Did Express Pass replace the free fast pasting system at Universal?

[djm99]

I haven't been to US since 2002. Last time I was there, they had a fast pass system similar to that in WDW. Now, I'm on US website and it has something called Express Pass(which cost $$$). Did the express pass replace the free fast passing system at Universal?

 

[Slacking]

1- Its always been called Universal Express, or Express Pass.

2- The version that cost extra (Express Pass Plus) has been around for awhile.

3- Free Express pass has been discontinued as of Last Fall.

So yes, Express Passes that were free have been phased out and the extra cost Express passes are the only option besides staying on-site.

If you tour the parks in a smart manner though, you can save your $20-$30 that isn't necessary to spend on the passes.

 

[djm99]

So yes, Express Passes that were free have been phased out and the extra cost Express passes are the only option besides staying on-site.

That is the craziest mess I've ever heard. You have to pay to "Fast/Express Pass". What was Universal thinking? And why didn't the die hard Universal fans beat down thier door demanding the return of Free Express Pass. That totally gives me a whole new outlook on my July/August trip. If I factor in the cost of Express Pass for my family of 3 over the course of 3 days - I may as well buy a Disney ticket. They do have MGM studios. That is just insane to me.

 

[flatline]

And why didn't the die hard Universal fans beat down thier door demanding the return of Free Express Pass.

we have, we just haven't heard a response yet.

 

[djm99]

we have, we just haven't heard a response yet.

That is crazy - who do I need to email/call/etc???? I just went online and found my dates. It would be $40 per person per day for 1 park or $50 per person all ages for both parks in 1 day. That’s crazy - that’s unarguably insane to pay that much to "express" anything at a theme park.

 

[Slacking]

I for one don't miss it at all, and think that people have developed too much of a dependence on Express/Fast Pass systems.

If you do your homework and know how to tour the parks, you don't need Express. Show up early, ride the rides in the morning, and then spend rest of the day (and the busy part of the day) watching the shows you want to see.

 

[mill4023]

That is the craziest mess I've ever heard. You have to pay to "Fast/Express Pass". What was Universal thinking? And why didn't the die hard Universal fans beat down thier door demanding the return of Free Express Pass. That totally gives me a whole new outlook on my July/August trip. If I factor in the cost of Express Pass for my family of 3 over the course of 3 days - I may as well buy a Disney ticket. They do have MGM studios. That is just insane to me.

Many of the die-hard fans stay at a Universal resort and take advantage of the privilege of unlimited access to the Express lines, so they are probably glad there are fewer people using the Express lines now.

But there are also plenty of people upset about it. We enjoyed both Universal parks, but we'll be skipping them on our next Orlando trip. Universal's decision left a bad taste in my mouth. I like the fact that Disney's FP system is available to anyone who chooses to use it, without having to pay extra or stay in one of the expensive hotels. The other difference is that because the FP system at Disney limits the number of FP's given for a particular time period, the affect this has on the stand-by line is steady and predictable. At Universal however, there were times when the wait time said 15 minutes, but ended up being 45 because lots of resort guests decided to show up and use the Express line at the same time. And rather than letting in a certain number of express people for each stand-by person, the employees at Universal often seem to just keep letting an unlimited number of Express people in while the stand-by line is completely stopped.

However, it is possible to tour the parks with minimal wait times. The key is to arrive before opening time and hit the big rides in the first hour or two. We visited IOA in the middle of spring break season and by being at the park before opening, we were able to ride Hulk, Spiderman, Dr. Doom, and Dueling Dragons(twice) with no more than a 5 minute wait. Later in the afternoon, the line at Dueling Dragons was 90 minutes and Spiderman was 60.

 

[Notatourist]

To add to what you said, the wait at Dragons would be at least thirty minutes LONGER with Free Express Passes still in the system.

That's what people forget. The lines are actually smaller without Free Express.

 

[mill4023]

You are just speculating and have no evidence whatsoever that what you said is true. Besides, if there were free express passes, the wait for those of us who choose to use them would be much shorter.

 

[mill4023]

I've heard plenty of arguments about why wait times would be shorter without free express pass / fast pass systems. The one thing that all of these arguments have in common is their lack of any evidence to support the argument.

 

[damo]

There must be lots of people using the new system or it wouldn't be continuing. If there are more people happy with it than upset with it, Universal is doing well.

 

[phamton]

Notatourist is Not a tourist. He/she knows his/her stuff. It's not speculation.

Here's an idea--- If you are unhappy about the elimination of the free express, email: GuestServices@universalorlando.com Let your feelings be known.

 

[flatline]

Notatourist is Not a tourist. He/she knows his/her stuff. It's not speculation.

Here's an idea--- If you are unhappy about the elimination of the free express, email: GuestServices@universalorlando.com Let your feelings be known.

I've emailed and actually mailed a real letter to Universal.

and not to take anything away from phamton in the least...I've never met notatourist personally. but if you know his/her history with Universal, he/she is is certainly an expert in the functions and history of the parks. I'll leave it at that.

 

[macraven]

That is crazy - who do I need to email/call/etc???? I just went online and found my dates. It would be $40 per person per day for 1 park or $50 per person all ages for both parks in 1 day. That’s crazy - that’s unarguably insane to pay that much to "express" anything at a theme park.

for what you would pay for the family to have the express pass, it would be cheaper in the long run to stay on site.
if you have 4 people in your group and paying $50 for 2 parks that would be $200 besides your park tickets.

if you stayed at rph for a rate of 183. plus tax, you would come out ahead and have the fotl for free.

 

[Gonz Of Lancashire]

There must be lots of people using the new system or it wouldn't be continuing. If there are more people happy with it than upset with it, Universal is doing well.

As this question of happy/not happy with the end of free passes arises quite a lot, has there ever been a poll on this matter? I assume the result can't be rigged in anyway? I must say, it appears that everytime the question arises only the same few names defend the ending of the free passes. IMO, Universal runs on repeat visitors, the OP and myself won't probably visit again due to a system which we feel is a rip off. This pattern can't be good for Universal and if this trend is repeated could lead to the closing of the park due to lack of income, which wouldn't be good for the die hards, like yourself, or the annual visitor, like me. The die hards at both Disney and Universal are too busy defending their own lot, the seem to be ignoring the bigger picture.

 

[Notatourist]

Thanks Phantom and flatline.

 

[phamton]

There is a poll on one of the UK boards. It was posted by WilmaBride, who also posts here. The question was: OK, so following on from the threads about general discontent with Universal now they have done away with the free express pass, just wondering whether it actually will affect anyone's decision to visit the parks there.
The thread is 5 pages long and the result of the voting poll are so far is:

View Poll Results: Will you be visiting Universal/IOA on your next trip

Yes, absolutely! 109 49.10%
Yes, but buying Express Pass Plus 9 4.05%
Yes, staying onsite 45 20.27%
No, I refuse to visit now there's no free express 15 6.76%
No, but I had no plans to go there anyway 31 13.96%
Undecided 13 5.86%


So it looks like around 75% will visit. Around 7% won't visit because there is no free express. The other voters either had no plans to go even with paid express or free express or are undecided about going.

 

[macraven]

thanks for sharing that phamton.

i haven't gone to that thread, ddint know a poll was there.



i will always visit universal even if i would have an issue.


my one son was injured on a ride back in i think 2001
it ruined 3 days of the trip but we still returned the next year.


nothing could keep me away from the darkside...........

 

[phamton]

The poll is not on the UK DisBoard but another Orlando attraction board created for UK visitors.

 

[babieemelly]

When we were at Universal last summer there wasn't even a need for ExpressPasses. We got to the parks at around 2:00 every day, and had no problem getting on all of the rides. We walked onto Duelling Dragons with a 10-minute wait (and that was just to walk through the line itself, that castle's huge!), Spiderman with a 10-minute wait, and The Mummy with a 20-minute wait. We also walked right on to Twister, Shrek 4D, Back to the Future, The Cat in the Hat, and the Terminator.