Does Universal/Islands have a free Speedpass?

[rubrink]

Hey guys
'
Planning on going to Orlando in a few months...I was wondering, do they have a free speedpass similar to what Disney has? I remember they used to have one, but everything I read says you have to buy one.

Thanks!

 

[macraven]

no free passes

anyone can buy the express pass plus
its good only for once per ride/attraction.

check out the lines prior to buying it.
if there are no lines, the epp isn't worth it.

 

[bellelinus]

In addition to the Express Pass that you can buy (which gives you one express entrance into each ride) you can also use your park admission pass to get one Express Pass (for free) at a time. You will insert your card into the machine and pick one of two time slots you like. After you've used that one (or a certain amount of time has passed -- the time will be listed on the pass) you can get another one. Big rides like Mummy often use up all their Express pass slots early in the day, so you need to get that one early if you want it.

 

[phamton]

The free express are no longer available---only the express pass plus that you purchase or the front of the line you get with your hotel key.

 

[ines248]

And last, if U have a bABY(too small to ride) U may do the child swap thing.

 

[damo]

Stay on site and you get free express pass with your hotel key.

 

[bellelinus]

The free express are no longer available---only the express pass plus that you purchase or the front of the line you get with your hotel key.

Sorry for my misinformation . . . they still had the free ones when I was there last summer. Luckily we are booked this summer at HRH so I won't have to worry about it!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I also didn't know that the free express pass is no longer available. Why did they do away with that? Not that I have a trip planned for the near future, but it's good to know.

 

[phamton]

They covered up the express pass kiosks in September. Here is the story:

Christopher Boyd | Beth Kassab and Scott Powers, Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted February 13, 2006

Universal Orlando is getting rid of its Universal Express service that allowed visitors to skip an occasional long line -- and switching entirely to its Express Plus service, in which people pay extra money for the privilege of cutting lines all day.

For the Full Story:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...3,0,1832690.story?coll=orl-business-headlines

 

[paper1225]

We just bought our tickets from universal online(buy an adult 2 day, get a child free + 3 days). If we decide to stay onsite, will we still get the express with our hotel key even though we did not buy a hotel/ticket package? Not sure where we are going to stay just yet, but that is a consideration. We have never been to universal, but love fastpass at disney!

 

[damo]

We just bought our tickets from universal online(buy an adult 2 day, get a child free + 3 days). If we decide to stay onsite, will we still get the express with our hotel key even though we did not buy a hotel/ticket package? Not sure where we are going to stay just yet, but that is a consideration. We have never been to universal, but love fastpass at disney!

Yes. You only have to stay at the hotels to get the express access. Your room key is the magic ticket!!!

 

[HM]

Any chance they'll open up the kiosks during the busy Spring Break season?

 

[macraven]

no chance

did you read the article that phamton posted?
it states it there

 

[Sylvester McBean]

Any chance they'll open up the kiosks during the busy Spring Break season?

from what I've seen, no. the spring break time is perfect to sell the express pass plusses. UO giveth, and UO taketh away.

 

[buzz2400]

I called universal today to ask if they would have the free passes open for the summer and the guy said no, they are gone for good. You can buy the express pass (which for august is $35 a person) or stay on site for a large amount of money.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

One word: Planning. Many people on here have devised routes/plans that can allow you to maximize your experience without needing Express.

Consequently, regular lines will actually be SHORTER without free Express. Free Express + Express Plus + Hotel Guests = long Express line = more Express guests being loaded vs stand-by guests = longer regular line. By cutting the free Express, it shortens the Express line, which, if you follow my formula, will result in more regular line guests being loaded and shorter wait times.

 

[paper1225]

Is it $35/person each day? We have a 5 day ticket, so I am hoping it is only $35/each ticket, but something tells me it is not.

 

[bellelinus]

Unfortunately I do believe that the Express pass you pay for is for one day only. So it would be $35 per person per day if you wanted it every day (which is where staying onsite becomes the better deal, since it gives you Express for every day you are there, including the days you check in and check out).

 

[macraven]

the EPP is only valid on the day you buy it and for the park you designate it for.


do not buy the epp until you are at the park.
if the park has low attendance and no waits in lines, why spend the money for epp when it is not needed that day?


if you have a 5 day park pass, and you buy the epp, it is only good for one day, not for the entire 5 days.

 

[paper1225]

thank you for the information, I was expecting it to be that-but I did not know that you could upgrade inside the park which is a great idea!!!!