Halloween at Universal Orlando 2020

[shiekra38]

Reading quite a bit of this so far today despite yesterday seeming manageable as an outsider:

Today was much better

However, we were unable to get a virtual line pass and the "at capacity" sign was put out at 9am this morning

It needs work honestly

I get that they don't want a huge rush all at once...Personally, I would go back to the Diagon/Hogsmede method where you get a physical return time

 

[ultimateforce]

Went late today and got to Tooth Fairy at 5:45pm. Staff members let us in at 6:00pm on the dot. No line, house was amazing.

Walked straight into Bridge after, no line.

Then walked back into Tooth Fairy after a bit of a hold up.

Great experience!

 

[HHNSK]

Today was much better

However, we were unable to get a virtual line pass and the "at capacity" sign was put out at 9am this morning

It needs work honestly

.... were you able to wait around and get on standby or did you miss out entirely?

 

[shiekra38]

.... were you able to wait around and get on standby or did you miss out entirely?

No we had to leave...

Bottom line, If they're going to promote a virtual queue at 9am and then say that it's at capacity at 9:01am, that's a problem that needs to be resolved

 

[HHNSK]

No we had to leave...

Bottom line, If they're going to promote a virtual queue at 9am and then say that it's at capacity at 9:01am, that's a problem that needs to be resolved

That sucks. I agree with you. It’s also a problem when people are getting multiple passes when a guest can’t get one. Hopefully that is part of the test that will be resolved moving forward.

I’m not sure if it’s feasible for them to add dates, houses, or address the technology. Perhaps all of the above.

Given the circumstances and time frame I still think they did a fine job this weekend.

I sure hope whatever benefit Universal sees from this somehow trickles down to their employees rather it be additional shifts or jobs.

 

[Legacy]

I’m not sure if it’s feasible for them to add dates, houses, or address the technology.

Feasible
Feasible
Depends on what you’re looking for.

Universal change the technological way they’re doing VQ in a couple of weeks. It requires a sizable infrastructure investment that would take time. They could operationally change it, to up-charge or a manual sign-up. But that is far more complicated.

 

[DannyPowers]

I don’t quite understand how the houses are listed as “at capacity” at 9:01, then I see people posting on Twitter about going to each out 5-7 times and/or getting walk-ons later in the day.

 

[HandsomePete]

It's good to hear that things went well. It helps to get an easy day when launching stuff like this so the rain was probably a blessing in some regards.

I don’t quite understand how the houses are listed as “at capacity” at 9:01, then I see people posting on Twitter about going to each out 5-7 times and/or getting walk-ons later in the day.

If you set the expectation of "at capacity" at the beginning of the day, you'll only accrue wins from people "being able to get into a house that was at capacity" while drastically shortening the line of angry people who "made it all the way in only to find they can't go into a house."

Is it honest? No, not exactly. Kinda falls into the white lie area.

 

[Tbad556]

FWIW, I've been told that pretty much all of the guest complaints in Universal's system this weekend have been about passes being "gone" at park opening, so it's not as if it's an uncommon complaint. Like @Legacy said, it's not the easiest fix, unfortunately, but communication could be improved. I also heard that VL crashed midday for a few hours on Saturday which didn't help things. This was a test though, so we'll see how things evolve assuming we get an announcement continuing things (which I'm expecting).

 

[Vyrus]

I was reading that people on separate phones were able to into virtual for both houses at the same time.

Does the app not check if you have a valid ticket on the profile and scanned into the park? Or as long as you're on property and logged into any profile?

 

[Jengo_Fett]

I was reading that people on separate phones were able to into virtual for both houses at the same time.

Does the app not check if you have a valid ticket on the profile and scanned into the park? Or as long as you're on property and logged into any profile?

Correct, no ticket needs to be linked. As long as you are on property (including parking garages and hotels) and logged into the app you can access VL

 

[HandsomePete]

Correct, no ticket needs to be linked. As long as you are on property (including parking garages and hotels) and logged into the app you can access VL

You don't even need to be logged in - the VL spot is not tied to your account in any way. It is strictly by device ID.

The underlying problem is that the people who know how to game the system are the ones who were most apt to go through HHN houses 150 times in a season. The GP isn't completely out of luck, but the odds are stacked against them.

 

[Jengo_Fett]

You don't even need to be logged in - the VL spot is not tied to your account in any way. It is strictly by device ID.

The underlying problem is that the people who know how to game the system are the ones who were most apt to go through HHN houses 150 times in a season.

I was not aware you did not have to be logged in. Interesting.
I do agree that this about the underlying issue. I wish that they could fix it so the system couldn’t be gamed

 

[SeventyOne]

Correct, no ticket needs to be linked. As long as you are on property (including parking garages and hotels) and logged into the app you can access VL

And if you have 7 friends, and you each put in for 8 guests ... then you can all see the house 8 times. Extreme example but it's like every member of a family of four getting a time for Rise of the Resistance.

...

Finally made it over today. Line to enter US stretched back past Margaritaville bridge by 8:45 but I was able to get VQ from somewhere around Big Fire, so I just bounced and returned in the afternoon (benefit of living on Universal Blvd). House queues were not bad at all, about what I'd express on a busier than average HHN night with Express, possibly even a bit quicker. Plenty of friendly staff at each entrance. Event ops impressed me.

 

[UNIrd]

Even after what 9 months in operation, the only "fix" ROTR has really done is offer 2 chances to get virtual line passes.. 10am and 2pm. They could try that here... 9am and 1pm?

 

[Jengo_Fett]

Even after what 9 months in operation, the only "fix" ROTR has really done is offer 2 chances to get virtual line passes.. 10am and 2pm. They could try that here... 9am and 1pm?

They just need to come up with a way to prevent all party members from being able to get a pass for everyone in the group, as people have been doing. Once that’s done, it should be easier to get a VL time.

 

[robotbraineater]

FWIW: part of the issue with availability going fast today was VL spots opened early. My wife and I went today and we got spots for both houses and Hagrid’s at around 8:45/8:50 ish.

EDIT: I see someone above already mentioned this. As an addition, just wanted to say from my perspective, everything was as smooth as I could have imagined it being and houses felt as normal as I could have imagined them being given the current circumstances. Thoroughly enjoyed both.

 

[sjago13]

They just need to come up with a way to prevent all party members from being able to get a pass for everyone in the group, as people have been doing. Once that’s done, it should be easier to get a VL time.

From what others have said it seems like it would be too much work to overhaul the virtual line system until after this event would be over.

However is it possible they scan people's park tickets before entry to the house and limit people to only 1 run for each house? That way it makes it so people wouldn't have a benefit to booking more passes since they would not be able to be used. That could be one way to "fix" the problem in a way that I think they are capable of doing. And if there is a point that there is more space open then they can let people repeat if they turn off the virtual line.

 

[Tbad556]

 

[londonwerecat]

How strict are they on filming in the houses? I found one for bride of Frankenstein lives but I can’t see anything. Just trying to get my fix out here man I’m truly a junkie for HHN smh

My friend and I have some audio recordings of both houses, if you want that. We are working on uploading them to the wiki.