What does a soft opening mean?

[Dawna]

I have seen on the boards that there may be a soft opening for Diagon Alley. What does that mean? Will the rides be open at random times as they are testing? Will shops and restaurants open "before" the "grand opening"? Will everything be "closed" but they open the area to just walk through and look around? Can anyone tell more about the soft opening for the Hogsmeade HP land and what it included before the grand opening? How many days before the official hoopla was the soft opening? We will be visiting in early June so likely before the "grand opening".

Thanks!
Dawna

 

[Metro West]

I have seen on the boards that there may be a soft opening for Diagon Alley. What does that mean? Will the rides be open at random times as they are testing? Will shops and restaurants open "before" the "grand opening"? Will everything be "closed" but they open the area to just walk through and look around? Can anyone tell more about the soft opening for the Hogsmeade HP land and what it included before the grand opening? How many days before the official hoopla was the soft opening? We will be visiting in early June so likely before the "grand opening".

Thanks!
Dawna

A soft opening is a technical rehearsal where the attraction is still being tested and tweaked. Guests are allowed to ride but there's no set schedule during a soft opening. Sometimes it's open...sometimes it's not...just luck of the draw. There's no telling what will be open during the soft opening. Usually it's just one attraction but this will be a whole new section. Stores and restaurants might be open but it's too early to tell.

 

[kmermaid]

I have spoken to someone who was staying at Portifino before the official opening of WWoHP. He said they received a notice from the hotel indicating soft opening and invited them to try it. I have no reason to doubt him. Does anyone remember hearing this?

 

[FinnishFlash]

Been following the DISboards for some 4 years now (since my very first trip to Orlando) and thought I finally reply to something to start repaying all of the great advice I've got here

I was in lucky enough to be at the original WWoHP opening back in 2010, onsite at RPR. We checked in one day prior to the grand opening, 17th June 2010. At the check-in they granted us 'special passes' for preview of WWoHP 17th June (3pm if I remember correctly). That day turned out to be possibly the greatest we have had at any themepark, ever. We rode all of the rides multiple times, had dinner at Three Broomsticks, enjoyed butterbeer, were interviewed / photographed by many reporters, etc. Overall felt like real VIP's that day. But even more we felt privideged when we saw the massive crowds the next day and forward

Actually the experience was so great that we booked a week at also this summer (17th to 24th), this time at HRH, just hoping that this could happen again. But, whether it does or not, we'll know we have a great time at Universal with our express passes

So while I'm unsure whether onsite hotels invited anyone to try soft openings prior to day before launch, I can verify that then they surely did.

 

[hermionesnape]

I have seen on the boards that there may be a soft opening for Diagon Alley. What does that mean? Will the rides be open at random times as they are testing? Will shops and restaurants open "before" the "grand opening"? Will everything be "closed" but they open the area to just walk through and look around? Can anyone tell more about the soft opening for the Hogsmeade HP land and what it included before the grand opening? How many days before the official hoopla was the soft opening? We will be visiting in early June so likely before the "grand opening". Thanks! Dawna

I visited Universal back the summer Hogsmead opened. There was a soft opening period of about 3/4 weeks with the entire area open (rides, shops, dining options).

Our stay was the week leading up to the grand opening on Saturday. We arrived Monday and were given a paper with times the section would be open. It was open every day (expect for opening day and the day before) for hotel and package guest 1 hour early and stayed open for them until 12 noon. We road all of the rides and looked at the shops on Tuesday morning then we ate at three broomsticks on Wednesday morning followed by more shopping and riding. During our stay the soft opening was not opening in the evenings for general public (although the weeks leading up to ours it had been). You had to be an onsite guest or bought a Harry Potter experience package to enjoy the soft opening that week.

 

[Rags]

I visited Universal back the summer Hogsmead opened. There was a soft opening period of about 3/4 weeks with the entire area open (rides, shops, dining options). Our stay was the week leading up to the grand opening on Saturday. We arrived Monday and were given a paper with times the section would be open. It was open every day (expect for opening day and the day before) for hotel and package guest 1 hour early and stayed open for them until 12 noon. We road all of the rides and looked at the shops on Tuesday morning then we ate at three broomsticks on Wednesday morning followed by more shopping and riding. During our stay the soft opening was not opening in the evenings for general public (although the weeks leading up to ours it had been). You had to be an onsite guest or bought a Harry Potter experience package to enjoy the soft opening that week.

Do you think they will offer this to on site guest for soft openings of diagon alley too?

 

[Bluer101]

Do you think they will offer this to on site guest for soft openings of diagon alley too?

They might but this is normally right before the ride or area will have it's grand opening. Meaning the week or days before.

 

[cieslack]

I have spoken to someone who was staying at Portifino before the official opening of WWoHP. He said they received a notice from the hotel indicating soft opening and invited them to try it. I have no reason to doubt him. Does anyone remember hearing this?

That happened to my family in 2010, last of May, first of June. We received a letter upon check-in that the WWoHP would be open to onsite guests. Room key was required to enter the world. The FJ was up and down periodically, but it was about like having a private party with a few hundred of my closest friends.

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

I was there about a week before the grand opening of WWHOP as a day guest and managed to experience the soft opening. Everything was just open and running! Hoping to have the same luck with Diagon Alley - we will be there mid-June but staying on Disney property.

 

[tinkerpea]

Been following the DISboards for some 4 years now (since my very first trip to Orlando) and thought I finally reply to something to start repaying all of the great advice I've got here

I was in lucky enough to be at the original WWoHP opening back in 2010, onsite at RPR. We checked in one day prior to the grand opening, 17th June 2010. At the check-in they granted us 'special passes' for preview of WWoHP 17th June (3pm if I remember correctly). That day turned out to be possibly the greatest we have had at any themepark, ever. We rode all of the rides multiple times, had dinner at Three Broomsticks, enjoyed butterbeer, were interviewed / photographed by many reporters, etc. Overall felt like real VIP's that day. But even more we felt privideged when we saw the massive crowds the next day and forward

Actually the experience was so great that we booked a week at also this summer (17th to 24th), this time at HRH, just hoping that this could happen again. But, whether it does or not, we'll know we have a great time at Universal with our express passes

So while I'm unsure whether onsite hotels invited anyone to try soft openings prior to day before launch, I can verify that then they surely did.

That sounds awesome! We have been booked at Rpr since last July,we never followed the wwohp opening as our boy's wasn't big fans then,there now 9,9,11 and after we visited in 2012 they made us by the blue-ray set and have watched them over and over,
They can not wait to see diagon alley and so it was a fluke that we are booked for 17th till 24th June.. I'm really scared after reading about the opening and how horrible the crowds are and if we could have we would have cancelled and moved till another time,"we can't due to flights from uk"
But if we can grab a soft opening I'll be so happy as we won't be back for 2 years.

 

[Bluer101]

 

[hermionesnape]

That sounds awesome! We have been booked at Rpr since last July,we never followed the wwohp opening as our boy's wasn't big fans then,there now 9,9,11 and after we visited in 2012 they made us by the blue-ray set and have watched them over and over, They can not wait to see diagon alley and so it was a fluke that we are booked for 17th till 24th June.. I'm really scared after reading about the opening and how horrible the crowds are and if we could have we would have cancelled and moved till another time,"we can't due to flights from uk" But if we can grab a soft opening I'll be so happy as we won't be back for 2 years.

Even if it's open to the general public when you come staying onsite will give you the hour early and should be able to enjoy the visit without too much headache. Plus front of line access for non potter rides is great!

 

[smdigh]

That happened to my family in 2010, last of May, first of June. We received a letter upon check-in that the WWoHP would be open to onsite guests. Room key was required to enter the world. The FJ was up and down periodically, but it was about like having a private party with a few hundred of my closest friends.

FYI Same thing happened when Despicable ME soft opened. At the Hard Rock they informed us that it would be open to Hotel guests.

 

[atricks]

General rumors about Diagon Alley soft opening put it middle to late May now. There are strong rumbling an opening date has been decided and is starting to get passed around internally in prep for the announcement which may come very soon. Basically to get everyone's ducks in a row for bookings, etc.

Educated guess for official grand opening is June 18th (4 year anniversary of the original Wizarding World).

The soft openings won't be scheduled, won't be announced, and may be for only short periods of the day, only for hotel guests, etc. Especially early on. The closer to the grand opening date, the more "open" it may be. The purpose is to attempt to work out the general kinks before the mass rush.

 

[coachyo]

Bluer101, what the heck is that for?
If that is what we are in for come June 6-9 count me out!

 

[macraven]

Bluer101, what the heck is that for?
If that is what we are in for come June 6-9 count me out!

i'm not Bluer101 but i can do a great imitation of him.....


that was the line to get into the park on parry hotter opening day.......

 

[Bluer101]

i'm not Bluer101 but i can do a great imitation of him.....


that was the line to get into the park on parry hotter opening day.......

But I can do great photo bombs because of you.

 

[freediverdude]

Just to chime in, I too stayed at the Hard Rock during the first week of June in 2010, and got in on the Wizarding World soft opening. I agree with another poster, that was the best theme park experience I've ever had. And I was willing to pay dearly to have that again for this opening, but nobody seems to know much yet, unlike back then- they aren't selling any Diagon opening packages, so I don't know what will happen. Best guess is the first half of June for a soft opening, but right now it's a crapshoot.

 

[keishashadow]

I have spoken to someone who was staying at Portifino before the official opening of WWoHP. He said they received a notice from the hotel indicating soft opening and invited them to try it. I have no reason to doubt him. Does anyone remember hearing this?

pretty cool...we were onsite 1st week in June when transformers was in soft opening last summer. Got to ride, didn't get a fancy invite

General rumors about Diagon Alley soft opening put it middle to late May now. There are strong rumbling an opening date has been decided and is starting to get passed around internally in prep for the announcement which may come very soon. Basically to get everyone's ducks in a row for bookings, etc.

Educated guess for official grand opening is June 18th (4 year anniversary of the original Wizarding World).

The soft openings won't be scheduled, won't be announced, and may be for only short periods of the day, only for hotel guests, etc. Especially early on. The closer to the grand opening date, the more "open" it may be. The purpose is to attempt to work out the general kinks before the mass rush.

I threw that dart last year and got lucky (see above). This year specifically staying onsite end of May and fingers crossed we'll be golden again.

Bluer - that is a scary line.

 

[nanacruiser]

A soft opening is when the ride opens early to test. Its really cool but can mean long lines because of breaks in the ride etc. Sometimes you experience things they end up taking out of the ride when it opens. Love getting to do soft openings I recall Test track took hours and broke down all the time.