**OI Meetup** June 7-8, 2024

[GhostHost24]

I know this is for June.. But I hope tickets for the winter ones go on sale soon... Last year they went on sale June 6

 

[AussieFan8]

I know this is for June.. But I hope tickets for the winter ones go on sale soon... Last year they went on sale June 6

I anticipate it will be shortly after this weekend's meetup, maybe an announcement next week with tickets on sale the following week. Fingers crossed!

 

[GhostHost24]

I anticipate it will be shortly after this weekend's meetup, maybe an announcement next week with tickets on sale the following week. Fingers crossed!

Ya that's what I'm thinking. I think last year it was June 2 so makes sense thr winter tickets went on sale right after that

 

[RocketCityMama]

We arrived Tues, it is HOT! But we have had a good time so far. We went to Studios first thing yesterday and went to Dreamworks, saw their character show and then rode the Troll coaster (same track as Woody, just themed to Trolls). The show was about 15-20 mins max, cute, actors, singing and dancing plus the DW characters. I think this area will be great for littles! We will explore more there this week.

When we came to Feb meetup, I rode Hagrids for the first time, having finally lost enough weight. Today I rode the mummy and gringotts for the first time! We have been coming since 2015, and I did not fit on those. Such a new experience for me. Word to wise if the tester seat for gringotts is too small, go try row 3 or 6 on the ride, they do not sit as far down so you have a little more space with legs/knees. I had to keep my feet on the ball of foot to get the calf restraint to work, but worth it! Now I get to try other test seats (coasters) and hope for the best!

We had the butterbeer ice lolly’s today. It was ok, not my fav, I would rather have a butterbeer. We are having a lot of fun and are Ready for the meetup!

 

[GhostHost24]

As someone who was once quite large as well and didn't fit into some rides.. It's a great feeling when you do. Unfortunately covid put me back on the close stage. I just barely fit on the bike on Hagrids.

 

[RocketCityMama]

Whew, night 1 in the books and a success for us. It was blazing hot outside at 5, that is when we headed to the ticket line to get our wristbands. Thankful the OI team moved it inside a soundstage with a/c. The line to get in the parks was LONG. They also had some water stations set up in there where you got the wristbands.

The next door soundstage was the first bites. We stopped in, there were a lot of people, but still plenty of food available and set up around the perimeter. They had lots of coolers with water bottles and then cowboy punch with (paid) alcohol or without (free). It was yummy.

We headed into IOA, tried the test seat at Velocicoaster, I fit!! I have waited since it opened to ride! I lost enough to get the green light. I also can ride Hulk and Forbidden Journey (again!!), still need to try Rip Ride.

We headed to Hagrids and got in line at 6:45 pm, they sadly were still letting daytime guests in, even though the park closed at 7. That was frustrating, and tons of people got in line behind us as well that were not part of OI. It took us exactly 1 hour, we got off at 7:45, the wait time said 85 mins. It hovered around 55 most of the night.

I tried to ride VC several times, and it kept getting delayed. Finally my time arrived and wow. What an intense ride, esp in the dark. I am not sure how I feel about it yet. I may try again during the day to see what I think.

We rode a lot, had snacks and food and of course drinks. Ready to sleep and hit day 2 tomorrow!

 

[GhostHost24]

Just a FYI, people can get in line for a ride until rbelaek closes. Disney is same way. So people are allowed in right til 7pm hits. That's one reason it's good idea to wait to do the big rides, let's the general public clear out.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Just a FYI, people can get in line for a ride until rbelaek closes. Disney is same way. So people are allowed in right til 7pm hits.

Universal has sometimes closed the line for Velocicoaster early on OI Meetup nights. Not every time, no idea how frequently. Not sure what the criteria is. I assume it is much more likely on the busiest days.

 

[GhostHost24]

Ya i've seen a delayed be put on on VC before near closing. But that could be more due to tech issues they want to solve before OI starts, I'd think it'd be weird to do it for VC but not hagrids.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Oh I misspoke, I meant Hagrids! I have not seen/heard of them intentionally close the Velocicoaster line before the OI Meetup starts.

Hagrids, I saw them close the line well before park close in an effort to make the line more manageable during the Meetup. Over a hour before park close, IIRC. This was on the Sat in Nov 2022, after the Hagrids line stayed around an hour the whole Fri night during the Meetup. Velocicoaster was also having difficulties, slow loading with the line around an hour, for much/all of the Meetup.

 

[GhostHost24]

Been reading a lot of negaitive reviews about this weekends meetup. Not really OI's fault from the sounds it (shorter hours due to park being open later to day guests, ran out of snacks etc)

 

[RocketCityMama]

Oh I misspoke, I meant Hagrids! I have not seen/heard of them intentionally close the Velocicoaster line before the OI Meetup starts.

Hagrids, I saw them close the line well before park close in an effort to make the line more manageable during the Meetup. Over a hour before park close, IIRC. This was on the Sat in Nov 2022, after the Hagrids line stayed around an hour the whole Fri night during the Meetup. Velocicoaster was also having difficulties, slow loading with the line around an hour, for much/all of the Meetup.

I have seen them close it down early as well. I am just confused on what their regular protocols are for closing rides at the end of the night. I mean yes, paid people should be able to ride or get in line, but at what point do they cut the line off, so they can clear the line by a certain time after closing? If the park closes at 9, you let people in line at 8:55, and the line is over an hour long, you will have tons of people still in the park preventing people from going home. I know the park was still "open" but only to those who paid to be there, so that spoils the experience for us, does that make sense? I have never seen it quite this bad as far as Hagrids goes at a meetup. I just feel that USO was like well we're still going to be open, so no point in not letting them in line vs a night where they actually close and no after hours events going on. Just my opinion.

Been reading a lot of negaitive reviews about this weekends meetup. Not really OI's fault from the sounds it (shorter hours due to park being open later to day guests, ran out of snacks etc)

I have only seen a few things, mainly about the WWoHP areas due to the lines and hoards of people still there after the park closed, but night 2 was much better. I could see them actually sweeping, a huge line of security. In fact we were in the restroom and security "yelled" in that only guests with bands were still allowed in the park lol that was a new one to us! I do wish the park had closed earlier on Sat night, but we still had a great time. I did not notice any food issues, but admittedly we didn't snack or eat as much this time around as in the past, we rode more rides lol but also when it's super hot, I don't tend to eat a lot anyway.

I don't want people to think that I am saying that nothing ever goes wrong, I was quite frustrated with the amount of people still in WWoHP at the end of the night, and it's not the first time it's happened. I see that comment a lot across the boards (groups). However, I still find that the meetup is an awesome event, every ride we rode (minus Hagrids) was a straight walk on both nights. VC was delayed a few times on Fri night, but when it reopened the time was never more than 15 mins and by the time you walked through, went through security, did lockers, you were pretty much on the ride. Could there be improvements, yep. I feel they listen and try to make changes when possible, even from Fri night to Sat night, there is aways a difference in how things go.
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So overall for our 6 nights we were there, we had an absolute blast minus the dang heat. It was super hot, more than normal, and we were sure to take breaks and drink a lot of water. We were happy to check out the DreamWorks area, ride the coaster and see the show. I was excited to be able to ride so many of the rides I had never been able to ride before, and it was a really fun time. We are looking forward to going back in Nov to the meetup and taking our entire family. We're spending the Thanksgiving week at Orange Lake Resort (my FIL has a timeshare) and just relax after the meetup weekend.

 

[georgina]

Ya that's what I'm thinking. I think last year it was June 2 so makes sense thr winter tickets went on sale right after that

I wonder if the winter ticket sale is delayed because they are still selling tickets for August. Hope they don’t wait until after that is over!

 

[GhostHost24]

I wonder if the winter ticket sale is delayed because they are still selling tickets for August. Hope they don’t wait until after that is over!

Ya I found it interesting on their site instead of going to the overview page with all dates listed it takes you straight to the August page.

 

[georgina]

Ya I found it interesting on their site instead of going to the overview page with all dates listed it takes you straight to the August page.

I asked the chat bot when December tickets would go on sale. It said the date hasn't been announced yet.

 

[RocketCityMama]

Yeah I am anxiously awaiting November tickets, I feel it'll be July at this point, I don't think they will wait until August, but I could be wrong....

 

[nouvellefleur]

Yeah I am anxiously awaiting November tickets, I feel it'll be July at this point, I don't think they will wait until August, but I could be wrong....

I'm wondering if they'll put November & December on sale if August sells out. I feel like if August doesn't sell out, they'll wait until after the meetup and then release the tickets so they don't bleed off potential summer sales.

 

[RocketCityMama]

I am sure you all saw but tickets go on sale for Nov and Dec on July 17th at 10 am EST! You have to be on the text/email list so you can get the link.

 

[Krisshay13]

I am sure you all saw but tickets go on sale for Nov and Dec on July 17th at 10 am EST! You have to be on the text/email list so you can get the link.

whoo hoo...booked today!!
can only do Saturday Nov 23rd but happy to be going back!!!

 

[RocketCityMama]

whoo hoo...booked today!!
can only do Saturday Nov 23rd but happy to be going back!!!

Us too! We are doing both nights and Sun/Mon since we are taking 2 extra people with us, one had never been and one not since 2015 or 16 lol