Onsite guests go in HP if booked pre 3-25

[Indy Denise]

ok, I called again since I never received an email response. I was told they could not fiind my email ( but I have an automated EM# saying they DID get my email)anyway, I was told and this was not by management but by a rep, that yes, since I am booked on site we will have limited acces , most likely we will be givin 1 day of our stay (our choice of day) to choose to see WWOHP. As far as what will be up and running, available that day there is no way to say, it was suggested I call a few days before we arrive for an update, and that we will be given instructions/info at check in as to what day to choose for entry, etc.
We also booked on a PIN at a great rate of 125 a night, if we change our dates at all we lose that rate and have to start all over at current rates/availability. So...we are rethinking the whole thing...the uncertainty of it all is taking some of the fun out. I am not feeling well today and I think that is affecting my thought process, but I was REALLY hoping for acces to WWOHP for each day we are on-site, since we know it will be in different stages each day, better shot at seeing everything there.

I am with you on this. My whole thing was " hey, I can cancel and rebook for July, no biggie" . I told every person I e-mailed or talked to this. Rooms are higher but then again I would have until July to save. I was told that onsiters would have access everyday of their stay and now it seems maybe otherwise. Now I CAN NOT rebook for July as I am sailing on a Carnival cruise then..so at this point I guess I will have to get over myself ( and Universal ) Why oh why can't Universal get their stories together? This is what worries me most. We probably won't get any access which would be the icing on the cake. I am about ready to sell my tickets ( and my Sea World ones ) and put this trip on hold for a year or so.

 

[FINFAN]

yeah, and at the rate we got the room for ($125) they are not making any $ off of us for the week really...so I am sure they have no problem if we cancel and the room opens up for a higher paying rate.

 

[ADP]

Hopefully, soft openings will be happening soon. Can't wait to see more pictures and video from inside the island.

 

[dawgsgirl]

In January, I booked a week at HRH for 5-29 for 7 nights. I have the cheap tickets. Right now, I am very frustrated about how the story keeps getting changed about access to WWOHP. I understand we took a chance on booking and that is fine if WWOHP is not open. BUT I need to know what is going on. If access is going to be limited, we will wait and go at another time. I called last week and was told that we would have a preview and would be given the information at check-in. I am not willing to take that chance. Does anyone have any idea when or if they will get their story straight???

 

[bubba's mom]

yeah, and at the rate we got the room for ($125) they are not making any $ off of us for the week really...so I am sure they have no problem if we cancel and the room opens up for a higher paying rate.

actually Universal isn't making money on your room...Loews is.

 

[FINFAN]

actually Universal isn't making money on your room...Loews is.

my mistake...I guess Universal would want us to take that room, so we spend in the parks, lol....it is just getting frustrating is all.

 

[damo]

My best guess is that until they get the Forbidden Journey ride working the way they want to, nobody knows when or how things will be opening.

 

[bubba's mom]

my mistake...

nah...it's something that's assumed. I was just letting you know I have no doubt Universal makes some sorta $ from Loews having their hotels there tho.

 

[dawgsgirl]

OK, I just talked with Universal Guest Services and the Hard Rock. It seems that now the story is you will be able to preview Harry Potter and when you check in a time will be scheduled for you to attend the preview. NOT what I wanted to hear. It also seems that no decision has yet been made as to how much you will be able to preview, like multiple days, etc. I certainly wish they would get their act together. This is stressing me out!!!

 

[glocon]

i just want to know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Indy Denise]

OK, I just talked with Universal Guest Services and the Hard Rock. It seems that now the story is you will be able to preview Harry Potter and when you check in a time will be scheduled for you to attend the preview. NOT what I wanted to hear. It also seems that no decision has yet been made as to how much you will be able to preview, like multiple days, etc. I certainly wish they would get their act together. This is stressing me out!!!

I talked to them too after I e-mailed them and asked them to put something in writing. Point blank they refused. Their reasoning was they don't know what, if anything will be open. The package people will get what they paid for, which is breakfast there and a " preview" but no guarantees of what will be open. ( If I was them I would be furious ) . Onsites get a preview too..but details are not known at this time of what the preview will actually be. The Universal man I talked to said to keep watching for any news of the rides being operational. IMHO I think they are having some issues there and now they are backing off on promising any type of experience other than going in and walking around.

 

[dawgsgirl]

I agree, the people that bought the package are really getting a raw deal. All of this craziness makes me wonder if Universal will even make the grand opening by 6-18. Right now, I guess I will see what they say next week.

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

How are package people getting a raw deal? I paid for a breakfast and commemorative ticket. That's the only thing the package gives me and not the proverbial you. No one knows anything other than the grand opening date. Everyone needs to calm done. Why is everyone panicking? Everyone is going to see the same thing, ride the same ride etc. it doesn't make anyone better than anyone else because they get to ride it first.

 

[Indy Denise]

How are package people getting a raw deal? I paid for a breakfast and commemorative ticket. That's the only thing the package gives me and not the proverbial you. No one knows anything other than the grand opening date. Everyone needs to calm done. Why is everyone panicking? Everyone is going to see the same thing, ride the same ride etc. it doesn't make anyone better than anyone else because they get to ride it first.

IF I had bought the package I would expect that everything would be open for my visit. I, as only an onsiter, can't really complain about anything ( other than the lack of consistant info for my stay ) . Your package is probably A LOT higher then my Hard Rock Stay and MapleLeaf tickets. It really doesn't seem fair that other then breakfast and the ticket that we would have the same experience, honestly.
I hope EVERYONE that is there pre-GO gets in and has a chance to see and do everything.

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

my package for 2 adults came to 1670 give or take a dollar. We are staying at RPR for 7 days at the end of July. Our tickets are 7 day park to park and we got a $200 giftcard too. Where am I getting a raw deal?

 

[FINFAN]

not a raw deal for you, but for comparison sake, we are booked early June, RPR 6 nights. We bought the $99 tix for 4 adults..our total is 1309 for the four of us. You paid a little more overall for 2 , but you do have dates after the Grand Opening so you are in better shape. We have to travel that week, so what is dsappointing is that when we booked( mid feb), rep told us that SPRING was still the slotted opening. I know that 6/18 falls into Spring by 3 days, but lets face it...selling packages to people who are basing their travel around dAtes of those packages....it was certainly implied to be operational sooner than June. I feel bad for all the Grad Bash kids too...yeah, they were given another ticket for return, but it still stings. Loews/Universal did give info stating that those who had booked prior to a certain date ( a date that Loews/Uni came up with, not the general public) would indeed be allowed access. I think that since they are altering that info, that guests who would like to change their dates be allowed to do so and NOT lose their current rate for their hotel. It would be a nice gesture really , since people did book on info that they had released. It's not like people just came up with a range of dates out of no where. We will probably just cancel and rebook for another time...we were able to get the Dolphin for $14 more a night than RPR, so we may just drop the Universal part of our trip. I would have liked to have arrived 2 dasy later than our current ressie, but I was told I would lose the entire booking by switching our arrival date...and would have to book at todays avaialbility, and also on the off chance that WWOHP is allowed we would have also lost our shot at that as we would now have booked AFTER 3/25. Still mulling things over, but I think we will wait and not use up our $99 tix until after all teh kinks are worked out for WWOHP.

 

[bubba's mom]

...what is disappointing is that when we booked( mid feb), rep told us that SPRING was still the slotted opening. I know that 6/18 falls into Spring by 3 days, but lets face it...selling packages to people who are basing their travel around dAtes of those packages....it was certainly implied to be operational sooner than June.

Like you said, "spring" is still June 18th.

If you researched these boards at the beginning of the year, you should have gotten the impression NOT to count on an earlier (march/april-ish) opening.

I've been around these boards (and by that, I mean the Universal side) for a long time, and after the mess with HRRR LAST spring, anyone who is a regular on these boards would have told you to wait till the end of spring, at the earliest, to be sure...and probably would have recommended you wait till July to visit.

Personally, I would not plan a trip with a generalization of "spring" for this very reason. Give it a month and then go...that way you're assured of it being open. (Unlike last spring when HRRR was supposed to be open. We were there July and it STILL wasn't open. They blew their opening date by months!)

Anyway...I understand your disappointment and frustration, but you can either cancel or go...not much other choice. Even if your time IS limited at Harry Potter, it isn't the ONLY thing at Universal.

I have had trips not go as planned, and I feel your pain.... but, I don't think this is anyone's fault...things happen. And, I know you want it right for your visit.

I hope you can find the bright side and have an enjoyable trip.

 

[FINFAN]

thanks, it is just that boards aside, the info I was given was from RPR when I had booked...I received a PIN and that got me to call to book, it was then that the rep filled me in on HP stuff, and the packages ( Which we did not buy, we are room only)so I DO feel that even tho nothing is in writing the mere fact that the info was offered at time of booking is what peaked our interest. What about the people who have been told "you are the lucky few to get to see WWOHP prior to 6/18?" Why was that being told to anyone?Yes, we booked our trip based on US/IOA aside of WWOHP, and that is still the case...but since the booking all the conflicting info and now the resort sort of taking on an attitude of "we made no promises" ( which I did not call complaining, I called trying to get factual info, something I would do for any trip I plan)is putting a damper on things. Why should I be made to feel bad about asking how our reservation is going to be handled when it is based on info the resort gave me 2 months ago? That is what is eating away at me...I am just really glad that we plan to drive and are not locked into airfare...lets me feel still a little bit in control. I think the fact that RRR was a fiasco, well, I guess I should look at it as no big surprise on WWOHP, but one would hope that they learned from that little mistake, not perfect how to string the pre-booked public along. I was on the boards in the beginning of the year...WWOHP was not the orig objective, but it became a top runner once RPR offered me info at time of booking. We were heading for Star Wars weekend and decided to do US/IOA since we had the $99 tix. Again, thanks for the outlook...I appreciate your help.

 

[Indy Denise]

my package for 2 adults came to 1670 give or take a dollar. We are staying at RPR for 7 days at the end of July. Our tickets are 7 day park to park and we got a $200 giftcard too. Where am I getting a raw deal?

I am talking about the packages that start pre-GO. In July I would assume that HP is up and running.

 

[glocon]

I think the "raw deal" comes in when people were led to expect to see their dream of the WWoHP come to life get pulled out from under them. I mean a Super Bowl commercial......