Can someone explain the FOTL pass to me? :)

[hayanyujah847]

I have never been to US/IOA with the front of the line pass...can someone explain it to me? With the pass, approximately how long do you wait? Thanks in advance

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I'm going to say that it depends on what ride and what time of year you are going. In 2004, we went in late June and waited about 10 minutes on the major rides mid day. In the mornings, there was no wait at all (we rode DD 5 times in the front row without even using express). The Mummy was new and kept going down, so those lines were up to 45 minutes. The regular lines mid day were over an hour.

Usually we are at Universal at the end of August. At that time, I can't remember waiting for more than 5 minutes for any of the rides.

We haven't been since 2004, and I'm hoping that things haven't changed much because we will be there at the end of June this year using the express lines!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

The equivalent of FP over at WDW (I use this as a reference because of the picture in your siggie). But obviously you just walk up to the EP (FOTL) line; you don't have to get a ticket, kill time and then go back. If you're staying onsite, you can use it unlimited on most rides (the dinosaur flyer ride in IOA for kids, I don't believe you can use it on).

We used it two weeks ago where the waits varied from 10 to 90 minutes. Spiderman at one point was a 70 minute wait. We got on the ride in about five or ten minutes using FOTL.

Using FOTL for any of the show-type rides (Twister, Posiedan and Shrek come to mind), FOTL will basically put you in the next large group to enter the show/ride.

 

[hayanyujah847]

Thanks for all the help! I didn't realize you could use it for shows, too Great!

We are staying @ the RPR for the second leg of our WDW/US trip!

 

[Notatourist]

Express' prices tend to vary, depending on time of year, and what it does is allow you a smaller line, sometimes a minute or two, sometimes longer, depending on time of year to board the ride.

If you want no lines at all, take the VIP tour.

 

[patster734]

Thanks for all the help! I didn't realize you could use it for shows, too Great!

We are staying @ the RPR for the second leg of our WDW/US trip!

You're RPR room key will be your FOTL pass. Flash your room key to the line attendant and they'll let you into the EXPRESS line. All members of the family using the EXPRESS line will have to show their own room key. If you have any children staying with you at RPR, they will be given a room key at time of check-in.

 

[motofox4]

We're staying off-site so I was wondering if anyone thinks we might need to purchase an express (FOTL) pass for the 2nd week of December?? I mean, do you think the lines will be that long that we'll need to use them?? They're only $25 or so each so it's not that big of a deal to buy them, but I'm just wondering if we'll look stupid using them when there's no need to have them!!

 

[patster734]

We're staying off-site so I was wondering if anyone thinks we might need to purchase an express (FOTL) pass for the 2nd week of December?? I mean, do you think the lines will be that long that we'll need to use them?? They're only $25 or so each so it's not that big of a deal to buy them, but I'm just wondering if we'll look stupid using them when there's no need to have them!!

Second week in December should not be crowded so you probably don't need to buy them. One option is wait and see what the crowds are like when you arrive, and then purchase them at the park if you feel that the park is crowded.

 

[motofox4]

that is a good idea to wait to see what the crowds are like, i'm just worried that in case it is busy for whatever reason, we'll get there and not have the passes and then try to buy them and they'll be sold out of them (don't they only sell so many per day???)... it was so much easier last year when we went at the end of summer and kinda figured it'd be crowded so we just purchased them ahead of time knowing the crowds wouldn't be all that low.

 

[patster734]

that is a good idea to wait to see what the crowds are like, i'm just worried that in case it is busy for whatever reason, we'll get there and not have the passes and then try to buy them and they'll be sold out of them (don't they only sell so many per day???)... it was so much easier last year when we went at the end of summer and kinda figured it'd be crowded so we just purchased them ahead of time knowing the crowds wouldn't be all that low.

Yes, they do sell a limited amount. Do you mind me asking how many people will be in your party and are you an AAA member? Staying on property might actually be a viable option to buying the express pass, especially if you can get an AAA rate.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

We're staying off-site so I was wondering if anyone thinks we might need to purchase an express (FOTL) pass for the 2nd week of December?? I mean, do you think the lines will be that long that we'll need to use them?? They're only $25 or so each so it's not that big of a deal to buy them, but I'm just wondering if we'll look stupid using them when there's no need to have them!!

We went the second week of December the year before last, and the parks were a ghost town. We stayed off site.

I know I've got some pictures of it. We took pictures of the empty streets and pathways all day. It was really surreal. We felt like the Griswalds for a minute, thinking we arrived and the parks were closed.

Based on our visit at that time and even with travel up nationwide, I seriously doubt you'd need to purchase any type of EP or spend the extra money to stay onsite. Save that money for a busier time when it's really needed

 

[wicket2005]

I would say it depends on the time you are arriving at the parks. The last two years we have gone in July and had walk ons or very short wait times for all the rides but this is when we have arrived at the park before opening times. We felt there was no need for FOTL passes. However, if going into a park after about 11.30 am the lines then were considerably longer, notably water rides, then FOTL passes would be advantageous.

This year we are staying at the Royal Pacific so it will be fantastic to be able to go into the parks in an afternoon and get on the rides straightaway.

 

[Halle]

We're going mid August, wondering what the crowds will be like.