The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[Dax]

In talking about fans, I have heard people are ALREADY walking around IOA in wizards clothes..LOL...crazy ppl

 

[muffyn]

I suggest obtaining the extra large size butterbeer to keep you hydrated while waiting. And hopefully there are bathrooms along the way!:

no kidding!!!!!

can't wait for the trip reports to tell us how they exactly cope with this!
can you imagine trying to leave the line for a potty break & then trying to find your family after that? & all the people in line thinking you are cutting?

 

[Colleendoll]

In talking about fans, I have heard people are ALREADY walking around IOA in wizards clothes..LOL...crazy ppl

My kids want the robes for the Grand Opening. I told them they are made of WOOL. They didn't seem to mind so I added In Florida! In JUNE! Still didn't phase them. I'm not carrying around three wool robes when they get hot and tired. I don't mind if they wear their Harry Potter sets they have worn to movie openings. Just a white shirt, the tie, black shorts/skirts, etc.

 

[damo]

Promo shoot? I was hoping it was some sort of soft opening.

Hopefully people won't look that sad during soft openings.

 

[ADP]

I thought the folks in WWoHP were TMs and their families. Just a guess though.

 

[Colleendoll]

Wondering why the Universal Orlando website keeps going down. A few times a day it is down for maintenance. A few minutes ago it said it was under construction. Yes, silly me keeps checking every day to see if any new information comes in.

 

[MadeToLove]

Word is that it was a promo shoot of some sort.

I agree. Everyone was well coiffed. No t-shirts with words or images. Lots of color. A cross section of population with a few ages and ethnicities covered. Looks like a photo shoot to me too.

 

[CLPClarinet]

Does anyone know what time the park opens that day?

 

[arthursiew]

Does anyone know what time the park opens that day?

IoA and US opens at 9AM on June 18th.

http://www.universalorlando.com/Resort_Information/theme_park_hours.aspx

 

[CLPClarinet]

Thank you =]

I know the Shades of Green bus leaves at 8:25 AM and leaves at 6:30 PM, they also said I could look into something called Mirrors transportation? I want to be there when it opens so I can try and run to the Forbidden Journey so I won't be in the 4-7 hour queue....do you think arriving by opening time would make it so the wait time won't be outrageous?

 

[aubriee]

Thank you =]

I know the Shades of Green bus leaves at 8:25 AM and leaves at 6:30 PM, they also said I could look into something called Mirrors transportation? I want to be there when it opens so I can try and run to the Forbidden Journey so I won't be in the 4-7 hour queue....do you think arriving by opening time would make it so the wait time won't be outrageous?

I think they meant Mears Transportation, not Mirrors. Unfortunately everyone will be running to HP at rope drop. Lines won't be 4-7 hours long then, but they will get long very quickly.

 

[MadeToLove]

Thank you =]

I know the Shades of Green bus leaves at 8:25 AM and leaves at 6:30 PM, they also said I could look into something called Mirrors transportation? I want to be there when it opens so I can try and run to the Forbidden Journey so I won't be in the 4-7 hour queue....do you think arriving by opening time would make it so the wait time won't be outrageous?

They were talking about Mears shuttles: http://www.mearstransportation.com/mears-shuttle-orlando.asp

They do transports from the Disney Hotels to Universal and back each day. You make reservations for it ahead of time online, or at the hotel. But note that it comes and goes by a certain schedule and stops at several hotels to pick up so can take some time. I can't remember the cost, but it's not too bad per person.

The other option is Taxi, which will be cheaper if you've got more than 3 people traveling and would be faster as they don't have to make several stops and wait for people who are slow. So if getting to the park by opening is your goal, taxi may be your best bet. You can get taxis at your hotel, or the bell desk or concierge can call for you.

Edited to add: Aubriee beat me. But you should also note that the 18th is a media event day. I highly doubt guests are going to get to ride the ride until after the media event is over and all the celebs have left, so you'd be getting there early to get in a rope line to see the celebs, but I highly doubt you'll get to ride until afternoon, and by that time the park will have filled to capacity and there will defintely be enough people to warrant a 7 hour line for that one ride.

 

[Dznefreek]

Word is that it was a promo shoot of some sort.

It was. One of my wifes clients is a professional dresser and make-up artist. This was her second stint working with IOA and WWoHP.
She asked me if I was interested in being in the shoot. Unfortunately I had to work.

 

[CLPClarinet]

They were talking about Mears shuttles: http://www.mearstransportation.com/mears-shuttle-orlando.asp

They do transports from the Disney Hotels to Universal and back each day. You make reservations for it ahead of time online, or at the hotel. But note that it comes and goes by a certain schedule and stops at several hotels to pick up so can take some time. I can't remember the cost, but it's not too bad per person.

The other option is Taxi, which will be cheaper if you've got more than 3 people traveling and would be faster as they don't have to make several stops and wait for people who are slow. So if getting to the park by opening is your goal, taxi may be your best bet. You can get taxis at your hotel, or the bell desk or concierge can call for you.

Edited to add: Aubriee beat me. But you should also note that the 18th is a media event day. I highly doubt guests are going to get to ride the ride until after the media event is over and all the celebs have left, so you'd be getting there early to get in a rope line to see the celebs, but I highly doubt you'll get to ride until afternoon, and by that time the park will have filled to capacity and there will defintely be enough people to warrant a 7 hour line for that one ride.

Thank you and the previous poster for all the help! I couldn't understand the person on the phone at SOG when I asked her to repeat the name, so I thought she just said Mirrors really fast haha!

Do you guys think they'd shut off all the rides until the afternoon? I imagine celebrities would be there and I could see them getting right into a ride if they wanted a ride (or wouldn't they be let in the night before perhaps for a sneak peak?). But not letting the general public on rides until the afternoon seems a bit weird to me! I'm not exactly sure how these things work or anything. Just scared because this is my first trip to Florida, might not be back for years, and only have 1 day at IOA so I'd like to get at least *some* of the things done.

Considering a taxi too. Might be a very good option.

 

[LoveToDisney]

If I only had one day for IOA, it would NOT be on Grand Opening Day because of all the unknown factors as described above. If you have an option to choose another day and get there early, that would be my suggestion.

 

[MadeToLove]

Thank you and the previous poster for all the help! I couldn't understand the person on the phone at SOG when I asked her to repeat the name, so I thought she just said Mirrors really fast haha!

Do you guys think they'd shut off all the rides until the afternoon? I imagine celebrities would be there and I could see them getting right into a ride if they wanted a ride (or wouldn't they be let in the night before perhaps for a sneak peak?). But not letting the general public on rides until the afternoon seems a bit weird to me! I'm not exactly sure how these things work or anything. Just scared because this is my first trip to Florida, might not be back for years, and only have 1 day at IOA so I'd like to get at least *some* of the things done.

Considering a taxi too. Might be a very good option.

Here's what I know about the 18th. JKR will be there to "cut the ribbon" or whatever they do. (I know this with 99% certainty - barring accident, illness, or further volcanic issues in Iceland). I also know her handlers (from previous experience), and they are not going to let the unwashed masses anywhere near her that day. I know they've invited ALL the HP actors and a large number of them are planning to attend. I know many of their handlers too, and they aren't going to want the general public too close to them either.

Here's my speculation based off good logic. I suspect the Today Show will do a live feed from the park that morning, with the kids who won the contest (for their whole class to get to go), and those kids will get to interact with some of the actors, possibly JKR, and will probably be shot riding the rides with actors for Today's B-reels. Most of this will probably happen before the park opens the gates for the Hotel guests or rest of general public. I'm sure other shows, both morning and non will be filming interviews with their own contest winners, the actors, designers, etc.

In order for the media to get clean shots, the general public will be roped off outside the WWoHP entrance. Now, I suspect most of the rest of IOA's rides will be operational as planned, to divert some of the crowd while the Grand Opening stuff is happening.

I know many people have breakfast ressies for Three Broomsticks for that day, and I'm sure they'll have a way for you to get there for it, but then again, who knows for sure.

I'm going to guess that the media event will be completely over by noon at the latest. The morning shows will have finsihed their interviews and feeds by 8am (early opening time) and the rest will have what they came for shortly after. No idea if the actual Grand Opening Ceremony will be a big presentation or just a little ribbon cutting, but if it's the latter, then it will happen quickly in the morning.

So I'm sure you'll be able to ride by afternoon, and getting as close to the entrance as they will let you will not be a bad idea. But I'm only speculating, I don't work there or have insider knowledge about how park operations and security are going to handle things that day, I don't think any of us do. They could very possibly let guests into the WWoHP section that morning and just have you blocked off from the press areas, but it's not that big a section so I doubt it. Right now though, it's all still a big guessing game, so decided if you really want to go on that date with so much uncertainty, or would you rather go another day.

 

[Colleendoll]

I spoke with Guest Services and our hotel reservations person today. This was to see if I have done everything possible for my children to have the most wonderful birthday ever. We will be at IOA from the 17th-20th but not booked with the WWOHP package. I bought my tickets in Feb and booked my hotel later.

I was told today that IF I had booked my hotel or purchased the package by March 25th with a stay before the Grand Opening, we would be entitled to a Preview of the WWOHP. I asked what the Preview included and was told that portion of the park would open at specific hours prior to the Grand Opening, for only those people who purchased their packages by March 25th. These guests would be allowed to walk around the WWOHP but not guaranteed to have everything open and operational. The guests who are given this option will not be granted special entry on the date of the Grand Opening or after that date. The guests with Breakfast reservations at Three Broomsticks on the day of Grand Opening will have access that morning to the WWOHP but not before then. What access was not explained.

After being told this today it seems people with the Harry Potter package and booked their stay prior to the Grand Opening will be able to access the park.

Since we do not have the package and I was concerned about my children not being able to enter the WWOHP on that day. I mentioned what I had read on a board previously - the park would be closed off for us until the afternoon or when the press/celebrities left. I was told this was not true and we will have access to that portion of the park until it is closed due to capacity. They imagine the park will fill to capacity quickly as they have heard people will start camping out at the gate a week in advance. Oh My! I couldn't do that! Hopefully they will let in the on site guests first. I do feel for the people who camp out but I put my children first.

Given what was told to me today I do hope the celebrities and press have their rides and fun before 9 AM on June 18th. Maybe the day before? Sure they will still be there for the Ceremony but maybe not take the whole morning. This is just me guessing.

I am not posting this to scare anyone off. We are still going. I am only sharing this as I would hope someone would give me a heads up if they had received this information.

 

[Nicole786]

Reposting this in case someone knows: Do we have confirmation that on-site guests gain early entry?

 

[Colleendoll]

Reposting this in case someone knows: Do we have confirmation that on-site guests gain early entry?

When I spoke with Guest Services and the hotel reservation person today they both said yes. The fine print for the brochure for the WWOHP package says guests will have access 30 minutes prior to park opening on the day of the Grand Opening and 1 hr after the Grand Opening. Guest Services and the hotel reservations people said 1 hr for both.

This is why I booked on site hotel reservations even though I am already paying for a Condo on those days.

When I said 1 hr after the Grand Opening I ment 1 hr before park opens the day after the Grand Opening. The way it was worded meant every day After the Grand Opening on-site guests would have access 1 hr prior to park opening.

 

[Colleendoll]

Here's what I know about the 18th. JKR will be there to "cut the ribbon" or whatever they do. (I know this with 99% certainty - barring accident, illness, or further volcanic issues in Iceland). I also know her handlers (from previous experience), and they are not going to let the unwashed masses anywhere near her that day. I know they've invited ALL the HP actors and a large number of them are planning to attend. I know many of their handlers too, and they aren't going to want the general public too close to them either.

Here's my speculation based off good logic. I suspect the Today Show will do a live feed from the park that morning, with the kids who won the contest (for their whole class to get to go), and those kids will get to interact with some of the actors, possibly JKR, and will probably be shot riding the rides with actors for Today's B-reels. Most of this will probably happen before the park opens the gates for the Hotel guests or rest of general public. I'm sure other shows, both morning and non will be filming interviews with their own contest winners, the actors, designers, etc.

In order for the media to get clean shots, the general public will be roped off outside the WWoHP entrance. Now, I suspect most of the rest of IOA's rides will be operational as planned, to divert some of the crowd while the Grand Opening stuff is happening.

I know many people have breakfast ressies for Three Broomsticks for that day, and I'm sure they'll have a way for you to get there for it, but then again, who knows for sure.

I'm going to guess that the media event will be completely over by noon at the latest. The morning shows will have finsihed their interviews and feeds by 8am (early opening time) and the rest will have what they came for shortly after. No idea if the actual Grand Opening Ceremony will be a big presentation or just a little ribbon cutting, but if it's the latter, then it will happen quickly in the morning.

So I'm sure you'll be able to ride by afternoon, and getting as close to the entrance as they will let you will not be a bad idea. But I'm only speculating, I don't work there or have insider knowledge about how park operations and security are going to handle things that day, I don't think any of us do. They could very possibly let guests into the WWoHP section that morning and just have you blocked off from the press areas, but it's not that big a section so I doubt it. Right now though, it's all still a big guessing game, so decided if you really want to go on that date with so much uncertainty, or would you rather go another day.

THANK YOU for sharing this!!!

It is exciting that JK will be there in person as well as the cast!! With any celebrity event I don’t get my hopes up that we will be any where near them. We have had been up close and personal with some celebrities while at a set a few times, not these individuals. We respect all celebrities and understand their need to keep their distance. It isn’t that they don’t want to be close to everyone but there are safety issue.

Our plans didn’t include anticipation of meeting JKR, the actors or any of the celebrities, so we are not disappointed. My youngest is actually thrilled that she will be walking around and going on the same rides where the stars were earlier. Of course it would be great to get actual pictures of them, but would only expect to get this at a distance!

Our plan is to get in line for FJ then take my youngest to Olivander’s to get her first wand. My older two have received one each at previous birthdays. Then we will join my older two back in line for FJ. Even if the FOTL is honored for FJ we don’t want to use it as we anticipate great things during the regular wait. My one great worry is the line will be so long and not sure about bathroom breaks. I had an operation a few months back and I haven’t figured out exactly what foods agree with me and which do not. I might have to skip eating until after the FJ.