I had a....disturbing?....thought this evening. I wonder if OU has decided to try and monetize a soft opening. They sell packages 3 weeks before the grand opening. They control the number of packages they sell and therefore the number of people who can get in. They get to kick people out at a specified time and there's language in there protecting them if any rides are down. This all sounds like a great set of conditions for testing.
What do you guys think? Would UO risk a PR nightmare by having package-buyers be the first folks into the new area (and therefore increase the risk of rides going down)? Would the number of people be enough to truly test all the systems?
I don't have "proof" to prove this as fact, but I think the circumstances speak for themselves. HP packages were sold (and UO hasn't backed out of them, so they have to provide the good that they've sold) beginning May 28th. Grand Opening is June 18th. What else could it be?
Every other "soft opening" referred to in this discussion has been of a single attraction (Mummy, Simpsons, HRRR) -- not an entire Island. Think of the control issues that Hogsmeade alone would pose -- the nooks, crannies, alleys, and stores could hide would-be stragglers for hours. Flushing the queue of FJ sounds like an epic event all by itself. Getting people in (a mob, silly-stupid inside and angry as hell outside) and getting people out would take more man-power and hours (=$$$) than I bet UO is willing to pay us to test out their new ride. To "soft" open this Island (for no added charge to the ticket) would be a managerial nightmare -- all security would be lost, almost no control possible.
I'm honestly ashamed that I didn't think about this before. OF COURSE they SOLD packages for their soft openings and included wording to protect themselves. By selling it, they control it. By limiting soft opening entrance to a paid-for package, not only to they begin the make bank on their investment, but they maintain control over it -- when you can be in WWoHP, for how long, where you can go, and whether you can whine if something breaks. The greater the price tag, the greater need for control -- a trend that is supported by Uni Legal's involvement even in this site. We can give away information, rumors, and insider-only knowledge for the cost of an internet connection -- Universal pays millions to advertise the same stuff.
If you have a package after May 28th, I'd bet the price of that package that you will step foot in WWoHP and ride FJ before the rest of us. They can't sell it unless they can provide it. I believe that's the law. If you DON'T have a package and you're not a TM (assuming they even do TM previews, which they CAN control), then enjoy the countdown to June 18th.