Really Really Angry

[donaldduck352]

Well these guys have been at this a long time...I highly doubt they will pump 200+ mill into these arrangements and another iirc 32 mil? maybe on a new coaster just to fold 3 months before it opens.

You are right the income has to be down but idk if that necessarily means a loss. My point is that the powers at play aren't gonna let the park fold within 3 months of this opening just because attendance may be down. They will put more cutbacks in to make it through.

I agree.There not pumping big bucks into something thats gonna flop!!

 

[scrappingizlife]

Well I guess this means that we now have absolutely no reason to go to US/IOA for our upcoming trip. The only reason we were going was for HP. That just saved me $300.

 

[glocon]

IDK if you've ever been there before, but universal/islands are still great parks even without HP. Especially if you stay on property, and take advantage of FOTL. Must admit though- WWoHP is the main reason we are going this year....hope its all open when we're there early June....

 

[Jonny_Duck]

Well I guess this means that we now have absolutely no reason to go to US/IOA for our upcoming trip. The only reason we were going was for HP. That just saved me $300.

All day MiB'athon? Thats why I am going and add Mummy to it and a squishy = day off of work heaven <3

 

[cuethemusic]

You know, it's really unfortunate because a lot of people booked vacations only assuming the park would be open the same time as their special HP vacation package. Universal never officially released a date, so it is not really their fault that people decided to go book a vacation on a limb. It's a lesson to be learned, evidently.

(not directing this at the OP, just speaking in general)

 

[damo]

All day MiB'athon? Thats why I am going and add Mummy to it and a squishy = day off of work heaven <3

That sounds like about the best possible day off ever. Exchange the squishy for a dip 'n dots for me though.

 

[tinkerbell27]

We checkin at Disney on June 19th and were planning to go to Universal/IOA a couple times during the week , but now it sounds like we wont be able to ride Harry Potter ? Does anybody know when offsite guests will be allowed in?

 

[damo]

We checkin at Disney on June 19th and were planning to go to Universal/IOA a couple times during the week , but now it sounds like we wont be able to ride Harry Potter ? Does anybody know when offsite guests will be allowed in?

You are fine. The area officially opens on June 18th.

 

[sjs314]

I think a lot of people did exactly what I did, poked around the Universal Site, seeing or hearing HP was opening on May 28th, checked the prices of the onsite Hotels, and then made ressies for WDW resorts planning on spending a day or two at Universal during their vacation. I do not recall seeing or hearing anything about you had to buy a Universal HP package I just assumed if it was opening May 28th that meant for everyone. I am glad now we are going on vacation in November. Lesson to be learned NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING

 

[bearlyanne]

I hope that everything works out for everyone involved. It must be horrible to see your trip being threatened like that.

 

[wijkowski]

My point is that the powers at play aren't gonna let the park fold within 3 months of this opening just because attendance may be down. They will put more cutbacks in to make it through.

Understood and I do agree.

 

[wijkowski]

I would be willing to bet soft openings will happen by maybe second or third week of May. Potter is going to be a cash cow and I believe Universal would want it open ASAP.

 

[phamton]

Here's what's happening: Only people who booked the package are GUARANTEED admittance to Harry Potter. The soft openings will begin well before the package dates anyway. There are so many things that go into this ride that the soft opening period should be lengthy to get them all ironed out. When they tell you that you won't get access, it's because the ride won't technically be "open" even though it will be running, when possible. If they start telling people they'll be able to ride and then the ride shuts down (which happens frequently in soft openings), people are livid.

If you really think that the only people who will be able to ride this ride before the grand opening are a few hundred people who booked a package for three weeks prior, I don't know what to tell you. There is NO way the ride would be ready for grand opening if those are the only people who could ride it. You need to practice running full capacity. This is not going to be a fly by the seat of your pants opening for Universal.

This! ^

I wouldn't believe one word of what people were told by someone on the "reservations" phone line.

A soft opening is just that--a soft opening. They must open for those who were promised it in their vacation package. But it will be in soft openings for everyone way before the official grand opening in June. This thread has turned into total speculation and is even causing some people on this thread to cancel their trips to Universal because of fear and rumors. Please re-read Lou's post again. You can take that one to the bank.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

IMO i think Universal have been very misleading.OK so June 18th is spring,but only just (talk about stretching it).When i phoned to enquire about upgrading my Universal package to the HP one at no time did the rep say "If you dont buy the HP package you wont be granted entrance".All she said was it includes HP merchandise and breakfast in the restaurant.For an extra £150 we decided it wasnt worth it as we have already spent a small fortune on our holiday.Now, if she had said "If you dont get the package you wont get in" we would of had a re think.
What ever happens over the next few weeks i think Universal are handling this very insensitivly. Not all of us live In America,some of us booked this nearly 12 months ago and live on the other side of the world,and when you see all the talk of spring opening, you think "Wow, we will get to go".June is summer,right?.I mean how many people have spring break at the end of June.
They are a multi-million $$ business, they know exactly what is happening over they next few months. Universal are rubbing their hands knowing that we are all talking about it.Free publicity maybe?They are letting us create the hype!.

Universal, just tells us exactly what you are doing, and exactly when you are doing it so we can all plan our vacation and get on with our lives.Thank you

 

[Lewisc]

I think a lot of people did exactly what I did, poked around the Universal Site, seeing or hearing HP was opening on May 28th, checked the prices of the onsite Hotels, and then made ressies for WDW resorts planning on spending a day or two at Universal during their vacation. I do not recall seeing or hearing anything about you had to buy a Universal HP package I just assumed if it was opening May 28th that meant for everyone. I am glad now we are going on vacation in November. Lesson to be learned NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING

The Universal press release, announcing the HP vacation packages said:

Quote:
The May 28 travel date was set to help consumers with vacation planning and does not represent the opening date for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort. Universal has announced that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will open in Spring 2010. Specific opening information will come as soon as it is available.

Lesson to be learned is to read. Don't assume something that's not stated. Don't believe something just because you want it to be true.

IMO i think Universal have been very misleading.OK so June 18th is spring,but

Its said opening in the Spring 2010. How is June 18th Spring? I wasn't planning on going, we went in January, but still. June is summer, not spring. Just saying.

Are we blaming Universal because some posters assumed Spring 2010 meant early spring and other posters don't even know their seasons? Just saying.

Anyone who remembers the delays at Test Track realizes opening dates for new attractions can be missed. In this case we have posters complaing because the opening date isn't as early as they were hoping for.

 

[SnowWtch]

When I called last night to update my address for my annual pass I was told too bad b/c if I had bought a HP package I would get to see it on May 28 when I'm there. Since I didn't buy one she told me I wouldn't get in at all at that time. I said I was hoping for a soft opening and she informed me that there wouldn't be one at that time and that only package holders would be allowed in that area. For some reason this just made me even madder than I already was about this whole thing. I would have preferred she not say anything at all since she was the one who brought the whole thing up in the first place. I just wanted to update my address so I can get any mailings about it.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

Lesson to be learned is to read. Don't assume something that's not stated. Don't believe something just because you want it to be true.





.

Then WHY did universal not STATE that HP package holders would be the only ones allowed in?it was only last week i called!

After all this calms down,i will still go on my holiday a thououghly enjoy every minute.I just feel slightly mad because they have been very selective about what they told me.

 

[freediverdude]

As a passholder, I'm not sure what to do at this point. Should I go ahead and book a night at an onsite hotel for around the first of June and go with a hope and a prayer? Should I wait a few more weeks and see what happens? If I wait until June 18th, there's almost sure to be 4 hour lines in the 90 degree heat. Weighing my options here, but it's hard to know what to do without more information.

 

[damo]

As a passholder, I'm not sure what to do at this point. Should I go ahead and book a night at an onsite hotel for around the first of June and go with a hope and a prayer? Should I wait a few more weeks and see what happens? If I wait until June 18th, there's almost sure to be 4 hour lines in the 90 degree heat. Weighing my options here, but it's hard to know what to do without more information.

Here's what I would do. There are great deals on hotels for passholders right now. Go ahead and book and then cancel if you have to!

Keep an eye on the threads here about soft openings. I am sure that within a couple of minutes of there being openings, someone will post about it.

 

[rjvose17]

Thanks everyone for your post, I never would have thought that my frustration would have turned into eight pages! It's nice to know that I am not the only one feeling this way. So for all us NON package NON annual pass holders that are simply spending thousands of dollars to visit Orlando and it's various theme parks here is what we can do: Keep a eye on the threads in hopes of soft opening leaks and/or special events, and when you trip rolls around go to the parks and keep your fingers crossed that it will be open and/or slip the ticket guys a 50.00 to let you in. The very least you will get is a day at a fun park, however if HP is the ONLY reason you would be going, don't risk showing up and wasting your tickets, save them for the next trip when you know for sure that it's open and running. Since we have visited the parks several times over the last ten years even though we live in Maine, I will probably make that choice the day of or before I had planned on going to the parks in hopes that I can convince my husband to take me and kids back in the fall.