New Early Entry policies - Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[Bluer101]

The only issue I see with alternating EE ( still only a rumor) is the person that books one night stay and can only do one day at the park. These people include pre and post cruise guests.

 

[damo]

Hmmmm...very interesting information on this thread. I have booked at Portofino in late October. In November of 2010, I booked a Potter Package at RPR. We had breakfast at 3B and some other memorabilia included. We used our EE and even in mid November, there were a lot of people using the package benefits. This next trip is not a package since I am using Orlando Flex Pass Plus for tickets (also doing Sea World and Busch Gardens).

I was counting on EE for DA by staying Deluxe. If Uni finds the crowds with packages to be too big, will my chance at EE be compromised?

Also, I thought the Breakfast options at 3B were very authentic to my experience in London at my hotel. Walk-ups for breakfast did not seem to be available... just package people with reservations.

We did walk up for breakfast at Three Broomsticks several times during the early days when it was only supposed to be for people with packages. If there is space, Universal is going to want it filled. It makes no sense to have a restaurant open and not filled when there is a demand.

People eating breakfast during those early days were not just package people. They were onsite hotel guests who had booked through concierge and also walk-ups. One of the main reasons that this was allowed was because packages don't work for people with annual passes and Universal received many complaints that those with annual passes deserved to be able to eat breakfast at the Three Broomsticks as well.

 

[ohtomi]

How would the powers that be treat all of the guests that ride the Hogwarts Express if only one park is open for early entry? It seems that if one park is open both will have to be just for that reason alone. There can't be a dead drop at the end of the ride and no one for the return trip of one of the most anticipated and hyped parts of the new attraction. It seems that if it is a relatively low capacity ride they will want to squeeze all of the ride time out of it that is possible.

 

[damo]

How would the powers that be treat all of the guests that ride the Hogwarts Express if only one park is open for early entry? It seems that if one park is open both will have to be just for that reason alone. There can't be a dead drop at the end of the ride and no one for the return trip of one of the most anticipated and hyped parts of the new attraction. It seems that if it is a relatively low capacity ride they will want to squeeze all of the ride time out of it that is possible.

Hogwarts Express may not be open during Early Admission. Who knows? The entrance to get on the Hogwarts Express is separate from Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, so it wouldn't really be necessary to have it running at all.

 

[xmansmom]

we pay those prices for the early entry and express pass. If everybody and their dog gets early entry, and express pass is pretty much useless at in the HP areas for the most part.. then it kind of makes those prices seem a little more insane.

I agree. What is the benefit of booking the HP package if this is the case? I didn't pay the extra money for a stuffed owl and a welcome letter.

Right before the opening date was announced I called to change my bfast times. I expressed my desire to coordinate the meals with EE and was basically told (IMO) that both parks would be open. Maybe I heard what I wanted to hear but she said they hadn't announced the opening date or details but whatever I decided on breakfast I would fine and that's all she could say. Please don't bash me for saying this. As I said above, this is just my opinion.

 

[RachelleBeaney]

How would the powers that be treat all of the guests that ride the Hogwarts Express if only one park is open for early entry? It seems that if one park is open both will have to be just for that reason alone. There can't be a dead drop at the end of the ride and no one for the return trip of one of the most anticipated and hyped parts of the new attraction. It seems that if it is a relatively low capacity ride they will want to squeeze all of the ride time out of it that is possible.

My possible theory is that each person (probably organised by what hotel they are staying at or what package they have) will only be able to enter a certain park on any given day .. Universal has been clear in their packages for wwohp early entry will only be to one park each day .. of course those are off site packages...Which park will be available will be decided by universal and it would make sense they'd split the properties one to Hogsmeade and one to diagon alley each day .. Which would mean both sides would be open each day but for separate batches of guests .. Still from what I can tell it looks unlikely u will be able to get into both sides of the wwohp early on the same day .. I could be wrong but that's how I've read the info of their website so I would suggest planning accordingly .. Not sure how that will affect the hogwarts express

 

[zebsterama]

My possible theory is that each person (probably organised by what hotel they are staying at or what package they have) will only be able to enter a certain park on any given day .. Universal has been clear in their packages for wwohp early entry will only be to one park each day ..

I really really hope they do it this way! I'm very skeptical though since no direction has been given to date.

I'm assuming such a task, as listed above, would take a great deal of coordination and communication. If nothing has been announced as of yet - then I doubt it's happening this way, unfortunately.

 

[RachelleBeaney]

I really really hope they do it this way! I'm very skeptical though since no direction has been given to date.

I'm assuming such a task, as listed above, would take a great deal of coordination and communication. If nothing has been announced as of yet - then I doubt it's happening this way, unfortunately.

Nothing has been annouced but if you read the details on the WWOHP packages currently being advertised it does say early entry is to one park per day as decided by Universal - see web link below and click on the Restrictions link

https://www.universalorlando.com/Vacation-Packages/Harry-Potter-Exclusive-Vacation-Package.aspx

It says: Early Park Admission begins one (1) hour prior to regular scheduled park opening to one (1) Universal Orlando theme park as determined by Universal Orlando. Valid at select attractions at each park. Universal Orlando Resort reserves the right to open alternative attractions in the event that a technical problem arises or an attraction opening is delayed.

This is what Universal is advertising for all current WWOHP packages - I don't know about regular hotel stays where the tickets have been purchased separately but it seems logical to me that if they are only allowing each guest early entry into one park per day with a package the same will apply to regular hotel guests at the Universal official hotels.

 

[zebsterama]

Nothing has been annouced but if you read the details on the WWOHP packages currently being advertised it does say early entry is to one park per day as decided by Universal - see web link below and click on the Restrictions link

https://www.universalorlando.com/Vacation-Packages/Harry-Potter-Exclusive-Vacation-Package.aspx

It says: Early Park Admission begins one (1) hour prior to regular scheduled park opening to one (1) Universal Orlando theme park as determined by Universal Orlando. Valid at select attractions at each park. Universal Orlando Resort reserves the right to open alternative attractions in the event that a technical problem arises or an attraction opening is delayed.

This is what Universal is advertising for all current WWOHP packages - I don't know about regular hotel stays where the tickets have been purchased separately but it seems logical to me that if they are only allowing each guest early entry into one park per day with a package the same will apply to regular hotel guests at the Universal official hotels.

There is hope!

Thanks for sharing.

 

[woolfman72]

Hi All

So i've been doing my research for a trip planned for Feb 2015 to see the new WWOHP - Diagon Alley and Universal's website is very vague RE the early entry info. It only says that early entry will be granted to all official Universal Orlando guests for both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade but that Universal will only allow early entry at 1 park per day (i.e. each day you'll only be allowed in early to either Diagon Alley OR Hogsmeade) and the days are to be chosen by Universal. I figure this is a similar situation to Disneyland's early entry where you can enter early to DCA on one day and DL the other, but Universal have yet to outline which park will have early entry on which days.

Since I am an insane planner I want to know which days i'll be able to enter Diagon Alley early and which i'll be able to enter Hogsmeade early and plan accordingly. If anyone is visiting the Universal Orlando Resort after opening on July 8th and can advise me of your experience, or have hotels booked already and have had advice from Universal about what days early entry is at each park i'd appreciate it.

Cheers

We will be down in Orlando the week of the 7th. Not sure it is good timing or bad timing. We booked our vacation last month. We will be checking in on the 7th and staying all week at The Portofino. We were going to stay at the HRH again like we did in march but i could not pass up the 100 a night less stay at the Portofino. I will post how the EE works for us and how everything else goes. I know when The other HP section opened we went a few weeks after and there was a 6hr wait in line just to get into that section of the park. I am not looking forward to dealing with the crowds in the new section but at the same time excited to see everything.

 

[Bluer101]

We will be down in Orlando the week of the 7th. Not sure it is good timing or bad timing. We booked our vacation last month. We will be checking in on the 7th and staying all week at The Portofino. We were going to stay at the HRH again like we did in march but i could not pass up the 100 a night less stay at the Portofino. I will post how the EE works for us and how everything else goes. I know when The other HP section opened we went a few weeks after and there was a 6hr wait in line just to get into that section of the park. I am not looking forward to dealing with the crowds in the new section but at the same time excited to see everything.

We check in in the 6 the at PBH thru the 9 th.

 

[macraven]

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[sm4987]

As luck would have it we check in on the 7th and checkout on the 8th. I have 3 day passes and could add in another day if there were more details concerning early entry for hotel guests. I figured it would have been open for weeks prior to our July 4th vacation, but nope it didn't work out that way.

 

[Bluer101]

As luck would have it we check in on the 7th and checkout on the 8th. I have 3 day passes and could add in another day if there were more details concerning early entry for hotel guests. I figured it would have been open for weeks prior to our July 4th vacation, but nope it didn't work out that way.

I hope we find out something too.

 

[sm4987]

I have been debating about adding on a day to hopefully get in to see the new Harry Potter attraction, but saw on another site that they had changed their terms and conditions Now when you go to the Universal site terms and conditions it says: Paid theme park admission required. Early Park Admission begins one (1) hour prior to Universal’s Islands of Adventure regular scheduled park opening for on-site hotel guests and is valid 7 days a week for travel through 12/31/14; valid only at select Islands of Adventure attractions: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™, Flight of the Hippogriff™, Dragon Challenge™ and Caro-Seuss-el™.

I might have to call and find out if this means only packages get in early or there will be no early entry to the newest Harry Potter until next year!

 

[agavegirl1]

I really wish they would announce something. I will not be there until late October but I HATE not having any kind of plan.

 

[RachelleBeaney]

I have been debating about adding on a day to hopefully get in to see the new Harry Potter attraction, but saw on another site that they had changed their terms and conditions Now when you go to the Universal site terms and conditions it says: Paid theme park admission required. Early Park Admission begins one (1) hour prior to Universal’s Islands of Adventure regular scheduled park opening for on-site hotel guests and is valid 7 days a week for travel through 12/31/14; valid only at select Islands of Adventure attractions: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™, Flight of the Hippogriff™, Dragon Challenge™ and Caro-Seuss-el™.

I might have to call and find out if this means only packages get in early or there will be no early entry to the newest Harry Potter until next year!

Yeh - I noticed this however the Harry Potter packages universal are advertising are still advertising early entry to one park per day as decided by Universal (which will mean both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade though possibly not on the same day) and I know people have been told early entry will be available to Diagon Alley from it's opening. Perhaps they simply haven't updated the other hotel websites yet - or perhaps you have to book a vacation package through them to be eligible. Even still I would bet this information is simply outdated and will be updated when the new side opens. It would be unfair for people with packages from cheaper hotels to get early entry over those who just simply booked hotel stays and separate tickets at an onsite universal hotel!

 

[RachelleBeaney]

I really wish they would announce something. I will not be there until late October but I HATE not having any kind of plan.

I am so in agreement! I am the kind of person who just wants to know so I can plan. Also, it may effect what dates I choose to stay as I don't want to do early entry on Presidents Day which will be the first day of our stay and will have to plan to make sure we get 2 days early entry! And our accommodation isn't booked yet so everything sort of hedges on that! Well hopefully once it's officially open we'll get some sort of heads up on how it will work

 

[zebsterama]

I'm a little surprised that nothing official has been announced on how Universal plans to handle EE - simply as a courtesy to hotel guests; it is less than one week away & they've had more than enough time to plan for this.

Considering how much effort has gone into the "hype" you'd think this would have been laid out as part of the plan and communicated accordingly.

I don't see any real advantage in their waiting - other than Universal not yet knowing how they plan to handle this. Maybe I'm missing something.

I have a hard time believing that the plan is to "figure it out as we go along" - this is after all their flagship attraction and I'm guessing a multi - multi million dollar venture.

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

Love to hear the boards thoughts on this.

 

[taliategan]

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.