Meanwhile at USH this weekend...

[TP2000]

I think we're witnessing the first theme park to hit the price ceiling. The one day ticket prices are obscene, but all other parks have the benefit of people using AP's or multi-day, multi-park tickets. Unlike other resorts, you aren't driven to buy much more than a single day.

This is bad to say... but I really hope this is the case. Someone has to hit the price ceiling to make the other companies pump the breaks.

Agreed that is probably part of the equation here.

But also remember that Universal Studios is charging near-Disneyland prices for a park with seven rides, a few stage shows, no parades, no fireworks, no nighttime entertainment or water spectaculars, no bands or live music, no sit-down restaurants, and no meaningful hotel presence around the park.

I think Universal thought Harry Potter could get people to ignore all that. Potter is a nice addition to a park that has improved greatly in the last five years, but Universal is still a theme park experience that pales in comparison to Disneyland Resort.

 

[BrianLo]

Agreed that is probably part of the equation here.

But also remember that Universal Studios is charging near-Disneyland prices for a park with seven rides, a few stage shows, no parades, no fireworks, no nighttime entertainment or water spectaculars, no bands or live music, no sit-down restaurants, and no meaningful hotel presence around the park.

Exactly, that's what I mean. If anyone is going to hit the ceiling first, it's going to be USH. No offence to them... but you simply cannot charge the same price as Disneyland, Magic Kingdom or Universal Orlando.

It's akin to how whenever prices get raised people say "why would anyone pay XXX to enter Disney Hollywood Studios?". The answer is most wouldn't... but they are on a discounted multi-day ticket keeping that particular park afloat.


I also say this as someone about to drop 150 Canadian to go to USH this summer.

On a positive note... at least it won't be that busy!

 

[TP2000]

I also say this as someone about to drop 150 Canadian to go to USH this summer.

You should check out this nifty auto-loading spreadsheet some kid over on Micechat made, pulling info directly from the official Universal wait time app. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bjW0UXVEkYFFMjH2QT3JQKbX3EowoJTZ7evPbJreiw4/edit

It shows that Potter gets a big rush of people right at opening, while the rest of the park is abandoned. Then around lunchtime Potter empties out and the crowd spreads out through the rest of the park. The obvious strategy is to hit the Lower Lot rides and Tram Tour first, and wait to do Potterland in the afternoon when the wait times drop dramatically after lunch and through the evening.

 

[BrianLo]

You should check out this nifty auto-loading spreadsheet some kid over on Micechat made, pulling info directly from the official Universal wait time app. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bjW0UXVEkYFFMjH2QT3JQKbX3EowoJTZ7evPbJreiw4/edit

It shows that Potter gets a big rush of people right at opening, while the rest of the park is abandoned. Then around lunchtime Potter empties out and the crowd spreads out through the rest of the park. The obvious strategy is to hit the Lower Lot rides and Tram Tour first, and wait to do Potterland in the afternoon when the wait times drop dramatically after lunch through the evening.

Thanks a bunch!!

I had actually decided on this strategy, but didn't have any actual evidence to back it up as viable.

 

[TP2000]

Thanks a bunch!!

I had actually decided on this strategy, but didn't have any actual evidence to back it up as viable.

Hopefully he'll keep that daily spreadsheet going through summer.

A late afternoon update on wait times...

Forbidden Journey remains at 15 minutes, Hippogriff at 5 minutes, while the other Upper and Lower Lot thrill rides are 10 minutes. Jurassic Park is 15 minutes as the sole water ride on this lovely 80 degree day.

At Disneyland at 5pm, Splash Mountain now has a 75 minute wait (Grizzly River Run is 65 minutes now).

Radiator Springs Racers has declined to 90 minutes. Hyperspace Mountain is 75 minutes.

Pirates is 30 minutes right now, which is interesting because it has the same hourly capacity of 2,800 riders per hour as Forbidden Journey does. But Pirates has double the wait time of Forbidden Journey even though Pirates is in a park with 40 other operating attractions with wait times between 30 and 90 minutes. Pirates is also 48 years old, while Forbidden Journey is 10 days old.

I doubt this is how Universal thought the first few weeks would play out.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Exactly, that's what I mean. If anyone is going to hit the ceiling first, it's going to be USH. No offence to them... but you simply cannot charge the same price as Disneyland, Magic Kingdom or Universal Orlando.

It's akin to how whenever prices get raised people say "why would anyone pay XXX to enter Disney Hollywood Studios?". The answer is most wouldn't... but they are on a discounted multi-day ticket keeping that particular park afloat.


I also say this as someone about to drop 150 Canadian to go to USH this summer.

On a positive note... at least it won't be that busy!

I'm curious, if you feel USH should not be charging what they charge, and feel it's not justified, why are you planning to pay to go?

 

[Deleted member 107043]

They blew it by not opening USH's HP land around the time the Orlando project opened, or at least in conjunction with the Diagon Alley expansion. In addition to the public staying away because of the absurd admission prices we might be witnessing the result of Universal's poor strategy of not taking advantage of the excitement the franchise was experiencing when WWoHP launched in Orlando 6 years ago. In light of the underwhelming response to WWoHP here it'll be very interesting to see what impact SW has in California and Florida when the two big expansions open - presumably in tandem - in a few years.

 

[Curious Constance]

While I do think the prices USH charges are ridiculous (you all do realize that right now at this very second Universal is selling front of the lines passes on their website for today for $229 PER PERSON?!), I'm still very surprised at these low wait times!

 

[BrianLo]

I'm curious, if you feel USH should not be charging what they charge, and feel it's not justified, why are you planning to pay to go?

Good question! My ceiling is probably not very reflective of the ceiling of the general population. I'm clearly more willing to shell out more than the general public based on sheer theme park geekery. For very selfish reasons I'm actually quite happy if that's the case as it means I can enjoy the park free of crowds for the 'premium'... without actually paying the 229 front of line (which definitely exceeds my ceiling).

I'm also going with a group (who probably do not actually realize how much it costs yet).

It's merely an observation that if anyone is going to hit the ceiling first (with the general public, not me) it is USH because they simply offer the "least" for a one day ticket. I don't think we can really argue that.

It's not a slight against USH, but they simply do not offer as much as DL, MK or USO. Those are the only three other parks in North America the general public would be paying 115$ a day for, and even then as I highlighted most people are not paying that.


Edit: The frownie face icon I used was more in regards to how terrible the Canadian dollar is. I see why you probably perceived my other post differently!

 

[Curious Constance]

I never really worry too much about one day prices for Disneyland, because when we go it's always for multiple days since we aren't local. I never really thought about how Universal's one day prices are a much bigger deal than Disneyland's since Universal is a one day park, and trying to go for more than one day at Universal wouldn't make sense. I bet we start seeing sales soon for Universal tickets, offering buy one day get one day free or maybe even buy one ticket get a second person free. Something like that.

 

[ForeverAnna]

Edit: The frownie face icon I used was more in regards to how terrible the Canadian dollar is. I see why you probably perceived my other post differently!

Working for a bank and sometimes dealing with foreign exchange I'm always shocked whenever I do Canadian Dollars these days. It wasn't that long ago the that US and Canadian were about the same with the Canadian dollar sometimes stronger.

 

[Phroobar]

USH is a one day park to do once every five years or so. If it didn't have the studio tour it would be a half day park at best. The tour is the only thing there that makes it worth higher prices than Knotts. With wait times like this, I'm tempted to go since I haven't been in years. USH always felt like one big commerical for itself. The food was never very good and the employees are not at Disney level. It almost feels like Magic Mountain as far as food and employees.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Good question! My ceiling is probably not very reflective of the ceiling of the general population. I'm clearly more willing to shell out more than the general public based on sheer theme park geekery. For very selfish reasons I'm actually quite happy if that's the case as it means I can enjoy the park free of crowds for the 'premium'... without actually paying the 229 front of line (which definitely exceeds my ceiling).

I'm also going with a group (who probably do not actually realize how much it costs yet).

It's merely an observation that if anyone is going to hit the ceiling first (with the general public, not me) it is USH because they simply offer the "least" for a one day ticket. I don't think we can really argue that.

It's not a slight against USH, but they simply do not offer as much as DL, MK or USO. Those are the only three other parks in North America the general public would be paying 115$ a day for, and even then as I highlighted most people are not paying that.


Edit: The frownie face icon I used was more in regards to how terrible the Canadian dollar is. I see why you probably perceived my other post differently!

I can't tell if you answered my question or not LOL.

Yes, the DLR has more to do... That means if one wants to see everything, they're going to have to shell out more than $100. At least USH can be done in one day.

If people don't feel USH can justify what they charge, they shouldn't go. It kills me when people say USH isn't worth it and they're not interested, but then turn around and say they would visit in the future (not saying you said that, I'm just talking about people in general).

One shouldn't compare USH to DL. They offer two different things. The Studio Tour alone is worth $30-$40, in my opinion. USH has their audience and Disneyland has their's. USH is doing just fine without some of the snobby Disneyland fans out there.

 

[BrianLo]

If people don't feel USH can justify what they charge, they shouldn't go.

Exactly, I cannot in actuality speak to what it is truly worth, as I've never been! I'll be sure to share my thoughts when all is said and done.

I think we're all wondering, are people actually not going now? I don't think we'll know until the summer gets underway, but the opening timeframe lack of crowds is probably worrisome to Comcast.

 

[Rich T]

The truth is, Harry Potter's had his day. The book series will remain a modern classic, and the films are well done... but the super-mania's over. Universal's opened a copy of a lovely land based on a no-longer-red-hot franchise featuring a ride that makes a lot of people sick.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

USH is doing just fine without some of the snobby Disneyland fans out there.

It certainly doesn't seem like they are "doing just fine" judging by the wait times for one of the most anticipated expansions in theme park history. WWoHP at USH was supposed to have Disney wringing it's hands with worry as its opening coincided with no major new attractions at DL while a handful of rides in that park are shuttered for SW Land construction. Some even predicted that Potterland would be a game changer for the Southern California theme park market. Though I didn't completely buy the hype, I admit that I'm very surprised at how this is unfolding.

 

[Curious Constance]

I wonder if Star Wars land is the most anticipated theme park expansion ever?

 

[Deleted member 107043]

It could be. HP in Orlando is going to be tough to beat, especially in terms of what it did to drive attendance at IoA.

 

[Rich T]

I wonder if Star Wars land is the most anticipated theme park expansion ever?

I think we'll have a clearer picture when we know more about the 2 rides, but I'd say yeah. It's at least a tie with Cars Land, which people--regardless of their interest in the films--counted on to save DCA and bring the West Coast its first AA-filled E-Ticket ride since Indy. (I'm a Cars freak, so I'm biased. )
But, heck, I didn't even WANT Star Wars Land in that location... and I'm still excited to see it!

 

[Curious Constance]

It could be. HP in Orlando is going to be tough to beat, especially in terms of what it did to drive attendance at IoA.

That's true. Star Wars will be pandemonium, and will most certainly increase attendance, but I don't think there is enough wiggle room in the already crazy high attendance to make as big of an impact.