See below.
Yup.
I pass along my info from people I really trust. I look for this info beyond a male member waving contest, I have a vacation coming up and I want to know if I'll get in.
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My issue has always been that OI has pulled speculation and brought it up as inside info.
Look here to see their soft openings data. Ever since April anyone with info could tell you that 80% chance of soft openings in May is completely wrong. How much do you think their description of HE will be off base, too?
There's bad info out there, instead of spotting it and isolating, people attack everything. I feel OI's track record for Diagon Alley will speak for itself in the end. I don't know how Dan can sleep at night when
people post things like this.
/rant
I don't see how Martin's info refutes what OI said, to be honest. He said they planned for every eventuality depending on how quickly the setbacks can be resolved. I'm sure the phased opening of Gringotts would be the very last resort if the show wasn't up to JKR/WB's standards - that's not a crazy inference to make, at all, and given that OI is primarily a trip planning website, that type of information is worth mentioning... oh, and need I mention that this entire thing is listed (and reinforced) as a RUMOR, despite the intel? Which, again, I can back up. I don't know what their sources are (obviously), but there are problems. There used to be bigger ones that were resolved...
The area was originally targeted to open in May. They may have been working under older intel that said as much when they published those numbers... which again, were mere estimates and presented not as straight fact, even if it came from some sort of inside source.
That Hogwartz Express description? Um, according to Martin himself over on Magic (he can chime in here if he pleases), it's "more or less correct." Upon seeing that confirmation I posted the link to the description on this forum and... everyone ignored it. Your loss, I suppose?
Everyone gets bad info at some point. Literally everyone. Screamscape, BTT, OU, WDWMagic, Miceage, etc. Everyone. And even if it isn't "bad" info (implying it's from a fraudulent source or deliberately false), things are constantly in flux. Many elements of HTF's original Springfield leak never made it to the park - doesn't mean his info was bad, it means things changed. I'm not exactly super close with anyone on this forum and particularly its staff, but there appears to be some sort of odd grudge against Dan (and OI in general). He had his little meltdown over the Cabana Bay press event, yes - but that doesn't condemn him out of hand, and you all seem to be hating on things that bug you rather than at least acknowledge all the things that he does well.
In any a case, this shouldn't be a pissing match. As I said before, just because you have info doesn't mean his info his wrong - even if it's contradictory. Info comes from different sources with varying degrees of awareness and insight into the situation being reported on, and, again, things change, meaning at one point both reports were true. I don't think someone who has put so much time into a site would maliciously report rumors just to mislead people... because that's a super easy way to lose your audience.
Here's an idea: Instead of constantly bashing OI and other websites that publish info that you feel may be incorrect or misleading, how about you politely contact them and talk about it, if you're so inclined? You know, instead of resorting to forum bashing and subtweeting. It's an unpleasant culture, and it's made this forum less enjoyable than when I originally joined. The fact that I'm getting rep points for these posts says something.
Sorry for the rant, let's get back to the topic.