So my friend and I went to Universal from about 11 to 4. Just killing time, going to see people and such, and we hit both parks. Now, I know how Universal operates. The later the park hours, the more crowded they are expecting the park to be, the more Team Members at attractions to help push ride capacity. USF closed at 6 and IOA at 7 tonight.
Here are some things I noticed that definitely caught my attention.
1). Hulk was at a walk on, with 3 trains, 6 loaders, 1 greeter, one test seat person, and a redemption (Express pass scanner). (Note: 6 loaders are used when it is crazy busy like 9 -10 pm closings)
2). Mummy was a walk on as well, using both stations.
3). Dragon's Challenge had groupers! I have NEVER seen that ride ever have a Grouper attendant, even when it was Dueling Dragons.
4). Doom had both towers running, and 2 attendants on each of the towers, so it had 4 loaders.
I don't know, but I was impressed with how many Team Members they were willing to keep at the attractions. I remember this time last year, it would be cutting staff left and right, because it wasn't deemed too busy, so to save on money, they would cut staff. Today wasn't even that busy though! Hulk, Doom, and Dragon's Challenge were 5 minute waits, Forbidden Journey was 75 though. Other attractions were 10 to 20 minutes. Maybe the money is more flowing now, now that Potter has opened, or they're testing to see what kind of budget they need for the Holiday Hell Week this year.
BTW, I saw Forbidden Journey's Express line today. It was pretty cool. It brings you up some stairs through your own portrait gallery (which in my opinion is better than the regular line one, because it's bigger) and it joins next to the regular line in Dumbledore's office. The problem with it is that it is SHORT. There is no way to extend that line, which is going to be a problem when Express finally opens because that's just going to to DOUBLE the regular line wait time, which means more people will buy Express, which means more Express guests in that line.
Here are some things I noticed that definitely caught my attention.
1). Hulk was at a walk on, with 3 trains, 6 loaders, 1 greeter, one test seat person, and a redemption (Express pass scanner). (Note: 6 loaders are used when it is crazy busy like 9 -10 pm closings)
2). Mummy was a walk on as well, using both stations.
3). Dragon's Challenge had groupers! I have NEVER seen that ride ever have a Grouper attendant, even when it was Dueling Dragons.
4). Doom had both towers running, and 2 attendants on each of the towers, so it had 4 loaders.
I don't know, but I was impressed with how many Team Members they were willing to keep at the attractions. I remember this time last year, it would be cutting staff left and right, because it wasn't deemed too busy, so to save on money, they would cut staff. Today wasn't even that busy though! Hulk, Doom, and Dragon's Challenge were 5 minute waits, Forbidden Journey was 75 though. Other attractions were 10 to 20 minutes. Maybe the money is more flowing now, now that Potter has opened, or they're testing to see what kind of budget they need for the Holiday Hell Week this year.
BTW, I saw Forbidden Journey's Express line today. It was pretty cool. It brings you up some stairs through your own portrait gallery (which in my opinion is better than the regular line one, because it's bigger) and it joins next to the regular line in Dumbledore's office. The problem with it is that it is SHORT. There is no way to extend that line, which is going to be a problem when Express finally opens because that's just going to to DOUBLE the regular line wait time, which means more people will buy Express, which means more Express guests in that line.
Thank goodness we are going to be there the 19th - 26th. 
