Can Express Passes be used after their "window" expires?

[mchames]

Last summer at WDW, I discovered that a Fastpass could be used anytime after the window on the pass started even significantly later in the day. We found this out when we had gotten a FP for Pooh and it was for the same time as our PS at LTT, the CM told us we could come back anytime after that. We wound up doing this for the rest of the trip, enabling us to get FP's early in the day when they were readily available and using them at our leisure.

Is this possible at US/IOA? I ask, because there are some rides that Either my DH or myself would like to do but are inapprporiate for our DD5 & DD7 (too scary or they don't meet the height requirement). We were thinking of getting Express Passes early in the morning for these (ex: Mummy, T2:3D) and then taking turns using them later in the afternoon while one of us watches the girls at Curious George. Would this work or do they need to be used within their specific window?


Thanks in advance.
Mary

 

[Bill Lumbergh]

I know it works for FastPasses, but I've never tried it with Universal Express passes. Here is my assumption...if the ride breaks down during your Universal Express period, then you should be able to come back later in the day with your Express pass and ride it anytime that day. It seems good customer service to me. Does anyone know for sure?

 

[phamton]

Most of the rides will accept an expired express pass. Just like at Disney, most will accept them but even at Disney, you may get someone who won't.

 

[gschmerl]

I've seen people turned away at WDW if they arrived at the attraction after the "time window" on their express pass. I think it all depends on the CM's mood!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I know it works for FastPasses, but I've never tried it with Universal Express passes. Here is my assumption...if the ride breaks down during your Universal Express period, then you should be able to come back later in the day with your Express pass and ride it anytime that day. It seems good customer service to me. Does anyone know for sure?

That is true.

 

[robvia]

I've seen people turned away at WDW if they arrived at the attraction after the "time window" on their express pass. I think it all depends on the CM's mood!

Great story, wow. At Disney, they also won't let you go before your pass time, even if it's 1 minute. I kid you not. When I visited DCA and went to ride ToT, I had an express pass. The guard looked at it, and said I'd have to wait. I literally sat on a bench under the clock, until the minute passed and the time was exact.

 

[mchames]

Thanks for all of the responses. It sounds like the general consensus is that it is possible, but really depends upon the whim of the CM working the ride. So, we will play it by ear and if necessary ask the specific ride operator when we get the express pass if we will be able to use the pass after the window expires. If not we'll try to make it back during the window.

I was just hoping that since my husband and I each want to ride different rides that our DD's won't be able to ride, we could take turns watching them at Curious George/Feivel while the other is on their ride. I'm just not sure if I would be able to coordinate express pass times.

Thanks again.
Mary

 

[phamton]

I would guess-timate that 95% of the ride operators at both Universal and Disney will take the expired passes.

 

[Universal FReak]

They also on occasion will take passes ahead of time. By this I mean if you are a half an hour or so ahead of time they accept the pass at universal. This is how it goes as far as ride vreak downs. If a ride breaks down during your express pass time window they will honor it later. If you have already used your pass and they ripped, marked, or have taken your express pass and there is a ride break down a supervisor comes out with rainchecks that you can either save for the current ride you are waiting for or for any other universal studios attraction. This actually happened yesterday for us at spiderman. The ride had a severe break down and we used our raincheck for the incredible hulk.

 

[goofy!]

Mchames,

The other nice thing about the Express pass that WDW doesn't have is that Express pass offers you a choice of two different windows to return when you print your pass. The very few times we have pulled express passes I have found that one choice would be for a relatively soon window and the other choice would be later in the day. For instance, we pulled a pass for Hulk at 10am. One return choice was 11 - 12am, the other choice was 2 - 3pm. So, you may find that you can choose a window that is later in the afternoon and not even have to worry about using an expired pass.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

They also on occasion will take passes ahead of time. By this I mean if you are a half an hour or so ahead of time they accept the pass at universal.

That's a little TOO early. Generally 10-15 mins early is acceptable. Just don't try to use a 530-630 pass at 315.

 

[Universal FReak]

It really depends on who is working. I have gone 30 minutes early before and actually many times. Sometimes they will start to say "no come back in a few minutes," but then they just end up letting me in. I have tried to use early express passes before and have been able to. The only times when it didn't work were when it was an hour ahead of the time period.

 

[phamton]

Universal Freak, they are not supposed to let you in early. They have probably done it for you because you are only one person. I certainly wouldn't try it with a large group.