Soft Opening

[hermie]

My family of 4 will be at Universal next Monday with 4 day park to park tickets. I was hoping that someone could explain what we could expect if there is a "soft opening" of Diagon Alley while we are there. WE are staying at PB (checking in Sunday night with reservations at Margaritaville - thank you dis boards for the open table tip!). Is there a chance that hotel guests would be notified or is it just luck that you happen to be near DA if they have a soft opening. Or is there a stronger chance for a full opening while we are there (our last day is Thursday, the 26th). TIA

 

[damo]

Nobody knows. Last time, hotel guests were notified with a piece of paper. The first time you'll hear will probably be online so just keep watching this site. I'm sure as soon as they are suspected, somebody will post here within a few minutes.

 

[Bluer101]

We were there this weekend and got the feeling that they are not going to do soft openings at all. I think with all the media setup at DA and the music plaza they are going to announce the grand opening and just open it without warning. I could be wrong but they would have announced something already. No one was hanging out waiting in any of the 2 areas in US or IOA. Just some passing by taking photos that's it.

 

[Metro West]

General consensus is either soft openings this weekend after the media event ends or not at all. Either way don't expect anything this week.

 

[hermie]

Thanks for the replies. Since this is our first trip, we are fine with just seeing Hogsmeade (and all other aspects of the 2 parks) as it is new to us! I will keep my eyes open here on the boards for updates!

 

[hermionesnape]

My family of 4 will be at Universal next Monday with 4 day park to park tickets. I was hoping that someone could explain what we could expect if there is a "soft opening" of Diagon Alley while we are there. WE are staying at PB (checking in Sunday night with reservations at Margaritaville - thank you dis boards for the open table tip!). Is there a chance that hotel guests would be notified or is it just luck that you happen to be near DA if they have a soft opening. Or is there a stronger chance for a full opening while we are there (our last day is Thursday, the 26th). TIA

A VERY popular guess is that their will be no soft openings and the park will open the day after the press event (the 21st). If that's the case you would catch Diagon Alley as one of the first guest. So I would say you have a good chance of being able to check out Diagon Alley!

 

[hermie]

Now I don't know how much employees know, but when I called today to confirm our reservation and our location in the hotel, she stated that we have a very good chance of seeing DA during our stay (of course she said this wasn't official, but why offer up that information when I did not ask her?!!! Fingers crossed!!

 

[26555]

A VERY popular guess is that their will be no soft openings and the park will open the day after the press event (the 21st). If that's the case you would catch Diagon Alley as one of the first guest. So I would say you have a good chance of being able to check out Diagon Alley!

Would they open up the area ahead of the new rides (Gringotts and train)? Might those still need X number of runs before ready to be fully open?

 

[Rip]

Now I don't know how much employees know, but when I called today to confirm our reservation and our location in the hotel, she stated that we have a very good chance of seeing DA during our stay (of course she said this wasn't official, but why offer up that information when I did not ask her?!!! Fingers crossed!!

Take anything from a TM with a grain of salt. We were told the same thing when we were there before the first HP opened and they weren't even close to being ready.

 

[Bluer101]

Take anything from a TM with a grain of salt. We were told the same thing when we were there before the first HP opened and they weren't even close to being ready.

 

[Loftin716]

Ok. I don't know what is going on but I am at US now at The graveyard Review and I just saw the Hogwarts Express go by and then back. I will be investigating soon!

 

[Bluer101]

Ok. I don't know what is going on but I am at US now at The graveyard Review and I just saw the Hogwarts Express go by and then back. I will be investigating soon!

It has been doing that for days. We watched it this past weekend. Nothing new.

 

[Loftin716]

It has been doing that for days. We watched it this past weekend. Nothing new.

Bummer! I was really hoping for a soft opening today or tomorrow.

 

[Bluer101]

Bummer! I was really hoping for a soft opening today or tomorrow.

I would not count on it for any of the media days. The only slight possibility might be Friday after the webcast but that is slim. I think they are not doing any public softs this time around. With all the media days plus Jimmy Fallon they are hyping it. In this day and age with social media most everyone can see it world wide at the same time.

 

[tinkerpea]

I would not count on it for any of the media days. The only slight possibility might be Friday after the webcast but that is slim. I think they are not doing any public softs this time around. With all the media days plus Jimmy Fallon they are hyping it. In this day and age with social media most everyone can see it world wide at the same time.

Will they not need to have public ride it to work out kinks and have CMs.get used to the area?

 

[macraven]

Will they not need to have public ride it to work out kinks and have CMs.get used to the area?

when they are testing the ride, the TM's ride it, not the public.

motherland: CM/cast members
darkside: TM/team members


each morning before opening, you can see rides running without anyone in them and then see the ride with employees in them before opening the ride to guests.

 

[MightyGitis]

Also it appears as if the media preview will be like a tiny exclusive soft opening.

 

[2girlsmom]

And they have been running TM trials for awhile now, and "mock" dinner service, etc with TMs etc.

 

[MightyGitis]

And they have been running TM trials for awhile now, and "mock" dinner service, etc with TMs etc.

They have not done TM previews. They have done mock service and some select Diagon Alley employees have ridden the Hogwarts Express.

So far no one has reported riding Gringotts.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I am going to Disney/Universal July 19-27. Any idea if Dragon Alley will be totally open by then?