[News] Universal Theme Park - UK

Bozza said:

It's not early entry that's the main selling point of staying at Hard Rock, as well as the Royal Pacific Resort and Portofino Bay Resorts. Even the cheapest Universal hotels - and Endless Summer costs around a quarter, or less, of a night in the HR, RPR and PBR - come with early entry, it's the unlimited Express you get at the premium hotels.

We're annual pass holders at Universal Orlando (although we're letting the passes lapse as visits are now trickier) and always stay on-site, principally for the convenience of being able to walk to and from the parks, which also means no one has to drive home after some drinks in the parks and/or CityWalk.

We actually attach little value to early entry because it's Islands of Adventure only and then just Hagrid's, Velocoaster and Forbidden Journey. During school holidays at least, unless you get to the gates very early, ie a good 30-45 minutes ahead of the start of early entry, you'll just be behind a lot of other on-site guests most of whom are heading for Hagrid's meaning you spend 60-90 minutes waiting for that.

If you're not in one of the three posh hotels, so don't have unlimited express, it can work if you want to get on Velocicoaster once or twice with minimal waits.

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Simster said:

There's no doubt that the Universal parks in the States are immense (I've been to both Florida and California) BUT I think that is unfair. With Universal, the queues are far, far worse than you'll ever see at our parks (and they are bad enough) UNLESS you literally drop hundreds of pounds on their queue beating passes.

In Florida, we paid for their fast track passes because we were on holiday, but it did leave a bitter taste in the mouth. It didn't make me feel good having a 15 minute wait rather than a 2 hour wait for rides. Money talks in the States more than anywhere else.

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Bozza said:

It's not early entry that's the main selling point of staying at Hard Rock, as well as the Royal Pacific Resort and Portofino Bay Resorts. Even the cheapest Universal hotels - and Endless Summer costs around a quarter, or less, of a night in the HR, RPR and PBR - come with early entry, it's the unlimited Express you get at the premium hotels.

We're annual pass holders at Universal Orlando (although we're letting the passes lapse as visits are now trickier) and always stay on-site, principally for the convenience of being able to walk to and from the parks, which also means no one has to drive home after some drinks in the parks and/or CityWalk.

We actually attach little value to early entry because it's Islands of Adventure only and then just Hagrid's, Velocoaster and Forbidden Journey. During school holidays at least, unless you get to the gates very early, ie a good 30-45 minutes ahead of the start of early entry, you'll just be behind a lot of other on-site guests most of whom are heading for Hagrid's meaning you spend 60-90 minutes waiting for that.

If you're not in one of the three posh hotels, so don't have unlimited express, it can work if you want to get on Velocicoaster once or twice with minimal waits.

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dazzer6666 said:

When we were there Hagrids (plus 'meet the Grinch') were the only rides excluded from the Express Pass. Hagrids queue was 90min within 30 mins of the (early) park opening

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Bozza said:

Yeah, they finally added Express to Velocicoaster a couple of years ago.

I do wonder if they will ever add it for Hagrid's as it's just so popular - the standby line would be (even more) horrendous. Maybe once Epic Universe has bedded in and crowds are split across three parks each day, they'll feel they'll be able to do so.

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Clive Walker said:

won't be the same without the fat, loud, annoying americans!

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dolphins said:

Looking at the concept art for the park, it suggests that the expansion to the second park will have the Harry Potter area (nothing obvious based on existing HP offerings in current/upcoming Universal parks) and potentially Nintendo land and the Mummy coaster, as three obvious omissions. Maybe there was a degree of them having to hold back HP to the second phase in an agreement with the studio at Leavesden, and the really excellent HP Studio Tour? There's also the new Monsters land at Epic which could have some bearing on what USGB will have.

It appears that the new Jurassic World ride could be in the large building to the left of Waterworld(? Or a new How To Train Your Dragon themed stunt show?) and the coaster - it's akin to the Spiderman/Transformers rides but apparently uses more physical effects than 3D film. With the UK climate, it makes more sense than the normal JP boat ride, or the one at USS which has you go around in a round raft and includes a large drop (when I rode this, I had my back to the plummet which made it more fun!).

All very tantalising for us theme park fans!

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jcdenton08 said:

I had the large show building in my mind as the Star Wars dark ride?

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dolphins said:

That's Disney...sadly.

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schmunk said:

Yet they're still not Happy...

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jcdenton08 said:

D’oh! Grandad moment! Spider-Man was awesome I recall, going over the edge of the building(?) at the end was amazing

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Nobby Cybergoat said:

Never been there. So, is this a bit like Paradise Park then? Not sure what the fuss is about?

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dolphins said:

The Transformers ride is very similar, with a ride vehicle going from scene to scene, and some cunning use of lifts to move to upper/lower floors without the riders generally being aware - means the building footprint can be smaller.

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Hamilton said:

Assume this means a new station will be constructed between Flitwick and Bedford.

I hope someone has mentioned it to Network Rail.

I’m sure Thameslink will be salivating.

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Hovegull said:

Two short platforms that can only take 4 car trains?

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