The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hollywood

[Aaron]

Multiple people at the park today advertising and telling people that it will open early 2016. This includes the studio tour guide, workers at guest relations, greeter and studio tour, and construction workers.

Just like they told you King Kong was opening in December?

 

[k_peek_2000]

Really?  That's only a month before opening though.  I'd imagine they would be announcing it at the end of this year at the very least.

There is no confirmed opening date other than Summer 2016.

 

[William]

When was summer announced? As far as I've known, 2016 was the only timeframe given.

 

[Allen The Actor]

Yeah, only 2016 was ever announced. I can bet that even Universal doesn't know yet the exact opening day or month. But I'm sure they have a very specific target date/month, one that they'll nail down soon.

 

[b4ben24]

Every employee in the park ranging from manager to studio tour guide to guest relations and many more pointed to a early 2016 opening date. 

Also multiple construction workers on the project 

 

[Miss Betty Juice]

From personal experience, "early" in a year to a theme park is Spring Break. Summer is mid-year, and is usually considered just peak season on it's own. The Halloween / Christmas season is late year and considered Holiday / Seasonal. So saying early 2016 as an employee could point to Spring, too. I believe Transformers opened this way as well, during the Spring? I can't fully remember (but I remember being there for soft openings! ) 

 

[Jon Fu]

Every employee in the park ranging from manager to studio tour guide to guest relations and many more pointed to a early 2016 opening date. 


Also multiple construction workers on the project 

That's really not new information to be frank.

 

[Brandonshah97]

Transformers official opening date was May 25th I believe, but I rode it three weeks or so before that during the soft opening! But I feel as if since this is an entire land and not just an attraction, they won't do many soft openings if any... I don't believe Carsland had any soft openings....... Just a sneak preview for employees..

 

[Jonathan]

Carsland had at least three days of soft. They may have had more, but I only know of three.

 

[Ryan]

Transformers had a very long softs period, starting mid-April, and going over a month til the scheduled May 25th (Memorial Day) opening.

I'm going to guess Potter will be doing soft openings generally around a year from now.

And yes, early 2016 is theme park speak for March/April, not January/February.

 

[Allen The Actor]

Carsland had at least three days of soft. They may have had more, but I only know of three.

As far as I remember, any softs with Carsland were only with cast members, and then invited guests during the Cars Land media event, and then finally everyone saw it for the grand "reopening".

Late March or Early April seem like doable opening dates for Wizarding World, especially with everything I've known or heard about the current stage they're at.

 

[Jonathan]

As far as I remember, any softs with Carsland were only with cast members, and then invited guests during the Cars Land media event, and then finally everyone saw it for the grand "reopening".

Late March or Early April seem like doable opening dates for Wizarding World, especially with everything I've known or heard about the current stage they're at.

Only reason I know there were softs is because I was there for it. I attended the soft openings.

 

[k_peek_2000]

Only reason I know there were softs is because I was there for it. I attended the soft openings.

They only previews for Cars Land were tiered events. Cast Members, Special Invitation, AP, Media, ect. I don't recall any soft openings to the public. From my understanding construction and programming got pretty down to the wire and didn't leave much room for a public soft opening which is common for Disneyland.

 

[Jonathan]

They only previews for Cars Land were tiered events. Cast Members, Special Invitation, AP, Media, ect. I don't recall any soft openings to the public. From my understanding construction and programming got pretty down to the wire and didn't leave much room for a public soft opening which is common for Disneyland.

Well, this will be last I say about this, but I was there and I went into the land before it opened.

 

[William]

Cars Land aside, I think it's safe to say that they plan on opening WWoHP by Spring. When you take into account the annual pass changes, the blackout dates, and some other hints along the way, it's evident that they expect guests to be experiencing the land by March or April earliest.

While I was here today, I took a couple of pictures. Nothing too exciting, but I'll share nonetheless:

The left side of the Hogsmeade arch, no longer covered by walls (the right side looks similar, though it's next to a new Shrek snack cart).

The pathway between Springfield and Hogsmeade, leading into the backstage entrance to the kitchens.

 

[Ryan]

Okay, I'm going to say this and it's been griped about elsewhere and people are going disagree, and I get that Universal doesn't have all the money in the world (except that they kind of do right now) but... that backstage entrance just in the middle of the park almost blatant like that makes me squirm. I think it's the fact that it's inbetween two highly detailed lands but... augh... that just bothers me and I don't really know what they could do to improve it... but somehow I think they could if they wanted to?

I dunno... minor nitpick, I know.

 

[techmaniac16]

There's not much they can't do other than try to paint the backstage door.

 

[William]

There's certainly more they could've done to cover up that area as a whole. The bland, grey, back of the Springfield building can be seen all the way on French Street.

 

[stardopee]

Guys do you think the park will be able to handle the potter crowds ? Because My honest truth it’s going to be a complete mess.

 

[Miss Betty Juice]

Oh it's going to be absolute chaos. Terrible, utter chaos. At least for the first few months. Maybe they'll work out a system. But starting off it's going to be insanity.