- Apr 21, 2013
- 1,276
- 1,516
This is my review from Orlando United:
So I went to USH this past Saturday and was able to see and do everything, including ride FJ twice. Thoughts? It is a smaller version of the Hogsmeade in Orlando, or at least it feels like it (not sure about specific square footage difference). I enjoyed walking around, but I can honestly not imagine how much of a nightmare it will be when it officially opens to the public.
Since many things are the same, I’ll highlight what’s different. For starters, they did not fix the locker issue at FJ. However, they do have a solution which may be problematic come the summer months. Basically, they have a wraparound outdoor queue prior to entering the castle gates. The plan is to hold people in this queue and slowly filter them into the lockers to avoid backup and line cutting. The issue is that this outdoor queue has next to no shade, and on a somewhat mild Saturday (78-80 degrees), it was a brutal 30 min outside. You also have to wait in this line even if you don't have a bag or want to do single riders. Once inside, it took another 90 minutes to reach the ride. It was not a consistently moving line and Gate A (Express pass in Hollywood) was being used even during softs. I think they were loading at 2/3 capacity.
The ride itself has a different feel than the Orlando iteration. The 3D has its ups and downs. It provides appreciated depth to the flying sequences (like the Quidditch match and cave collapse), but it makes CGI creatures, like the dragon, look cartoonish beyond belief (I mean really bad guys). The ride is also noticeably tamer than Orlando, probably to try and compensate for wearing the glasses. Despite that, while I didn’t have any issues wearing them (they are the Transformers glasses and are switching to larger “Quidditch” goggles soon), but my friend with a smaller head said they were falling off quite frequently on both rides. There were also many more Dementors, but on both ridethroughs, they were dormant. There was also new, clearer audio for dialogue. For example, the Quidditch match now has a scorekeeper shouting the score before and during the Dementors attack. It threw me a bit because I was so used to the original audio, but maybe its better for newbies....I don’t know...can’t comment.
I know I sound like I’m hating on it a lot, but I did really enjoy the ride, and it was much better on my second go around. Yes the show lighting is raised up and makes some aspects of the ride (like seeing other vehicles) a bit of a downer, but having this ride in Hollywood is a true gift and I’m excited for fellow west coasters able to ride it. I do think the 3D has more positives than negatives, making the ride feel a bit newer despite the inconveniences it causes for show lighting and head gear.
As for Hogsmeade, it was so nice to be able to move around without massive crowds. Hippogriff had an evac at the hill so I missed out on riding that. The greatest part of the whole day though, was the TMs. Man, let me tell you. This was greater than any hospitality I’ve seen at a park…EVER! I had at least 5 people ask me within the 4 hours I was there if I was enjoying my day and what I thought about the land, never breaking character. AMAZING for a soft opening. I also went to Hog’s Head and ordered a Deathly Hallows, to which the bartender said “we don’t have that here”. I stared at her and she said “You’re from Orlando aren’t you?” and I just nodded. She gave it to me! She asked how my experience here compared and I told her how much fun I was having.
All in all, it’s about what I expected, but I’m also lucky and spoiled having visited many times before in Orlando. One things for sure though, this is the first phase of a major overhaul for the park and they are making sure that customer service is of the utmost importance to generating excellent WoM and a magical experience.
So I went to USH this past Saturday and was able to see and do everything, including ride FJ twice. Thoughts? It is a smaller version of the Hogsmeade in Orlando, or at least it feels like it (not sure about specific square footage difference). I enjoyed walking around, but I can honestly not imagine how much of a nightmare it will be when it officially opens to the public.
Since many things are the same, I’ll highlight what’s different. For starters, they did not fix the locker issue at FJ. However, they do have a solution which may be problematic come the summer months. Basically, they have a wraparound outdoor queue prior to entering the castle gates. The plan is to hold people in this queue and slowly filter them into the lockers to avoid backup and line cutting. The issue is that this outdoor queue has next to no shade, and on a somewhat mild Saturday (78-80 degrees), it was a brutal 30 min outside. You also have to wait in this line even if you don't have a bag or want to do single riders. Once inside, it took another 90 minutes to reach the ride. It was not a consistently moving line and Gate A (Express pass in Hollywood) was being used even during softs. I think they were loading at 2/3 capacity.
The ride itself has a different feel than the Orlando iteration. The 3D has its ups and downs. It provides appreciated depth to the flying sequences (like the Quidditch match and cave collapse), but it makes CGI creatures, like the dragon, look cartoonish beyond belief (I mean really bad guys). The ride is also noticeably tamer than Orlando, probably to try and compensate for wearing the glasses. Despite that, while I didn’t have any issues wearing them (they are the Transformers glasses and are switching to larger “Quidditch” goggles soon), but my friend with a smaller head said they were falling off quite frequently on both rides. There were also many more Dementors, but on both ridethroughs, they were dormant. There was also new, clearer audio for dialogue. For example, the Quidditch match now has a scorekeeper shouting the score before and during the Dementors attack. It threw me a bit because I was so used to the original audio, but maybe its better for newbies....I don’t know...can’t comment.
I know I sound like I’m hating on it a lot, but I did really enjoy the ride, and it was much better on my second go around. Yes the show lighting is raised up and makes some aspects of the ride (like seeing other vehicles) a bit of a downer, but having this ride in Hollywood is a true gift and I’m excited for fellow west coasters able to ride it. I do think the 3D has more positives than negatives, making the ride feel a bit newer despite the inconveniences it causes for show lighting and head gear.
As for Hogsmeade, it was so nice to be able to move around without massive crowds. Hippogriff had an evac at the hill so I missed out on riding that. The greatest part of the whole day though, was the TMs. Man, let me tell you. This was greater than any hospitality I’ve seen at a park…EVER! I had at least 5 people ask me within the 4 hours I was there if I was enjoying my day and what I thought about the land, never breaking character. AMAZING for a soft opening. I also went to Hog’s Head and ordered a Deathly Hallows, to which the bartender said “we don’t have that here”. I stared at her and she said “You’re from Orlando aren’t you?” and I just nodded. She gave it to me! She asked how my experience here compared and I told her how much fun I was having.
All in all, it’s about what I expected, but I’m also lucky and spoiled having visited many times before in Orlando. One things for sure though, this is the first phase of a major overhaul for the park and they are making sure that customer service is of the utmost importance to generating excellent WoM and a magical experience.
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