Universal Expecting Five Hour Waits for FJ?!?!?!?

[WaltD4Me]

I was stunned when Dave said Universal is anticipating 5 hour waits for HP Forbidden Journey. They actually said this...are they kidding? If they are expecting that, do they think that's a good thing? Are they going to do anything about it? I honestly can't think of anything I would wait in line FIVE hours for. Really, nothing, let alone a 3 minute theme park attraction. It just boggles my mind that anyone would do that. It all sounds very, very cool and I'm a big fan of Harry Potter, there is just no way, JK Rowling herself could be there to put me in my seat and I still wouldn't wait 5 hours. And I sure wouldn't want to be there when someone who has waited 5 hours, doesn't fit in the ride vehicle.

 

[ADP]

I really have mixed feelings about this. Part of me wants to think no matter what Universal does for this attraction it's going to have very, very long wait times. The hype for Harry Potter is going to drive the long wait times.

However, I agree with Pete's comments. Designing a theme park attraction that will generate 5 hour wait times is crazy. If you know an attraction is going to be popular before designing and building it you should accommodate for quicker load and unload times, larger capacity attraction space, and more ride vehicles. If the designed attraction can't meet those type of requirements maybe it should be scrapped and reworked.

It seems like a double-edged sword to me, and in some ways...A no win situation.

Perception is reality though, so if guests are waiting 4 or 5 hours they will be disappointed no matter how cool the attraction is. Or, just disappointed they couldn't even ride it in the first place.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

The best way that Universal could have cut down the lines would have been to make more than one new ride. It's being advertized as a new Harry Potter park, whereas in reality it's really only 1 new ride, a couple re-themed rides and some themed shopping.

I really think that no matter how good this ride is, that people going will be disappointed. Between the long lines and the small amount of new stuff, I know I'll be waiting a year or two.

 

[luke]

Have Universal said if the (regular or onsite key) Express Passes will be in use for this?

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

That's very scary.

I am not planning on riding FJ anytime soon. I'd just love the area to be open for soft openings so I can check out the details in the stores.

 

[LMO429]

A 5 hour wait is just ridiculous, regardless of what the attraction may be. That being said if you are that big of a harry potter fan I guess it's in your best interest to stay onsite at a universal hotel. You would be able to enter the park an hour before everyone else to enjoy the ride. As a hardcore disney fan I know I do not plan on waiting on 5 hour lines or staying on site at universal in order to experience one attraction in which I have little to no interest in the theme in the first place.

 

[crazydisneyman]

I imagine that if there is a five hour wait, then there will probably be a line form Harry Potter world to the entrance of IOA.

If people are waiting for five hours, then the line to even get into Harry Potter world will be outrageous.

I think the ONLY option is to stay at a Universal hotel if you even want to see this area.

 

[vegetablegirl]

In a way, this makes me glad the trip some friends and I were planning got canceled. Maybe one day we'll get out there, but I feel like it's going to be a miserable experience out there this summer. Reading some of the reports from recent sneak peaks people have gotten, they say it's cramped in some areas to begin with (they were talking about the Owlery at the time) and I can only imagine thousands of Harry Potter fans descending on these small shops and themed areas, let alone the monstrous waits for one attraction.

 

[Jennygt]

WHAT 5 hours!!! That is crazy! I missed it, how was this reported? I am staying at RP fopr one night 6/25 so that I can do wwhp with my neices who are huge hp fans. I know it was asked but will the room key help this situation? Thanks for any insight on this!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Not to mention, Hello!..... people standing in line for 5 hours have their wallets safely in their pockets and they are not spending money in the park all that time.

For as long as we've been hearing about HPW, I'm amazed Universal didn't come up with a solution for this. I don't know, maybe something like the waiting area that was tested at RNR? Restaurant type beepers?

I think, but not sure, that Pete said you won't be able to use Express Pass for Forbidden Journey.

 

[Jennygt]

Not to mention, Hello!..... people standing in line for 5 hours have their wallets safely in their pockets and they are not spending money in the park all that time.

For as long as we've been hearing about HPW, I'm amazed Universal didn't come up with a solution for this. I don't know, maybe something like the waiting area that was tested at RNR? Restaurant type beepers?

I think, but not sure, that Pete said you won't be able to use Express Pass for Forbidden Journey.

No express pass!!! Forgive my ignorance but was this discussed on the most recent podcast? I have not listened yet.

 

[Poohbug]

There is no way that people will wait 5 hours for a 3 minute ride. Do they even have room for a 5 hour que?? How many HP books could you read during that time? Maybe they could give out those little pagers like you get at restaurants and you could check out the rest of the park while you wait.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Universal is saying "No Express Pass" for FJ.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

I w ould love to experience this ride we are making our first trip to US/IOA based on the WWoHP. However I will no wait 5 hours for a ride no matter how top notch it is said to be.

 

[Becx N Gav]

In this blog someone posted about earlier it says

"Just walking it took us about 20 minutes, and we didn’t even walk the full length. Also the queue does have a Universal Express Pass side (similar to Disney’s fastpass, but it costs $$), they have a much shorter queue, but still see the major story points."

(from the second page )

We're in no rush to see Universal so hopefully the long lines will die down. 5 hours is crazy

 

[WaltD4Me]

No express pass!!! Forgive my ignorance but was this discussed on the most recent podcast? I have not listened yet.

I'm not 100% sure, but I thought Pete said no Express Pass for FJ.

And, I'm just thinking.....no matter how well you plan, what happens when you are in line for 3 hours and need a bathroom break?

 

[auroralark]

Some friends and I are going in July. We plan to be there at opening at sprint right to FJ. NO WAY am I waiting 5 hours. I'm not waiting 4, 3 or 2 hours either.

I think it's strange that no one knows how long the actual ride is...

 

[Jennygt]

I'm not 100% sure, but I thought Pete said no Express Pass for FJ.

And, I'm just thinking.....no matter how well you plan, what happens when you are in line for 3 hours and need a bathroom break?

Did he say it on the most recent podcast?

 

[safetymom]

I have seen reports that there will be no express pass for this ride. Until it opens and we can see what Universal has decided no one knows for sure.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I've waited 3 hours for a ride before in the middle of July (El Toro at Six Flags), and it was super unpleasant. However, El Toro was the main purpose for the trip that day, and it was only about a half hour from where I lived at the time. Five hours seems a bit excessive.