Disappointed with USF/IOA express pass

[Muushka]

Call me goofy. Just poor planning on my part. I had no idea that USF/IOA no longer dispensed express passes. We were there in Sept, but got there early so we didn't need any and didn't notice that there were no longer any dispensing machines for them!

We figured Jan, not too bad, soooo wrong! We are not line people, so needless to say, we didn't get to ride many rides. I did my Hulk and Mummy and a couple of others, but just walked around for the most part.

In conclusion, I am disappointed in USF that they make you either pay or stay on site in order to be able to ride the rides and not have 60 minute waits. That, to me, is sad. We have AP's, so the only way we can use them is to get there right when the parks open. My husband is not one to get up early! He will deal!!!

I am also surprised at the crowds in early Jan. I thought that was a slow time?

Then they took the tree down at Wilderness Lodge. So we never got to see it. Last Jan trip for us!

Sorry to be such a whiner. The weather has been great!

 

[Metro West]

Call me goofy. Just poor planning on my part. I had no idea that USF/IOA no longer dispensed express passes. We were there in Sept, but got there early so we didn't need any and didn't notice that there were no longer any dispensing machines for them!

We figured Jan, not too bad, soooo wrong! We are not line people, so needless to say, we didn't get to ride many rides. I did my Hulk and Mummy and a couple of others, but just walked around for the most part.

In conclusion, I am disappointed in USF that they make you either pay or stay on site in order to be able to ride the rides and not have 60 minute waits. That, to me, is sad. We have AP's, so the only way we can use them is to get there right when the parks open. My husband is not one to get up early! He will deal!!!

I am also surprised at the crowds in early Jan. I thought that was a slow time?

Then they took the tree down at Wilderness Lodge. So we never got to see it. Last Jan trip for us!

Sorry to be such a whiner. The weather has been great!

The free Express Passes haven't been around since 2005 because the lines got too long and all the passes were usually distributed early in the day. I have an AP and never use the EP's except during HHN. Sorry you didn't know that. The lines aren't usually too bad but if you expect to not wait in any lines, I don't think the free EP's would have helped you either. I don't think you're whining...you were just uniformed...happens to lots of people.

Yes...the weather has been great but it's turning cooler now and will be even cooler next week...if you're still here.

 

[Muushka]

Thanks!

Yup, we are still here. Visited USF today. I really should have paid closer attention to the express pass situation! And I figured I would post this just in case there was someone else like myself who had not realized the change (the 4 year old change!) Last time we were there was in 2004, no wonder we didn't know! Thanks for not making me feel like a dork. I think I will get rid of the word VERY in my OP!

 

[damo]

We always recommend that people get to the parks before opening to try to take advantage of those first few hours. You can ride the really popular rides then and later on, you can ride the ones that don't have such a big line. You just learn to work the system.

Because of the unlimited express given to those who stay onsite, it just wasn't possible to have the free express as well. You can really only have one or the other for the system to work.

 

[nodoubtrock]

yes, jan attendance will slow down. i think mid-late jan is the 2nd slowest park attendance time period all year.

attendance is slowing down a lot already since hell week of after christmas-new years time but this is the reason why the waits are still high..
the rides are using less staff, having only 1 side open of the track- not both - that is why you still get high wait times for ET even..and accomodating less people at a time.

 

[Muushka]

yes, jan attendance will slow down. i think mid-late jan is the 2nd slowest park attendance time period all year.

attendance is slowing down a lot already since hell week of after christmas-new years time but this is the reason why the waits are still high..
the rides are using less staff, having only 1 side open of the track- not both - that is why you still get high wait times for ET even..and accomodating less people at a time.

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

and.. Disney usually takes their decorations down by Jan3-6th time frame (not sure of exact dates anymore).... so if you want to see them and not pay thru the nose, do a mid December trip. Less money & less crowds, you will see all the Christmas decorations at both, Disney & Universal...

 

[Muushka]

and.. Disney usually takes their decorations down by Jan3-6th time frame (not sure of exact dates anymore).... so if you want to see them and not pay thru the nose, do a mid December trip. Less money & less crowds, you will see all the Christmas decorations at both, Disney & Universal...

Yes, this is the first time since 1992 we didn't go either week 1 or week 2 of Dec. A few years back we visited VWL on Jan 11th and the decorations were still up. Silly me, I figured they would still be there on the 4th. They had them up at BCV, but down at VWL. Go figure......

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Yes, this is the first time since 1992 we didn't go either week 1 or week 2 of Dec. A few years back we visited VWL on Jan 11th and the decorations were still up. Silly me, I figured they would still be there on the 4th. They had them up at BCV, but down at VWL. Go figure......

I hear what you are saying, but they start taking them down and it all depends on when that particular resorts will get taken down. They cannot do all of them over night or on one day. I think they have a certian crew that do it.. not sure. Many years ago they did leave them up longer, but times have changed drasticly. Just as Universal started making Jan 1st the last day for Grinchmas... that use to run to the 6th I think... I know I had seen it after the holidays.