Can some explain express pass?

[boomhauer]

I've never used this at Universal before. In March, we'll be going for a weekend. I haven't been to UNiversal since 1996. We're arriving Friday morning, staying at La Quinta. Saturday, our plan is to check out of La Quinta at around 7:00AM, head over to the Royal Pacific around 8:00, check in (our room obviously won't be ready), get our room key, and head right to Universal. Our plans for Sunday is to head over to IOA after we check out in the morning.

I was told here that we would be able to use Express Plus UNlimited on Saturday after we check in. Will we be able to use it Sunday after we've checked out?

Is it really unlimited? In other words, can we use it to ride Mummy, get off the ride, and go right back and use it again for the Mummy? Or, is it like fastpass where they will assign us a time?

 

[gschmerl]

YOu can use your room key for express assess all day the day you check in and all day the day you check out. Just keep your key.
Yes...it is unlimited (except for Pterodon flyers). YOu can go on the rides/attrractions as many times as you want using your room key. No assigned times..just show your key and go to the express line.

 

[sha_lyn]

In peak times they do limit the use sometimes. On one trip it was 1x per each ride before 11 am. Another trip I believe it was in the evening.
I believe both times it wasn't all rides/attractions, but just those that had long express lines. Only 2 ride that I know for afact that were effected was Hulk in IOA and ROTM in US

 

[Timmy Boy]

Well actually, the 1x use is for the Express Passes that guests can purchase, and are NOT the room keys. Those are limited to one time on each attraction. The room keys allow unlimited access to every attraction (Except P-Flyers) as many times as you want.

 

[sha_lyn]

Well actually, the 1x use is for the Express Passes that guests can purchase, and are NOT the room keys. Those are limited to one time on each attraction. The room keys allow unlimited access to every attraction (Except P-Flyers) as many times as you want.
__________________

well actually no I wasn't talking about he passes you purchase. I am talking about using your room key. In peak times they have limited the use to 1x before 11 am or 1x per hour. I was there and experienced it myself on more than one occasion.

 

[phamton]

The only time I remember where it was limited was (I believe) two summers ago. As far as I know there has not been a restriction on it since then. I'm wondering if you just happened to get a team member that wasn't familiar with hotel room key privileges,

 

[mickeysgirl17]

If I buy US express passes when I get there, does it cost more than it would online? Do they sell out? We're going this weekend! I'm just going for 1 day. We're not staying on property.

 

[sha_lyn]

No, we actually discussed it here when it was going on.
1 expereince was on Hulk during the summer of 05. They were limiting FOTL to 1 time before 11am. Other time was on Mummy during the evening. They were scanning the cards and limiting it to 1x per hr if I remember correctly.
Others had similar experiences during the same time peroids.

 

[phamton]

1 expereince was on Hulk during the summer of 05. They were limiting FOTL to 1 time before 11am. Other time was on Mummy during the evening. They were scanning the cards and limiting it to 1x per hr if I remember correctly.
Others had similar experiences during the same time peroids.

Sha_lyn, you are too cute. That was the time I was referring to. This is what I said

The only time I remember where it was limited was (I believe) two summers ago.

That is the one and only time I think they ever limited it. There was a public outcry and I seriously doubt they'll do that again.

In answer to the express pass that you purchase: In most cases it is the same price online as at the park. Yes, it can sell out. As long as you are there before noon it is not likely to be sold out. I'd certainly wait and see if I needed it.

 

[sha_lyn]

LOL....
The other time, on ROTM I believe was another trip. Could have been that Dec but I wouldn't swear to it. What stands out about the ROTM "incident" was while they were scanning my key, the guy behind me pushed around me and took off running through the express Q. We figured it was a line jumper from the regular line, because the wait time was over 2 hrs.

So there was an outcry.... I see both sides. Our first trip was the spring break '01 I believe. The Express lines were 30-45min for the higher demand rides, while the regular lines were 2.5hrs or more. If riding was slightly restricted, such as to 1x per hr, I could see it helping.

 

[phamton]

Oh it would definitely help. But the one summer they did limit it, there were waaaaay too many complaints. I remember many complaints right here on this board. Most people stay onsite for the FOTL and they don't take kindly to having it limited. They haven't limited FOTL since the fateful summer of 2005.

 

[boomhauer]

I know I wouldn't take kindly to it being limited. I'm staying onsite only for this benefit, and at nearly $400 a night, they better not restrict it.

 

[angela3676]

Amen, Boomhauer,

I just got my DH to do a split stay, POP/RPR. We ususally go to Universal Studios when we visit Disney. So this time I wanted to stay on property and take advantage of the FOTL benefit. If FOTL was not offered I think I would just stay at POP for my entire trip which is what we actually had planned in the beginning.