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

[TigrLvsPooh]

Don't you guys think that getting early entry should be good enough to ride FJ? I've been reading trip reports and it seems like people staying in the Universal resorts are getting in around 8:00 AM or so and even riding FJ multiple times. I sure hope I can get on at least once during our trip next month.

 

[ADP]

Don't you guys think that getting early entry should be good enough to ride FJ? I've been reading trip reports and it seems like people staying in the Universal resorts are getting in around 8:00 AM or so and even riding FJ multiple times. I sure hope I can get on at least once during our trip next month.

Erika - I would say it definately helps. You could ride FJ a few times with the extra hour, but you'll want to experience other attractions inside WWoHP as well. Just grabbing a Butterbeer may take some time because a line forms for it as well. Even the line to get into Olivanders wand shop can get long. If you want to purchase a wand go next door to the Owl Post. They sell all the wands as well. Going inside Olivanders allows you to see the 5 minute show they put on for the 25 guests inside the shop. If you are not selected to have the wand pick you it's really not worth the wait in my humble opinion.

ETA - For those of you interested you can read about our family's WWoHP grand opening weekend experience at Universal written by Dave Parfitt of the DIS Unplugged Blog.
http://www.disunplugged.com/2010/06/20/harry-potter-opening-weekend-universal-orlandos-dark-mark/

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I'm more interested in just seeing everything than buying stuff... I have wands, robes, and soooo much HP stuff from going to all the conventions over the years, so my main goal is to ride the 3 rides and then just see it all and take pictures. What are people saying is the average time to allow just to see all the shops??

 

[Rip]

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

Perhaps it was far less organized and far more chaotic, but I highly doubt that there were more people that showed up for that than for WWoHP. I think I read that the attendance was somewhere around 30,000 for Disneyland's opening when they were only expecting around 15,000 specially invited guests. I can guarantee you that more than 30,000 were at IoA last Friday.

http://www.**************.net/2010/...er-and-the-endless-line-at-universal-orlando/

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.

Actually, the number of packages and the number of onsite guests aren't the problem. I'm quite sure they knew exactly how many of them were sold and how many people were staying onsite. It was the tens of thousands from the GP that went and are still going that have rendered that option unfeasible - and there is no way they could know just how many people would ultimately show up.

 

[dpuck1998]

I don't think it has ever been in print.

I was looking on the website, and can see where it says that FJ is not included on Express Pass.

While it won't ruin my trip, and I know I will still get early entry, it is disappointing to be told that resort guests would get Express Pass for FJ once per day and realize that it isn't true. I was told at least four times between February and April that we would have the access.

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!

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.

Don't you guys think that getting early entry should be good enough to ride FJ? I've been reading trip reports and it seems like people staying in the Universal resorts are getting in around 8:00 AM or so and even riding FJ multiple times. I sure hope I can get on at least once during our trip next month.

I know, without a doubt, that it was indeed in print when I booked my package. There are a million reasons they can take it away, excuses, fine print, etc. But it was in print and it was promised when they were selling packages. I for one, am on the verge of canceling my trip right now, I'll wait a while to see how things work out, but being lied to about it is pushing me over the edge.

 

[scanne]

I just checked my documents for my Harry Potter package. It says the FOTL access is included in the package, but that some attractions may be excluded. It definitely does say that as a guest of Portofino Bay, we will have early entry.

I originally was told that we'd get ONE FOTL for the Harry Potter rides, but perhaps that was an early thought of the big-wigs and now they are nixing it.

Whatever - we're going to get in early and do what we can. My kids want wands and butterbeer. I want to ride FJ but it looks like it might be too much for my kids to handle.

We'll be there in 2 weeks and 6 days and I can't wait! I'll be happy to post my experiences as well.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

I canceled our onsite room at RP for the end of August because my kids are just not early risers so there's no way we'd be there an hour before park opening. I was willing to accept that FJ was limited to one ride per day for hotel guests, but not willing to accept the new early opening time restriction. We'll stay offsite and take our chances in the late afternoon/early evening hours.

 

[LilyWDW]

I know, without a doubt, that it was indeed in print when I booked my package. There are a million reasons they can take it away, excuses, fine print, etc. But it was in print and it was promised when they were selling packages. I for one, am on the verge of canceling my trip right now, I'll wait a while to see how things work out, but being lied to about it is pushing me over the edge.

Then cancel the trip. Honestly, Universal isn't going to care. Things change and the original idea is not going to work. They had hoped to have FOTL access, well, something happened that makes that currently not possible. It was all subject to change and subject to availability. Since FJ currently has no FOTL access at all, then there is no availability.

I'm sorry people are upset and feel like they have been lied to. However, people also need to understand how these things work.

 

[dpuck1998]

Then cancel the trip. Honestly, Universal isn't going to care. Things change and the original idea is not going to work. They had hoped to have FOTL access, well, something happened that makes that currently not possible. It was all subject to change and subject to availability. Since FJ currently has no FOTL access at all, then there is no availability.

I'm sorry people are upset and feel like they have been lied to. However, people also need to understand how these things work.

People don't "feel" like they are being lied to, people ARE being lied to. Its obvious they don't care if I cancel and if I do or do not cancel its irrelevant. If they let me know that it changed and it was no longer possible I would have been much more understanding. To remove it and claim it never existed it much more than needing to understand how things work.

 

[kmc]

To remove it and claim it never existed it much more than needing to understand how things work.

I agree, when I called regarding this they said I must of misunderstood what I read and they never intended to offer that as a perk.

 

[dpuck1998]

I agree, when I called regarding this they said I must of misunderstood what I read and they never intended to offer that as a perk.

Exactly my point. I know, 100 percent for certain, that it indeed said on the site FOTL access once per day per person. I remember being slightly annoyed in was only once per day, but figured we would ride it once per day and be okay with it.

 

[damo]

Exactly my point. I know, 100 percent for certain, that it indeed said on the site FOTL access once per day per person. I remember being slightly annoyed in was only once per day, but figured we would ride it once per day and be okay with it.

What site do you mean? The Loews Hotels website or the Universal Orlando website or a different one?

 

[JenM]

I agree, when I called regarding this they said I must of misunderstood what I read and they never intended to offer that as a perk.

And that's the aggravating part. Clearly, they underestimated the crowds and can't offer the FOTL access at this time. It's disappointing, but understandable. Honestly, they probably shouldn't have offered it in the first place.

But telling people it never existed and that they're misunderstanding the offer? C'mon. I've read that listed as a perk in several places, I know people who booked trips after confirming that was a part of the package. It sounds like they're just trying to get out of having to make up for compensating for that lost part of the package. Very poor customer service.

 

[Rip]

Like I said earlier, the TM/CM reservationists at both major theme parks in Orlando are notorious for providing incomplete and/or inaccurate information. If you feel "lied to", by all means cancel. Inform guest services and if you can, provide them with proof of your complaints. I was told the exact same thing, but I was also told that it was "subject to change".

Goodness, I still have the e-mail from the head of VIP services that FJ would be included in their VIP packages beginning June 20th - and that is obviously not the case since they still have no EP line for that ride. Did she lie to me, or was she telling me what their honest intentions were at the time?

 

[JenM]

I don't think anyone is "lying." There's no purpose in that.

But I think if they did have to drop a perk from the original package - which under the terms & conditions of the offer they are entitled to do, and considering the crowd situation is totally understandable - there should be something they can do to make up for the lost perk. A coupon for the butterbeer stand, something like that.

They certainly don't have to do anything, but I think it would be great customer service if they did.

Clearly, the TM's are totally swamped with all of the crowd issues with WWofHP and I don't envy them right now, but the people who paid a good deal of money for these packages who are spending hours on lines at this place aren't exactly having an easy time of it either.

 

[brenda1966]

So, are just the HArry Potter Package people getting early entry into the park? Or are all onsite hotel guests?

I don't really want to book the Harry Potter package because I honestly don't want to waste precious park time with a sit down broomstick meal. So, I just want my early entry to try and ride FJ.

 

[damo]

So, are just the HArry Potter Package people getting early entry into the park? Or are all onsite hotel guests?

I don't really want to book the Harry Potter package because I honestly don't want to waste precious park time with a sit down broomstick meal. So, I just want my early entry to try and ride FJ.

All onsite people get it.

 

[amandals2007]

all onsite people get it. that is stated on the website.

 

[brenda1966]

all onsite people get it. that is stated on the website.

Excellent! Thanks. At that high room rate, I better get in.

 

[TLinden16]

I wound up sending Universal an e-mail expressing my disappointment with them taking away the FOTL access that they had told me I would get when I booked the room, and also my concern about the size restrictions on the ride. They called and left me a voicemail yesterday, and I just called them back.

The guest services coordinator didn't really address any of my concerns regarding the ride. Nor did she say anything about the FOTL offer being included subject to change or anything like that.

They did promise me a one time FOTL pass to FJ at some point during my stay in September that I can pick up at Guest Services the day I want to ride it. It's not once per day, but it's better than nothing Of course, JenM may be the ultimate benefactor of these, as I'm not even sure if I'll fit, so she may be able to use both of them.

I'm not sure they know how to respond to the questions, so they just threw the passes at me to shut me up.