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

[Vyrus]

:focus:

 

[Atticus]

Talk about biting the hand that feeds us. I agree that spilling beans in code is the same as spilling beans, but writers have used this kind of phrasing for years to evade accusations. If we want inside information, then it will be in riddle format, otherwise the information will be quickly removed or changed, and the writer banned and even sued. But don't whine about how the information is passed on unless you can do better.

Also, the pissing contest between informants should be exclusively on PM, not the public forum. We don't know who is more accurate between the two major players, so we cannot judge. That is between them.

Finally, I know we're all excited and curious about soft openings -- but 99.9% of the information given about softs will be inaccurate, rumors, or lies. I'm sorry, but this is like predicting tornadoes. There is a window of opportunity and likelihood, but no guarentees. Don't plan your vacations around rumored soft openings, or semi-confirmed soft openings, or word-of-snake-mouth soft openings. Plan vacations according GRAND OPENINGS, which are confirmed by the people who run the theme park.

 

[Teebin]

This picture is so telling regarding the state of affairs between contractors and Universal. How long has this tower stood half baked and unpainted now?

As an added note... I asked a friend in the biz the other day why would Valley Crest be doing rockwork painting? He agreed as VC doesn't have a themed painting division. Well, as it turns out, VC is sub contracting with themed rockwork specialist companies from around central fl to pick up the slack of details that either Nassal cannot or will not do any longer. So, the guy in the VC t-shirt doing that spray painting is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

 

[TheLastAshen]

This picture is so telling regarding the state of affairs between contractors and Universal. How long has this tower stood half baked and unpainted now?

As an added note... I asked a friend in the biz the other day why would Valley Crest be doing rockwork painting? He agreed as VC doesn't have a themed painting division. Well, as it turns out, VC is sub contracting with themed rockwork specialist companies from around central fl to pick up the slack of details that either Nassal cannot or will not do any longer. So, the guy in the VC t-shirt doing that spray painting is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

I'm a painter, love doing destressing jobs, I can do this. If it will help speed along the process I'll do it for free...

 

[Vyrus]

This picture is so telling regarding the state of affairs between contractors and Universal. How long has this tower stood half baked and unpainted now?

As an added note... I asked a friend in the biz the other day why would Valley Crest be doing rockwork painting? He agreed as VC doesn't have a themed painting division. Well, as it turns out, VC is sub contracting with themed rockwork specialist companies from around central fl to pick up the slack of details that either Nassal cannot or will not do any longer. So, the guy in the VC t-shirt doing that spray painting is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

So what exactly is the deal with UOC and Nassal? Did UOC just want to make some last minute changes and Nassal said forget it we are done? Why wouldn't they want to continue working especially in this job market. Makes no sense to me at all.

 

[Latveria]

:deadhorse:

Sums it up pretty much.

 

[Vyrus]

^Ah gotcha, loud and clear, but they were hired by Universal to do a job, if they didn't like certain aspects of it they are allowed to tell them to fix it. What kind of carpenter or painter does a job, and when the owner says 'I need this and this fixed/changed' the contracter says 'too bad, so sad.'

 

[Latveria]

I'm not saying I agree with there decision, but that's just what I have been hearing.

 

[Teebin]

So what exactly is the deal with UOC and Nassal? Did UOC just want to make some last minute changes and Nassal said forget it we are done? Why wouldn't they want to continue working especially in this job market. Makes no sense to me at all.

Word has it that Nassal began losing money on this project some time ago. I would imagine Nassal sets it's goals to finish areas up and then slowly begin laying off the mega crews they had hired for the project. So now, if WB or Uni come back and say "we want this just a little more perfect" or "we've changed our mind that snow is too low" etc. Nassal is standing there going, "we have this and this and "that tower" to finish up and just enough crew with which to do it". We don't have the crew to go back to these other areas and we aren't hiring back the crews that we have laid off because we cannot afford to. Some of this is conjecture on my part but I hope you can see the logic in it.

 

[Vyrus]

Word has it that Nassal began losing money on this project some time ago. I would imagine Nassal sets it's goals to finish areas up and then slowly begin laying off the mega crews they had hired for the project. So now, if WB or Uni come back and say "we want this just a little more perfect" or "we've changed our mind that snow is too low" etc. Nassal is standing there going, "we have this and this and "that tower" to finish up and just enough crew with which to do it". We don't have the crew to go back to these other areas and we aren't hiring back the crews that we have laid off because we cannot afford to. Some of this is conjecture on my part but I hope you can see the logic in it.

Well true, but correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't a contracter give himself some leeway just in case changes were to come about? I mean a project of this magnitude and the amount of approvals it needs before going public it should be known that changes would be coming.

 

[Teebin]

Well true, but correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't a contracter give himself some leeway just in case changes were to come about? I mean a project of this magnitude and the amount of approvals it needs before going public it should be known that changes would be coming.

That is my point... I am sure Nassal had very smart leeway built in, but WB and Universal used up all of Nassal's leeway a looooong time ago.

 

[Vyrus]

Well, I remember reading that UO does have a reputation in the business of being someone who takes advantage of their contracters and suppossedly I think you said a couple have gone under because of them. Am I wrong?

 

[dougweller]

I didn't realise that I wasn't allowed to express my opinions, and particularly didn't realise that doing so meant that I thought I had some sort of authority here. As someone who hasn't posted here before (I believe), too many boards and threads), thanks for the warm welcome. I didn't realise outsiders weren't wanted.

 

[gannonsmovieworld]

I didn't realise that I wasn't allowed to express my opinions, and particularly didn't realise that doing so meant that I thought I had some sort of authority here. As someone who hasn't posted here before (I believe), too many boards and threads), thanks for the warm welcome. I didn't realise outsiders weren't wanted.

What? Did I miss something here?

If you think you aren't welcome here, you thought wrong. Everybody is welcome to share their information and opinions. Welcome to the site and I hope that you keep exchanging your thoughts about theme parks here on Orlando United!

 

[cameronw99]

What? Did I miss something here?

I was wondering the same thing.

 

[TheLastAshen]

I didn't realise that I wasn't allowed to express my opinions, and particularly didn't realise that doing so meant that I thought I had some sort of authority here. As someone who hasn't posted here before (I believe), too many boards and threads), thanks for the warm welcome. I didn't realise outsiders weren't wanted.

Yeah, apparently thats the case. You're just invisible to all the 12 year old nerds who have built up "reputations" on this forum.

 

[Teebin]

Well, I remember reading that UO does have a reputation in the business of being someone who takes advantage of their contracters and suppossedly I think you said a couple have gone under because of them. Am I wrong?

I think that it is more a case of Universal allowing or accepting the lowest bids. The contractors and sub-contractors are also at fault at times for not building in the leeway that you spoke of earlier. They are so desperate to get the job in their resume that they bid with no leeway at all. An example that I spoke of before is that Disney imagineers were completely baffled how Universal was able to pull of the Mummy ride for under 45 million. I was told this by a Disney Imagineer who was a financial project manager on the EE project.

A good friend and one time live show manager at Uni told me that the mummies that pop-up in the big room were supposed to do a whole lot more than just pop-up yet the contractor for that went belly up trying to complete these. Another company was brought in, the additional movement that the mummies were to have was abandoned and thus they just pop-up. If you know any more details regarding this please let me know.

 

[gannonsmovieworld]

I think that it is more a case of Universal allowing or accepting the lowest bids. The contractors and sub-contractors are also at fault at times for not building in the leeway that you spoke of earlier. They are so desperate to get the job in their resume that they bid with no leeway at all. An example that I spoke of before is that Disney imagineers were completely baffled how Universal was able to pull of the Mummy ride for under 45 million. I was told this by a Disney Imagineer who was a financial project manager on the EE project. This is a complete rumor, but I was told that the mummies that pop-up in the big room were supposed to do a whole lot more than just pop-up yet the contractor for that went belly up trying to complete these. Another company was brought in, the additional movement that the mummies were to have was abandoned and thus they just pop-up. If anyone knows more about this rumor, please correct me.

that would be cool if those mummies were to try and slash you with those sword things they hold. It can still happen, they just need to build them and put them in. I think it would take less than a week to install them. I just hope that Uni didn't cheap out on Aragog. If he's a stationary like the mummies in the treasure room, I'll be devestated.

 

[TheDecemberists]

My Internet has been going on and off lately, but apparently I haven't missed much, judging by the negative vibe. Just in case, though, "DID I MISS ANYTHING?!?!"

 

[salem]

Here is a quick photo update of what was going on on saturday.

That tower had definitely been painted 2 weeks ago.

And Doug, I'm with you, the riddles are from a few desperate to have their egos stroked, full of idle speculation that turns nasty when someone challenges them, truly pathetic.