Are Universal Tickets Non-Transferable?

[erincon23]

We are considering going to Orlando during spring break (I know, but DS16 is going with his school for the first half of the week, and we're picking him up when they leave and spending the rest of the week). DH and I want to go to Universal one day to see the HP stuff, and DS will go with his group one day. I just looked at the ticket prices, and it's not that much more to add the 2+1 day free ticket. However, I KNOW I will not want to go more than one day. But DH and DS might -- can DS use the rest of my ticket, or is it like Disney, where you can't transfer your ticket? If it's allowed, that might be a good option. If not, we'll just buy the one-day tix.

 

[Capt_BJ]

I seem to recall they do the fingerprint scan thing . . . been about a year since I've been there tho

 

[erincon23]

The last time we were there was 4 years ago (it'll be 5 by the time we go next spring), and they didn't do the finger scan thing then, but I just found a thread talking about finger scans at Universal. That would answer my question then, with a "no."

 

[damo]

Yes, biometric scanners are used at Universal, so the tickets are non-transferable.

 

[brenda1966]

Those biometric scanners are the biggest hunk of junk ever! 3 park entries on the same day and not once did it ever work for me! So annoying how they hold up the line, make you wipe your finger and try over and over and over again. Grrr!

That said, even when they don't work, they do have means to "check" your ticket. When we first used them we had to write our names on the ticket. When the scanner wouldn't work for me they had me show ID and compared the name to the name on the ticket.

Non-transferrable. And I think SeaWorld uses the same defective scanners that Universal has. LOL. Why do the Disney scanners work and Sea World and US don't??

 

[damo]

Those biometric scanners are the biggest hunk of junk ever! 3 park entries on the same day and not once did it ever work for me! So annoying how they hold up the line, make you wipe your finger and try over and over and over again. Grrr!

That said, even when they don't work, they do have means to "check" your ticket. When we first used them we had to write our names on the ticket. When the scanner wouldn't work for me they had me show ID and compared the name to the name on the ticket.

Non-transferrable. And I think SeaWorld uses the same defective scanners that Universal has. LOL. Why do the Disney scanners work and Sea World and US don't??

Maybe because they are just way more forgiving---or don't really measure at all. I've heard of people using other people's tickets and having them still work.

 

[macraven]

believe me, the motherland scanners don't always work.

i spent 8 days there in october and all but 2 days did i have issues with the cm's scanning my tickets.

 

[SammySlythers]

Why do the Disney scanners work and Sea World and US don't??

Because Disney turns their scanners off during peak entry periods in order to shorten entry lines as much as possible but still lets the turnstiles tell you to put your finger on the scanner and just okays you through without actually doing its job. Most of the time during morning rush or right before parade/fireworks when people are coming back in the scanners aren't really scanning anything therefore you perceive that the Disney scanner is faster when in reality it's just turned off. (Also, it's possible certain other companies have scanners that are actually intended for indoor use and not recommended for extreme heat, cold, or wind...)

 

[macraven]

well, i didn't go during a peak time or morning. it usually happened around 11:30, before noon.

it really held up the line behind me as the cm had another cm come over to help with my ticket scanning.

i got in okay, nothing was wrong with my ticket but the scanner.

 

[brenda1966]

Because Disney turns their scanners off during peak entry periods in order to shorten entry lines as much as possible ....)

Seems like the smart thing to do! I felt so bad for the US ticket takers that cold morning because they all seemed to be having trouble getting the scanner to read any of our cold fingers. How frustrating for them to have to ask over and over to scan your finger while people in line get mad waiting.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ah yes, the cold mornings. We always spent time warming up our fingers! Worked just fine with warm fingers.

 

[Metro West]

That said, even when they don't work, they do have means to "check" your ticket. When we first used them we had to write our names on the ticket. When the scanner wouldn't work for me they had me show ID and compared the name to the name on the ticket.

Non-transferrable. And I think SeaWorld uses the same defective scanners that Universal has. LOL. Why do the Disney scanners work and Sea World and US don't??

You're right Brenda...Universal scanners have never worked properly since they were installed back in 2005. I can't tell you how many times the TMs at the gate have had to try my AP before the scanner takes it. I have the old AP with my picture on it so having an ID isn't that big a deal but it is frustrating. And it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the weather. I've gone in all types of weather and had problems. I know it's not the TM's fault so I never yell at them but rather play the "let's see how many times it's gonna take to scan" game.

Disney turns theirs off most of the time and I can't speak to SW since I haven't been there for a while.

 

[damo]

I never seem to have an issue with the scanner but one certain member of our group often does. In the many years that we've been going, we've had to show ID twice.

 

[aubriee]

We just got back from Orlando this past Sunday. I had trouble with my AP three times (twice at IOA and once at the Studios). My husband had trouble twice (once at each park). Every time we had to show ID, then they let us in.

However, we both also had trouble several times with the scanners over at WDW, recognizing our WDW APs. It got to be a joke, where we'd argue that it was the other person's turn to have trouble getting in.