 8 am through early August. Guests with Early Park Admission can begin enjoying Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure beginning at 7 am. We encourage you to enter through Universal Studios on one day of your trip and Islands of Adventure on another to experience all of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

HOGWARTS EXPRESS
The Hogwarts Express is scheduled to begin operation at 9 am on July 8.

On July 8, to ride the Hogwarts Express from King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios to Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure, you’ll be asked to wait in the Grand Opening queue line in Universal Studios.

On July 8, if you ride the Hogwarts Express from Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure to King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios, you will then be asked to wait in the Grand Opening line to enter Diagon Alley or to ride the train to back to Hogsmeade.

This was quoted on Snitch Seeker and I haven't been able to find that exact announcement on Universal's site - still it sounds fairly reliable

Here now and posted pretty much the same thing given to us in a letter.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=51810334#post51810334

 

[zebsterama]

Thanks very much for posting that information!