Are the New Universal Express Plus passes worth it?

[Fastpass 1]

Was trying to find out if anyone had any good information about this new Express Plus pass Universal is advertising on its web site. While they don't say how much it costs, it sounds like it works just like staying a Universal Resort. I'm a big fan of Disney's FASTPASS system..so I'm very curious to see how different it is. I've got just a few more months before my vacation...so any help you can give would be nice.

So here's my questions to those knowledgeable....

1) How much was it, and did you think it was worth it? Would you do it again?

2) What’s the difference in paying for the Plus option, instead of just doing the free version?

3) Would I hate myself for not doing it, while I was waiting in the normal line?

4) how does it compare to the fastpass system at disney?

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

I never bought the Fast Pass, but here are my personal answers. Someone correct me if I interpreted this all wrong

1) How much was it, and did you think it was worth it? Would you do it again?

I hear they are about $25 per person, per park, per day during peak season.

2) What’s the difference in paying for the Plus option, instead of just doing the free version?

With the Plus, you get a card that they sign (or do they scan?) that allows for one Express pass per ride that day. With the free Express, you have to go up to machines to get a pass and they usually are out by lunchtime. Since you can only get 1 every 2 hours, or after you used your other pass(or it expired), good chance you won't get Express for all your rides.

3) Would I hate myself for not doing it, while I was waiting in the normal line?

You may hate waiting in regular line and then watch people going in Express, BUT, since it sounds to me that you can only use the Express Plus once per ride, then you'd be reverting back to regular line after using it. Some rides it doesn't really matter. It all depends on the situation. Again, you can just get free Express passes for the more popular rides and save the money.

4) how does it compare to the fastpass system at disney?

The Express you get from machines is free, like Disney's Fastpass, I hear it works the same (last time I went to Disney they didn't even have Fastpass! So I can't compare really). I'm not sure if Disney's "sell out" like Universal does. So you have to get your Express passes for free ASAP for certain rides or just buy the Express Plus.

I would not think it would be just like the Resorts FOTL since that would COMPLETELY ruin the perk they offer, which is why I strongly believe they can only use the Express pass once.

If there are a few people going in your group, skip Express and get a hotel room. By the time you get the Express Plus per person per park per day, you could afford a night at one of the resorts and have 2 full days of FOTL. Of course, it may be equivilent to the Entertainment rate, but no reason you couldn't get that if you buy the book.


Am I right?

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We bought the Kodak cameras with the Universal Express Pass vouchers in them, and they are good for one ride for each voucher. I think it's 5 rides in each park, and the camera was only about $9 instead of the $25 at the park, and the ones in the camera don't expire until Feb. 28, 2004.