We may have a date for Harry Potter

[cieslack]

Has anyone seen the vacation package offer for Harry Potter on the Universal site. It has special Harry only offers and is good for travel from 05-28-10 through 12-31-10. Is it just me or does that mean that the opening will be no later than 05-28-10 (which is Memorial Day weekend which is the unofficial start of Summer)?

 

[Purseval]

The Super Bowl commercial stated Opening spring 2010. The first day of summer is June 21. Barring an official announcement any time between today and June 20th is just a guess.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

We've heard the date of May 28th from another promotion too. Could be.

 

[kuayoung]

I just saw the same thing. Visit. . .to see the vacation package. It includes breakfast at Three Broomsticks, a grand opening "ticket", early entry to that area of the park, etc.

http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/

 

[Claire-Bear]

That's very true actually, unless they just put that end-of-spring date to ensure that visitors would not be disappointed given they have not put up an opening date yet.

Well, at least it'll definately be on or before 28th May.

(Harry Potter Universal Site -> Click Vacations & Tickets in top right -> scroll to bottom under hotel details)

 

[cieslack]

That's very true actually, unless they just put that end-of-spring date to ensure that visitors would not be disappointed given they have not put up an opening date yet.

Well, at least it'll definately be on or before 28th May.

(Harry Potter Universal Site -> Click Vacations & Tickets in top right -> scroll to bottom under hotel details)

Exactly my point. Since you can book a vacation with early admission and breakfast at Three Broomsticks as early as 05/28 then it has to be opening no later than that date. Someone else mentioned in another post that travel agents were going to training today to learn the opening date. I would say that their information may ring true.

 

[nhrenee]

I just saw the same thing. Visit. . .to see the vacation package. It includes breakfast at Three Broomsticks, a grand opening "ticket", early entry to that area of the park, etc.

http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/

This sounded pretty awesome until I noticed the theme park tickets for these packages are "Base Tickets", good for one theme park per day. Wonder if they are upgradeable to park-park tkts?

 

[kuayoung]

Exactly my point. Since you can book a vacation with early admission and breakfast at Three Broomsticks as early as 05/28 then it has to be opening no later than that date. Someone else mentioned in another post that travel agents were going to training today to learn the opening date. I would say that their information may ring true.

Be careful here. I called today and they were very quick to say that this does NOT mean the area will be opened and rides live. I was really excited until they said that.

 

[SnowWtch]

I was told that the Grand Opening may be earlier than the package start dates. However, the rep also told me to not book since I'm a passholder b/c there's going to be something special for passholders but the information wasn't available yet. He did say that it probably won't include a hotel which is fine with me b/c I booked the La Quinta Convention Center (which is one of the hotels listed for the package) on Monday for 5/28-5/30 with a rate of $67.50 a night. I'm sure it's going to go up now that this is announced.

 

[TraceyL]

Yeah - one of the UK travel companies has been advertising an early entry package to WWHP starting that date for a while ......

 

[armstrong80]

By Robert Niles
Published: February 18, 2010 at 10:12 AM
Word's breaking that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will open at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure theme park on May 28.
I've gotten the word from a couple of sources, and a new vacation package that Universal's promoting for Harry Potter says that the offer is good for stays starting May 28.

That's the Friday that kicks off the Memorial Day weekend in the United States, which is a traditional opening date for theme park attractions in Orlando and Southern California. (Regional theme parks tend to debut their new rides when the park opens for the season.)

Keep in mind that this is the date when Universal's taking reservations for travel packages. I wouldn't be surprised to see the new land open before that date, at least on a "soft opening" basis. Universal previously announced that the new Harry Potter land would be open to at least walk through during Grad Nights in late April


found on themeparkinsider.com

 

[snowbunny]

Be careful here. I called today and they were very quick to say that this does NOT mean the area will be opened and rides live. I was really excited until they said that.

I don't see how they can advertise a package that includes a meal at the Three Broomsticks if the area might not be opened.

 

[Orlando313]

I don't see how they can advertise a package that includes a meal at the Three Broomsticks if the area might not be opened.

It's probably got one of those nifty disclaimers hidden somewhere.

Everytime I see something new about the HP stuff I get so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even when the commercials come on during the olympics I squeal even though I've seen it 20 times before. Can't wait can't wait can't wait!

 

[tink1957]

I've booked two separate vacation packages in anticipation of the grand opening, one was at the Doubletree Universal for May 26-31(I booked in late Jan) under the 3 for 5 night promo which included early entry to IOA for $361 and then purchased the Kroger $89.99 7 day 2 park admission tckets for 3 adults, grand total for this vacation is $631I've also reserved the HRH for May 19-24 for $1045 with the tickets the grand total for this vacation is $1315I just have a hard time spending the extra $ for an on site hotel plus if the grand opening is on May 28, we won't even get to ride the FJ, I have until the week before to cancel the HRH reservation & get a full refund on my deposit. I guess if it opens earlier we probably will go with HRH anyways as it will be super crowded on Memorial Day weekend. If we stay at DT we will save enough to rent points at AKV for 2 days and still come out ahead by $400+. Decisions, decisions.....what do you think?

 

[Metro West]

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/fe...arry-potter-packages-that-kick-in-may-28.html

 

[Harmony]

I am SOOOOO bummed.

We will be there May 13-17th. I was hoping that we would be there for HP but I guess we'll miss it by a few days. Bummer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Purseval]

If you read a few other threads about hotel prices, some of the lowest rates in years are between mid May and early June, right around the time of the "opening". One would assume that rates for a hot new event would be higher, not lower.

Moral of the story: don't read too much into these package dates.

 

[cieslack]

I doubt that the breakfast included in the package will be a bagel eaten on a piece of plywood between two scaffolds with a couple of construction workers. If the packages begin on May 28th, they expect the place to be open. More likely they expect it to be open before that date.

 

[FloraFauna]

I'm so excited I was hoping it would be open when we go in the middle of June. It looks like it will be!!!

 

[cuethemusic]

haha I just got that email and came here to post that! I wouldn't be surprised if it is!