Well guys, liitle late in my update, but here goes.
Talked the wife into taking some time off work, and gathered up my oldest daughter and my neice and we all headed down yesterday morning. Made it in to hear the yellow shirts telling us "No one would get in today", and found out why keeping up with the tweets.
Fortunately, we decided to hang around until 10, and, as everyone already knows, they opened the gates to GP for a brief 4 minute window. Saw 'Brents' negative tweet earlier in response to them not letting folks in, and no offense since its meant in good fun, but man, were we GLAD you were wrong!
Anyway, got to ride FJ a second time (first for the others in my party), and spent a lot of time in Hogsmede.
Got to see the show at Olivanders this time - Well Done! Funny thing was the guy who was picked, like me, was not particularly a Potter fan, and knew even less about the Potter-verse than I do! (We found out talking to him and his family later because my wifes birthday happened to be the same as his - and we were curious which wand they selected for him).
Speaking of the wands, there are 3 or 4 wands that are not in stock yet...happened to be both mine and my wifes birthdays were not in stock. We found out by talking with the folks in the owl post to find out what ours were. No they are not just sold out - there are 3 or 4 that they have not received at all yet!
So, ironically, the guy who got picked in Olivanders was given just some wand, not his: (which he bought by the way)...and since he was just a tourist and not really a Potter freak, I guess it didnt matter to him anyway! But it was funny to find out later about this.
Hogsmeade updates:
Still serving just breakfast at 3 broomsticks -
The shops looked a lot emptier on merchandise than the day before (they have sold out of a LOT of things in just the last couple of days - hope their orders are shipping in soon!) But, we still found plenty of items to buy that everyone in the family wanted.
I did get to talk to a few TMs, and again, they confirm that UO IS trying to get folks in every morning, but it DOES depend on both the status of the rides, and the number of folks already in the land on packages...They are still trying to control the amount of folks inside the gate as they still have a lot of things scheduled to do before opening.
So, I think we are done until the boards start lighting up that the softs are continuing into the afternoon and evening: I still want to take my youngest on the Hippogriff (shes too small for FJ), and I am dying to try some of the food in 3 broomsticks: so Im good now until later softs start so I can do lunch/dinner out there. (But believe me, the first that I hear they are open later, Ill be re-joining all of you at Potterland!)
Just to finish up, I got the pleasure of first seeing the land with my own eyes first, and then through the majority of my family - and all before grand opening. To those still going down to try and get in for these previews: be patient! It will happen!
LASTLY:
Maybe its just our own personal history with working for theme parks around the area, but those of you who are fortunate enough to get let in: SHARE THE LOVE! It doesnt take but a couple of minutes to go by Guest Services and give a guest compliment to both the TM staff working, AND the manager (whoever he or she was) that decided to let you all in. Lets face it, yesterday, there was NO REASON they should have given the 4 minute window to let all the folks hanging around in, since the gates were to close at 10 for all admission anyway, so whoever the GM was that made that call deserves some praise AND thanks!!! We all read the bitching about UO on this board, why not give them props directly when they go above and beyond?
If you want MORE of these suprise softs, let them know how much you appreciate it!!
Just my opinion - WE did it on our way out of IOA yesterday and I can tell you the guest services folks were very suprised - so they must not be hearing anything but complaints these days!
--- Update ---
Question about the Pumpkin Juice since we are on that subject. Are the bottles clear after you drink the juice?
No, they are not clear after the drink is gone - they are like a light brown beer bottle.