Confused about express pass?

[JakeAZ]

I almost hit the like button. But then I hate the idea, so ... Then I think you are right, so I want to like your comment. But then I hate the idea more

It's quite the conundrum!

 

[bchbetha]

I don’t care if I have to pay for them I just want fastpasses!!
But it would make sense if they did something similar to Universal - free for resorts or just deluxe resorts and everyone else pays.

They tried to do some fancy, really expensive thing about 2 years ago
Disney is just too big (too many hotels abd visitors) compared to Universal to be practical

 

[Rick195275]

Or just buy the primer annual pass. Come with EP after 4 pm, free parking and discounts on food. We went this week and only hit Universal after 4pm. We went to Disney springs during day.

Weren‘t parks at capacity early in the day this week? Do they reopen them later in the day? We would like to do exactly this towards the end of April but afraid if we don’t get there early we will get shut out.

 

[mamapenguin]

How do annual passes with the express passes work. Do we have to show our ID when we get on the rides? It seems like that would make the lines take longer to get through. Are the lines long? Since the passes don't work til after 4pm I want to make sure it's worth buying it.

Thy scan your AP it’s for one use per express attraction per day after 4. I never had to show ID. I think it’s very worth it, I just purchased new ones. You also get much better parking, 15% food and merchandise discounts and a HHN ticket valid on select event nights.

 

[only hope]

Also, totally off topic but how can universal make APs and express pass work but Disney can’t figure out APs and fast pass?

Many FP lines are adjacent to standby, a problem during a pandemic. At Universal, many express lines are not adjacent to standby. Ones that are have mostly been rerouted to keep people apart. The length of the space of standby queues are much longer at Universal, so even with distancing you don’t have lines of people everywhere on the walkways like at Disney. Fastpass makes standby lines longer, which means it is not feasible right now since lines are already outside the normal queues. Not as many people use Universal’s express pass compared to fp either.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

I believe we're going to find out the answer to that.....soon

I agree. Universals system works. Period. Disney could easily pull it off if they limited FP like Uni limits EP. DVC / Deluxe get unlimited. Moderate get one time per ride. Value gets 3 free like "The Old days". What is left over daily goes on sale in park for some outrageous price just like Universal does. With the pandemic and no FP, Disney now knows that people will still come to the parks and wait 2 hours for a ride so Now they can charge what they want for FP. And of course if they are included in your resort stay, you can count on a substantial price increase at the resorts.

 

[TreeFalls]

I agree. Universals system works. Period. Disney could easily pull it off if they limited FP like Uni limits EP. DVC / Deluxe get unlimited. Moderate get one time per ride. Value gets 3 free like "The Old days". What is left over daily goes on sale in park for some outrageous price just like Universal does. With the pandemic and no FP, Disney now knows that people will still come to the parks and wait 2 hours for a ride so Now they can charge what they want for FP. And of course if they are included in your resort stay, you can count on a substantial price increase at the resorts.

Yes, this should be the plan. We just got back from universal and have a trip planned to Disney in September, but are thinking of replacing the Disney trip with something else because after express pass we can't stomach the idea of waiting in long lines.

 

[yaya74]

They tried to do some fancy, really expensive thing about 2 years ago
Disney is just too big (too many hotels abd visitors) compared to Universal to be practical

Yes.. I paid for that 2 years ago when reserved viewing spot for nighttime spectacular was included. $600 for my family of 4 for 3 days. It was worthwhile hitting all the new rides (FOP, Navi's River, SDD) during our 4 day visit and we only go every other year. My family does not stay for fireworks at MK because of the wait and the crowd. So the special pass allowed my kids to witness the beauty of MK firework and they still talk about it years later.

 

[bchbetha]

Yes, this should be the plan. We just got back from universal and have a trip planned to Disney in September, but are thinking of replacing the Disney trip with something else because after express pass we can't stomach the idea of waiting in long lines.

I think a deluxe room at Disney is so expensive compared to the ones at Universal. That’s the nice thing about Universal- it can still be accessible. Yes, spring break rates are crazy at Universal but also at Disney. But, do you think Disney would give out an equivalent of an unlimited Express pass in a room a guest paid less than $300 for? Doubt it. The Disney trip with that perk would cost so much...I cringe thinking about how much they’d charge for that.

 

[kathy884]

The most comparable thing to buying a separate EP at Universal I think would probably be Disney's VIP tours.

Those Disney VIP tours last I read run $425 an hour for a minimum of 7 continuous hours for up to 10 people. So if you have 10 people, a seven hour unlimited fastpass would be $297.50 pp. Probably most of the VIP groups at Disney have less than 10, so pp cost of the EP (which is the VIP tour) would be more. And those costs like the Universal EPs are on top of park tickets.

The super high cost is going to mean not that many people will do it or at least I'm guessing that is what Disney is doing with this pricing.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Weren‘t parks at capacity early in the day this week? Do they reopen them later in the day? We would like to do exactly this towards the end of April but afraid if we don’t get there early we will get shut out.

I do have concerns about this with getting the AP that comes with the after 4 AP, but I've read on some other threads that the park does clear out and space to enter becomes available. My alternative plan is to stay one night at Royal Pacific, but I don't want to actually move resorts after just one night, and I don't want to pay for more than one night (conundrum).

Thy scan your AP it’s for one use per express attraction per day after 4. I never had to show ID. I think it’s very worth it, I just purchased new ones. You also get much better parking, 15% food and merchandise discounts and a HHN ticket valid on select event nights.

I think this is the AP I'm going to get. The AP site says "The 2-Park Premier Annual Pass also includes Universal Express after 4:00pm one (1) time per participating rides and attractions," and I'm presuming they mean once per ride per day. Is this correct?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I'm presuming they mean once per ride per day. Is this correct?

Yes

 

[shawthorne44]

The most comparable thing to buying a separate EP at Universal I think would probably be Disney's VIP tours.

Those Disney VIP tours last I read run $425 an hour for a minimum of 7 continuous hours for up to 10 people. So if you have 10 people, a seven hour unlimited fastpass would be $297.50 pp. Probably most of the VIP groups at Disney have less than 10, so pp cost of the EP (which is the VIP tour) would be more. And those costs like the Universal EPs are on top of park tickets.

The super high cost is going to mean not that many people will do it or at least I'm guessing that is what Disney is doing with this pricing.

Same with Universal.

When you think about it, there can only be a limited number of uses of front-of-the-line, otherwise the standby line comes to a grinding halt.
So, there are two options. Allow a very limited number of people front-of-the-line passes for all day (express passes), or allow a very limited number of passes for everyone (fast pass+). The Virtual Lines aren't really equivalent since you are sort of in line without being physically in line, although they are awesome.

One thing that bugs me a bit is I think Disney (and maybe Universal) sees long lines as good for them. Lines are a way to keep people occupied and a place for the crowds to go. You see it in them removing capacity from rides during slow seasons. That is very un-Walt thinking.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Yes

Thank you. It's interesting the official language doesn't say that, although it can very much be inferred.

 

[mamapenguin]

I think this is the AP I'm going to get. The AP site says "The 2-Park Premier Annual Pass also includes Universal Express after 4:00pm one (1) time per participating rides and attractions," and I'm presuming they mean once per ride per day. Is this correct?
[/QUOTE]
Yes you are correct. Since it starts at 4:00, I’ve never run out of stuff to do.

 

[klitteral2009]

Does anyone know if EP's are unavailable online for the date we're going, if they have any at all to try and get in the parks? Or if they ever open up unavailable days for a few more? I'm kicking myself for not getting them when I bought tickets about a month ago and I don't even care how ridiculously expensive they are at this point. We were so looking forward to our Harry Potter day but I'm terrified now that it's going to be an awful experience and we won't actually get to experience much because Universal has said screw it, open the floodgates I've got the money....I just need the passes!

 

[TommyJK]

Does anyone know if EP's are unavailable online for the date we're going, if they have any at all to try and get in the parks? Or if they ever open up unavailable days for a few more? I'm kicking myself for not getting them when I bought tickets about a month ago and I don't even care how ridiculously expensive they are at this point. We were so looking forward to our Harry Potter day but I'm terrified now that it's going to be an awful experience and we won't actually get to experience much because Universal has said screw it, open the floodgates I've got the money....I just need the passes!

What date are you going?

 

[klitteral2009]

What date are you going?

March 31 (yes I know, Spring Break, busy time)

 

[TommyJK]

March 31 (yes I know, Spring Break, busy time)

I see. I was checking to see if any of the Deluxe Hotels were available for just that one night (either 30th or 31st) but no luck.

I see the following as your only options (none of which are all that ideal/hopeful):

1. Keep checking constantly for a one night stay at any of the Deluxe Hotels either for the night of 30th, or 31st (which would mean you'd get express pass for the check-in and check-out day). You might get lucky and a last minute room cancellation happens that you can snap up.
2. Hope that they sell some in person at the park and try to get one right away when you get there. One of the questions you asked if they sell in the park even if sold out online. I don't know if they do or not so you might get lucky if they do.
3. Upgrade your ticket to a Premier Annual Pass. Premier Pass comes with free express pass after 4:00 PM (only the basic, one Express Pass per attraction, not unlimited).

 

[SwanVT2]

we have old 7 day tickets for Universal. How much would it cost to add EP to them (we really don't want to go to the park for that many days)