Please help me! I'm confused (The celebration of Harry Potter, a problem)

[celiacoba]

Hello, first of all I have to say that I'm Spanish so maybe I make some mistakes writing.

I made a reservation at Cabana Bay Beach from January 24th to january 31st 2015. I did this like two months ago.

Recently, Universal anounced that from January 30 to February 1 there will be the celebration of harry potter and I don't know how this affect to me.

¿Will I have to pay more or something for the hotel? I have't paid anything yet, I just have the reservation.

I am not interested on goping to the celebration, as I am Spanish and, while I cant write (more or less), I am very bad when I have to listen and understand.

I have chosen these dates just to avoid crowds, so if i avoid going the days of the celebration, ¿will there be few people?

And, please, confirm me that i don't have to pay more!!

I have writted an e-mail, but they told me that I should call "due to the nature of my inquire". That doesn't seem great and worry me...

I I don't want to call, as it's very expensive calling from here to the USA and i won't understand enything.

I would need help to understand this, thank you very much.

 

[pcstang]

Hello, first of all I have to say that I'm Spanish so maybe I make some mistakes writing. I made a reservation at Cabana Bay Beach from January 24th to january 31st 2015. I did this like two months ago. Recently, Universal anounced that from January 30 to February 1 there will be the celebration of harry potter and I don't know how this affect to me. ¿Will I have to pay more or something for the hotel? I have't paid anything yet, I just have the reservation. I am not interested on goping to the celebration, as I am Spanish and, while I cant write (more or less), I am very bad when I have to listen and understand. I have chosen these dates just to avoid crowds, so if i avoid going the days of the celebration, ¿will there be few people? And, please, confirm me that i don't have to pay more!! I have writted an e-mail, but they told me that I should call "due to the nature of my inquire". That doesn't seem great and worry me... I I don't want to call, as it's very expensive calling from here to the USA and i won't understand enything. I would need help to understand this, thank you very much.

If you made a reservation you should have been charged for one night already. The rates will not increase if you have locked in.

 

[RAPstar]

The park will be slightly more crowded due to the Harry Potter celebration. You will still be able to get into the parks, but be aware the Harry Potter sections will be more crowded than the rest of the park. You won't be charged more for your hotel. The Celebration requires a separate ticket to participate in the events attached to it, but you won't be restricted from other sections of the park.

 

[macraven]

for those that booked the harry potter celebration package, they will be in conference rooms for part of the day at the hotel.
presentations for those in the package.

so, i don't think the park will be swamped during the morning and afternoon when you will be there.

like others posted, you are locked in the price you booked at.
pay a one night deposit when you booked and you pay the rest when you check out.
no increase of your room rate will happen.

you will find the park maps at the front of the park once you enter.
they are printed in many different languages.
i think this is helpful when a park guest is more comfortable in their native language.

your english is great.
you expressed yourself very well.

 

[celiacoba]

Thank you very much for your answers! you all are very helpful!!

Now I'm less nervous, if I don't have to pay more and everything it's ok, i will go to the parks another days, when the event it's not there.

I was planing to go to the parks only three days (the rest of the days i want to go to seaworld, busch garndens, and shopping!), so maybe if I go for example Monday 26, tuesday 27 and wednesday 28 this celebration won't affect to me (do you think so?)

 

[bumbershoot]

We had booked for the Celebration time this year, and then the Celebration was announced.

We noticed NO difference in crowds in the parks, even in the HP section.

The only difference? We got to meet "Luna Lovegood" by chance, while we were enjoyed butterbeers on the terrace behind the Three Broomsticks. Other than that fabulous moment, there was no difference.

Oh wait, apparently in the *mornings* they were offering WARM butterbeer in Hogsmeade, but I never felt like getting up early enough to get that. (we had been sick while at WDW, and we were still very exhausted by the time we hit Universal) It was available to anyone there, not just those who paid extra.

And from what I recall, except for the things that were only for participants, things were open to all, you just had to wait in line. And, again, those things are apart from the regular park areas, so it's not crowding the parks.

I think you will be fine.

 

[celiacoba]

Thank you very much!!
I thought that this celebration was on the parks... in the harry potter areas. So you say it's apart from this? then everythig seems allright!!

Thanks now I will go there without any fear

PD: How lucky you are, I wish I could meet somebody from the cast of harry potter!

 

[bumbershoot]

When you are there, keep your eyes open! We would have missed Evanna Lynch if we hadn't just watched the Universal podcast for the celebration and got to see what she looks like now (she's a grownup now, not a teen), AND my son saw her. He kept saying "it's her, her, it's her" without anything more being said. He knew!

And when we were at Disneyland in August, I saw two cast members that have the uniform that means they lead VIPs around. I looked, and noticed that the casual-looking man with them was Sean Astin, who plays Rudy in the same-named movie from the 90s, and more recently played Sam Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings movies. (and he's also in a new show called The Strain but I don't watch that) I saw that he was happy to meet people, so we got to meet him, too.

While I was waiting for DH and DS to ride the ride Mr Astin had just gotten off of, I knew he had gone into the gift shop. Countless people walked by, never knowing he was in there. People who kept their eyes open and were in the right place at the right time did. Just luck and being able to recognize people when not all made up for movies!


As far as I know, everything for this year's Celebration was *outside* of the parks.

 

[GlendaO]

for those that booked the harry potter celebration package, they will be in conference rooms for part of the day at the hotel. presentations for those in the package. so, i don't think the park will be swamped during the morning and afternoon when you will be there. like others posted, you are locked in the price you booked at. pay a one night deposit when you booked and you pay the rest when you check out. no increase of your room rate will happen. you will find the park maps at the front of the park once you enter. they are printed in many different languages. i think this is helpful when a park guest is more comfortable in their native language. your english is great. you expressed yourself very well.

Sorry for reviving an old thread; I've been out of the loop a few weeks :-(

I'm confused. The last one, if you had a ticket or ap, you could cue up for most events. There was something after hours and guaranteed spots for event ticket holders but we were still able to do most of the panels they wanted.

Are you saying that the next event (or large portions) will not even be in the parks? It looked from the advertisements for this one that it was operating similar to the last one. Now, it sounds like there's little point in going without an event ticket even if they don't mind waiting for a few hours to see something. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[macraven]

from what i heard on my visit there this month, think things have changed.
not sure how they are going to run the celebration event.


i'm sure someone will come along and info us.

 

[GlendaO]

from what i heard on my visit there this month, think things have changed. not sure how they are going to run the celebration event. i'm sure someone will come along and info us.

Thanks! I hope we hear something soon - I'd like to go ahead & book the time & room.