The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[Dougweller]

Alright guys, I'm set to file a complaint. Anyone want to proofread? xD. I'm shooting this letter out tomorrow snailmail, so if you guys want to make revisions, please make them before 2 AM PST. I suggest anyone else who's unsatisfied with Universal's way of handling this situation make a complaint letter and snailmail it to them.


June 1, 2010
Guest Services
Universal Orlando Resort
1000 Universal Studios Plaza
Orlando, Florida 32819-7610

RE: Wizarding World of Harry Potter Package

I have been an avid fan of the Harry Potter series for several years so the news of a theme park was extremely exciting. After my parents made vacation requests at work and saved up the money, we booked a Wizarding World of Harry Potter Package with a Universal Studios Representative. We were very excited to visit the park, but comments from other package holders have unfortunately changed our minds.

When we booked the package on March 4th, 2010, our representative told us all of the various perks to having the package, as listed on the Universal website at the time. Our vacation was for June 13th to June 18th at the Best Western Orlando Getaway. I was well aware that a Grand Opening date had not yet been released, but that we were still to be allowed into the park. On March 25th, when the Grand Opening date was announced to be June 18th, I once again called customer service to make sure that we would still be allowed in the park. The representative assured me that we would still get in the park and that we were “lucky” to actually be in the park before the Grand Opening as the general public would not be allowed before then. More than once, I inquired, and was assured that the general public would not be allowed into the park until June 18th. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Today, June 1st, I found out that the general public has been allowed into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and that package holders have only been getting two hours inside the park. I am not the only package holder upset.

I’ve made several phone calls to Universal Studios with questions in regard to this. One representative told me that only package holders would be allowed. Someone else said that package holders and on-site hotel guests who booked before March 25th would be allowed. Yet another said that package holders and all on-site hotel guests would be allowed. Another representative said package holders, all on-site hotel guests, and annual passholders would be allowed. This varying information must be due to some sort of lack of communication. I am very agitated at this whole ordeal, as I believe we, as package holders, aren’t being given what we were promised. It is unfair that while Florida residents can book an on-site hotel room for tonight and get into the Wizarding World tomorrow, we had to book several months before for what we were told was an “exclusive preview.” Offering practically the same privileges to the general public is not an “exclusive preview.”

I understand that your annual passholders are your MVC’s. I also understand that people who booked the Harry Potter package only paid $15.95 extra for the Three Broomsticks breakfast. However, even though we as package holders paid hardly any more money that the general public would pay, we are entitled to an EXCLUSIVE package as stated on your website. We were promised the Wizarding World to ourselves and are upset that this is not the case. We as package holders were under the impression that the park would be open to us for the whole day, and not for a mere 2 hours. Your customer service representatives have been giving conflicting information, which reflects very poorly on the company.

For your information, the following forum has several complaints about Universal Studio’s improper handling of this situation. (this is where I put in the link to this thread, but because I don't have 10 posts, I can't post it up yet)

In closing, would you please advise me as soon as possible if Universal Studios is still interested in servicing me, or if what has happened here is your not so subtle way of telling me to vacation elsewhere.

Why would anyone with this package assume that they had exclusive access after 9 am, when the whole park opens to the general public? Did they really think that the grand opening would be delayed until after the last package booking? The exclusive bit was just 8-9, and all they paid extra for that was the price of breakfast at the Three Broomsticks. As of yesterday so far as I know the public haven't been allowed in at all before 9, although there are stories of maybe 100 getting in around 10. Ok, all hotel guests are getting in early, but even that doesn't make a huge crowd, or at least didn't yesterday.
Doug

 

[mom2aandj]

I can't see any reason for them to continue to do this for onsite only guests after the grand opening. After that, it's just an ordinary part of the park although the newest and best obviously!

they could continue doing it to help fill their hotel rooms. If onsite guests stop being let in early I'm staying offsite. From what I understand, early admission has been a perk for onsite guests in the past even before WWOHP.

 

[atricks]

Word is that they have let all park guests in for this morning's preview/soft opening at 9PM.

 

[damo]

I think that onsite will continue to get the hour early entrance. It usually is a perk of staying onsite and I really don't see any reason for it to change. The package holder people only paid extra for breakfasts. Their other prices were the same as regular hotel guests. Onsite packages often include a breakfast at the hotels, so this really isn't much different. The people at the reservation line have always said that the only difference between the package and staying onsite was the breakfast. This makes sense since many, many people already have annual passes and would not need to buy the package.

Regarding Universal saying that onsite guests would not be let in before June 18th. If you look at what they put in writing, it says, "At this time, package holders ....." They did not say that things could not change.

I'm quite surprised that people think that having package and onsite guests in the WWoHP is sufficient for soft openings. Universal needs to have softs with crowds as close to normal as possible.

 

[jonofthedeadd]

According to #potterwatch on Twitter, the general public was let in at 8:45am. No word on how many, or if they capped the number of people being let in.

 

[disneygal55]

Jonofthedeadd....any word on how many GP people were allowed inside?

 

[Bradsdadg]

I'm looking for the picture of the merchandise with the cauldron, choc frog, wands, etc. I think it was posted by someone who actually bought the stuff.

Is that picture on this thread? I can't find it anywhere, and want to show my kids, so they can't start saving their money!

I think this is what you are talking about, not mine but I have seen it posted on here before:


http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c389/Felipe89/WWoHP 05-29-2010/WWoHP Purchases/

 

[Planogirl]

I think this is what you are talking about, not mine but I have seen it posted on here before:


http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c389/Felipe89/WWoHP 05-29-2010/WWoHP Purchases/

Great link! I just hope that DS doesn't see the screaming yoyo.

 

[Disney Padawan]

I think that onsite will continue to get the hour early entrance. It usually is a perk of staying onsite and I really don't see any reason for it to change. The package holder people only paid extra for breakfasts. Their other prices were the same as regular hotel guests. Onsite packages often include a breakfast at the hotels, so this really isn't much different. The people at the reservation line have always said that the only difference between the package and staying onsite was the breakfast. This makes sense since many, many people already have annual passes and would not need to buy the package.

So what about that commemorative ticket that you get with the package. Anyone know if you still get that if you book room only? I could save some money if I book room only as an AP. The breakfast from the package doesn't interest me but the commemorative ticket and early entry to WWOHP sure does. If I'm going to receive these with a room only reservation then I won't do the package. Anyone know for sure? Thanks in advance.

 

[damo]

So what about that commemorative ticket that you get with the package. Anyone know if you still get that if you book room only? I could save some money if I book room only as an AP. The breakfast from the package doesn't interest me but the commemorative ticket and early entry to WWOHP sure does. If I'm going to receive these with a room only reservation then I won't do the package. Anyone know for sure? Thanks in advance.

I have no idea what the commemorative ticket looks like. Perhaps someone will take a picture of theirs.

 

[Jason71]

According to #potterwatch on Twitter, the general public was let in at 8:45am. No word on how many, or if they capped the number of people being let in.

Got in around 9:05. Was told it would close at 10, but many shops at least were still open by 11:30ish. However, I hear from friends by 11 at the latest they had quit letting people in (may well have been earlier).

They didn't ask me, but they were grabbing people for surveys as they left at the end of the morning.

 

[tink1957]

So what about that commemorative ticket that you get with the package. Anyone know if you still get that if you book room only? I could save some money if I book room only as an AP. The breakfast from the package doesn't interest me but the commemorative ticket and early entry to WWOHP sure does. If I'm going to receive these with a room only reservation then I won't do the package. Anyone know for sure? Thanks in advance.

We didn't get a commemorative ticket & we were there on a room-only reservation. I think you only get the ticket with the WWoHP package.

 

[inkkognito]

Same here. No ticket with room only.

 

[Geyser Gazer]

My family and I were headed out the door for Typhoon Lagoon when I checked the DIS one more time just after 9am to hear tell of today's GP admission. After a quick wardrobe adjustment we made it to IOA just before 10am. TM's were still insisting on the 6/18 opening, undaunted we made it to Hogsmeade and were welcomed in. We took some photos, grabbed a water, and headed for Hogwarts. There was almost no line and we were very impressed with the castle/preshow as well as with FJ. We shopped, had butter beers and pumpkin juice (both very tasty) before my 11 year old daughter was chosen to have her wand pick her at Olivander's. Everything here was spot on, even the well poured Boddingtons Ale at Hogs Head Pub. We wandered out around noon so impressed that even if we did nothing else with our 7 day pass, it would have still been well worth it.

 

[inkkognito]

We wandered out around noon so impressed that even if we did nothing else with our 7 day pass, it would have still been well worth it.

That's how we felt on our second-day preview. Granted, we have APs, but we sprung the money for a hotel room even tho' we didn't use it just to get the preview and I was surprised at how complete our experience felt in just a few hours. The rides were open until 10 (FJ) or a little after (Hippogriff...not sure about the dragons as we missed them). HP is a relatively small area of IOA but it was so much fun wandering around after a FJ rides, browsing in the shops, checking out a few Ollivanders shows to see the different effects, chatting with the TMs, watching the choirs and even just sipping a butterbeer while sitting outside of the Owl Post. The rest of IOA is okay but I've always preferred USF. WWoHP is a little gem within IOA and will actually draw me over there many times this year...I can't think of the last time I was there prior to the WWoHP previews.

 

[black562]

Here's an off the wall question. If I purchase the express passes (staying off site), I know its once per ride. However, how does Dragon Challenge work with that since its two coasters? I'm assuming you only get to use it once and have to wait in the normal line to do the other? Also, is there still a spot at the exit where you can cross back into the line to ride the other side?

 

[freediverdude]

I was there today as an onsite hotel guest. While I thought I would care about the public being let in, it just wasn't crowded enough to care. They must not have let in that many. I rode FJ twice, and they even let me into the 3 broomsticks for breakfast without a package, they didn't seem to care if people had the breakfast package or not. The only thing I was a little peeved about was the $29.95 for the on-ride picture, that's highway robbery, lol.

 

[Planogirl]

Here's an off the wall question. If I purchase the express passes (staying off site), I know its once per ride. However, how does Dragon Challenge work with that since its two coasters? I'm assuming you only get to use it once and have to wait in the normal line to do the other? Also, is there still a spot at the exit where you can cross back into the line to ride the other side?

Wow, that is a great question! I never thought about the two dragons in this way. If you don't get an answer here please post it in its own thread.

 

[inkkognito]

Hubby is a DD expert so I'll ask him when he gets home, but I'm pretty sure you get to ride each dragon since it is technically two different rides.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I've heard alot about how great the que line is for FJ. That it's practically an attraction on it's own.
And I'm curious if it would make sense...or if it would even be possible for UO to make a ride line and a walk through line for people who just want to view the que? Seems like it might help to make the ride line shorter and for people who don't want ride or can't ride they could do a walk through at their own pace.