The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hollywood

[Alexshow.]

Are the maps updated yet?

I would say to not expect it till April 7th..i can be wrong, but it would make sense.

 

[DeliciousOatmeal]

I'm not completely familiar with how soft openings work. Will this be the only one for a while, or will they be fairly frequent? I plan on making a trip sometime in March.

 

[Red Carpet]

If anyone gets a chance to ride Forbidden Journey, how intense is the ride profile of the Kuka arms?

 

[Wesker69]

Soft opening "should" be daily... and march is when they will be having Employee Preview, Ellen Preview, & AP preview... so you should have no issues with being able to venture into the new land, unless it is "closed" due to one or the previews going on or some other reason.

As for the park maps... I wouldn't expect new ones until April either. I mean, come on.. they couldn't even be bothered to add it to the map with a "coming soon" or "opening April 7th" in the area it is supposed to be. Sure the map has an image with the opening date, but that's "meh".

I'm also curious about FJ... if it is as toned down & not properly aligned as Orlando, or if it is actually thrilling like it was designed to be. Oh and dementors... curious about the dementor finale.

 

[WhyDoYouHateFun?]

Hey all-

A BIG "Thank-You" to everyone sending their updates through the forum. Our passes expired yesterday (February 11th) so I'm living vicariously through all you kind people.

We will be renewing, but need to save $$ until around July. So we should be back on board and at the park by August. But in the meantime-keep those updates and podcasts coming!!

 

[12th Man]

3 words.....

THIS

IS

AMAZING

Thank you USH for making my dreams come true. Everything is great.

 

[jobber99]

Of course. Right after the sorting hat tell the TM you're doing child swap. Right before you board there's a small room with Potter films playing you chill in waiting for the benches to arrive.

so your kids can see most of the queue, before switch?

 

[Wesker69]

Yes, everyone will see the entire queue unless you use the single rider line. Not sure about FOTL yet, but i'm sure that only sees the castle interior. The only thing that child swap may or may not get to see "up close" is the sorting hat.

 

[HereWeGo]

The 3D was fine. It didn't bother me. I don't think it necessarily made it any better but it's certainly not worse because of it. They hand you the glasses after you've already sat down on your bench instead of you picking them up at a window and take them from you before your seat is unlocked after the ride. They also looked nothing like quidditch goggles. They're the same as the Transformers ones...

It's been about 2 years since I last went on the Orlando one but this one felt pretty intense to me. I loved it. And if I remember correctly the Orlando one used to make it look like your soul was being sucked out by a dementor via a picture they took of you and then they did away with it. Sadly that is not included in our version either. At least not when I rode it.

I was lucky enough to be in the first big group that went in and I only had to wait about 15 minutes for both rides.

Everything is incredible. I can't wait to go back in soon.

I saw a friend of mine who is actually one of the TM's in the land and she said that they plan on doing a few days of this only for a couple hours each day letting in about 4,000 each time. And then they will put the wall back up as they adjust things.

Feel free to ask any questions. I'll answer them as best I can. I can't wait for all of you to experience it for yourselves!

 

[chris.g]

^ How's Sunday looking? That's when I'm going. 

 

[jobber99]

so, how's the rest of the park?

 

[12th Man]

If anyone gets a chance to ride Forbidden Journey, how intense is the ride profile of the Kuka arms?

Not to intense. You do go on your back. But was made so your glasses wouldn't fly off. Can't explain how awesome it is.

 

[jobber99]

How long are the wait times for Forbidden journey ? Also do you have to queue to get into the land?

Yes, everyone will see the entire queue unless you use the single rider line. Not sure about FOTL yet, but i'm sure that only sees the castle interior. The only thing that child swap may or may not get to see "up close" is the sorting hat.

thanks! gonna try tomorrow

 

[LADougQ8]

Was everything open (The Three Broomsticks, Hogs Head, etc) or just FJ??

 

[Davidisallright]

Is our FJ tamer than Orlando's due to the combat the loss of the 3D glasses?

 

[Wesker69]

Hah... I was afraid the 3D glasses were going to be the non-themed 3D glasses. When I was told they were testing the ride with the same ones from Transformers I had a hunch that we wouldn't have the same themed ones as Japan. However, it is only soft opening... MAYBE we will get lucky & FJ will have the themed 3D glasses like Japan come April.... but I won't hold my breath.

I'll have to go & ride FJ here myself to judge the intensity level of thrills since out of everyone on here, I have the ridden Orlando's FJ the most. Speaking of which, when it becomes possible... I highly recommend riding FJ first thing in the morning when the park opens. Nothing better than being the only one on the ride vehicle & sitting on the far left seat (you know.. the one closest to... everything).. yea, that will wake you up

Honestly... I can't see our FJ being more tame than Orlando's. You'd probably think it would be due to the 3D glasses, but Orlando's is very tame.

 

[HereWeGo]

Sunday is looking pretty good. I believe she said they would be doing this all weekend. No specific time of the day though. 

The rest of the park seemed to still be relatively crowded. I assume a lot of people didn't know this was happening or they just didn't care haha.

I was one of the first one's on FJ so I only waited about 15 minutes. Same for FotH. When I left the land at about 5:30 it was an 80 minute wait for FJ I think. FotH was 50 minutes.

Everything was open! Shops, restaurants, food carts, rides. Three Broomsticks was pretty dead actually.

 

[Wesker69]

Well the park will be somewhat crowded this weekend anyway due to Valentine's day (sunday) and President's day (Monday)... honestly, a lot of the people don't know soft is happening and most don't care.

 

[WhyDoYouHateFun?]

NOFX Book Signing and concert in April, Rancid concert in April, Vegas in May......USH passes for me, the wife and daughter in July.

Somehow though, these beautiful pics and reviews coming in may force me to change my priorities before July after all. B)

Cheers friends!  

 

[Jon Fu]

Soft opens will be held this Saturday and Sunday towards the latter half of the day. Longer softs will begin on March 1.