The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[TalkingHead]

Honestly, how can they open a soft opening to the general public?

Have all these guess who just paid a premium so they can go into diagon alley. They were given a two hour window when they can get a sneak peek. To turn around and then let it be a free-for-all? Ridiculous. You're going to insult and and probably have to refund all these people that just big-money.

Conversely… Begrudging respect for monetizing a soft opening. Those packages are here soft opening folks.

Short version? You want in, you pay the man.

Then the official word should be no pay-no play before the grand opening. Having a mob scene helps nobody (even if it does help reveal the diehards).

 

[PhotoDave219]

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

Myself and @71jason had a very lengthy discussion about this tonight. Universal operations essentially has to put a stop to this potter watch. No more camping out, no more standing there on day, no more of the foolishness.

It's no problem. When securities having to get involved and you're dealing with a crowd of over 1000 people? You have no choice but to put a stop to this.

This is absolute speculation on my part, but it is within the realm of possibility of universal having a wall of security there tomorrow telling people to go away. The past two days ever resulted in giant crowds of people waiting for something that's not going to happen.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Then the official word should be no pay-no play before the grand opening. Having a mob scene helps nobody (even if it does help reveal the diehards).

I addressed it in another post but I personally feel the universal will make the appropriate changes to prevent another mob scene.

 

[Nemo14]

I addressed it in another post but I personally feel the universal will make the appropriate changes to prevent another mob scene.

They really have to - those crowds are only going to get worse otherwise.

 

[ThemeParkJunkee]

Honestly, how can they open a soft opening to the general public?

Have all these guess who just paid a premium so they can go into diagon alley. They were given a two hour window when they can get a sneak peek. To turn around and then let it be a free-for-all? Ridiculous. You're going to insult and and probably have to refund all these people that just big-money.

Conversely… Begrudging respect for monetizing a soft opening. Those packages are here soft opening folks.

Short version? You want in, you pay the man.

I actually agree with this. Monetize the soft openings for limited hours through the packages and work out bugs the rest of the day. Soft openings are not "promises" they have to keep. Packages, another story. Having people pay to attend your "dress rehearsal"? Genius!

 

[hunty]

Myself and @71jason had a very lengthy discussion about this tonight. Universal operations essentially has to put a stop to this potter watch. No more camping out, no more standing there on day, no more of the foolishness.

It's no problem. When securities having to get involved and you're dealing with a crowd of over 1000 people? You have no choice but to put a stop to this.

This is absolute speculation on my part, but it is within the realm of possibility of universal having a wall of security there tomorrow telling people to go away. The past two days ever resulted in giant crowds of people waiting for something that's not going to happen.

This afternoon was so busy you could barely walk through in single file you could tell some of the older tm weren't happy and were getting a bit stressed

 

[PhotoDave219]

This afternoon was so busy you could barely walk through in single file you could tell some of the older tm weren't happy and were getting a bit stressed

Well then that is a safety issue. They can't let that happen again.

Perhaps they will extend the barricaded off area overnight. Either that or it's "take a photo and keep moving" and tell people if they are looking for a place to sit go to Finnigans or Duff Gardens.

It's just going to get worse.

In this day and age of instantaneous social media, you just can't have a soft opening like this. From the park operations standpoint? There's no way in the world I would do this.

 

[flynnibus]

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.

The same exact way they did when Hogsmeade opened. FJ had frequent breakdowns too when it was new chicken little...

 

[Mike S]

I really enjoyed the NBC special on the "making of" Diagon Alley. Very interesting to hear about Universal Creative and their attention to detail. The scenes inside the area during construction were fascinating. How all that steel framework became the detailed "land" it is today. Incredible.

It's especially impressive when the land was just steel framework only last year. If this was Disney steel framework would mean it would still be at least 2 years from opening, maybe more.

 

[hunty]

Well then that is a safety issue. They can't let that happen again.

Perhaps they will extend the barricaded off area overnight. Either that or it's "take a photo and keep moving" and tell people if they are looking for a place to sit go to Finnigans or Duff Gardens.

It's just going to get worse.

In this day and age of instantaneous social media, you just can't have a soft opening like this. From the park operations standpoint? There's no way in the world I would do this.

Some times I think they caused the problem. on two occasions I heard team members telling people there was going to be a soft opening until gringotts went down. I bet the crowds are even worse tomorrow big rumours already that softs are happening.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Some times I think they caused the problem. on two occasions I heard team members telling people there was going to be a soft opening until gringotts went down. I bet the crowds are even worse tomorrow big rumours already that softs are happening.

Which is exactly why they have to do something.

 

[culturenthrills]

Well, I think alot of us locals get spoiled when Hogsmeade soft opened way ahead of its "official" grand opening. FJ broke down alot but there was still plenty to do and a lot of us where just walking around slack jawed in amazement.

I am surprised they haven't started running Hogwart's Express though. I would think they really have to get loading and unloading down. That would at least calm the masses a little.

 

[Cody5242]

Yeah I'm not going on potter watch anymore until the day after it soft opens so that I know for sure it will be open the day I go. Today felt like a wasted day

 

[Mike S]

Yeah I'm not going on potter watch anymore until the day after it soft opens so that I know for sure it will be open the day I go. Today felt like a wasted day

I'm not going at all till it's already open. A 3 hour drive wouldn't be worth a potential wasted day.

 

[cw1982]

Yeah I'm not going on potter watch anymore until the day after it soft opens so that I know for sure it will be open the day I go. Today felt like a wasted day

Soft openings one day don't necessarily mean they will have them the next day. They may be more likely at that time, but still no where near a guarantee. I think I would wait for the official opening if it was me, and even a month or so after to allow time for many of the inevitable kinks to get ironed out first.

Sorry today was such a disappointment.

 

[71jason]

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

On CHUD, the movie board, conventional wisdom had it duking it out with Tr4nsformers for #1 movie of the Summer. So yeah, a lot of people were off on this one.

HtTYD is one of those movies like Wall-E and Scott Pilgrem that internet fanbois love but everyone else shrugs their shoulders and says, "it was ok."

 

[PhotoDave219]

Well, I think alot of us locals get spoiled when Hogsmeade soft opened way ahead of its "official" grand opening. FJ broke down alot but there was still plenty to do and a lot of us where just walking around slack jawed in amazement.

I am surprised they haven't started running Hogwart's Express though. I would think they really have to get loading and unloading down. That would at least calm the masses a little.

Well.... did that have that Package preview that people paid for when Hogsmead opened?

 

[71jason]

Soft openings one day don't necessarily mean they will have them the next day. They may be more likely at that time, but still no where near a guarantee. I think I would wait for the official opening if it was me, and even a month or so after to allow time for many of the inevitable kinks to get ironed out first.

Sorry today was such a disappointment.

^ This. With Hogsmeade, it was hit or miss the first week. Realistically, I don't see them attempting a soft Friday on, so really only 3 days left. My bet right now is none.

 

[71jason]

BTW, DTD observations:

Fourth of July week, generally fourth busiest of the year, 3 of the 4 Disney food trucks (and the merch truck) sit in a parking lot shuttered. Anyone else think "Food Truck Park" with its out-of-place train trestle was an order to make some money back off those white elephants?

Walled off sidewalks are packed. Few people carrying anything, as usual. Despite the walkways being packed, every store but Hoi Polloi promptly locks its doors at 10:59:55. Hours can be extended at the parks, but square peg DTD guests better fit in the round hole Disney assigns them.

 

[Cody5242]

Soft openings one day don't necessarily mean they will have them the next day. They may be more likely at that time, but still no where near a guarantee. I think I would wait for the official opening if it was me, and even a month or so after to allow time for many of the inevitable kinks to get ironed out first.

Sorry today was such a disappointment.

The way the times are set up for the package previews July 4-7 I like my chances of a soft opening