can only buy express pass for 1 park which?

[mackay_j]

We are going to uiversal between xmas and new year, I know it will be very busy so I have decided to treat the family to express passes for a day. we can go to the parks for quite a few visits, but can only really justify the money for 1 set of express passes. Which park should I buy the pass for?

Also do they have passes that can be bought for jan1-3rd as cant get them up online.

I also cant get any prices for quick passes for busch gardens are they still available, I would like one for that park as we had such a bad experience there the last time, due me being taken off a ride to give space to pass holder, but they would not let my girls off as they were seated infront of me, -it was there first coaster ever and one was in a state by the time I got down to her (2 shots later, as the pass holder, whom I am sure was a friend of the cast member got to ride again!!!!!). The fright of me not being around for while after she got off then caused her to go into a diabetic hypo- the day was a disaster and I will only go back if we can buy fast passes. To top it all of the lady who got to ride, was under the influence and came right up to us and had a go at me for complaining to the cast member for letting her stay on- And she did this agressively while I was trying to deal with my daughter!!!! In BG defence someone in the cafe got a member of staff and she and her friends were removed. However, we left soon afterwards and even although we had a tickets and were staying in clearwater to go again we did not return. 3 years later and with older girls I am willing to give it another go- with a quick pass!!

 

[Thumper_Man]

Me preferably, I would buy tickets for IOA. Just be aware, that the 1 day 1 park Express Pass only lets you bypass the line to each ride once only for the entire day. So if you wanted to ride Hulk twice, you can by pass the line once, and then have to wait in the regular line the 2nd go round.

I went to Universal's site, don't seem like they're selling the Express Pass for January yet. Looks like they're only selling for November and December at the moment. I would keep checking back constantly though, as you never know when they might go on sale. My guess would be at the beginning of next month.

Like you I didn't see any quick passes available for BG. Best thing would be to call them or send them an e-mail asking them. If you go to their CONTACT US page, you can complete their online form and they will get back to you. Or their 800 number is posted to call them.

 

[Metro West]

We are going to uiversal between xmas and new year, I know it will be very busy so I have decided to treat the family to express passes for a day. we can go to the parks for quite a few visits, but can only really justify the money for 1 set of express passes. Which park should I buy the pass for?

Also do they have passes that can be bought for jan1-3rd as cant get them up online.

After January 1st the crowds will diminish somewhat but since you're going on that weekend, the crowds will still be there. I would wait and purchase at the parks since they are date specific and can not be refunded. Get to the parks early and go on what you want and then if the lines start getting too long for you, purchase the EP. In other words...if you get there early (before opening) you might be able to do what you want in one park and then jump over to the other and purchase the EP.

 

[steve101]

Obviously it is dependant on crowds but I visited both in July and the express pass would have been quite a bit more use at IOA. Hulk, Spiderman, Dueling Dragons , Dudley Do Right all develop lengthy queues.

Didn't really have a problem at Universal with waiting having done The Simpsons and The Mummy early on. This was before RRR which will have big lines but as I understand it that doesnt support Express Pass anyway. Some of the attractions are high capacity shows that don't suffer from queues in the same way as IOA, which is all rides.

 

[lachica]

...as the pass holder, whom I am sure was a friend of the cast member got to ride again!!!!

Mackay, the person was probably a platinum passort holder. Their benefits include ride again privileges for: Gwazi, Kumba, Montu, and Sheikra.

 

[mackay_j]

Mackay, the person was probably a platinum passort holder. Their benefits include ride again privileges for: Gwazi, Kumba, Montu, and Sheikra.

Yes I know that she was, but the staff at BG assured me that it is not their policy to take people back off rides after they get on and are strapped in, especially if it means splitting a party. It created a nightmare situation for us when the cast member refused to let my girls off as well as me. My problem was- 2 girls one aged 10 on first coaster so had to ride with someone and the older one age 14 diabetic so had to ride with someone. Thus I had to put them together and sat myself behide them so that I could reasure them/ check on the older one. After I was taken off the youngest one went mental on the ride and the older one couldn't cope so her sugars plumeted and se was nearly out of it by the time I got off. No guest should expect people to be removed so that they can ride. The guest in question was creating a fuss before she got on complaining that because she had something/ pass or disability (not sure which she should not have to wait any longer- so I was asked to give up my seat). She should have been told to wait until the next ride and then she could have been put on ahead of the line.

It took us 2 hrs before my daughter was fully recovered and by that time we just wanted to go back to the hotel.

 

[steve101]

I got turfed off Kraken at Sea World to make room for express people which was the only really poor bit of customer service I experienced at any of the parks. It is somewhat embarrassing and completely unnecessary, surely the people with express pass could have waited for the next loading? It left me with a bad impression of Sea World in comparison to Disney(who easily had the best customer service) and Universal who were pretty good. People should never be taken off rides when they already strapped in and basically made to feel second class.

Is this experience actually common at Sea World/Busch?

 

[lachica]

Mackay: In no way, shape, or form was I condoning the actions of the employees you had to deal with. It was horrible what occurred to your daughter – and am glad that the situation did not end up worse.

The only reason I posted was to inform of the Platinum passport benefits, as I’ve gotten the dirty looks from guests waiting while I rode again. But I have never witness nor allow them to take a member of the party out of the ride to make room for me. That’s just absurd!

I know there's other platinum passport members on the uni boards, maybe they can share the policy.