The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[mysteriouspnai]

I totally knew it a was a PR response. It's really aggravating, but on online forums I like to keep my composure so I don't end up punching my computer xD. I would really love to scream my head off about this whole thing, but it's not going to do much good since my parents already booked the vacation package. We're leaving June 13th and getting back June 18th. I'm actually pretty excited about skipping out on the Grand Opening because I know it's just going to be H E double hockey sticks that day. But being at the airport isn't going to be pretty.

 

[lildamo]

This is a HUGE Universal FAIL. I hope they change it quickly.

Everybody has to remember that this is only day 1, and things will likely change from day to day as the ride gets more stable. Right now, that 8-10 period is the "exclusive" window, and I wouldn't be surprised if eventually the area opened up around 10 to more people ... when it's ready to do so. It's only 1:00 on Day 1!

 

[FINFAN]

Everybody has to remember that this is only day 1, and things will likely change from day to day as the ride gets more stable. Right now, that 8-10 period is the "exclusive" window, and I wouldn't be surprised if eventually the area opened up around 10 to more people ... when it's ready to do so. It's only 1:00 on Day 1!

We ARE an impatient bunch, aren't we? Just that a lot of us are not local, so some serious $$$ involved, that tends to up the anxiety level just a tad.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

We ARE an impatient bunch, aren't we? Just that a lot of us are not local, so some serious $$$ involved, that tends to up the anxiety level just a tad.

Yeah, agreed. People purchased packages, flew down to Orlando, and then are given two hours per day? I guess today's visitors were lucky it wasn't too crowded, but I wonder how many people who purchased packages showed up after 10am.

 

[damo]

Here is a picture of the test seats.

Lots of really good pictures here: http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/g1101-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter.html

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

I just hope Universal knows what they're going on this "preview" for the package people. They only get two hours to see everything...that's pretty poor if you ask me. It doesn't sound like FJ is ready and I hope this doesn't come back to bite them. Since they haven't been letting anyone in to ride, no one knows how the ride will perform with LOTS of people on it. I hope everything works out but I have a feeling this is going to turn into a fiasco.

Couldn't have said it better

IMHO, this whole thing was handled poorly from the start and we're just glad we didn't plan our vacation around the "preview" and grand opening ... We're content to wait until our October vacation to check things out.

 

[FINFAN]

Yeah, agreed. People purchased packages, flew down to Orlando, and then are given two hours per day? I guess today's visitors were lucky it wasn't too crowded, but I wonder how many people who purchased packages showed up after 10am.

Exactle, and MANY of those poeple called to see about altering their packages and were told they would still have the experience...seriously, DO NOT advertise during the SUPERBOWL and then offer 2 hours to those people...ouch. I am still trying to go glass half full, there is much more than WWOHP that we like, but gotta admit, it is center stage right now.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I actually don't have THAT much of a problem with the two hour window, My issue is with the false advertising. I'd be really mad.

 

[Poly-Anna]

What everyone needs to remember is that this is a "PREVIEW" not unrestricted all day access to the park. As on site room only hotel guests we were allowed access to the park from 8 - 10 a.m. today and to my knowledge every day from 8-10 a.m. this weekend. There are only 3 rides. We had time to do the Dragon and Hippogriff roller coasters before they opened the Harry Potter ride. We did the HP ride which was an awesome ride - sort of a combo of Soarin and Spiderman. We also had time to get several souvenirs (including wands) and really had time to do all that we wanted to do.

Remember - it is a PREVIEW. We are fortunate that Universal even allowed us in prior to their grand opening so no one is complaining here. In fact quite happy with the whole experience.

 

[lugnut33]

What everyone needs to remember is that this is a "PREVIEW" not unrestricted all day access to the park. As on site room only hotel guests we were allowed access to the park from 8 - 10 a.m. today and to my knowledge every day from 8-10 a.m. this weekend. There are only 3 rides. We had time to do the Dragon and Hippogriff roller coasters before they opened the Harry Potter ride. We did the HP ride which was an awesome ride - sort of a combo of Soarin and Spiderman. We also had time to get several souvenirs (including wands) and really had time to do all that we wanted to do.

Remember - it is a PREVIEW. We are fortunate that Universal even allowed us in prior to their grand opening so no one is complaining here. In fact quite happy with the whole experience.

So 2 hours is plenty of time to experience Harry Potter land?

 

[sportzboy698]

So 2 hours is plenty of time to experience Harry Potter land?

i am guessing as long as your not eating at three broomsticks

 

[swwake]

We aren't going until September and will be there for 2 days. Being after the grand opening, but still expecting large crowds within the first 6 months or so, we are only expecting to be able to ride FJ once per day each day. I figure that a couple of hours in the area of the park will be enough for us.

We may not be as die-hard fans as others, but to me it sounds like the 2 hours today would have been plenty for us. I wouldn't have expected more during a preview.

Just my 2c.

I am excited to hear about ride details. So far I haven't seen any.

 

[Lucky4me]

What everyone needs to remember is that this is a "PREVIEW" not unrestricted all day access to the park. As on site room only hotel guests we were allowed access to the park from 8 - 10 a.m. today and to my knowledge every day from 8-10 a.m. this weekend. There are only 3 rides. We had time to do the Dragon and Hippogriff roller coasters before they opened the Harry Potter ride. We did the HP ride which was an awesome ride - sort of a combo of Soarin and Spiderman. We also had time to get several souvenirs (including wands) and really had time to do all that we wanted to do.

Remember - it is a PREVIEW. We are fortunate that Universal even allowed us in prior to their grand opening so no one is complaining here. In fact quite happy with the whole experience.

Yay!!
Well then, you should be very satisfied with what you were promised if you got to tour through the area and ride all three rides including FJ.
I need to ask-was FJ a lot more rough than Spiderman? Were you upside down and spinning around a lot? Any dizziness or nausea when you were done?
Thanks!

 

[glocon]

I'm guessing 2 hours is long enough during the "preview" but it won't be when it is open to all after June 18 and the crowds are significantly larger.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I'm guessing 2 hours is long enough during the "preview" but it won't be when it is open to all after June 18 and the crowds are significantly larger.

I think we'll have a better idea tomorrow. Today, I bet a lot of people who bought the HP package showed up after 10am, expecting to walk into WWoHP. Tomorrow, nobody will be making that mistake.

 

[damo]

I think we'll have a better idea tomorrow. Today, I bet a lot of people who bought the HP package showed up after 10am, expecting to walk into WWoHP. Tomorrow, nobody will be making that mistake.

The people who bought the package would have been informed, in writing, that they would have an early preview. In fact, some of the people here on the board posted just that. They would also have been given that info when they checked into their hotel, as all packages included hotel accommodation.


Here is a good review with a few spoilers

http://www.orlandounited.com/forums...ld-of-Harry-Potter-Part-2&p=114365#post114365

 

[Darkestsong]

Just to clarify, it definately was not just those who bought packages but on-site guests as well that got in, at least those who booked prior to the announcement - they do not clarify if it is all onsite or merely those who booked prior to the announcement in the segement of the quoted article below:

Brigid Flood of Tampa and Melissa White of Orlando made hotel reservations at a Universal hotel with the hopes of getting in Friday. They were not disappointed because they received a letter of instructions upon check-in.

Inside Wizarding World, they purchased Hogwarts lanyards plus three rounds of frozen butterbeer in souvenir mugs. (Butterbeer tab: $28). "I can't wait to go back in," Flood said.

But the waiting game continued for fans without hotel packages. Cody Meacham of St. Petersburg has spent parts of four days this week at Islands of Adventure, hoping for a public peek.

"I've waited a lot and been very disappointed several times," he said. "I'm getting kind of used to it. I drove over this morning not excited at all because I figured nothing will happen."


This is from the todays Orlando Sentinel. Unfortunately I can not link yet but they had a few interviews, etc. with guuests who had been able to get in.

 

[shl1108]

What everyone needs to remember is that this is a "PREVIEW" not unrestricted all day access to the park. As on site room only hotel guests we were allowed access to the park from 8 - 10 a.m. today and to my knowledge every day from 8-10 a.m. this weekend. There are only 3 rides. We had time to do the Dragon and Hippogriff roller coasters before they opened the Harry Potter ride. We did the HP ride which was an awesome ride - sort of a combo of Soarin and Spiderman. We also had time to get several souvenirs (including wands) and really had time to do all that we wanted to do.

Remember - it is a PREVIEW. We are fortunate that Universal even allowed us in prior to their grand opening so no one is complaining here. In fact quite happy with the whole experience.

For those people who have been in the 2 hour preview...just curious how busy/crowded it is in there? What were the wait times for Dueling Dragons and FJ? Since everyone in there has the FOTL access, there would be just one line I take it.
? Thanks!

 

[scottmel]

subscribing...

 

[Momw/aplan]

Wow. So only two hours?
We have breakfast in the Three Broomsticks on our first morning at 9:30. We only get thirty minutes to eat? Are they going to kick us out at 10am sharp? How does that work?

We only get to visit the parks for two days during our vacation. With the package we bought we thought we'd get to ride the rides at least once , experience Olivander's, browse around the shops for souvenirs, look at all the window displays, listen to Moaning Myrtle in the bathrooms, listen to the frog choir, watch the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang street shows, maybe go back to Three Broomsticks for lunch or dinner to experience those menu items, mail some postcards from the Owl Post, see Hogsmead and Hogwarts at night. That's not all going to happen from 8-10am on two days.

And if we want to go through the queue and try to ride FJ (if it's running) that's our whole two hours right there (and how are we supposed to work that in around breakfast on the day we have reservations?). We can't go to WWoHP and not get to at least see the whole queue for FJ! But who wants to put on blinders and make a mad dash through Hogsmead their first ever time seeing it for a chance at riding FJ (which may breakdown before we get on it anyway? That is not the all immersive experience unlike any we've ever had (as they've been advertising).

Don't get me wrong, I'm really excited we'll get to see it at all, but no way is 2 hours what I thought I was purchasing for all that money. We're driving 40 hours total not including stops to experience this thing (we couldn't afford the airfare in addition to the package). This is very likely the only time we will get to visit WWoHP for a VERY long time if ever again, and we're only going to get a very rushed peek at it?

Are we going to have to run from one thing to the next to try to work in as much as we can and then still miss stuff? This is a once in a lifetime experience for us and I really wanted to be able to savor it. To say I'm disappointed at what I'm hearing so far is an understatement. I feel a bit sorry for the package-holders who were there today. I hope they all get to go back tomorrow and have a longer preview. And maybe another shot to see it at night?

I'm trying not to jump the gun and feel overwhelmed with disappointment before my vacation is even here, but seriously--two hours. That's what we've paid all this money for?!

I called and spoke with Universal every step of the way (as we booked the package, put down our deposit, made all of our payments) trying to make sure we knew exactly what we were paying for, and every time I was reassured that yes, we would get to experience everything we wanted to experience there--we would have full access. How? Do we need to buy a time-turner so we can go back and relive those two hours over an over in different ways? Because I don't see how we're going to get to experience everything we want to experience in only two hours.
I really do hope this changes after today. Maybe this was just a first day thing?