The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hollywood

[Alexshow.]

I'm just wanting to ask a question,

I am heading to USH around Mid-March so what would be the chances of WWoHP being soft opened around then? I am hoping that my chances are pretty good, but i am just wanting to make sure that i don't excite myself too much.

 

[chris.g]

^ Extremely high, my source says MLK weekend, plus the Ellen Show gave tickets to attend Wizzarding World at least for March. I'd say your chances are very good. 

 

[Alexshow.]

^

I'm legitimately hoping so, because i'll be heading on a weekday and i'm just hoping to get one ride on FJ and to go into Ollivanders.

Thanks man!

 

[Ryan]

March is pretty much yes it seems at this point.

I've heard both MLK and President's Day... so I'm guessing if not either weekend then somewhere in-between.

 

[Alexshow.]

Thanks guys for giving me notice of it...but something came up, but in a really pleasant way that i am excited for.

 

[Brandonshah97]

Are you guys sure about a soft opening on January 18?? What tells you guys they're gonna soft on MLK?

 

[chris.g]

^ It's just a rumor. 

 

[Park Man]

Sometimes people hear rumors from actual Universal employees, but they can't name their source in fear of putting their source's job in danger.

For instance, I have heard a rumor that some of the Hogsmead shops have already soft opened for employees, including Olivanders. But that rumor is so far removed from the source that it could be as garbled as a game of telephone. Still, it makes me think that MLK weekend is not that far fetched.

Sometimes people hear rumors from actual Universal employees, but they can't name their source in fear of putting their source's job in danger.

For instance, I have heard a rumor that some of the Hogsmead shops have already soft opened for employees, including Olivanders. But that rumor is so far removed from the source that it could be as garbled as a game of telephone. Still, it makes me think that MLK weekend is not that far fetched.

 

[12th Man]

Universal has confirmed that there will be a Harry Potter AP preview event. They don't say when, but just says "an event to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, coming spring 2016. "


Also, from @ryanthemepark got a photo of the walls BEHIND THE ARCH. I am freaking out!! We are getting so close to a soft opening. So amazing to think that Hogsmead is probably less than a month or two away!

 

[12th Man]

UPDATE: @insideuniversal has also got some photos of the pushed back walls.

 

[Wesker69]

well crap... now I'm going to have to get another 20+ pics of the arch now that the walls are pushed back. -grumble-

 

[Imdbman]

So awesome to be able to see the full arch now.  Walls should be coming down any day or week now!

 

[Zxylruc]

I wouldn't get my hopes up for MLK weekend. That rumor about the shops soft opened for employees is false as well.

 

[RyanTTD]

March 5th is confirmed to be a preview day for the Ellen audience members.

Tickets to that preview are already on eBay, $850!

 

[Allen The Actor]

Visiting the park tomorrow. Any bets that I'm gonna cry tomorrow when I touch the arch?

[HASHTAG]#ineedhelp[/HASHTAG]

 

[Ryan]

March 5th is confirmed to be a preview day for the Ellen audience members.

Tickets to that preview are already on eBay, $850!

Wow when those people buying those tickets find out the land soft opened prior to that...

As for soft opening rumors, again: they're rumors. Soft openings aren't like attractions going in and such, they're something that can be changed at the tip of a hat. Right now Wizarding World has a plausible soft opening period that ranges from very, very soon to April 7th. It's very likely that the land will be opened sometime between the middle of January thru the end of February. And after that there will be periods where the land is closed for previews, like March 5th for instance. Don't go March 5th, you probably wont get in.

Remember that Universal wants a lengthy soft opening period so they can get adjusted to everything (working with people) involved until the crowds start whamming the park. Transformers had about a month-and-a-half, which if applied to Potter means Presidents' Day weekend (Feb 13 thru 15) is a very, very good bet. But for now they are just bets. Maybe it will open on MLK (although I'm starting to doubt that), and maybe it'll open in-between. Employees don't have access, but they are training behind the walls. All it takes is for everything to be signed off, and those walls to be taken down, employees prepped and them to put a thematic sign in front informing everybody about training rehearsals. Something that can be arranged within less than a week's time.

So, you know what this means: Potter Watch. It's real, and with the new year, it's about to begin.

 

[Freak]

I feel like Univeral will want to wait until all of the season passes expire to begin softs. I just feel like that's the way USH would handle this

 

[HereWeGo]

It seems like the area is ready to go (except for a few details here and there). Do you think they somewhat delayed the opening to April to give them time to finish repairing the entrance to the park and the parking structures? It seems like if those were to have already been done, they could have opened the land even sooner than April.

 

[DeliciousOatmeal]

I feel like Univeral will want to wait until all of the season passes expire to begin softs. I just feel like that's the way USH would handle this

I'm really hoping they're not planning on doing that. I mean, I'm going to buy a new pass anyways, but come on.

 

[Goatmilk]

It seems like the area is ready to go (except for a few details here and there). Do you think they somewhat delayed the opening to April to give them time to finish repairing the entrance to the park and the parking structures? It seems like if those were to have already been done, they could have opened the land even sooner than April.

hill entrance and metro bridge sure are taking forever