The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[DCDisney]

You can book online without the tickets but the fine print says you need to buy a package including tickets (which we didn't buy the tix) so not 100% sure how that will work. The price difference between our previous room only and our package was $76 for 1 night. We have 2 adults and 2 Jrs. In terms of a sit down breakfast I'm fine with that. I booked online because they can't book you over the phone for a package without tix. The phone rep said that with the package you can get into WWoHP at 8:00 and regular hotel guests will be able to enter at 8:30--assuming normal opening time of 9. That makes sense because it will space things out a bit. The kicker though is that the breakfast times are 8:30, 9, and 9:30. Why get early entrance only to have to eat right away? I took the 9:30 option and am hoping that in 90 mins we'll be able to hit a good number of things. I was given a choice of dates between our check in date and the check out date though it shows the passes as dated for the check in date which doesn't make sense since you can't officially check in until 4.

Now that I received my e-confirmation packet it shows the special package early park admission as "30 mins early so you can enjoy some of our most popular attractions before the rest of the general public. Just present this e confirm along with your valid theme park tix for early park admin to IOA. This exclusive offer is valid 7 days a week for travel 1/10/10 through 12/31/10. Offer subject to change without notice" My other room only e-confirm doesn't have any wording to this effect so I'm wondering if even though it says 30 mins early it is really 30 mins earlier than reg hotels guest and 60 mins earlier than the masses? Either way I'm holding onto to both ressies until it's more clear.

 

[MadeToLove]

You can book online without the tickets but the fine print says you need to buy a package including tickets (which we didn't buy the tix) so not 100% sure how that will work.

When I did a practice run for booking and removed the tickets the site still gave me the extras, (it said "included with room" next to them). So maybe we'll still be ok despite the fine print.

In terms of a sit down breakfast I'm fine with that. I booked online because they can't book you over the phone for a package without tix. The phone rep said that with the package you can get into WWoHP at 8:00 and regular hotel guests will be able to enter at 8:30--assuming normal opening time of 9. That makes sense because it will space things out a bit. The kicker though is that the breakfast times are 8:30, 9, and 9:30. Why get early entrance only to have to eat right away? I took the 9:30 option and am hoping that in 90 mins we'll be able to hit a good number of things. I was given a choice of dates between our check in date and the check out date though it shows the passes as dated for the check in date which doesn't make sense since you can't officially check in until 4.

Thanks for the details on the breakfast. Any word as to what kind of breakfast it was going to be? Buffet? Also, what does this all mean to those who don't have packages, will they be able to do breakfast as well, and what kind of breakfast option will that be? Anyone got any info here?

And I agree with you, why would you want to do breakfast first? It'll just come back up again when you ride FJ or DC (DD). And it keeps you from being first in line, which is why we'd go early to begin with.

 

[tink1957]

I already have reservations so I'll probably just keep the ones I have, I went to the Universal website & priced the 4 day package (minus the tickets as I already have the $89 Kroger tickets) and it wound up costing more to stay 4 nights at RPR($1190) than my original reservation at HRH($1045) for 5 nights, I would rather stay an extra day (plus get a free upgrade at HRH with my all access card) for less.

 

[maggieb9975]

I just went through this today. I made the mistake of calling UO package deal line and boy did I send them for a loop. They were so confused on what I was trying to explain to them I basically gave up and figured it out on my own. Basically, my room only reservation is $50 less than what the price of the package would be. We already have park tickets. So, for $50 more I'd be getting:
The commerative tickets
Breakfast at the three broomsticks
Early park admission - however, that's still up in the air at this point.

I have called Universal and they confirmed onsite guests do get early entyr with or without a package

 

[MadeToLove]

RE: Breakfast

I was looking at the extras that you can add to any Universal packages and they have the breakfast available for $15.96 pp. It only says have a traditional British Breakfast at the Three Broomsticks. Nothing about how that breakfast will be served (table, buffet, etc.) Same reservation times 8:30, 9:00, and 9:30. Says park admission seperate, but no word on the need for early entry to get in to have breakfast in the first place. hehe

 

[Poly-Anna]

I was having a silent heart attack about onsite guests maybe not getting into HP early. We booked our reservations as room only at PBR months ago for 5/26 - 31 on a whim (and prayer) hoping HP would be open by then. We had already purchased the $99 tickets before they went up and are staying club so we don't need all the extras of the package deals. That would stink though if we weren't allowed in early like the others. I expect it to be totally insane Memorial Day weekend and hope to be able to visit HP either 5/26 or 27 and hang at the hotel or US for most of the weekend. Looking forward to the craziness!

 

[Don Pacho]

Courtesy of WWOHP fan, Orlando United
http://www.orlandounited.com

Some brasilian magazine have make an WWOHP article
Look what they expected

Better with an Zoom :

.

 

[Don Pacho]

Courtesy of Samuele, Orlando United
http://www.orlandounited.com

Here you are the pics!:

Many more pics at ORLANDO THEME PARKS NEWS!!

.

 

[Don Pacho]

Courtesy of Disneyhead, Orlando United
http://www.orlandounited.com

Some repainting of the turret:

.

 

[maggieb9975]

I was having a silent heart attack about onsite guests maybe not getting into HP early. We booked our reservations as room only at PBR months ago for 5/26 - 31 on a whim (and prayer) hoping HP would be open by then. We had already purchased the $99 tickets before they went up and are staying club so we don't need all the extras of the package deals. That would stink though if we weren't allowed in early like the others. I expect it to be totally insane Memorial Day weekend and hope to be able to visit HP either 5/26 or 27 and hang at the hotel or US for most of the weekend. Looking forward to the craziness!

You are most welcome! I am glad I called 'cause now I can rest easier....it makes sense when you think about it....they WANT us to stay onsite...

now we have best of both (Disney and Universal) early entry AND FOTL

 

[tpimental]

I absolutely must fit this into my trip in Oct. We have a free day that I hope to use to go see this. I loved the small traveling exhibit and this would seriously be so great to see with my daughter who is a new HP fan. Can't wait!

 

[PegIra]

I keep hoping that they will try and open this for Easter with everyone on vacation then. We will be there the last week of April and really really hoping it is open when we get there. Anyone else think like me that they might try and get it ready for April?

Peg

 

[Poly-Anna]

Thanks again for calling maggieb9975!

 

[MadeToLove]

Mugglenet has an interesting article today, http://mugglenet.com/app/news/full_story/3269 regarding what some vacation property managers were told at their training seminar this week. Although most of it is what we've already heard, this is new:

There's a Frog Choir that will perform five times day, Holt said, adding, “This is very top secret, so you're the first one's to hear about it.”

Like I'm not already going to be going around Potterland singing "Double Double Toil and Trouble" now I'm going to be croaking it too.

 

[PlanningNextTrip]

It was announced on a couple of FB accounts and Twitter accounts that Wizarding World of Harry Potter is opening May 28th, 2010.

There is even a vacation package for all the hardcore fans!

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

Actually, still no official date has been announced. That is the start date for the Harry Potter vacation packages, but with no guarantee that the park will be open that soon. Please feel free to check out the last few pages of this thread.

 

[snowbunny]

That is the start date for the Harry Potter vacation packages, but with no guarantee that the park will be open that soon.

I really doubt Universal marketing is dumb enough to promote a Harry Potter package (and they are promoting, everywhere including email), unless they are completely confident the WWOP will be open. (And yes I read the fine print on the email, it doesn't say 'Three Broomsticks or comparable.')

One C-list celebrity brought Southwest to its knees with his quick twitter finger a few days ago. Can you imagine the blowback if people travel on that package and are told on arrival, what do you mean you were expecting Harry Potter to be open. No company could be that self destructive.

 

[cieslack]

I really doubt Universal marketing is dumb enough to promote a Harry Potter package (and they are promoting, everywhere including email), unless they are completely confident the WWOP will be open. (And yes I read the fine print on the email, it doesn't say 'Three Broomsticks or comparable.')

One C-list celebrity brought Southwest to its knees with his quick twitter finger a few days ago. Can you imagine the blowback if people travel on that package and are told on arrival, what do you mean you were expecting Harry Potter to be open. No company could be that self destructive.

Agreed. I think that ship has sailed. The only debate, in my mind, is whether or not there will be a soft opening before that date and when the ceremony will actually be held.

 

[Caribbeanprincess]

So I just got the e-mail for the packages from Universal. So can we assume the date is May 28 now? I don't want to book this and then they might say it's opening earlier.

 

[eandesmom]

I checked into this extensively yesterday and it would increase our cost as well unless we downgraded from HRH Garden View to RPH Standard. We have the $99 tickets on our current ressie and would lose those so for us, to save $255 and get a "free" breakfast, it isn't worth it. I did also confirm that everyone on-site will get the extra am hour though so love that!

The value of the breakfast if you were paying out of pocket is $16.99 for adults, $13.99 for kids 9 and under.