The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[Tigger1988]

Wasn't someone in here betting that Dragon 2 would be a massive hit?
DreamWorks Lays Off Dozens of Employees As ‘Dragons 2′ Continues to Underperform
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/business...agons-2-continues-to-underperform-100957.html

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

Talking with people at Uni right now. It's a complete [poop] show right now.

Easily 1000+ people outside waiting for a soft opening that won't happen.

Yes, I'm seeing pictures showing massive crowds and one blogger reported being told that if they didn't disperse security would be called.

 

[twebber55]

Wasn't someone in here betting that Dragon 2 would be a massive hit?
DreamWorks Lays Off Dozens of Employees As ‘Dragons 2′ Continues to Underperform
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/business...agons-2-continues-to-underperform-100957.html

haha it was me..a bet that dragons would do better than planes

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

Reading via Twitter that package Guest were able to ride Gringotts.
Potter watch crowd pictures...

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Wasn't someone in here betting that Dragon 2 would be a massive hit?

Didn't everyone? A well reviewed sequel to a hit with no direct competition?

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

I read that a few non package Guest were allowed to ride the Hogwarts express into Diagon Alley and ride Gringotts. But they have since stopped and are telling anyone trying to enter via Hogsmeade that "no more technical rehearsals at this time."

More post saying that TM are being rude. Someone said a TM asked if they had nothing better to do than to sit outside DA.
Others have reported being asked to move because the crowds were becoming safety concerns.

 

[DinoInstitute]

Don't need Gringotts to be perfect on day 1. As long as it's in better shape 4 days after it's open I'm good cause that's when I'll be there.

I agree with you, but on the other hand you really do want it to be, because that is when a good amount of the reviews are made and you don't want multiple "the ride doesn't work"'s.

 

[Mike S]

Reading via Twitter that package Guest were able to ride Gringotts.
Potter watch crowd pictures...

So much excitement around Universal these days. Meanwhile at Disney.......

 

[DinoInstitute]

So much excitement around Universal these days. Meanwhile at Disney....... View attachment 57880

No, your not being fair.

At disney:

yah, ok, you win...

 

[TalkingHead]

I read that a few non package Guest were allowed to ride the Hogwarts express into Diagon Alley and ride Gringotts. But they have since stopped and are telling anyone trying to enter via Hogsmeade that "no more technical rehearsals at this time."

More post saying that TM are being rude. Someone said a TM asked if they had nothing better to do than to sit outside DA.
Others have reported being asked to move because the crowds were becoming safety concerns.

Universal's policy of lying about soft openings has really paid dividends, hasn't it?

From a distance, it seems like Uni has botched the pre-opening of Diagon. I know some of the bloggers swore that Gringotts wasn't falling further behind. But it sounds like it's completely played havoc on opening this place.

And it sounds like Gringotts is still a mess. Maybe some of those sanctimonious bloggers can now admit the ride is a problem?

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

At this point I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't bother with soft openings at all.
Package Guest are being let in for 2 hours and reporting Gringotts has a 30 minute wait and has broken down at least once since 7.
I feel like if they are hitting 30 minutes with just package Guest and making money off those guest then why give access to those who didn't pay.
Seen quite a few people report @HTF was in attendance.

 

[hunty]

I read that a few non package Guest were allowed to ride the Hogwarts express into Diagon Alley and ride Gringotts. But they have since stopped and are telling anyone trying to enter via Hogsmeade that "no more technical rehearsals at this time."

More post saying that TM are being rude. Someone said a TM asked if they had nothing better to do than to sit outside DA.
Others have reported being asked to move because the crowds were becoming safety concerns.

Been here most of the day and definitely didn't see anyone but vacation packages being let in. very frustrating there were no soft openings and the crowds outside were hectic lots of people coming out saying they went on gringotts and it was amazing other people saying it had broken down

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

Universal's policy of lying about soft openings has really paid dividends, hasn't it?

From a distance, it seems like Uni has botched the pre-opening of Diagon. I know some of the bloggers swore that Gringotts wasn't falling further behind. But it sounds like it's completely played havoc on opening this place.

And it sounds like Gringotts is still a mess. Maybe some of those sanctimonious bloggers can now admit the ride is a problem?

I kind of think they are playing it smart. They made money offering early access, if it they really did let non package Guest in via Hogsmeade then they knew that more people would be camping out directly in front of DA, and they get to control just how many people are riding during these soft openings by limiting them to two hour windows.
I don't think it is too behind but it is new and will have issues. Only seen 1 report that is went down in the last two hours... not too bad. I'm sure it will be worst during opening day.
Edit : seeing reports that it went down again at 9 and is now closed.

 

[hunty]

At this point I wouldn't be surprised if they bother with soft openings at all.
Package Guest are being let in for 2 hours and reporting Gringotts has a 30 minute wait and has broken down at least once today.
I feel like if they are hitting 30 minutes with just package Guest and making money off those guest then why give access to those who didn't pay.
Seen quite a few people report @HTF was in attendance.

HTF was definitely there,I was stood next to him waiting for a soft for about 3 hours

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

Been here most of the day and definitely didn't see anyone but vacation packages being let in. very frustrating there were no soft openings and the crowds outside were hectic lots of people coming out saying they went on gringotts and it was amazing other people saying it had broken down

I seen just a few people report that they were non package Guest and allowed to enter via Hogwarts Express making them look like package Guest and they were not. But they could be lying. Idk I'm just reporting was twitter is saying.

 

[Smiddimizer]

Wasn't someone in here betting that Dragon 2 would be a massive hit?
DreamWorks Lays Off Dozens of Employees As ‘Dragons 2′ Continues to Underperform
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/business...agons-2-continues-to-underperform-100957.html

Honestly that was probably the most overrated animated film in the past year since Frozen...or rather appeared to be overrated..

 

[danlb_2000]

I have no details on this. Maybe something that actively broadcasts your location? IDFK.

Based on what was reported in the FCC application, the bands already have that capability.

 

[hunty]

I seen just a few people report that they were non package Guest and allowed to enter via Hogwarts Express making them look like package Guest and they were not. But they could be lying. Idk I'm just reporting was twitter is saying.

A lot of people were trying to sneak in but security was very tight would be quite good if a few managed to get in though

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

Ithemepark just posted a few videos and pictures from inside DA including two photos and a video of Gringotts loading platform and first few feet of track.

 

[TalkingHead]

I kind of think they are playing it smart. They made money offering early access, if it they really did let non package Guest in via Hogsmeade then they knew that more people would be camping out directly in front of DA, and they get to control just how many people are riding during these soft openings by limiting them to two hour windows.
I don't think it is too behind but it is new and will have issues. Only seen 1 report that is went down in the last two hours... not too bad. I'm sure it will be worst during opening day.

If the ride breaks down running at limited capacity, I don't see the opening day next week going very smoothly.

At least they can control access to DA. But Kings Cross is accessible to anyone.

A catastrophic opening wouldn't surprise me at this point. 1000+ showing up for a chance at a soft opening today? What happens when Gringotts breaks down and dumps the queue into DA? How do you manage capacity in the land with that breakdown looming? Sounds like a nightmare.