Diagon Alley reviews thread

[Timekeeper]

Considered so by some, but most who attend see that it is worth the cost. Otherwise they would go away since they wouldn't make a profit. That's why I don't see "cash grab" as a bad word. It's always subjective to the individual, but the success of a cash grab isn't how an individual views it but instead depends on whether enough people value it to the point it is profitable.

At least this answers a question posted in another thread regarding whether Uni employees are allowed to "grab you" at HHN. Looks like the answer pertaining to his hard ticket event is an affirmative "yes."

 

[khale1970]

You are not paying $40 for just the Hogwarts Express. You are paying for that and every other ride in IoA as well as a much more convenient way of travel. I will never walk out of a park to go to the other again. Hogwarts Express has spoiled me.

But you are paying $40 just for the HE if you would have normally just bought a 2 day single park admission to ride everything in IOA and USF. Those who would park hop anyway are not, but that isn't every guest.

 

[seahawk7]

A person that obsessed with Harry Potter is getting more than just the Hogwarts Express for that $40 admission upgrade. The parties at the Magic Kingdom are considered a cash grab because their offerings are very little beyond what used to be included as part of admission to the Magic Kingdom and remain included at other Disney parks around the world.

That is subjective as well. I went to the dessert party for Star Wars and thought it was worth the price. I also liked the Illuminations party. I thought the Wishes wasn't worth the money. What annoys me about the dessert parties is that they rope off areas that people enjoyed for free during the day. See with HE the access to it never changes so to me that's a little more fair.
If you go into a Disney park year after year and know of a prime spot to watch the fireworks/parade chances are now that it will be roped off on your next trip. That is a cash grab.
Plus for the Star Wars parade/fireworks viewing area, you had to be in the front of the check in line to get a good spot. Luckily for us, we caught that the day before so we got a good spot but still had to wait an hour in the check in line (we were in the front). How did my paying for it get me any convenience? So maybe the Star Wars dessert party wasn't worth it after all.

 

[seahawk7]

You are not paying $40 for just the Hogwarts Express. You are paying for that and every other ride in IoA as well as a much more convenient way of travel. I will never walk out of a park to go to the other again. Hogwarts Express has spoiled me.

You are right that I am paying for IOA. But I am the one person who wouldn't have gone into IOA anyway. But yes you are right that I am paying for admission.

 

[khale1970]

See with HE the access to it never changes so to me that's a little more fair.

This is what concerns me about talk that UNI might ditch the HE surcharge if the wait times stay manageable. What do they do if losing the $40 charge causes capacity problems? If they go back to charging again, there will be some blow back. They've got a good, money making thing in place now. Best to just stick with it since it appears most are okay with it.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Can we please drop this "debate"? I would like to hear more thoughts and reviews on Diagon Alley rather than discuss whether or not Hogwarts Express should be classified as an upcharge attraction.

 

[Mike S]

Hogwarts Express is an obvious cash grab. A two day park ticket non-hopper is a very convenient way to visit both Universal parks with leisure. The Hogwarts Express is a way to get spend the extra 40 for a park hopper. Looking at the wait times for Hogwarts Express, it looks like quite a few guests still do not have Universal parkhoppers, HE or not.

That or the Hogwarts Express has high capacity. Every time I've been on the train it always seemed to be completely filled.

 

[Timekeeper]

Can we please drop this "debate"? I would like to hear more thoughts and reviews on Diagon Alley rather than discuss whether or not Hogwarts Express should be classified as an upcharge attraction.

I agree. But, I'm curious, just to throw a thought into the mix - I wonder how these discussions might be different if, instead of the HE, Uni had built an un-themed train/tram transport with a view of the backstage areas akin to the Wildlife Express Train, but with all the same ticketing restrictions. Thoughts?

 

[danpam1024]

Have the crowds died down any?

 

[Timekeeper]

On a review-related note, I'm a bit surprised by how the restrooms in DA aren't as crowded as I would have expected them to be. DA is crowded, and the restrooms are relatively small in capacity, but they've never appeared crowded during the opening week.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I agree. But, I'm curious, just to throw a thought into the mix - I wonder how these discussions might be different if, instead of the HE, Uni had built an un-themed train/tram transport with a view of the backstage areas akin to the Wildlife Express Train, but with all the same ticketing restrictions. Thoughts?

Well, that's a good point. I don't think anyone would be complaining about it.

 

[Timekeeper]

If you ask a team member on the London side where DA is, and they're "in character," they'll tell you that they don't know what you're talking about, and subtly refer you to the "entrance" and say something vague about how "there might be something over there."

 

[khale1970]

I agree. But, I'm curious, just to throw a thought into the mix - I wonder how these discussions might be different if, instead of the HE, Uni had built an un-themed train/tram transport with a view of the backstage areas akin to the Wildlife Express Train, but with all the same ticketing restrictions. Thoughts?

I'm sure some posters would change positions, but the general debate would be the same. I think more would argue it isn't worth the $40 and call it a money grab. Others would still see value in saving the time and the walk and would call it a beneficial service and worth the money. I'd still call it a money grab and defend it as long as it still generated a profit because I'd have park to park anyway and love avoiding long walks in humid Florida summers.

 

[Mike S]

I agree. But, I'm curious, just to throw a thought into the mix - I wonder how these discussions might be different if, instead of the HE, Uni had built an un-themed train/tram transport with a view of the backstage areas akin to the Wildlife Express Train, but with all the same ticketing restrictions. Thoughts?

I have an annual pass anyway so it wouldn't bother me much and it would still be more convenient than walking. The HE is much better though.

 

[khale1970]

That or the Hogwarts Express has high capacity. Every time I've been on the train it always seemed to be completely filled.

I'm pretty sure UNI knew the capacity for HE before it opened. Based on the argument that a) the $40 surcharge is to suppress demand and reduce wait times and b) wait times are averaging 10 minutes, UNI clearly overestimated demand no matter how much capacity HE might have. That, or point a) is wand stroker spin.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Okay, so the alternate option is to allow everyone to ride and have the ticketed gate entry at the exit in the opposite park. How well would this really work? You guys might not think so because we're all savvy theme park fanatics, but park tourists are largely clueless, and no matter how many signs you display stating "2 park admission required, or you will be forced to wait in line again to return here", people will ignore it or be confused, and then be angry when they reach the other station that they not only have to return right away, but have to wait in line again to do so. Even if the lines remain short, that's still going to annoy people.

Further, how do you easily separate those with 2 park admission from those that don't have it after they disembark the train? One park ticket guests would follow the two park ticket guests and line up at the gates only to be told they have to turn around.

Yes, it's doable, but it would be a much bigger headache than checking for admission prior to entering the queue for the train.

edit: Also, from a theming and story perspective, having your ticket scanned or purchasing an upgrade at the entrance to the first station makes more sense. Arriving in "London" and being able to disembark the train and walk right into "London" feels more genuine than disembarking and then having to wait in a queue to have your ticket scanned to leave the station.

 

[seahawk7]

Okay, so the alternate option is to allow everyone to ride and have the ticketed gate entry at the exit in the opposite park. How well would this really work? You guys might not think so because we're all savvy theme park fanatics, but park tourists are largely clueless, and no matter how many signs you display stating "2 park admission required, or you will be forced to wait in line again to return here", people will ignore it or be confused, and then be angry when they reach the other station that they not only have to return right away, but have to wait in line again to do so. Even if the lines remain short, that's still going to annoy people.

Further, how do you easily separate those with 2 park admission from those that don't have it after they disembark the train? One park ticket guests would follow the two park ticket guests and line up at the gates only to be told they have to turn around.

Yes, it's doable, but it would be a much bigger headache than checking for admission prior to entering the queue for the train.

edit: Also, from a theming and story perspective, having your ticket scanned or purchasing an upgrade at the entrance to the first station makes more sense. Arriving in "London" and being able to disembark the train and walk right into "London" feels more genuine than disembarking and then having to wait in a queue to have your ticket scanned to leave the station.

It has always amazed me how people could go to Universal or Disney and not do their homework. I always research whats new, what is changing and I watch youtube videos to get myself acquainted with the park layout.
I like what you said about when stepping off HE you are in London and having a line to check park access would spoil the theming. That in itself is reason enough to have it the way it is.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

I was actually hoping to catch someone be turned down at the gates of HE for having a non-hopper ticket just to see how they're handling it but I didn't. King's Cross station is awe-inspiring. Just huge and seems so real. Too real, almost. It's a damn long walk from the entrance to the train.

As for the rest of Diagon Alley, just mind-blowing. I spent so many hours there and still have to go back and do more. Knockturn Alley might be my favorite area of the whole thing. Just dark and cold and slightly eerie. Right up my alley.

 

[khale1970]

Okay, so the alternate option is to allow everyone to ride and have the ticketed gate entry at the exit in the opposite park. How well would this really work? You guys might not think so because we're all savvy theme park fanatics, but park tourists are largely clueless, and no matter how many signs you display stating "2 park admission required, or you will be forced to wait in line again to return here", people will ignore it or be confused, and then be angry when they reach the other station that they not only have to return right away, but have to wait in line again to do so. Even if the lines remain short, that's still going to annoy people.

Further, how do you easily separate those with 2 park admission from those that don't have it after they disembark the train? One park ticket guests would follow the two park ticket guests and line up at the gates only to be told they have to turn around.

Yes, it's doable, but it would be a much bigger headache than checking for admission prior to entering the queue for the train.

edit: Also, from a theming and story perspective, having your ticket scanned or purchasing an upgrade at the entrance to the first station makes more sense. Arriving in "London" and being able to disembark the train and walk right into "London" feels more genuine than disembarking and then having to wait in a queue to have your ticket scanned to leave the station.

If the alternatives don't make sense, then this is clearly what UNI wanted. I say UNI is doing it exactly the right way now and it would be foolish to do it differently. My only issue is with folks who want to pretend that UNI didn't intend it to be and doesn't view it as a money maker. That for various reasons they've been forced against their design or desire to impose a surcharge to ride just this one ride. UNI isn't a charity, and I give them credit for coming up with a novel way to dig a few more dollars out of their guests pockets with an experience that provides value. It takes a really high level of genius, audacity, and performance to get that kind of money for a ride that also benefits UNI by balancing the park's attendance levels.

 

[Timekeeper]

Haven't park hopper tickets, for WDW and UOR, always been more expensive than single park tickets? Or did UOR offer single day hoppers at the same price as single day single park tickets before HE opened?

If hoppers were always more expensive, then any new feature that accommodates those hopper ticket holders is just a bonus feature and added incentive to opt for that ticketing option.

I think this horse is dead.