Man, I am just trying to envision how few people are going to be able to fit in Diagon Alley with six foot spacing like that.
Sheâs got video walking around Diagon Alley and in various queues - like MIB. (@megadis13)
Itâs pretty interesting! I actually believe USF/IOA is going to really lock down capacity in the parks as a whole to make this happen. My question is are they going to need a reservation system too?
Once they decide how to limit entry the rest should be easy. Park hopping isnât crazy like at WDW. Logistically, it would appear be so much easier to control access and capacity due to how you enter the parks and go through the security at the parking garage.
I was reading the FAQ for Universal. It sounds like resort guests will be accounted for, so if you are staying on site you donât have to worry about not getting in. But everyone else? First come first served.
Works for me!
@megadis13 is back in the parks this morning for more TM previews. Today they are testing Virtual Queues! Look like Hagridâs will be hosting one! Also, TMs are being allowed to ride Pteranodon Flyers without a small child. (A dream!!)
Ooo, what does the 5 min wait OR virtual queue mean? Is the 5 min wait for Express Pass guests maybe?
Since itâs only a TM preview day, and they just opened, thatâs the standby wait in the queue.
Ohhh, gotcha! I got a little too excited there
I also found a TM couple on YouTube that went to the preview yesterday and put up a 30 minute video. It really shows how things are spread out, how food ordering works and more. (They say they are going back today to film more - so maybe another video tomorrow too!)
For anyone interested⌠according to TMs at the preview today, the USF Virtual Line Pass seems to be operating like MaxPass at DLR.
You can have up to 2 rides âsavedâ in your queue. However, unlike MaxPass, USF/IOA has no standby queues in the park - only Virtual Lines. Once you use a VLP you can reserve another. You can not reserve the same ride back-to-back.
IMHO - Ever since USF started doing this with Jimmy Fallon I knew it was only a matter of time before a VLP system was widely available at Universal. I bet Universal will monetize this along with the UXP system once standby is back in place. Youâll see a price offering for UXP and a lower price for VLP
WDW has been trying to put a paid FPP system in place for a decade. Removing FPP now, under the guise of social distancing, will allow them to bring in paid MaxPass and a âclub tierâ that can pay for the old FPP system.
Cool! Thanks.
I have questions about this, but I do like the idea of having TWO booked, rather than just oneâŚmakes sense from a flow perspective to know what ride youâre going to nextâŚand while you wait book the ride after that, etc.
On the website, it mentions that you can book your Virtual queue once youâre in the park, OR from your Universal hotel. So, this makes me think we can actually book our first two rides before we even leave the hotel. Maybe. Or, does that only apply if it is after the park opens?
Anxious to see how it works exactly. Our first day at Universal we plan to do âHarry Potter DayââŚarrive at Universal for early access, and then head straight to the train station. Once IOA opens, take the train over and do Hagrids first. But if the Virtual queue can allow booking two rides, we MIGHT be able to book Gringottâs first, and then Hagridâs over at IOA? Or do they have to be in the same park?
So many questions!
According to the TM - @ryanthemepark on Twitter (coincidence?)
"Itâs based on location. The app checks to see if your phone is within a Geofence.
If you have an Android phone or jailbroken iPhone you can easily get around that and reserve anywhere."
Interesting. I figured it was more simple than thatâŚthat is, it knows if youâve entered the park or notâŚand for resort guests, it would simply be a matter of being connected to the hotel wifi, OR simply knowing you are checked into the hotel.
Of course, I havenât figure out how that all works for multiple people in the same party. Do I book the virtual line for all 7 people in our party? Do I have to put our tickets into the phone app?
I asked the same question!
It seems like a very basic system - You are in the park, you can make a reservation. If that will extend out to the resorts âŚidk???
I will bet that you could use it while on the HE to make a Hagridâs VLP right at opening
Does this mean a party of 5, who each have phones, can hold10 reservations for the entire group? Each phone can make 2 reservations for the entire party?
Iâm only going off the bits I have from TMs at the previews - which are all subject to change once USF sees how the logistics worked after this test and opening week.
It seems like if you are in the park you can make your own reservations. You donât have to have a Universal âaccountâ (like MDE) or even link it to a theme park ticket.
How can USF keep it from being abused? I still donât know⌠can I make a reservation for myself at Forbidden Journey at 1pm and have my wife make a reservation for me at 1pm at Hagridâs? Thereâs got to be some way to prevent it. Iâm asking TMs, but havenât gotten an answer yet. (theyâre too busy having FUN!)
And of course, if the âanswerâ is that you can only book for yourselfâŚhow does one coordinate a larger group? I might be able to book something for HagridâsâŚbut then maybe after 3 others in our party are âinâ the timeslot is filled, and the next 3 are left without a timeslot that works. Not to mention cases where you have a party where not everyone has a phone.
Donât they know thereâs WORK to be done? (That is to sayâŚhow can I get any work done if Iâm left wondering these things?)
This is my biggest question right now. For families with kids (or anyone without a smartphone or who doesnât want to carry their smartphone in the park)âŚhow does this work?
To clarifyâŚI donât know how USF will prevent double bookings on VLP. However, if you are in the park a reservation can be made without a phone. They are putting VLP reservation stations - just like at Jimmy Fallon - around the park with TMs to assist. (They may be using iPads or something)
So⌠if you donât have a phone you can make a VLP through one of their stations. Also, you can make reservations for other people. I could make the reservations for everyone in my party for all the rides throughout the day. Or I can make my own reservations and they can make theirs. (Again⌠still trying to find out how this all works to avoid being exploited.)