Many new rides have ups and downs in the early days. Diagon Alley's Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts is no exception. The attraction wasn't fully functional during the media/VIP preview last month or during employee peeks that followed. But that was before the July 8 grand opening and perhaps not a fair criticism. I mean, it wasn't open yet.
Since opening day, it has functioned relatively consistently with burps along the way. But it's also had a remarkable, mind-numbingly long line, one that winds through the theme park and even into backstage areas. A sign of encouragement: The wait was "only" 120 minutes on Monday.
OK, the ride is complicated and requires extreme coordination between moving vehicles and related on-screen action. The more moving parts there are, the more ways things can go wrong. How often does your computer whack out on you? It's easy to imagine causes for delays.
I want to be confident, or better yet, "beyond confident" as Universal Creative President said on opening day. Without Gringotts or "EFG," as fanboys say what holds my attention?
To be fair, I thought the same thing four years ago about Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at the original Wizarding World. That turned out fine.
Is that all?
Die-hard Potter fans, near and far, will embrace Diagon Alley. Its much-lauded, much-repeated "attention to detail" works for Potterheads. The ambience gets them. As we've seen already in Hogsmeade, robed fans are happy to stand and stare at J.K. Rowling's fictional world come to life.
I wonder about the casual Potter acquaintances, the ones who have purchased all the Potter merchandise they'll ever want. Now what? The stage shows in the attraction's Carkitt Market are a good idea and help spread the crowd throughout the area. Is that all?
And is butterbeer so four years ago?
Can I outrun the train?
The Hogwarts Express train connects the two sides of Wizarding World. It's a short trip. But what if it's a long line to get on board?
From Hogsmeade, one must walk from Wizarding World I, through Lost Continent, Seuss Landing and Port of Entry, then across the width of , through the Universal Studios turnstiles, up Plaza of the Stars, cutting through the New York sets and San Francisco area before arriving at Diagon Alley.
Reported turnaround times for Hogwarts Express would appear to beat that time. I might take my chances under my own power to Diagon but ride the rail to Hogsmeade. After all, the train station (a.k.a. that giant queue) on the Studios side is mostly air-conditioned.
Butterbeer float, anyone?
Universal doesn't offer a butterbeer float. Robert Egols of the Amusement Buzz blog suggested to me that guests could make their own using the original butterbeer concoction mixed with the new butterbeer-flavored soft-serve ice cream.
I'm in sugar shock considering it. Any survivors out there?
What's next?
I hate myself for asking that. It buys into the "what have you done for me lately" mentality. Besides create a first-of-its-kind multimillion-dollar attraction? And yet there's talk (but zero confirmation) of all sorts of things, including a King Kong ride, another Jurassic Park experience, a fifth Universal hotel or an expansion of the new Cabana Bay resort and a water park.
At the media preview,
Oakley Sunglasses Cheap, an all-smiles Woodbury said he just wanted to savor the moment.
Translation: Stay tuned.
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