The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade (Orlando): Part 2

[Vyrus]

I'm sure they have a lot more package people that can be just escorted. People are not going to want to be herded around like cattle when they want experience the whole area on their own.

 

[DisFreakBrent]

I'm sure they have a lot more package people that can be just escorted. People are not going to want to be herded around like cattle when they want experience the whole area on their own.

Exactly they won't be escorted they will just have special tickets that are bar coded very simple thing to do with a few TMs scanning them at the gate & allowing them it. It's not really any more effort than they are already putting out for the next few days to have them there saying it won't open

 

[Vyrus]

I'm sure the package people will have the area to themselves for the hour as advertised, then afterwards the gates will swing open. It only makes logical sense IMHO.

 

[Andy]

I'm sure they have a lot more package people that can be just escorted. People are not going to want to be herded around like cattle when they want experience the whole area on their own.

Well Disney did with annual pass holders for Expedition Everest during park hours over the course of like two or three days. They won't need to be herded around they just have to get past the gate.

 

[Luna]

Hogsmeade is an open area. it's not built in a way that you can have an 'admission turnstyle'. You would need a special escort to get around the current barriers, which cut off Hogsmeade from Hogwarts right now.
Once these barriers come down.... I just don't see a way to effectively control major crowds.

 

[Atticus]

The gates of Hogsmeade are a natural choke point. Put four TMs with scanners there, plus 2-3 security, and nobody's getting in without the proper paperwork. Unless they want to get tossed out. Parks are built this way for a reason.

 

[Andy]

The gates of Hogsmeade are a natural choke point. Put four TMs with scanners there, plus 2-3 security, and nobody's getting in without the proper paperwork. Unless they want to get tossed out. Parks are built this way for a reason.

Exactly, as I said same scenario as Expedition Everest. They had team members with scanners to validate your ticket and they checked your picture ID and boom your in. The area itself is self contained.

 

[Luna]

I'll leave it at this, but the setup you describe is not how it's done by UO.
These special previews are only done during non-operating hours for good reason. You get a park-ful and waves of crowds and all bets are off. This is Universal, where they serve alcohol, and cater to a more unruly crowd.

 

[Bryan]

But that also seems to mean they would close DD and open DC only to be available to package people

I highly doubt they are going to do that

 

[SleepyBeagle]

I sent an e-mail to pass holder services yesterday due to a login issue on the pass holder site. I also asked about pass holder previews. I got a response today assisting me with my log in issue, but they completely blew off my pass holder preview question.

 

[Tbad556]

Both @FLallday and @ghostrider455 will be in the parks this afternoon and tweeting about TWWoHP.

 

[rhino4evr]

"testing..testing...all pacakge holders will be allowed to enter into the Wizarding World..but please NO TOUCHING! or we will lock you inside the T2 3D theater and force you to sit and watch the out dated show on repeat."

"testing..testing...also please note that you will not be able to ride the FJ, as we the employees havent even ridden it, and have no real idea how this thing actually works"

 

[freediverdude]

Well, they're going to have a lot of pissed off people if they only let package people in for 3 weeks. Plus other hotel guests wondering why they can't get in when other hotel guests are getting in. If they seriously stick to the "date your hotel was booked" to let you in or not, they're going to have some PR problems.

 

[Jerikw]

Exactly they won't be escorted they will just have special tickets that are bar coded very simple thing to do with a few TMs scanning them at the gate & allowing them it. It's not really any more effort than they are already putting out for the next few days to have them there saying it won't open

Well, well, well, DFB! Now we're singing a different tune! Whan I posted back in March that I was told package holders would have a specially coded E-Ticket to get in, and that ONLY those would be let in, you argued with me that that could never happen, they would never do that...... looks like maybe I was right????? I'll let you know Saturday when I'm in with the rest of us "package people"......

 

[montu2u]

I'll leave it at this, but the setup you describe is not how it's done by UO.
These special previews are only done during non-operating hours for good reason. You get a park-ful and waves of crowds and all bets are off. This is Universal, where they serve alcohol, and cater to a more unruly crowd.

Disney also serves alcohol in all parks except the Magic Kingdom. Crowds at Disney can be quite unruly as well.

--- Update ---

"testing..testing...testing...someone tell that youtube guy that I was the first person to get drunk on Hogs Head Beer"

I was right there with you sir. By around 9:30pm on 5/17 (POW WOW Event), I was feeling mighty good from Hogs Head Beer.

 

[Andy]

Ok I have to ask, is there a chance softs will start before Friday? I know it does not look good but will someone tell me IF there is a chance we will see it soft before Friday. We go so fast here its crazy and confusing, one day were like were within days, then the FJ is broken so it wont even open for softs then were onto we wont get in til June 18, and so on. Is there any hard evidence what so ever or is it pure speculation. I mean softs could be start tomorrow right, doubtful I know, but still possible right?

 

[Luna]

Hmmmm, I was told on Saturday (by a very credible source) to come back next week. Does that mean during the weekend or during the week?
Was not given specifics.

 

[UNIrd]

Ok I have to ask, is there a chance softs will start before Friday? I know it does not look good but will someone tell me IF there is a chance we will see it soft before Friday. We go so fast here its crazy and confusing, one day were like were within days, then the FJ is broken so it wont even open for softs then were onto we wont get in til June 18, and so on. Is there any hard evidence what so ever or is it pure speculation. I mean softs could be start tomorrow right, doubtful I know, but still possible right?

Softs can happen at ANY time. We're all waiting with bated breath. Nobody here knows any more than anyone about anything.

 

[kickman77]

If I can I may head over tomorrow just to see how things are going. And as far as the T2 show being outdated... I still love that show and it a priority everytime I go to the Studios... Same with Beetlejuice

 

[TheLastAshen]

Just finished reading through the 10+ pages from today after getting back from Orlando. Let me just say that it is so much nicer to actually be there and see things first hand rather than freaking out over this "soft" thing at home. Sorry I couldn't take you all with me, that would have been fun, but thanks to twitter I see that alot of you did get to follow me around today which was nice. So, here is a little run down of what happened today, and my theories...

So, my friend Karen and I were almost positive about softs today because of a few insiders, who will not be named. And apparently we were not the only ones to think today was the day. When we crossed the bridge into Lost Continent at 9am sharp (we waited about 15 minutes with about 20 other guests in suess) we briskly walked towards HP, we also noticed the 20 other guests had gone towards DD and behind us were some off-of-work cast members and some other important looking people that came out of no where... this got us too excited. And then, of course we turned the cornver and low-and-behold, no open gate. FRUSTRATION ENSUED. So I quickly pulled out my phone to see what was going on, they didn't know. So supossidly there were planned softs early this week, hence the others frantically asking the guards "why no open?" So since we could tell that we were not the only ones who heard something we sat immediately thinking, ok well they will just open soon. I decided to go take a look from the temp bridge while my friend Karen sat patiently, walls were still up, I asked the nearest and most important looking man if DD was up and running and if it was would it close at some point? He said no. I ran back to karen, she heard some interesting conversations about supossid softs. We waited. Then Rickey Brigante from Inisdethemagic podcast showed up and we talked, they sat with us while we patiently waited. We sat under the roof of the smoothie place right next to the gates, which was closed but was quickly becoming popular amung workers inside (the day before, monday, the Wizarding World folks were inspecting this closed building for a bit also). But now it looked like this smoothie place was about to open.... soon. Why would they do that, where they expecting a crowd of some sort? So of course I thought to myself "they've got to be opening today." One of the TM guards tapped on the glass of that shop and asked the workers inside if they would be opening today, the person inside just said "we don't know yet..."

This is getting rediculous. I'd like to go back tomorrow with a glimmer of hope for softs, but after 3 days in a row of getting all excited, loosing sleep over the thought of wandering Hogsmead with just a few other people for the brief hour or so and being one of the firsts to ride FJ, its just getting really tiring. Id like to think "well then at least they have to open friday after the package people" but now I'm thinking otherwise. I hate this guessing game, it sucks. I have to take an hour and a half drive everytime I want to see whats up. I have a real job and a life so, I have to decide whats more important... My hopes and dreams of being one of the first guests into this thing are dwindling. But I'm sure if I hear that there is another large possiblity, i'll go back ASAP. Thanks to everyone who followed me, if you have any questions just ask. Got my trusty iPhone so you can always use twitter @hycontrastkid I dont check the forums on my phone too much cause its so slow. hope this was interesting and not too long, lol