Wizarding World - Diagon Alley Discussion - Part 3

[TylerDurden]

The speed at which some people want to cry fail about anything here is pretty wacky.

Maybe you dont work in an industry that deals with service, but if you did you would know that something like this is quite a big problem. Now, it is safe to say that maybe the particular TM being quoted wasnt 100% accurate (though I dont know how they would benefit from exaggerating or what their motivation to do so would be), but IF they happen to be right, it is a problem and anyone who works in any sort of tourism/service/retail job knows that its a pretty big deal.

 

[Disneyhead]

DA is a disaster. Universal=FAIL!

OK, everybody go home. Nothing to see here.

 

[shiekra38]

I'm so happy to hear that! I've been avoiding the actual reviews thread for Gringotts because of spoilers. I was worried because most of the reviews for Gringottts in here have just been ok.

People have an issue with Gringotts capacity right now...once it's up to full we should see some positive things said...I believe someone wrote a review saying "Universal once again raised the bar"

 

[TylerDurden]

DA is a disaster. Universal=FAIL!

OK, everybody go home. Nothing to see here.

No, Universal selling out of clothes on the second day in a Phase 2 of their largest moneymaker is. Im sure Universal would agree. Lets not be naive...

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People have an issue with Gringotts capacity right now...once it's up to full we should see some positive things said...I believe someone wrote a review saying "Universal once again raised the bar"

Ive heard people get off the ride crying because of how cool it is lol. I think its safe to say its at a whole new level.

 

[IzzyB]

People have an issue with Gringotts capacity right now...once it's up to full we should see some positive things said...I believe someone wrote a review saying "Universal once again raised the bar"

I agree. I don't think anyone has said they disliked the ride. I just think there is some bad taste in people's mouth when they have to wait up to 7 hours to ride it. Which is understandable. That is why I said Uni messed up. They don't want bad tastes in people's mouths, they want people to return and return ASAP. They also want people to go home and tell all their friends and family what a wonderful time they had. Not well I did have to wait 4 hours for this ride and because of that I could not see as much of the park as I wanted to.

 

[sjago13]

It is on a whole new level! The two things about it that really impressed me was the immersion of seamlessly mixing the screens and sets along with the unexpected motion of the ride vehicles. It may be a mash-up of two vehicles but what it achieves is way beyond what i though was possible. It's easily the best ride at universal in my opinion now.

 

[Disneyhead]

I agree. I don't think anyone has said they disliked the ride. I just think there is some bad taste in people's mouth when they have to wait up to 7 hours to ride it. Which is understandable. That is why I said Uni messed up. They don't want bad tastes in people's mouths, they want people to return and return ASAP. They also want people to go home and tell all their friends and family what a wonderful time they had. Not well I did have to wait 4 hours for this ride and because of that I could not see as much of the park as I wanted to.

Regardless of the rocky start, this attraction was going to have massive waits opening week. If crowds were going to be an issue for someone, the Grand Opening week may not have been the wisest choice.

And regarding the merchandise, I am hearing the problem is just getting the shelves restocked during the day. Not that they are out of items. I can see problems restocking the shelves during the operating day with the cramped quarters of the shops and the crowds in them.

 

[IzzyB]

Regardless of the rocky start, this attraction was going to have massive waits opening week. If crowds were going to be an issue for someone, the Grand Opening week may not have been the wisest choice.

And regarding the merchandise, I am hearing the problem is just getting the shelves restocked during the day. Not that they are out of items. I can see problems restocking the shelves during the operating day with the cramped quarters of the shops and the crowds in them.

I agree waits would be high, but the waits would have been cut in half if the capacity would have been where it should have been. Which is huge, because waits instead of being 270 minutes to 420 minutes would be 135 minutes to 210 minutes. That is a huge difference and more of the expected waits you would have on opening day. FJ waits never got to 420 minutes. That puts half your park day in one ride. I also think Uni is not happy because it put more people in line and less people spending money. People said the stores did not seem as busy as they should have been. Which on opening weekend for Phase 1, all the shops were jam packed with people. Mainly because the star ride did not have 420 minute waits.

If there is an issue with the merchandise stock and if it is just because of not stocking throughout the day, I don't see this as a real issue. I said that before.

I will also say if they can fix the capacity issue this week, then I see this being less of an issue in he long run. But if this continues to plague them the rest of the summer way past opening week, this could be more of an issue.

 

[rhino4evr]

Anyone that complains about waiting in line, probably should have taken everyone's advice or used common sense not to go opening weekend. Speaking of..I have a feeling this weekend will see record crowds.

 

[DragonSlayer]

I also think Uni is not happy because it put more people in line and less people spending money. People said the stores did not seem as busy as they should have been. Which on opening weekend for Phase 1, all the shops were jam packed with people. Mainly because the star ride did not have 420 minute waits.

Most of the people tied up in the Gringotts queue the past couple of days had plenty of time for shopping and eating while the expansion was in soft opening before 8th July. They pretty much only have Gringotts as their urgent 'target'. As time goes on the next week or two it'll even out.

 

[IzzyB]

Most of the people tied up in the Gringotts queue the past couple of days had plenty of time for shopping and eating while the expansion was in soft opening before 8th July. They pretty much only have Gringotts as their urgent 'target'. As time goes on the next week or two it'll even out.

I hear this a lot, but I don't think this is accurate. Because before the grand opening we heard that DA was not busy and that the general public didn't know it was open. If all the people in line to get into DA and then ride Gringotts had been there the day before for softs, we would have seen softs much busier than they were. There were a ton of people who came down just for the grand opening and probably did not participate in softs. There were also a large amount of people who were at Uni, but did not know it was open until the 8th. I think the 8th was the first day for many of those guests.

 

[Disneyhead]

I am absolutely positive Universal would have liked a less rocky launch for Gringott's. But they have made good progress in the 2 days since opening. And overall, I think that both guests and Universal have been thrilled with the project.

 

[Shucker]

I agree. I don't think anyone has said they disliked the ride. I just think there is some bad taste in people's mouth when they have to wait up to 7 hours to ride it. Which is understandable. That is why I said Uni messed up. They don't want bad tastes in people's mouths, they want people to return and return ASAP. They also want people to go home and tell all their friends and family what a wonderful time they had. Not well I did have to wait 4 hours for this ride and because of that I could not see as much of the park as I wanted to.

A least Universal gave them the option of waiting in line for it. They could have just opened up DA for a few weeks (or months) without Gringotts. Some people may not make it back to Orlando for a few a years and they got to ride it (painfully so, but if they really wanted to at least they had the opportunity). Disney did not give their customers the same option with 7DMT. So again I applaud Universals approach much more than Disneys. If I had been down there I would prefer to have the option to wait for Gringotts, not that I would have

 

[IzzyB]

A least Universal gave them the option of waiting in line for it. They could have just opened up DA for a few weeks (or months) without Gringotts. Some people may not make it back to Orlando for a few a years and they got to ride it (painfully so, but if they really wanted to at least they had the opportunity). Disney did not give their customers the same option with 7DMT. So again I applaud Universals approach much more than Disneys. If I had been down there I would prefer to have the option to wait for Gringotts, not that I would have

Not sure if you are talking about 7DMT not being open on time or you mean the fact construction took so long. I agree 7DMT should have opened with the rest of NFL, but it was a late addition to the party and Disney loves to drag stuff out (not an excuse), but also not a good comparison since it was not planned from day one, where Gringotts was.

If you are talking about the odd delay after grand opening, they had no choice. Unlike Uni where they could get the ride running with 3 cars, Disney had a safety issue where they couldn't let the general public on. Now I think Disney was stupid not to run the test sooner to fix this issue and I bashed them when this did happen, it still is not the best comparison since Disney had no option where Uni had an option to run at half capacity.

I still say both places messed up. Uni needed a longer timeline for Gringotts. Whether it meant starting construction earlier or projecting opening later, they needed a longer timeline. Disney needed a shorter timeline and need to get their butts moving on this crap. They need to not take so long to decide one stuff and when they do decide move faster, have more workers on the project. They also need to do tests earlier so that issues can be caught and fixed long before grand opening. Neither one of these parks are perfect.

 

[shiekra38]

I hear this a lot, but I don't think this is accurate. Because before the grand opening we heard that DA was not busy and that the general public didn't know it was open. If all the people in line to get into DA and then ride Gringotts had been there the day before for softs, we would have seen softs much busier than they were. There were a ton of people who came down just for the grand opening and probably did not participate in softs. There were also a large amount of people who were at Uni, but did not know it was open until the 8th. I think the 8th was the first day for many of those guests.

That was somewhat intentional...Uni didn't want another Phase 1 fiasco..seriously that was the best and worst day in their history..they were very overwhelmed..

 

[Gambit]

That was somewhat intentional...Uni didn't want another Phase 1 fiasco..seriously that was the best and worst day in their history..they were very overwhelmed..

Agreed, they took many steps to try and avoid it this time around such as having the big media opening weeks before and not having any celebrities present on the actual Grand Opening. BUT they were prepared, in case the crazy crowds did show up again, and had tons of switch backs and queue space set up backstage.

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

Wasn't going to respond but it irks me because I don't understand how someone could bame the theme park for a decision THEY made about standing in line.
I would love to ride Gringotts and as someone else said common sense would tell someone give it a few days or so if you don't desire to wait.

How is it Universals fault that people made the choice to wait in a line that long?
Sure UNI can do better with the new technology but that's what it is, new technology.

I'm saying I would disagree that Universal messed up with DA. I believe it's a smashing hit and the numbers will continue to prove that.

In the few hours I spent in DA during softs, it's easily my favorite area in the UO resort. I'm not a harry potter fan either, couldn't tell you anything but I was caught up in a world that didnt exist.

Ultimately that's what anyone of those people in line want and they are the ones UNI knows will go and tell what a great overall experience DA is. Even the wait can be fulfilling to those with an open mind.

 

[s8film40]

I finally rode Gringotts today, I was very shocked at the number of people who didn't know how long the wait is. I think this may play a part in complaints about the wait. How someone could just wander into a queue and not even look at the wait sign is completely beyond me.

 

[graspthesun]

I think the biggest possible fallout is that Universal will see people postponing trips until they perceive that capacity has gone up or waits have gone down. Other than a short term financial fallout due to delayed trips, I think they're going to come out of this just fine.

 

[Miketheboss]

How is the wait in the afternon, 6-7pm ?