Onsite guests go in HP if booked pre 3-25

[Indy Denise]

First post here, but I have been lurking for months......

I called Universal Hotel reservations because I am booked at the Hard Rock
May 30- June 5 with a non-Potter stay. Before the rep would even answer any questions about would I be allowed to enter HP I had to give her my reservation number. I told her that I am not a HP vaca package holder so why does my reservation number matter she said " oh but it does! "

I gave her my number and she said 1) because I booked onsite pre- March 25 I will get to enter..onsite guests that book today through Grand Opening will not. 2) Upon checkin they will give me what I need to get into HP 3) everything is supposed to be up and running but due to unforseen blah blah blah ( tech stuff ) nothing is guaranteed. 3 ) this will be the soft opening

I am sooooo glad I broke the bank and booked onsite last month instead of waiting to see if rates dropped.

 

[Indy Denise]

Oh, by the way..nice to meet everyone. I have been so upset/confused/elated with Potter thing I forgot my manners!!!

 

[illini2002]

What a relief!! Booked same days without a package so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is true. There seems to be a lack of communication between Universal's Guest Services and the on-site Loews Hotels. Hopefully they can figure this out before they have too many upset guests, seems like they got the message that they may have been starting to alienate many of their loyal visitors!!

 

[Indy Denise]

By the way, since right now I am happy but later when more conflicting info comes out I will be I decided to book again for July.
When I am confident that the info I hear is " right " I will cancel one.

I am determined I will see HP this year.

I also emailed Universal..I will post any reply I get here too.

 

[Rags]

By the way, since right now I am happy but later when more conflicting info comes out I will be I decided to book again for July.
When I am confident that the info I hear is " right " I will cancel one.

I am determined I will see HP this year.

I also emailed Universal..I will post any reply I get here too.

Thanks for the info and WELCOME to the DIS!!!!

 

[glocon]

Thanks for your update Indy Denise!!! And welcome from another newbie I am starting to feel like maybe our vacation will still be the dream I am trying to plan it to be.

 

[Grumpy92]

Hey thanks for posting we had the same concerns. I sure hope GS is correct on this. Like everyone else we are going and staying onsite for HP.
Keep us posted.

 

[Amandaj0831]

We are in the same sitation booked in January but bought tickets online through AAA. We will save our tickets for next year if we cant get in to HP

 

[TnRobin]

I wish they would get thier information straight. I called yesterday and was told that I would not be allowed into HP (booked over a month ago). So I cancelled and booked a hotel in Sandusky for Cedar Point.

 

[mcbailey]

Thank you IndyDenise....I am sure hoping you are correct. We are booked (non-Harry Potter package) but on site at RPR and this news just makes me smile

 

[WebmasterPete]

Hate to rain on anyone's parade, but I've received 'official' word from Universal on this - if you are NOT booked with a HP package you will not be able to get into that area of the park prior to June 18th. If you have the HP package booked for arrival between 5/28 and 6/18, you're in BUT they're hedging their bets by saying "as always, all attractions are subject to availability" - which means "we hope stuff is working".

Pete

 

[Rags]

Oh well...... Just gives me an excuse to go next Memorial Day too!!!! On the plus side it won't be nearly as crowded as I feared!

 

[dizcrazee]

Hate to rain on anyone's parade, but I've received 'official' word from Universal on this - if you are NOT booked with a HP package you will not be able to get into that area of the park prior to June 18th. If you have the HP package booked for arrival between 5/28 and 6/18, you're in BUT they're hedging their bets by saying "as always, all attractions are subject to availability" - which means "we hope stuff is working".

Pete

Thank you so much for posting this!

 

[damo]

Hate to rain on anyone's parade, but I've received 'official' word from Universal on this - if you are NOT booked with a HP package you will not be able to get into that area of the park prior to June 18th. If you have the HP package booked for arrival between 5/28 and 6/18, you're in BUT they're hedging their bets by saying "as always, all attractions are subject to availability" - which means "we hope stuff is working".

Pete

I think it is important to note Universal's exact quote about the May 28-June 18th time frame.

At the moment, only people who have purchased packages from Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations or Virgin Holidays featuring the specific The Wizarding World of Harry Potter package entitlements will be accommodated.



I think the "At the moment " part is important. Always watch for new developments. Soft openings are never announced or publicized.

 

[ckey]

Hate to rain on anyone's parade, but I've received 'official' word from Universal on this - if you are NOT booked with a HP package you will not be able to get into that area of the park prior to June 18th. If you have the HP package booked for arrival between 5/28 and 6/18, you're in BUT they're hedging their bets by saying "as always, all attractions are subject to availability" - which means "we hope stuff is working".

Pete

I just now called Guest Services at 407-224-4233, chose option 2 and was informed very confidently by a rep named JoAnn that as long as I booked an onsite hotel room, whether a package or not, prior to 3/25/10, I would be allowed access between 5/28 and 6/17. I specifically mentioned that it was a room only, booked throught the Loews website, not Universal, and she said definitely yes, no problem.

So I guess Guest services is just spouting lies to all of us who are calling. Nice. Just wondering who's your "official" source and could you please mention to him or her that Guest Services is giving out erroneous information to multiple guests?

 

[WebmasterPete]

Here is exactly what we were sent today:

You announced Wizarding World of Harry Potter travel packages with a travel date of May 28. But today, you announced a June 18 grand opening date. What’s going on? Are the packages still good?
We are confident in our ability to provide those who have already purchased travel packages featuring entitlements in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter the experience they are looking forward to having -- with all the great benefits we have listed and we will make special arrangement to accommodate them. As always, specific operating hours and availability of attractions and shows are subject to change. The June 18 date is meant for a larger, more public, opening.

If I purchased The Wizarding World of Harry Potter package with a travel date of May 28 will I still get to experience all of the rides?
That is our intention and we will make special arrangement to accommodate them but as always, all rides and attractions are subject to availability.

Can I still purchase The Wizarding World of Harry Potter travel package with a travel date of May 28?
We are now sold out of packages with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter entitlements for arrivals prior to June 18. However, packages are still available for purchase after June 18.

If I bought a regular ticket or vacation package to Universal Orlando Resort after May 28, will I be able to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
At the moment, only people who have purchased packages from Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations or Virgin Holidays featuring the specific The Wizarding World of Harry Potter package entitlements will be accommodated.

 

[illini2002]

Yesterday, I sent Universal Guest Services a message about my disappointment of not being able to see WWoHP even though I was staying as an on-site guest.

Today, I received a call from them and the woman ASSURED me that, although they originally said only package holders would be able to get in, they were letting anyone in that had booked a Universal Vacation package (Harry Potter or not) or had booked at the on-site hotels before yesterday for travel dates between May 28th-June 17th. She also made it a point that the general public would not have access to WWoHP during these dates.

She said they received word of this yesterday evening and that the grand opening date of June 18th came as a shock to them since they had already begun selling the packages for May 28th.

I also asked how much access to the WWoHP we would have while we were there (i.e. only during the early park entry time or at certain points in the day). To her knowledge, they had not received that information yet and told me to call back in the coming weeks as they have more of the details sorted out. She mentioned though that to get into the Harry Potter portion we'd most likely just need to show our room key.

I know this conflicts with the information DISboards received this morning, but hopefully they've got the message that they had many, many upset guests and are trying to remedy the situation.

 

[Amandaj0831]

I called this afternoon. We have an onsite hotel but not a package. I was told that since we booked before yesterday as long as we upgrade to a package we can go, but if we use our own tickets we cant. Personally I am going to wait and see before making/changing any plans

 

[DumGuestTricks]

I don't get what the fuss is.
You bought a package to stay at Universal that happens to fall between May 28th and the day of the Grand Opening for Potter. Why do you think you are being jipped? When you booked you were NOT guaranteed it would be open AT ALL. They happen to announce these dates and you all seem to be getting your pants in a wad because you have a smaller chance of experiencing The WWoHP.
Unless you booked the specific Potter package, you should not be upset, IMHO.


I think the only people that should worry are those that bought packages specifying they would eat and enjoy the new area. And they've been told that they would get everything promised in their package.

 

[Indy Denise]

don't get what the fuss is.
You bought a package to stay at Universal that happens to fall between May 28th and the day of the Grand Opening for Potter. Why do you think you are being jipped? When you booked you were NOT guaranteed it would be open AT ALL. They happen to announce these dates and you all seem to be getting your pants in a wad because you have a smaller chance of experiencing The WWoHP.
Unless you booked the specific Potter package, you should not be upset, IMHO
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See, that is where you are wrong. When I booked I was told that 1)since I was going to be onsite I was going to be able to enter HP, get early admission but not the breakfast 2) I did NOT need the vacation package if I had my own tickets and didn't care about the breakfast

This is what has gotten people upset. Many of us booked onsite because that is what we were told. From the looks of things MANY of us were told that. If I knew this was going to happen I would have booked the package.