Any recent visitors to Univeral Studios with a GAP?

[mamaminnie]

I searched but could only find answers from 2005.

Has anyone used a GAP or GAC at Universal Studios recently?

My son really wants to go for his 10th birthday- he's a huge roller coaster fan-- but he is also autistic and we use a GAC at disney to skip certain preshows and lines that are too close/dark/loud for him.

Any advice would be great.

TIA.

 

[Figaro]

I am far from an expert on Universal, but my understanding is that most of their rides have a quiet room for people who have difficulty in lines to wait in for the same amount of time that they would have waited for the ride. I'm sure someone who knows more will be along to correct me if I am wrong about this.

What is great about Universal, is if you stay at one of their three on-site hotels you get unlimited express passes (their version of the fastpass) on all of the rides but one (that is a children's ride that doesn't have it). You can go on the rides as many times in a row as you want if you stay on site. You can also purchase an express pass for the day, but that only allows you to use the express pass line one time for each ride, not multiple times the way that staying on-site does.

Hope that helps!

 

[phamton]

You will need to stop at Guest services once you are inside the parks:
Universal has GAP (Guest Assistance Passes). You do not need a doctor's note just be able to tell them what assistance you need at Guest Services.

There are several types of GAP offered:

Stroller as a wheelchair (you can take your stroller right through the line without transferring to a wheelchair)

Show GAP (Special seating at shows--usually right up front for visually or hearing impaired)

Stairs GAP (for those rides that have stairs in the queue, you can use the elevator)

Familyroom GAP (where you wait in an airconditioned room with a few other family members while the rest of your family goes through the queue--then you join them at the front of the line)

Express GAP which is essentially like a fast pass at Disney all day (6 people maximum)

VIP Gap (back door access--mostly for Make a Wish Kids or Give Kids the World)

Depending on your needs, I would think a family room GAP would work best. The express GAP just puts you in the express entrance which can be crowded and noisy. You'll need to talk to a Guest Service coordinator and let him/her know what accomodations would work best for your son. You may even need a combination of two types of GAPs.

 

[mamaminnie]

Thanks to you both for the quick answers, I can always count on the DIS!

Figaro- I know about the express passes but this year those hotels are out of the budget-- better a low budget trip than no trip right?

Phantom- thanks for the great answer.