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

[JenM]

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.

I'm getting you on that ride, I don't care what we have to do!!!!

It sounds like they really need a better PR group working customer service.

 

[KittyKitty]

I made my reservation in late Feb, and questioned FOTL. I called twice, and both times they said no for FJ. They said new rides do not have FOTL for a certain period of time.

I even put a post here to see if this was right.

Now I know the pkgs changed, so maybe the answer to that changed too!

 

[TLinden16]

I made my reservation in late Feb, and questioned FOTL. I called twice, and both times they said no for FJ. They said new rides do not have FOTL for a certain period of time.

I even put a post here to see if this was right.

Now I know the pkgs changed, so maybe the answer to that changed too!

Wow. That's weird that you got no for an answer when you call called. I heard yes about four times.

I guess it depended on who you talked to.

 

[Magpie]

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.

I'm wondering how that would work - will they send you through the single riders line, as a couple? You'll end up missing most of the castle queue, and maybe the pre-show, too.

 

[damo]

I'm wondering how that would work - will they send you through the single riders line, as a couple? You'll end up missing most of the castle queue, and maybe the pre-show, too.

When we were there before opening, they were sending parties of 2 into the singles line. This was after the test seats area. I'm wondering if they are still doing that and if you can go into the singles as a couple and ride as a couple.

One morning, the four of us went up the singles and actually beat the first crowd that was going through the regular line. We were first to ride that morning and all four got in the same vehicle. It was pretty funny.

 

[Carl4628]

I had a trip booked for August (PBH) but cancelled. I am going to wait until either the crowds subside or they offer FOTL. I too was told that you would receive one express pass per day for FJ. I agree with an earlier poster--although the early entry is an alternative we like to sleep in on vacation. I feel that the Express Access is what sets Universal apart from Disney. It offers you the ability to sleep in and relax at the resort all while still being able to experience the parks in a relatively short amount of time. If you limit that perk then staying onsite becomes less appealing.

 

[asmit4]

My aunt was there yesterday (Thursday June 24th) They waited 3 hours in 95 degree heat. I didn't ask details but I have to wonder- with kids especially- do they have 'bathroom' break areas? 3 hours is a long time to wait.

Expect 3 hour waits-and that's MID week...If you aren't willing to get your butts outta bed and get there at opening (if staying off site) or beforehand (if staying onsite) then don't come complaining on the boards regarding the long wait times. Everyone on the boards has been warned of the hellish waits- it stinks BIG TIME but nobody can say they are surprised or didn't know any better if you are on the boards.

 

[phamton]

I was in line for 2 hours and the line weaved by 3 or more restrooms. Many people took bathroom breaks, smoke breaks, and drink breaks. No one in the line with me cared as long as the other people in your party stayed in line.

 

[kmc]

just an update. I too had sent universal an email a couple days ago regarding the fotl for fj once per day that was offered and then removed from the list of perks on the website. A very nice woman called me today and told me the reason they removed the perk(yes at least she admitted it was offered) was because they had no idea the crowds they have gotton would be so intense, which I already knew that was the reason it was removed I was just upset because the original person I spoke with said that was never offered which I knew was a lie. anyway she apologized and said that the perk may be offered again by the time I go in October if crowds have calmed down but right now it's simply not possible.

 

[dpuck1998]

just an update. I too had sent universal an email a couple days ago regarding the fotl for fj once per day that was offered and then removed from the list of perks on the website. A very nice woman called me today and told me the reason they removed the perk(yes at least she admitted it was offered) was because they had no idea the crowds they have gotton would be so intense, which I already knew that was the reason it was removed I was just upset because the original person I spoke with said that was never offered which I knew was a lie. anyway she apologized and said that the perk may be offered again by the time I go in October if crowds have calmed down but right now it's simply not possible.

No offer of something else to make up for the lost perk? At least they were honest this time.

 

[MadeToLove]

Not that this will make any of you who wanted Express happy, but I have a few tips from my trip (just returned today)

We lined up at the entry gates into IOA every morning at 6:30 (not an easy feat for a west coaster on a three hour time difference). We were onsite guests. They let us in at 7am, and we headed straight to Lost continent as quickly as we could (we were usually within the first few dozen let inside). They stopped the line at the bridge into Lost Continent. Every day was a bit different. Some days they walked us up bit by bit every 15 minuets, some days we were walked up all at once. One day we got in at 8:00am, one as early as 7:20am, it just depended on if they had the all clear. (Note that Virgin packages got led in seperately well before we did.... at least I think they were Virgin package holders)

If you go at the start of the day, pick what you want most, and always do Olivanders first if it's important. Every day the line for Olivanders was about 1 hour long within 30 minutes of opening, but FJ flowed smoothly until 9am. Get those two things out of the way before 9am, then do your shopping, because by 10am the stores will now have lines. Lines for Hippogriff and Dragons were generally walk on until noon.

The other option is to go to Hogsmeade after 8pm. Although you won't get near Olivanders as they stopped letting people line up the evenings we were there by 9pm (closing was 10pm), the lines for FJ were lighter and the shops were beginning to clear out around 9pm.

 

[brenda1966]

So, you're lining up 1.5 hours prior to early entry?! Yikes!

 

[mom2aandj]

. Every day the line for Olivanders was about 1 hour long within 30 minutes of opening, but FJ flowed smoothly until 9am. Get those two things out of the way before 9am, then do your shopping, because by 10am the stores will now have lines. Lines for Hippogriff and Dragons were generally walk on until noon.

thanks for confirming this---from reading, this was my impression, that the line for Ollivanders was worse, faster, than the line for FJ.

Just curious, you started lining up at 6:30---do you think you were able to get significantly more done than people who still came to the early entry, but maybe didn't line up until 7:30 or so? I'm willing to get up early on vacation, but I'm not sure I want to get up that early.

 

[MadeToLove]

thanks for confirming this---from reading, this was my impression, that the line for Ollivanders was worse, faster, than the line for FJ.

Just curious, you started lining up at 6:30---do you think you were able to get significantly more done than people who still came to the early entry, but maybe didn't line up until 7:30 or so? I'm willing to get up early on vacation, but I'm not sure I want to get up that early.

Yes, getting there early was good for us. We were in the first 25 or so to get in each morning, and the lines behind us were really long. We did Olivanders three mornings in a row, and were at the first "show" of course, neither kid got picked those first two mornings (third time was a charm however for my friend's daughter - who was soooo happy, as her HP geekiness rivals my own). If Olivanders is your thing, and you don't want to wait in line, go early. By the time we exited the shop each morning the line was already weaving through the rope lines.

Then we were able to still walk on FJ for a couple of rides (if we could stomach it), then did most of our shopping in the morning. Afterwards we were able to stroll around and take pictures and ride FoH and see frog choir. We left the parks each day after lunch because of the heat and sunburn (despite sunscreen) and went back to ride other rides at night.

I wasn't thrilled with getting up early either, but it was totally worth it. Of course, we took afternoon naps each day since we stayed at RPR which helped both kids and adults. If you are going in the summer, I suggest going early because of the heat as much as the crowds, then spend your afternoon in the A/C.

 

[damo]

Yes, getting there early was good for us. We were in the first 25 or so to get in each morning, and the lines behind us were really long. We did Olivanders three mornings in a row, and were at the first "show" of course, neither kid got picked those first two mornings (third time was a charm however for my friend's daughter - who was soooo happy, as her HP geekiness rivals my own). If Olivanders is your thing, and you don't want to wait in line, go early. By the time we exited the shop each morning the line was already weaving through the rope lines.

Then we were able to still walk on FJ for a couple of rides (if we could stomach it), then did most of our shopping in the morning. Afterwards we were able to stroll around and take pictures and ride FoH and see frog choir. We left the parks each day after lunch because of the heat and sunburn (despite sunscreen) and went back to ride other rides at night.

I wasn't thrilled with getting up early either, but it was totally worth it. Of course, we took afternoon naps each day since we stayed at RPR which helped both kids and adults. If you are going in the summer, I suggest going early because of the heat as much as the crowds, then spend your afternoon in the A/C.

I totally agree on the getting up early and having a nap in the afternoon. It is too hot to do anything in the afternoon anyways. It worked really well for us that way tool.

 

[shl1108]

I wasn't thrilled with getting up early either, but it was totally worth it. Of course, we took afternoon naps each day since we stayed at RPR which helped both kids and adults. If you are going in the summer, I suggest going early because of the heat as much as the crowds, then spend your afternoon in the A/C.

I would agree. With the HEAT and standing in line for 2-3 hours with crowds, its much more worth it to grin and bear it with waking up early... enjoying everything, then going back for pool/naps mid day. We did just that! We got there before the grand opening, so we were on the boats from the hotel right at 7:30 and easily saw all of HP, rides and shops. We would have gotten up earlier if it was post grand opening crowds when we went. Then we went back at night for IOA (HP wasn't open at night during our stay) and did water rides, got soaked and went back to the hotel.
We planned this early run to HP on 3 of our 5 mornings there onsite, PBH. It was perfect and even though we were all dead tired at first, it was soooo worth the early alarm going off. We traveled from the W. Coast too with a three hour time change, so for us it was our main reason for going to Flordia and we weren't about to screw up our chances of seeing and doing as much as we could by sleeping in! Getting up for us at 6am was like 3am PST the first day (that was our nap day). I say go for the early arrival and you won't be sorry!
Good luck everyone!

 

[kmc]

No offer of something else to make up for the lost perk? At least they were honest this time.

No, nothing to make up for it but an apology and I at least felt sane again knowing that I did read it on their website.

As far as people getting up at 6:30am to get in line for early entry-that doesn't sound like a vacation to me and hopefully by October it will have calmed down at least for early entry because I'm definitely not standing in line that early in the morning

 

[shl1108]

As far as people getting up at 6:30am to get in line for early entry-that doesn't sound like a vacation to me and hopefully by October it will have calmed down at least for early entry because I'm definitely not standing in line that early in the morning

I agree! Waking up early isn't your lesiurly relaxing vacation! However, we use other destinations for that type of trip (Mexico, Hawaii), laying on the beaches, floating in the ocean and sitting at the pool reading...getting out there whenever we feel like it!
When we go to Disneyland or travel far to Disneyworld/UO/IOA...its full days of waking up early to minimize lines and crowds as much as possible, walking miles and miles, standing in endless lines for rides and shows. For us, park trips are not considered our relaxing "vacations"! BUT! We love the parks and make exceptions for sleep to get the most out of our time by not standing in lines longer than we have to! Just my thought...some people may go to the parks for some sort of sleeping in and hitting the parks later...that's exactly why it gets so crowded for those people who don't wake up early and get ahead of the crowds.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my sleep! And usually need a "vacation" when I return home from the parks from traveling. I suppose you can compare it to going to Europe too, when you want to get the most out of every day sight seeing, so you wake bright and early and do as much as you can!

 

[Gr8t Fan]

As far as people getting up at 6:30am to get in line for early entry-that doesn't sound like a vacation to me and hopefully by October it will have calmed down at least for early entry because I'm definitely not standing in line that early in the morning

That's how I feel too! And no matter how hard I try, I just can't get my family up, ready and out the door that early on vacation. It just doesn't happen and I end up very aggravated, so I'll save myself the aggravation . We'll try to catch it before park closing, and if we don't make it, we'll see it next year.

 

[kmc]

I agree! Waking up early isn't your lesiurly relaxing vacation! However, we use other destinations for that type of trip (Mexico, Hawaii), laying on the beaches, floating in the ocean and sitting at the pool reading...getting out there whenever we feel like it!
When we go to Disneyland or travel far to Disneyworld/UO/IOA...its full days of waking up early to minimize lines and crowds as much as possible, walking miles and miles, standing in endless lines for rides and shows. For us, park trips are not considered our relaxing

I totally understand where your coming from and when we go to disney we have to usually get up early to fit everything in because there lines can be pretty bad even in the so called "off season"> however staying onsite at universal with fotl our vacations there are always more relaxed---sleep in, have a cup of coffee, early moring swim sometimes, hit the parks at our leisure and have never had a problem even in august

As excited as I am to see wwohp, I really hope it doesn't change our routine too much