Earl, IOATech, CoasterFEV, tell me it isn't so...

[Spaceman Spiff]

**I yanked this gossip from Screamscape.com Rumors Section**

(6/12/2001) Just a few months after kick-starting their new Universal Express program, could they be pulling the plug on it? One source claims that the plug may be pulled by the end of the summer season, with the marketing department being asked to cease all mention of it starting now. No reason was given to me, but I suspect a rat... the one down the street with the big blue castle. Screamscape was informed a couple of months ago that Disney was granted a “patent” on their electronic “FastPass” technology and that they would begin to actively protect this patent against other such programs such as Universal Express. Stay tuned and we’ll see if the rumors are true!

 

[Beckles]

The "patent" issue was supposed to be avoided by Universal giving you a choice of what time to return ...

 

[jtopicz1]

For some reason, this rumor just screams false. I can't imagine that Universal would spend so much money on the new system, before making sure it wouldn't interfere with WDW's patent.

Jim

 

[Cindy B]

also Six Flags in NJ (Great Adventure) is advertising a Fast Pass type connection as well..

 

[CoasterFEV]

It is not true. For the amount of money Universal has invested in Universal Express - it certainly isn't going away.

The patent issue is also false. Universal did a great deal of research into Disney's patents - and I can assure you that none of their patents have been infringed upon. For example, Universal CAN'T display the Express return times and the attraction wait times above the distribution kiosks due to a patent held by Disney.

Part of what Screamscape is saying is true. The Marketing Department is currently pulling (as fast as it can) ANY advertising with the words "No Line No Wait." Most of you have realized that, in most of the Express lines, there is almost always a short wait prior to boarding. The "No Line No Wait" slogan is simply being pulled for the sake of honesty.

However, here's the news most of you probably didn't want to here:

Expect ALL attractions to have the card readers installed at their Express entrances by the end of the summer. These will be used to validate your Portofino, Hard Rock, and Royal Pacific room keys. One key will be distributed per guest when you check in - and the one key per person policy will be enforced at the attractions.
This also means the previously discussed "one ride per day" policy will begin to be enforced. In other words, if you are staying at an on-site resort, you only receive Express access (without obtaining an Express ticket) at each ride once per day. Once you ride MIB using your Hard Rock key, if you would like to ride it again you will have to either want in the regular line, or obtain an Express ticket for later in the day. This is in anticipation of the opening of the Royal Pacific.

 

[XAVIER]

Coasterfev, you say the "One ride per day" system will be implemented "By the end of the summer" - we'll be at the HRH the last two weeks of August so will we be lucky enough to miss the change over? (It still sounds like a good deal to me though.)

 

[goofy about mickey]

CoasterFEV - Thanks for the advance information. Do you think that "one ride per day" will start very much prior to the opening of Royal Pacific? I suppose that one FOTL per ride is plenty, but I'm still hoping that the new machines won't be operational during my August trip.

 

[Beckles]

Well, reading between the lines I think this is good in that it will allow unlimited Express for hotel guests to continue even once Royal Pacific opens

Since an investment is being made in the hardware to read the room keys, I would guess it's safe to assume that they are planning on keeping this perk, even after the Royal Pacific has been open a while ... this is very good news I think.

 

[CoasterFEV]

You will probably see a select few attractions start using the card readers in early July. I know at IOA, the first attractions to get them will be Spiderman and River Adventure (you can already see the electric boxes for the wiring in the Express queues).

But, obviously the card readers are new and are interfaced with the Portofino and Hard Rock front desk systems - so the testing might take a bit. I am only assuming at this point that we will wait until the testing is complete and that all attractions have the card readers installed before the "one ride per day" policy goes into effect. I am really unsure when that will happen - but it will definitely occur well before the end of the year.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Thanks CoasterFEV so I can assume that by my October trip every Express queue will have these card readers?

 

[Zeke Draven]

Thanks for the warning CoasterFev. I have a question though, and this could be to any employee reading this if they know, what does Universal consider to be the end of the summer? I'm going the first and second week of August, and some people consider that to be the end of summer. I paid alot of extra money for HRH so I wouldn't have to stand in line all day. It wouldn't upset me a whole lot, but I would like to be prepared.