Onsite guests go in HP if booked pre 3-25

[Nickarooney]

I just spoke with a GSR and here is what they are saying as of today...

Anyone with HP Package or on-site hotel reservations made before the Grand Opening date will be allowed in to see WWoHP for the entirety of their stay, to see whatever is open. There would be times when rides needed to be tweaked and would be closed, but the expectation was from May 28 through the Grand Opening they would have everything open from shops to restaurants to rides. They could not guarantee anything, but felt very good about the majority of it all being available.

We only have on-site reservations at HRH from June 5-10 and I wasn't expecting anything, so everything is really icing on the cake. I stated to the rep that I was trying to decide if I should reschedule for August and book the HP package and be done with it and she shouted, "NO!" I giggled because of her strong reaction and she went on to say that I am now holding the Golden Ticket and have lucked into the very best situation of all - HP preview and very few people.

I would be pretty skeptical and say they just wanted not to lose the revenue, except that I wasn't calling in anger and just wanted information to reschedule my vacation, not cancel it. She had no reason to have such a strong reaction to me giving up my June reservation, when I was just going to move it to August.

Sounds promising, won't hold my breath or let my expectations get away from me, but those of us going before the opening may just be in for the trip of a lifetime. I think I am going to roll the dice and bet on the side of having a super special opportunity, since we can always go back and see it open after June 18...when I save up enough money again...in 2012...or 13...or 14...

 

[shl1108]

I just spoke with a GSR and here is what they are saying as of today...

Anyone with HP Package or on-site hotel reservations made before the Grand Opening date will be allowed in to see WWoHP for the entirety of their stay, to see whatever is open. There would be times when rides needed to be tweaked and would be closed, but the expectation was from May 28 through the Grand Opening they would have everything open from shops to restaurants to rides. They could not guarantee anything, but felt very good about the majority of it all being available.

We only have on-site reservations at HRH from June 5-10 and I wasn't expecting anything, so everything is really icing on the cake. I stated to the rep that I was trying to decide if I should reschedule for August and book the HP package and be done with it and she shouted, "NO!" I giggled because of her strong reaction and she went on to say that I am now holding the Golden Ticket and have lucked into the very best situation of all - HP preview and very few people.

I would be pretty skeptical and say they just wanted not to lose the revenue, except that I wasn't calling in anger and just wanted information to reschedule my vacation, not cancel it. She had no reason to have such a strong reaction to me giving up my June reservation, when I was just going to move it to August.

Sounds promising, won't hold my breath or let my expectations get away from me, but those of us going before the opening may just be in for the trip of a lifetime. I think I am going to roll the dice and bet on the side of having a super special opportunity, since we can always go back and see it open after June 18...when I save up enough money again...in 2012...or 13...or 14...

Sounds great! I feel like its a golden ticket too!!

 

[Indy Denise]

I just spoke with a GSR and here is what they are saying as of today...

Anyone with HP Package or on-site hotel reservations made before the Grand Opening date will be allowed in to see WWoHP for the entirety of their stay, to see whatever is open. There would be times when rides needed to be tweaked and would be closed, but the expectation was from May 28 through the Grand Opening they would have everything open from shops to restaurants to rides. They could not guarantee anything, but felt very good about the majority of it all being available.

We only have on-site reservations at HRH from June 5-10 and I wasn't expecting anything, so everything is really icing on the cake. I stated to the rep that I was trying to decide if I should reschedule for August and book the HP package and be done with it and she shouted, "NO!" I giggled because of her strong reaction and she went on to say that I am now holding the Golden Ticket and have lucked into the very best situation of all - HP preview and very few people.

I would be pretty skeptical and say they just wanted not to lose the revenue, except that I wasn't calling in anger and just wanted information to reschedule my vacation, not cancel it. She had no reason to have such a strong reaction to me giving up my June reservation, when I was just going to move it to August.

Sounds promising, won't hold my breath or let my expectations get away from me, but those of us going before the opening may just be in for the trip of a lifetime. I think I am going to roll the dice and bet on the side of having a super special opportunity, since we can always go back and see it open after June 18...when I save up enough money again...in 2012...or 13...or 14...

This is what I was told the 3rd, 7th, and 8th time I talked to Universal..the
7th rep turned out to be the same as the 9th rep..
BUT my 7/9 rep was much more er, um, hesitant/cautious and when I asked him point blank to put it in writing he refused ( or couldn't ) because he finally admitted that everything is still up in the air . He basically couldn't promise me anything when no one really knows what anything is.

 

[DaddyDon]

This made me smile. a lot. I've been, frankly, worried about the same thing, and've been lurking to see. This statement gave me hope and made me laugh.

"Oy! Dobby? Would you like a sock?"

"Yes! Master would be so gracious to give Dobby a sock! -takes it and cuddles it-"

several weeks later...

"Oy! Dobby! Could I have that sock back?"

"NO!!!!!"


(what I think were aall going through right now.)

I think they could be decent enough to at least let us experience everything but FJ, if that's what's keeping them.


"Please Master, could Dobby have his sock back?"

lol.......

 

[johamna]

One of the things that bugs me regarding the "booked before GO Announcement" is that they're going to have quite a mess on their hands when two parties of on-site guests come towards the theoretically open gates and the rep turns one party away because they hadn't booked prior.

I feel like Universal (or their Hotels?) has backed themselves into a corner on this one, as far as the May 28th Packages are concerned.

 

[Metro West]

Flying Unicorn, uh, I mean Flight of the Hippograff, was running (because Ellen rode it) and DC/DD is operational.... The only thing that is "if-y" is the new, never been ridden FJ.

Yes...Dueling Dragons was running today.

 

[DumGuestTricks]

Visited the parks this weekend. While waiting at HRRR, a team member was talking about WWoHP and said he is actually merchandise team member at Zonko's, was pulled from his job at Amity stands to train and work there with Universal's intention of opening the area, but not the rides before the grand opening so people could experience the area at least. After people flew off the handle about the opening date and them purchasing vacations before a grand opening date was announced, Universal pulled the plug on having the area open, and so he is now in limbo having to pick up extra shifts around the parks. He said there are about 300 Team Members like this that are barely getting by and being shafted by Universal with their hours. They won't move them back to their previous locations, and won't promise them hours. It's up to them to pick up hours at random locations around the parks. He said if it hadn't been such a busy Spring Break and past few weeks, he would probably left Universal to work somewhere else.
Feel sorry for those people.

 

[damo]

Visited the parks this weekend. While waiting at HRRR, a team member was talking about WWoHP and said he is actually merchandise team member at Zonko's, was pulled from his job at Amity stands to train and work there with Universal's intention of opening the area, but not the rides before the grand opening so people could experience the area at least. After people flew off the handle about the opening date and them purchasing vacations before a grand opening date was announced, Universal pulled the plug on having the area open, and so he is now in limbo having to pick up extra shifts around the parks. He said there are about 300 Team Members like this that are barely getting by and being shafted by Universal with their hours. They won't move them back to their previous locations, and won't promise them hours. It's up to them to pick up hours at random locations around the parks. He said if it hadn't been such a busy Spring Break and past few weeks, he would probably left Universal to work somewhere else.
Feel sorry for those people.

Probably not a good employee for Universal if he is bashing them to guests.

 

[bcarson]

This is going to be my first visit to Universal. I am of course looking forward to all of it. BUT I booked the package because I am a huge Potter fan. I can't see how they can sell us a package and not honor the terms. I know some will say what terms. It is severly misleading none the less. I believe this will sour me to Universal. I for one will be standing at the counter demanding part of my booking back. I paid for HP expierence.

 

[mjohnson96]

This is why I went ahead and waited until they announced the opening. There are only a couple weeks during the spring/summer we can go anywhere due to my DH being on call with SWAT team here so orignally we looked at booking the week of Memorial Day...after the announcement the other week I could do was the Grand Opening week, so we are staying 5 nights at RPH checking in on June 20th.

I know it will be crazy and that because I am showing up a couple days after grand opening the main ride might not be working 100 percent but that will be the chance I will take due to the time I am going. We went to IOA right after it opened and they had all sorts of problems back then, rides not working, people not knowing what was going on. But you just have the make the most of your vacation and enjoy the time spent with family and friends. I ended up buying the PP for my family, I have an AP, so incase it is not up and going 100% I have an excuse to get to go back.

Just think back when Disney opened up Animal Kingdom animals not there, things not working. But hey now it is a great park to go to, I don't think Disney hurt to much for things being confusing at first.

Just remember, have fun and enjoy yourself no matter what happens! Don't spend the first part or all of your vacation being angry about things out of your control....

Sorry had to vent about this, I have read so many negative comments on this lately.

 

[shl1108]

This is why I went ahead and waited until they announced the opening. There are only a couple weeks during the spring/summer we can go anywhere due to my DH being on call with SWAT team here so orignally we looked at booking the week of Memorial Day...after the announcement the other week I could do was the Grand Opening week, so we are staying 5 nights at RPH checking in on June 20th.

I know it will be crazy and that because I am showing up a couple days after grand opening the main ride might not be working 100 percent but that will be the chance I will take due to the time I am going. We went to IOA right after it opened and they had all sorts of problems back then, rides not working, people not knowing what was going on. But you just have the make the most of your vacation and enjoy the time spent with family and friends. I ended up buying the PP for my family, I have an AP, so incase it is not up and going 100% I have an excuse to get to go back.

Just think back when Disney opened up Animal Kingdom animals not there, things not working. But hey now it is a great park to go to, I don't think Disney hurt to much for things being confusing at first.

Just remember, have fun and enjoy yourself no matter what happens! Don't spend the first part or all of your vacation being angry about things out of your control....

Sorry had to vent about this, I have read so many negative comments on this lately.

Why is everyone worried about the ride not being ready? Is there something said in this thread or another thred regarding its being delayed?

 

[DumGuestTricks]

Probably not a good employee for Universal if he is bashing them to guests.

He wasn't really saying it in a bashing kind of way but was talking about WWoHP and he got onto the subject of the opening and how he is involved. But my point of the post is that I never thought about all of this and how it's affecting Team Members.

 

[FINFAN]

Visited the parks this weekend. While waiting at HRRR, a team member was talking about WWoHP and said he is actually merchandise team member at Zonko's, was pulled from his job at Amity stands to train and work there with Universal's intention of opening the area, but not the rides before the grand opening so people could experience the area at least. After people flew off the handle about the opening date and them purchasing vacations before a grand opening date was announced, Universal pulled the plug on having the area open, and so he is now in limbo having to pick up extra shifts around the parks. He said there are about 300 Team Members like this that are barely getting by and being shafted by Universal with their hours. They won't move them back to their previous locations, and won't promise them hours. It's up to them to pick up hours at random locations around the parks. He said if it hadn't been such a busy Spring Break and past few weeks, he would probably left Universal to work somewhere else.
Feel sorry for those people.

I agree that this affects more than guests...however, I find his comments VERY interesting..if I am reading it right, Universal (at the time you were speaking with the TM, and according to the TM who I realize was disgruntled)PULLED THE PLUG on having the area open to everyone...even those with packages booked...to stop the bleeding, eh? The first solution was to open the area but no rides...and then no area either? I believe the front desk areas and guest service areas are where many will be spending their vacations...trying to get their $ back. I certainly hope that the info the TM had was maybe not updated...it seems some have posted today about recent contact from the resorts stating access will be allowed....maybe things have changed yet again and the TM is not informed of it yet...but dang...yeah, apparently the WWOHP is not all happy happy joy joy for everyone.
When they pulled access to it from Grad Nights, that was a HUGE flag( and I know they got return tix, but not for a selective event like grad night)...appears to be an all or nothing type deal now. I just don't know how they are going to confidently run FJ without large crowd trial runs but I am thinking that is the least of their worries right now...HRRR was a nightmare, so why not FJ? I bet they figure on the rest of the area to make up for FJ being semi operational..that people will be so thrilled with just having the experience...but we will see. In a tough economy, people spending hard earned, hard to replace cash not getting what they purchased, could get ugly, real fast. Look how irritated the TM is, can you imagine if he had dropped maybe a few grand planning a trip based on the sale of a package and then gets there and it isn't happening?

 

[Indy Denise]

One of the things that bugs me regarding the "booked before GO Announcement" is that they're going to have quite a mess on their hands when two parties of on-site guests come towards the theoretically open gates and the rep turns one party away because they hadn't booked prior.

I feel like Universal (or their Hotels?) has backed themselves into a corner on this one, as far as the May 28th Packages are concerned.

I agree .and then what about the many other NON-onsiters that are goiing to be there that day ? IF I owned Universal I would let everyone in, behind me.

 

[FINFAN]

I agree .and then what about the many other NON-onsiters that are goiing to be there that day ? IF I owned Universal I would let everyone in, behind me.

great questions, and if I ever hear back I will ask how this is planning to be handled. Perhaps the "instructions at check-in" that have been mentioned has something to do with this, like a bracelet etc like EMH used to have?

 

[Rags]

Others have said this already, but I just called the main reservations line to ask about access to WWOHP given our specific reservation.

I gave her our reservation number, she looked it up and said "Your reservation has already been flagged for exclusive access to the WWOHP." She explained that this was because we booked prior to March 25th. I was relieved because although I booked our original reservation in February, I called back to change to an AP rate at the end of March, after the March 25 cut-off. But the change didn't affect things, so that's good.

She said at this point they expect the WWOHP to be open ONLY to resort guests who booked PRIOR to March 25 and she was touting how special this would be because access would be limited. She said a packet of info would be waiting for us on check in and that it would include a special ticket to give us access. She said there were "some limitations." She said it was likely that the WWOHP area of the park would be open for limited hours each day. The example she gave was 10 am to 6 pm. I asked if we'd be able to access it during each day of our stay and she said yes, that it would be open for at least part of each day.

We have a room-only reservation June 12-15.

I'm so excited to see it!!!

Hopefully this information is correct!

 

[damo]

I agree .and then what about the many other NON-onsiters that are goiing to be there that day ? IF I owned Universal I would let everyone in, behind me.

If everything is operational, I am sure they will. They have to have full soft openings before the grand opening. Right now they are just covering their butts in case everything is not ready hence the "intention" word being thrown around. They can't guarantee anything, though, at the moment.