Wubeachbum
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2019
What time did everyone get to the parking garage and how bad were the waits? wait to park, temperature check, and to get in the park.
Universal Orlando Reopened June 5th! CityWalk Reopened on May 14th
- Thread starter atricks
- Start date
Ok I was there open-close today. Parked exactly at 8:30 (They had people manning the parking booths, they just scanned our pass, I noticed it was open to all by the afternoon (around 4PM).
Temp Check line went very quick for us (although I heard it was a much bigger wait 30-45 mintues after we went through) We decided to start at Islands of Adventure and went there, directed to the back of the line to get into the park, which (mind you the park wasn't quite open yet) ended in front of Toothsomes . We waited there (every party was 6 feet apart) and the line quickly built behind us all the way to Studios. At 9 we moved quickly though a queue into the turnstyles. They were NOT doing thumbprints, just scan and ID. (And the invite) While we were waiting in line to get in we tried the app and was able to get 9:20 times for Hagrids, however we had our 5 year old with us, so we did child swap.
Child swap procedures HAVE Changed, at least at Hagrids, you don't go through the line together anymore. One person goes, the other stays behind when you return, the ticket the greeters give you allow you to go up the exit to get on. I went first, walked basically right up and got on (maybe stalled a few times right before board). Everyone there seemed glad to be back. Seating every other row, so i finally got the motorbike side. Smooth ride, still awesome.
The Virtual Queue was really not handling the new mass usage well, lots of server errors, and you had to try over and over to get anything. Kong filled up QUICK. So we skipped it, we met some other friends in Suess and walked around the park doing Storm Force, skipped spiderman since the wait was 50 minutes (it did not use virtual queue). Did Pternadon Flyers, the playground is closed, but flyers was still running, and you still need a kid to ride it. But you walk in by the entrance to Camp Jurassic and go in there. River Adventure was 45 minutes, so we skipped it, but again one party per row, with every other row skipped (so that alone was probably the reason the waits were high... also I'm not sure they've got wait time estimates down with the new rules yet, it probably was less).
CityWalk Restaurants didn't open until 4, so it made food options inside the parks slammed with the reduced capacity. We got a reservation for finnegan's but it was 2 hours later than we wanted to eat, but seemed more chill than trying to use quick service, which had lines out the door because of the spacing.
It felt quite busy (at least at first, by the late afternoon it calmed down quite a bit). We also rode Gringotts (with virtual queue) walked in (There's a line for lockers, but we didn't need it since we had stuff holders). And basically walked right onto the ride (with only a few stops toward the end of the queue line). They skipped ALL the pre shows, Hagrid, ET, Gringotts, walk right through it all. We skipped the Hogwart's Express since it had a 50 minute wait. Each party got their own cabin, regardless of size. (I.e. solo folks got one entirely to themselves).
right before we left it was wrapping up and we hit Transformers, 15 minute wait posted, but walked right on. We saw many of the characters they had the parade floats out solo, with characters on them, but you could only get so close to take photos. Other meet and greets were on raised stages. Oh we did the new Raptor Encounter, which has Blue the raptor and a baby raptor that alternate. The baby raptor is new, and the entire Raptor Encounter is new since they finished the new permanent home for it while the park was shut. SInce we had little kids with we got lucky and wound up with the baby raptor character, and it went really well (probably better with the kids than the full size Blue would have been). It was fun, we still saw blue before they switched him out in the line for it.
Thing's I missed. UO App needs to be beefed up to handle crowds and more virtual queues, it was struggling with the morning rush. GET RESERVATIONS FOR THE SIT DOWN RESTAURANTS. This is more important than ever with the reduced capacity, and in them you get to take of the mask (they give you bags to put them in) and enjoy it. Also they had these areas (In IOA There's one across from Starbucks and another in the Sindbad theater) where you can go and chill with the mask off, which we used TWICE (kids needed snacks). Although if you found other out of the way areas you could also do it there, but these areas are really set up for it better and monitored. They called them "U REST" areas.
We also saw the blues brothers show after Finnegan's, the vibe of excitement to be back was shared by guests and team members alike. The weather wasn't too terrible (overcast and drizzle a few points). So that may have helped, not sure how it would be with full sun and high 90s yet.
Temp Check line went very quick for us (although I heard it was a much bigger wait 30-45 mintues after we went through) We decided to start at Islands of Adventure and went there, directed to the back of the line to get into the park, which (mind you the park wasn't quite open yet) ended in front of Toothsomes . We waited there (every party was 6 feet apart) and the line quickly built behind us all the way to Studios. At 9 we moved quickly though a queue into the turnstyles. They were NOT doing thumbprints, just scan and ID. (And the invite) While we were waiting in line to get in we tried the app and was able to get 9:20 times for Hagrids, however we had our 5 year old with us, so we did child swap.
Child swap procedures HAVE Changed, at least at Hagrids, you don't go through the line together anymore. One person goes, the other stays behind when you return, the ticket the greeters give you allow you to go up the exit to get on. I went first, walked basically right up and got on (maybe stalled a few times right before board). Everyone there seemed glad to be back. Seating every other row, so i finally got the motorbike side. Smooth ride, still awesome.
The Virtual Queue was really not handling the new mass usage well, lots of server errors, and you had to try over and over to get anything. Kong filled up QUICK. So we skipped it, we met some other friends in Suess and walked around the park doing Storm Force, skipped spiderman since the wait was 50 minutes (it did not use virtual queue). Did Pternadon Flyers, the playground is closed, but flyers was still running, and you still need a kid to ride it. But you walk in by the entrance to Camp Jurassic and go in there. River Adventure was 45 minutes, so we skipped it, but again one party per row, with every other row skipped (so that alone was probably the reason the waits were high... also I'm not sure they've got wait time estimates down with the new rules yet, it probably was less).
CityWalk Restaurants didn't open until 4, so it made food options inside the parks slammed with the reduced capacity. We got a reservation for finnegan's but it was 2 hours later than we wanted to eat, but seemed more chill than trying to use quick service, which had lines out the door because of the spacing.
It felt quite busy (at least at first, by the late afternoon it calmed down quite a bit). We also rode Gringotts (with virtual queue) walked in (There's a line for lockers, but we didn't need it since we had stuff holders). And basically walked right onto the ride (with only a few stops toward the end of the queue line). They skipped ALL the pre shows, Hagrid, ET, Gringotts, walk right through it all. We skipped the Hogwart's Express since it had a 50 minute wait. Each party got their own cabin, regardless of size. (I.e. solo folks got one entirely to themselves).
right before we left it was wrapping up and we hit Transformers, 15 minute wait posted, but walked right on. We saw many of the characters they had the parade floats out solo, with characters on them, but you could only get so close to take photos. Other meet and greets were on raised stages. Oh we did the new Raptor Encounter, which has Blue the raptor and a baby raptor that alternate. The baby raptor is new, and the entire Raptor Encounter is new since they finished the new permanent home for it while the park was shut. SInce we had little kids with we got lucky and wound up with the baby raptor character, and it went really well (probably better with the kids than the full size Blue would have been). It was fun, we still saw blue before they switched him out in the line for it.
Thing's I missed. UO App needs to be beefed up to handle crowds and more virtual queues, it was struggling with the morning rush. GET RESERVATIONS FOR THE SIT DOWN RESTAURANTS. This is more important than ever with the reduced capacity, and in them you get to take of the mask (they give you bags to put them in) and enjoy it. Also they had these areas (In IOA There's one across from Starbucks and another in the Sindbad theater) where you can go and chill with the mask off, which we used TWICE (kids needed snacks). Although if you found other out of the way areas you could also do it there, but these areas are really set up for it better and monitored. They called them "U REST" areas.
We also saw the blues brothers show after Finnegan's, the vibe of excitement to be back was shared by guests and team members alike. The weather wasn't too terrible (overcast and drizzle a few points). So that may have helped, not sure how it would be with full sun and high 90s yet.
Jane Miller
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2019
I’m a little confused (nothing new there). Do you have to do the virtual que if you have the unlimited EP from, say, RP?
You can skip the VQ and go right into express (sans Hagrid).
Jane Miller
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2019
Thanks!
Oscar Madison
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2018
Do you have a preferred stategy for riding Hagrid if one is staying at RPR?
That I don't know of, I've never stayed at the resorts other than Hard Rock, once when it was paid for by my wife's employer for an event. It was somewhat hilarious since I literally dropped off the bags at the front, went home parked, and walked to the hotel to avoid parking charges since we lived so close.
Jeff Saleh
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2017
Does anyone know options for flexpay annual pass holders that would prefer to not go back to the parks yet and wait it out longer? Is this a contact customer service kind of thing ?
poohj80
Got Hunny?
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2001
I was in the parks June 3-4 and the virtual lines in the app hardly ever worked. Even when time options popped up, when I click Reserve this time, I received an message that said Sorry, this time was not available. In 2 days, we were only able to secure 2 virtual lines yet many rides were virtual only. If this remains the norm, we’re not coming back without Express Pass.
We did get to ride Hagrid’s at the end of the day Thursday after it was closed most of the day due to rain. At that point they were sitting guests in every row even though Weds it was every other row.
We also found Team Members have not been educated on all the new policies and were asking guests questions like what the wristbands mean (temperature check). I also couldn’t find any Team Member who was knowledgeable or could help with the virtual lines issues other than to say the system keeps crashing. There are Guest Services reps around the parks in white shirts but they were no help at all (missing Disney’s blue shirt Cast Members).
We did get to ride Hagrid’s at the end of the day Thursday after it was closed most of the day due to rain. At that point they were sitting guests in every row even though Weds it was every other row.
We also found Team Members have not been educated on all the new policies and were asking guests questions like what the wristbands mean (temperature check). I also couldn’t find any Team Member who was knowledgeable or could help with the virtual lines issues other than to say the system keeps crashing. There are Guest Services reps around the parks in white shirts but they were no help at all (missing Disney’s blue shirt Cast Members).
tony67
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 22, 2003
Question on the bars at restaurants - were they open in any manner?
For example the bar at backwater or Finnegan's or is it only table service. I did not see the tables outside backwater in the videos Ive seen.
Same question for the hotels - for example strong water.
The lines seem a bit much and the virtual queues seem to be all gone pretty quick.
One question on the VQ - if you booked Hagrids for say 4PM does that mean you cant get a VQ for anything else? (assuming the app works)
For example the bar at backwater or Finnegan's or is it only table service. I did not see the tables outside backwater in the videos Ive seen.
Same question for the hotels - for example strong water.
The lines seem a bit much and the virtual queues seem to be all gone pretty quick.
One question on the VQ - if you booked Hagrids for say 4PM does that mean you cant get a VQ for anything else? (assuming the app works)
C&Jx2
It’s me! Soldier’s*Sweeties!
- Joined
- May 26, 2019
I saw something in Twitter that said all of the parks’ bars would be opening today
poohj80
Got Hunny?
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2001
You can have 2 VQs at one time.
Staying at Sapphire Falls and Strong Water is not open. Finnegan did not look open on the preview days but not sure if that will change today.
Also, most rides where you had to empty your pockets into a locker are only requiring bags be stowed, phones, wallets, etc can remain in pockets except on Hulk. There are lines waiting for lockers as Team Members direct you to an area without other guests. You have to wait in a similar line to retrieve your items as well.
We actually had a mask fly off on Hulk. They gave us a paper mask to replace it when we got off the ride.
Staying at Sapphire Falls and Strong Water is not open. Finnegan did not look open on the preview days but not sure if that will change today.
Also, most rides where you had to empty your pockets into a locker are only requiring bags be stowed, phones, wallets, etc can remain in pockets except on Hulk. There are lines waiting for lockers as Team Members direct you to an area without other guests. You have to wait in a similar line to retrieve your items as well.
We actually had a mask fly off on Hulk. They gave us a paper mask to replace it when we got off the ride.
tony67
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 22, 2003
That's the main reason I stay in that area (usually Aventura) - hopefully that will change very soon
only hope
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2014
Today is the first day that bars (and movie theaters) are allowed to be open in Florida, except for a few counties in the south where they are still prohibited. They’re restricted to 50% capacity. Before today, alcohol could only be sold in places that get most of their revenue from food.
poohj80
Got Hunny?
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2001
When checking in, they moved our room so we wouldn’t be next door to another occupied guest room. I also heard it said that they won’t book the next guest into that room until 2 days after checkout. No housekeeping but guests can call to request anything they may need. It will be left in a bag hanging from your door so no person to person contact.
When we checked in on June 2, our TV remote didn’t work (no big deal, we understood it’s been sitting around for two months). I called the care line to get a new remote or new batteries. I was told engineering would have to enter the room to ensure the new remote worked so we’d have to vacate the room for 3 hours. I understand precautions, but this sounded like overkill. I asked if they could just bring a new remote and let us verify it worked but we were told no but maybe we could move rooms. Again, seemed like overkill but I also understand that it was their first day open with all these new policies. Ultimately, I went to the front desk and they were going to change the batteries but the battery cover is locked down with a screw so they couldn’t get it off. Ultimately, engineering delivered a new remote in a plastic bag and hung it on the door handle and it worked fine.
I was surprised that the electronic signs around the resort had not been updated yet. (Sorry it posted sideways)
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