roliepolieoliefan
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2000
We are staying at Hard Rock
Does that give us any benefit if the park reaches capacity? Thx!
Does that give us any benefit if the park reaches capacity? Thx!
If the park is at capacity, on-site hotel guests can still get in.
That isn’t exactly how it worked Oct 10-17. Has it changed since then? The way it was explained to us was that we would still be able to enter the parks even if they were at capacity. They didn’t use the word “guarantee,” but it was language along of the lines of “you can still enter the park without waiting.” We were at Cabana Bay, and a few times entered the park even though it was at capacity and they were turning away others. There wasn’t a line or holding area or anything- they just let us right in.That is no longer the case; on-site guests aren't guaranteed entry into the parks anymore. They're given 'priority' entry when the parks reach capacity, which means they'll be the first let in after enough people have left to allow the park to reopen.
Yeah they best clear this up - when I booked it was the policy so if they tell me I cant get in that will be an issue. Ep is great and all - but if I cant get in then I may as well stay across the road for half the price.There's been some very confusing messaging about this, and a lot of Universal employees at the front gate seem as confused about it as everyone. I've talked to several Universal reps personally, and they've all stated the same thing: it's no longer a guarantee to get in. I wish they'd put out some clear wording about it, because it's all confusing for everyone. The reps I spoke to said they're working with the front gate people to get everyone on the same page.
This is what I was told as well by someone on the phone that was with guest services who really knew what she was doing (fixed something regarding my ticket that others had told me we could only fix on-site). I spoke to her manager as well and he told me the same thing. Although - I haven't seen someone staying at a hotel say that they were denied entry yet.That is no longer the case; on-site guests aren't guaranteed entry into the parks anymore. They're given 'priority' entry when the parks reach capacity, which means they'll be the first let in after enough people have left to allow the park to reopen.
Very informative, thank you!Universal has done a lot of things right, but the message on this issue (resort guest access during capacity closures) has been muddled since June. After initially stating in their FAQs that resort guests would receive entry and that capacity numbers reflected that, Uni quickly changed to the current language that resort guests are “prioritized” - whatever that means.
On Friday, Uni sent out the two emails below - one to APs encouraging them to attend during the week instead of during the weekend (side note: really wonder if they sent something to all those who bought that Florida resident ticket deal that gives free admission through Dec 24 - as I suspect this is a big part of Uni’s capacity problem on weekends right now). The other email was sent to resort guests encouraging them to split their day (read: lighten capacity midday when it’s at its worst) by taking advantage of longer park hours - although the email noticeably doesn’t say anything about whether resort guests can expect to get in or not. Apparently it didn’t work all that well - as IoA hit capacity by 10:30am Saturday and Universal soon after, with neither park reopening (per the app) before IoA closed at 6pm. In better news, neither park hit capacity Sunday.
A couple of anecdotes:
1) Uni opened backstage passage between USO and IoA so guests could get between parks without exiting or taking Hogwarts Express. The IoA entry/exit was in Seuss Landing beside Circus McGurkus (with a tent and scanners set up and signs “To USO”) - but was not open all day or later in the evening.
2) Some rides and lines are getting overwhelmed mid morning on weekends as the crowds arrive - those are showing up as “At Capacity” and closed to additional guests because TMs can’t keep the lines spaced or contained. Happened to Hulk this weekend - and during that time “all guests” means all guests - Express closed as well.
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So if I am reading this correctly, we may or may not get into parks and may or may not be able to use our EP when we are going over Christmas and spending over $3000 to stay at the HRH? I will be extremely upset if this is the case. Those are the ONLY reasons we are staying on-site.
I'm at Hard Rock right now-- when I checked in, I asked them if we're guaranteed entry if the park reaches capacity. She very clearly said "no, it's not guaranteed, but you will receive priority. When they're able to let more people in, you'll be at the front of the line."
Yes. We were there on Saturday 10/25. We got dropped off by Uber at HRH and walked to City Walk from there. We did not go to the parks, but heard security explaining to the group in front of us that because they were staying at the hotel, they could wait in the separate line that had formed for hotel guests which was significantly shorter than the line that had formed for general admission, which extended past Hard Rock Café (around 3pm on a Saturday). Security was explaining this to all hotel guests at the bag check, so if you're walking, you will be directed where to go.So do they have two different entrance lines then, one for onsite guests and another for the rest?