Pic of Universal's Hogwarts Express track emerges

[Rumors Rocks]

http://www.screamscape.com/html/universal_studios_florida.htm#Potter2

2014 - Wizarding World / Hogwarts Express - (4/10/13) An anonymous source has sent in a new picture showing off our first look at a section of the track installed for the new Hogwarts Express that will run from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure over to the new London / Ministry of Magic area at the Studios.

Click link for more details.

 

[twebber55]

http://www.screamscape.com/assets/images/db_images/db_2012_0213_HogwartsExpressRouteMap3.jpg

actually read yesterday that the picture is old and both tracks are up now

 

[ParrotBill]

Amazing how they can build so fast compared to WDW. Which (witch?) end will have Diagon Alley?

 

[twebber55]

Amazing how they can build so fast compared to WDW. Which (witch?) end will have Diagon Alley?

universal studios side

 

[R2D2]

Maybe I am late to the party, but how is this going to work with ticketing? Is there only going to be one ticket that lets you hop between both parks? If not, how would they police who can ride the Hogwarts Express?

Not sure if anyone has more info than me!

 

[larry_poppins]

You will need an AP or a hopper ticket to ride the train. I'm sure you will be able to upgrade inside the park.

Larry

 

[Rumors Rocks]

actually read yesterday that the picture is old and both tracks are up now

Thank you for the information. The source has indeed confirmed the photo to be 4-5 months old. I apologize for the bad link in the original post, it is now fixed. The old photo has been replaced with a link to a new Google aerial image of the Gringotts Bank Coaster and Hogwarts Express construction site in the London/Ministry of Magic. https://maps.google.com/maps?q=univ...33367,23.939209&t=h&hq=universal+orlando&z=20

 

[twebber55]

You will need an AP or a hopper ticket to ride the train. I'm sure you will be able to upgrade inside the park.

Larry

i dont think this is necessarily true

 

[twebber55]

Thank you for the information. The source has indeed confirmed the photo to be 4-5 months old. I apologize for the bad link in the original post, it is now fixed. The old photo has been replaced with a link to a new Google aerial image of the Gringotts Bank Coaster and Hogwarts Express construction site in the London/Ministry of Magic. https://maps.google.com/maps?q=univ...33367,23.939209&t=h&hq=universal+orlando&z=20

no need to apologize always appreciate looking at this stuff

 

[Lewisc]

You will need an AP or a hopper ticket to ride the train. I'm sure you will be able to upgrade inside the park.

Larry

i dont think this is necessarily true

There hasn't been official information nor is any official information likely before (or shortly before) the new section opens.

The rumor is the "train station" will be selling ticket upgrades to guests who don't have the required tickets.

Do we think there will be lines when the new section opens. Universal could require the right tickets before you ride the train. OR Universal could let your ride the train then make you ride the train back without fulling entering the new park. Let's see one option gives Universal new revenue and the other option means guests who don't pay for hoppers get to ride the train twice. Do the math.

 

[wiigirl]

Amazing how they can build so fast compared to WDW. Which (witch?) end will have Diagon Alley?

Seriously!

 

[DCTooTall]

There hasn't been official information nor is any official information likely before (or shortly before) the new section opens.

The rumor is the "train station" will be selling ticket upgrades to guests who don't have the required tickets.

Do we think there will be lines when the new section opens. Universal could require the right tickets before you ride the train. OR Universal could let your ride the train then make you ride the train back without fulling entering the new park. Let's see one option gives Universal new revenue and the other option means guests who don't pay for hoppers get to ride the train twice. Do the math.

The bigger issue I would think would be the Queue management.

If you have to worry about people making a round trip because they lack the correct ticket, Then you have no guarantee how many empty seats there will be on the train for the return journey, which would make judging queue wait times and the empty capacity of each arriving train more difficult.

If you make everyone exit the train and those without a ticket re-queue to ride the return leg, then you run into the issue of potentially pissing off guests who just waiting 30min to ride the train to the other park, and then find they need to wait another 30/45min in order to get back to the park they were just in. Since the trains are on the back-side of the park, there would not be an quick/easy way for those without parkhoppers to bypass the train to get back to their original park. It would be extremely difficult due to the station's locations in relation to front of the park.... or other guest areas, to route a walkway from the station to bypass the arrival park.

Seriously!

All it takes is a company willing to throw the money and resources at the construction process.

 

[RnbwSktles]

What is the new Gringotts Bank area covering? Is it an existing ride? I am not that familiar with US.

The bigger issue I would think would be the Queue management.

If you have to worry about people making a round trip because they lack the correct ticket, Then you have no guarantee how many empty seats there will be on the train for the return journey, which would make judging queue wait times and the empty capacity of each arriving train more difficult.

If you make everyone exit the train and those without a ticket re-queue to ride the return leg, then you run into the issue of potentially pissing off guests who just waiting 30min to ride the train to the other park, and then find they need to wait another 30/45min in order to get back to the park they were just in. Since the trains are on the back-side of the park, there would not be an quick/easy way for those without parkhoppers to bypass the train to get back to their original park. It would be extremely difficult due to the station's locations in relation to front of the park.... or other guest areas, to route a walkway from the station to bypass the arrival park.

Maybe this is more complicated than it seems to me, but couldn't they put up a turn style type gate before the queue that only allows guests to enter who have a valid ticket to the other park? It would sort've be like exiting the MK to take the monorail to EPCOT, except in this situation you would not be allowed out of the park and in to the next one without a ticket.

 

[Metro West]

What is the new Gringotts Bank area covering? Is it an existing ride? I am not that familiar with US.

The new HP section is where Jaws and Amity Island used to be...the train is new.

 

[DCTooTall]

Maybe this is more complicated than it seems to me, but couldn't they put up a turn style type gate before the queue that only allows guests to enter who have a valid ticket to the other park? It would sort've be like exiting the MK to take the monorail to EPCOT, except in this situation you would not be allowed out of the park and in to the next one without a ticket.

That would be the simpliest option and most practical option. You can only ride the Hogwarts if you have a park-to-park ticket.

My post was in response to those wondering if there was a way to allow those with only single park-per-day tickets to ride the Hogwarts Express and the complications that would come from that idea.

(Personally... I feel it would be better to 'piss off' the people before they ride with the fact they'd have to upgrade to park-to-park tickets... then say "sure! Ride it", and then have them get pissed off because they'd need to wait another 30minutes to get back to the first park they started from)

 

[jade1]

Maybe they could create a wrist band that would just charge you the hopping price, if you give the OK.

 

[DCTooTall]

Maybe they could create a wrist band that would just charge you the hopping price, if you give the OK.

Why?

Why would someone pay for a wrist band at the same cost as a hopping upgrade instead of just upgrading their ticket to a hopping ticket for the same cost?


Either way, It still has them requiring those without the proper kind of ticket in advance upgrading at the station to experience the attraction.

 

[jade1]

Why?

Why would someone pay for a wrist band at the same cost as a hopping upgrade instead of just upgrading their ticket to a hopping ticket for the same cost?


Either way, It still has them requiring those without the proper kind of ticket in advance upgrading at the station to experience the attraction.

Its kind of a long story apparently.

 

[skylizard]

I think it's very cool, and I'm not even a Harry Potter fan!

I wonder when it'll all be done and ready.

 

[TheWeasel]

Its kind of a long story apparently.

Sarcasm doesn't always translate!