WWOHP and FJ -- Were we not told hotel guests received one express ride per day?

[TLinden16]

However, sounds like no one has it in writing and therefore....it doesn't exist.

Of course no one has it in writing. We all just came on this message board, and made this up figuring if enough of us said it, Universal would have to believe it's true

I wonder if they are just avoiding it now for the summer rush? But then again, if they still don't offer FOTL on Rock It etc. than maybe not.

I can see not adding these to rides to the pay express passes, but it would be nice if they offered it as a benefit to their resort guests once per day.

Of course, this may be a non issue for me, because I may not even fit on FJ.

 

[EEyorelover22]

Does FOTL still work on the old Dueling Dragons?
Can you tell I am not a true Potter fan and my kids are?

From reading, I gather it's the FJ with the huge wait times and of course, just getting near WWoHP.

 

[Rip]

Of course no one has it in writing. We all just came on this message board, and made this up figuring if enough of us said it, Universal would have to believe it's true

I wonder if they are just avoiding it now for the summer rush? But then again, if they still don't offer FOTL on Rock It etc. than maybe not.

I can see not adding these to rides to the pay express passes, but it would be nice if they offered it as a benefit to their resort guests once per day.

Of course, this may be a non issue for me, because I may not even fit on FJ.

Rockit doesn't have it because it still can't run at capacity (the genius that designed it equipped it with a moving platform - something that doesn't work well for high-speed coasters in reality).

As far as FJ goes, we were told the same thing, but the "fine print" is that it was subject to change without notice. Unfortunately, there isn't really any way feasible to offer that many people even a once-a-day Express Line when the normal wait time gets as long as the reports here have been saying - it would easily increase that wait time by an hour, with EP wait times being an hour themselves. They are going to add an EP line to FJ in the future. I got an e-mail from the head of their VIP dept. that stated in writing that it would be available for VIP packages beginning June 20th, but it looks like even that had to be postponed due to its popularity.

I don't think one can totally fault them for underestimating just how popular it was going to be, and even if you could, it wouldn't change the fact that there isn't a way to logistically add that kind of "perk" right now.

 

[TLinden16]

Rockit doesn't have it because it still can't run at capacity (the genius that designed it equipped it with a moving platform - something that doesn't work well for high-speed coasters in reality).

As far as FJ goes, we were told the same thing, but the "fine print" is that it was subject to change without notice. Unfortunately, there isn't really any way feasible to offer that many people even a once-a-day Express Line when the normal wait time gets as long as the reports here have been saying - it would easily increase that wait time by an hour, with EP wait times being an hour themselves. They are going to add an EP line to FJ in the future. I got an e-mail from the head of their VIP dept. that stated in writing that it would be available for VIP packages beginning June 20th, but it looks like even that had to be postponed due to its popularity.

I don't think one can totally fault them for underestimating just how popular it was going to be, and even if you could, it wouldn't change the fact that there isn't a way to logistically add that kind of "perk" right now.

While I understand your points, I have to say that I disagree that we shouldn't fault them. Universal Orlando has been in existence for around 20 years now. They should have a pretty good handle on what an attraction can handle, and the affects that Express Pass will have on that attraction. They know what the per hour ride capcity is. They can estimate the number of guests in their resorts on any given day. They should have been able to determine if having FOTL access as a perk to their resorts guests was feasible. And if they weren't going to take the time to figure that out, they should have never touted it as a perk to people making reservations.

Quite honestly, I have to admit that I do wonder if they through that out as a perk to fill their hotel rooms.

And they would have had to live underneath a rock to not realize that the Harry Potter area wouldn't be as popular as it is and will continue to be for quite some time.

 

[Rip]

While I understand your points, I have to say that I disagree that we shouldn't fault them. Universal Orlando has been in existence for around 20 years now. They should have a pretty good handle on what an attraction can handle, and the affects that Express Pass will have on that attraction. They know what the per hour ride capcity is. They can estimate the number of guests in their resorts on any given day. They should have been able to determine if having FOTL access as a perk to their resorts guests was feasible. And if they weren't going to take the time to figure that out, they should have never touted it as a perk to people making reservations.

Quite honestly, I have to admit that I do wonder if they through that out as a perk to fill their hotel rooms.

And they would have had to live underneath a rock to not realize that the Harry Potter area wouldn't be as popular as it is and will continue to be for quite some time.

While I understand your point, I don't believe there has ever been anything remotely resembling what they've experienced in terms of crowds thus far in the history of any and all theme parks in the world.

I'll have to agree to disagree, I don't believe anyone realized just how many people would be willing to wait 6 hours just for a chance to get into that section of the park. Did you see the pictures posted on opening day, and how wide and long the line was just to get into IOA??

Logistically, there just any way feasible for them to offer it right now, and the early access alone would have been more than enough to fill their hotel rooms. I don't for a minute believe that management intentionally told the reservationists to lie about it just for that.

 

[missymj]

I recently called Guest Services to speak with them regarding the miscommuication of the FOTL access for Hotel Guests for FJ (one time/each day) AND one hour early entry. They simply are denying having offered this and stated that I must have misunderstood. I was told this at least 3-4 times each time I called to verify the reservation. I just don't get it as to how they can simply deny telling us this information in the first place? I am truly at odds with how they can possibly lie to get out of what they previously committed to hotel guests!

 

[LilyWDW]

I recently called Guest Services to speak with them regarding the miscommuication of the FOTL access for Hotel Guests for FJ (one time/each day) AND one hour early entry. They simply are denying having offered this and stated that I must have misunderstood. I was told this at least 3-4 times each time I called to verify the reservation. I just don't get it as to how they can simply deny telling us this information in the first place? I am truly at odds with how they can possibly lie to get out of what they previously committed to hotel guests!

Maybe they didn't lie. It's totally possible that the people you spoke to at Guest Services never told anyone about a FOTL access for FJ. It's totally possible they would have no idea that anyone in reservations would have told customers that.

Different departments run the hotels, reservations, and the parks. My guess is someone in reservations decided this would be a perk for those in the resorts. However, due to something we do not know, the parks people decided FOTL was just not going to work for FJ. They really would have hoped for FOTL access, but after running the ride a few times and looking at the numbers, it ended up not being feasible.

I actually think the early entry is a much better idea then FOTL access. Seems the waits are much less first thing, so those onsite will have plenty of time to enjoy FJ.

And honestly, even if they did tell people that there would be FOTL access, all that is subject to change without notice.

 

[Rip]

Maybe they didn't lie. It's totally possible that the people you spoke to at Guest Services never told anyone about a FOTL access for FJ. It's totally possible they would have no idea that anyone in reservations would have told customers that.

Different departments run the hotels, reservations, and the parks. My guess is someone in reservations decided this would be a perk for those in the resorts. However, due to something we do not know, the parks people decided FOTL was just not going to work for FJ. They really would have hoped for FOTL access, but after running the ride a few times and looking at the numbers, it ended up not being feasible.

I actually think the early entry is a much better idea then FOTL access. Seems the waits are much less first thing, so those onsite will have plenty of time to enjoy FJ.

And honestly, even if they did tell people that there would be FOTL access, all that is subject to change without notice.

It has been my experience with both major theme parks in Orlando to take anything the TMs/CMs say over the phone with a grain of salt. They are notoriously wrong or misinformed quite often.

I was told about the once/day EP when I booked two different trips there on two seperate occasions, but on at least one of those occasions I was warned that it was "subject to change without notice" but that in any event onsite guests would be allowed early entry into the park. I guess it just depends on how well informed the particular TM/CM is that you are speaking to at the time.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

No express pass for us as hotel guests last weekend, when I asked concierge at HRH told me it would probably be at least a year before anything like that was implemented.

The hour in line for FJ went by fast though. Lot of energy and excitement in the crowd too.

 

[phamton]

"Reservations" is a completely different department than Guest Services. I am sure that you were promised express by Reservations (UPRV). Those of you that were promised one time express by UPRV need to contact Guest Services and let them know what you were told.

 

[ADP]

I was told one express access per day per resort guest. When I got off FJ last Saturday morning I specifically asked a Team Member about express access. She told me it's not available right now, but it maybe available in the future. She did mention it maybe months away though.

 

[xApril]

I too heard that it would take probably up to a year for Express to come.

 

[amandals2007]

how is that gonna do anything though???

 

[*LittleMermaid*]

I bet you that Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey will have express access before Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit does.. LOL

 

[peterandlisa]

I booked on line - and I know for a fact that I read something like "due to high demand ..... guests would each be limited to one FOTL / day for Harry Potter." While I agree that this was probably not promised just to fill rooms - I also COMPLETELY agree that Universal should know their business and should have been able to predict if this was plausible BEFORE PROMISING IT AND TKING MY $$! While the crowds were crazy the first few days - lines are now reported to be much less. We have used FOTL access on rides such as MIB in the past when wait times posted were in excess of 90 min.
I do not have a problem with them not offering FOTL ...... I do have a problem with them offering it and then not standing by the offer.

Oh well - we are going the first week n July - and are going to have an amazing time reguardless! Doubt I will able to drag my 13 and 16 year old (or myself for that matter ) out for 7am ..... a couple hour line up may give us the motivation we need though!

 

[Tiggr88]

Yes, we were.

Add me to the list of folks who were specifically told on-site guests would get one FOTL pass for FJ per day. I know because I was surprised and asked a couple of times if I had understood correctly. I'm not going until the end of August, but I doubt it will be available regardless of what they said.

While early entry is nice, I was hoping not to have to get up that early every day I wanted to ride without obscenely long lines. Who knows, maybe we'll be better of going early and taking a mid-day break. That's usually tough to do when they close the park at 6 or 7.

Maybe the park will be open later as well if it stays crowded. The hours are still posted as closing at 7 PM when we go (8/24 - 9/1). Has anyone heard anything about extending hours?

 

[amshowers]

I booked for sept., and was among those that were told one express pass for FJ per day. I didn't read that here or just assume, I was told that by sept. that the express pass would be in place for resort guests. I'm a litttle disapointed about the no express at all,but the early entry does seem like a good alternative. We stay onsite at Universal every 2 years anyway, this was just cool addition to a to vacation destination we already love.

 

[JenM]

While I understand your point, I don't believe there has ever been anything remotely resembling what they've experienced in terms of crowds thus far in the history of any and all theme parks in the world.

I would say Disneyland's opening day was far worse. The chaos on that opening day was legend.

I googled "Harry Potter Vacation Packages" and found older articles that mentioned the FOTL access as one of the perks. Most of them link to the Universal page, where that option is no longer available. I recall seeing it prior to opening as well.

Yes, everything is subject to change, but it doesn't seem right that they didn't anticipate the crowds. Clearly they had to know how many packages/tickets were sold in anticipation of the WWoHP opening (and not just opening day, but throughout the year as well), and it seemed like they were still unprepared for it.

 

[kmc]

It definitely was listed as one of the perks in writing because I also remember reading it on the universal website not just these boards oh well hopefully by time I go in october the crowds will have settled a bit but somehow I doubt it will calm down that much this year.

 

[ADP]

The problem with the line at FJ right now is not the sheer number of guests trying to ride it. It's line management. The line outside Hogwarts castle is large. When you enter the castle the line begins to falter. Huge gaps between you and the person in front of you are formed because guests are stopping looking at the details; props, holograms, room details, etc, etc.

When we rode FJ last Saturday and got to the loading area 3 empty cars went by because no one, I mean NO one was in front of us. Team members were trying to move guests along inside the castle, but it was not working. Guests were still stopping, taking pictures, staring, etc. This is the biggest reason why I see the line taking up to 2 hours.