Express Line Pass vs VIP Express Line Pass vs Front of the Line Pass?

[seema]

I found out from someone who went to Universal/IOA a few weeks ago, that the express line entry/VIP express line entry does not apply to the main Harry Potter attraction, and to the roller coaster in the main Universal Studios theme park. However, the front of the line pass does allow one to bypass the lines for these 2 attractions.


Can one tell me in more detail what is the difference of these 3 "express" line entries, and how does one get (outside of staying at one of the Universal Studios hotels) these 3 passes?

 

[mesaboy2]

I'm not aware of an actual "front of the line" pass. I think most people call the standard Express pass this and confuse others. Attractions that do not accept the standard Express pass are Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Ollivander's Wand Show, Pteranadon Flyers, and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

I've never sunk the cash for a VIP Express pass, so I don't know what it does compared to the standard Express pass.

The only other distinction I know of is the difference between the purchased Express pass and the one that comes included with an onsite stay. The purchased one is good only for one day, and only once per attraction. The onsite Express pass (which is also called Unlimited Express sometimes around here) is just that, it allows you into the Express queue as many times as you want--and for all the days of your stay--for all the attractions that accept it.

 

[derekburgan]

I've done both and we didn't get any "front of the line" pass for Harry Potter or Rip Ride Rockit in either form. That was last summer though and while I don't think anything has changed, it may have. I would tend to believe your friend was mistaken.

Going back at end of Feb. bringing four who have never done US or IOA before. Staying at Royal Pacific for one night to get the VIP access for two days. As far as I'm concerned it's the only way to do a theme park.

 

[zack123]

Agree with the previous poster. There isn't an actual "front of the line" pass that I'm aware of. There is an Express line for the attractions other than the ones listed above. The Express line is a shorter line for people who can use it. You may get to board ahead of people in the regular line, but you still have to wait in line with all of the other Express guests. Sometimes you may also have to wait for there to be a ride vehicle/seating available to accomodate your party.

To use the Express line, you must do one of the following:

1. Stay onsite at a Universal hotel. This gives you unlimited access to the express lines for your entire onsite stay (including day of check in and day of check out). Everyone staying in your room gets this privilege.

2. Purchase a Universal Express Pass Plus. These are non-refundable, date-specific additions to your park tickets that you can purchase in advance or at many stores in each park. You can buy a one-park or a two-park Express pass. Express Pass Plus is good only for the date purchased and can only be used once at each participating attraction. You have to purchase a separate Express pass for each person in your party on each day you plan to use it. It is generally not recommended to purchase these in advance, as they are non-refundable and can't be transferred to another date. Wait until you get to the park and see the lines.

3. Purchase a VIP ticket. This ticket includes your park admission (I think) and also gives you unlimited Express access for the date(s) purchased. You can purchase a one day or multi-day ticket. These can be rather expensive. You'd need to buy a VIP ticket for everyone in your party if you all want to use the Express lines. I'm not sure about the refund policy for these tickets. They may also be date-specific, I can't remember.

There is also the option of booking a VIP tour. I don't know much about the tours because they are way out of my price range, but it's basically a guided tour of several main attractions in one or both parks. There is a minimum group size. I don't know if they take you to the front of the line, but I assume there is some perk other than just the tour guide.

Guests requiring special accomodations can also request a guest assistance card from Guest Services, which they can present to a TM at the entrance to the attraction. The TM will either direct them to the front of the line, or write down a time for them to return at which time they will not have to wait in line. I am not sure how many times this can be used at each attraction, but there is no charge to acquire one if it is needed. Call Guest Services for details.

ETA: I think with a Guest Assistance Card, you can bypass the regular lines for FJ and RRR. However, these cards are only for guests who have medical/health or other valid reasons why they are not able to wait in the regular lines (and the rest of their party). There is no other way I know of that you can skip the regular/single rider lines for these two attractions.

 

[bumbershoot]

ETA: I think with a Guest Assistance Card, you can bypass the regular lines for FJ and RRR. However, these cards are only for guests who have medical/health or other valid reasons why they are not able to wait in the regular lines (and the rest of their party). There is no other way I know of that you can skip the regular/single rider lines for these two attractions.

I believe that at Universal the assistance pass actually gets the person a time to come back and then get on right away.



I, too, haven't heard of a true FOTL pass. I know that that phrase is used as shorthand (especially in comparison to Disney's fast pass), but it's not truly FOTL.

 

[macraven]

i have done exclusive tours before.
they don't come cheap.

also
a diser had a thread about her exclusive tour of the UO park last year.
it was just her and her husband on it.

private and exlusive vip tours do not include park tickets.
so you have that expense besides the tour and gratuity.


in the long run, you could get by cheaper by staying on site for one night and get 2 days of unlimited express line usage in the parks.

the VIP ticket includes park admission but it is expensive.
if you have 2 or 3 in your group, it would be cheaper to stay onsite in the long run.


i read one poster stated they are staying onsite and getting the vip access.
there are no tickets like that.

if you did the vip tickets, it would be redundant if you stayed onsite.
you are paying twice for the same perk. (other than park ticket)


http://www.universalorlando.com/The...P-Ticket-Details.aspx?Intsrch=vip park ticket

cost and dates valid:
https://secure.universalstudios.com...ryGroupExternalID=UO&CategoryExternalID=UOVIP

if the cost of the ticket for a 2 day 2 park non peak ticket was $219.99 + taxes, and if there are 2 in the group, you could be paying over $450 for the vip tickets.
if it was on a standard day, the price before taxes would be $259.99 per person.

might as well stay on site, get the free unlimited express line usage and buy a 2 day, 2 park pass from UT.

the non peak dates could be on a low crowd day.
if that were the case, the epp wouldn't be a necessity.

 

[Metro West]

Simply put...

There is no such thing as a "front of the line" pass at Universal Orlando. FOTL is a incorrect term that exists only on the DIS. There is something called "front of the line" at Universal Hollywood but not here in Orlando.

There is no difference between the Express Plus pass and the VIP Express pass except with the VIP EP you get unlimited access as opposed to once through the line with the EP you buy.

The only attractions that do not accept EPs are: Forbidden Journey and Pteranodon Flyers at IOA and Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit at the Studios.

 

[pixeegrl]

Basically just stay onsite one night and you'll never want to do it any other way! Unlimited Express entry for 2 days (check in and check out).

 

[Claudia1]

Is there any way to get into the blocked Harry Potter venues other then with the rest of the crowds? If you stay onsite, do they have an early opening option?

 

[gschmerl]

Yes...guests of the on site hotels get early entrance to the park.

 

[zack123]

Is there any way to get into the blocked Harry Potter venues other then with the rest of the crowds? If you stay onsite, do they have an early opening option?

Onsite hotel guests are able to enter WWoHP one hour earlier than the posted park opening time.

I booked an offsite hotel through the Universal website, and was also given that perk . . . not sure if they are still doing that or not.

 

[macraven]

book a package with universal for the offsite hotels they offer.

There are different perks included in packages.
Most have the EE.

 

[bumbershoot]

Is there any way to get into the blocked Harry Potter venues other then with the rest of the crowds? If you stay onsite, do they have an early opening option?

FWIW, there's just *one* ride in Wizarding World that doesn't take part in Express Pass. (Forbidden Journey)

 

[seema]

I found out from someone who went to Universal/IOA a few weeks ago, that the express line entry/VIP express line entry does not apply to the main Harry Potter attraction, and to the roller coaster in the main Universal Studios theme park. However, the front of the line pass does allow one to bypass the lines for these 2 attractions.


Can one tell me in more detail what is the difference of these 3 "express" line entries, and how does one get (outside of staying at one of the Universal Studios hotels) these 3 passes?

To clarify what I was told:

My business acquaintance and her husband and children bought a regular theme park entry ticket (they did not stay at any of the Universal hotels) with the regular (nonVIP) express option - I believe it was 2 days for 5 people in the party.

Then he found out that the express line option did not include the Harry Potter and a few other attractions. He complained to customer service, stating that he paid all that money, but at the time of purchase, it was not made clear to him that the express line option did not include some of the most poplular rides, including the Harry Potter attraction.

He was successful, with his complaint. He was given what was called "front of the line" passes x 3 for each of the 5 members of the party. This pass allowed them to legally "butt in" to the front of the line, by pushing past the people standing in that line - as these rides or attractions do not have a separate express line.

 

[cg1200]

If you are staying on site and using a room key can you let others in your party who are not staying on site use your room key to use the Express line? I was planning on booking a room at the Royal Pacific for one night for my family of 5. However I will be staying at BLT with a total party of 8. Can I use the 5 room key tickets for anyone in my party or is it a one-to-one thing? It is likely that my two younger kids will not be able or will not want to ride all of the thrill rides so I thought I could make due with 5 room keys for 8 people.

 

[damo]

If you are staying on site and using a room key can you let others in your party who are not staying on site use your room key to use the Express line? I was planning on booking a room at the Royal Pacific for one night for my family of 5. However I will be staying at BLT with a total party of 8. Can I use the 5 room key tickets for anyone in my party or is it a one-to-one thing? It is likely that my two younger kids will not be able or will not want to ride all of the thrill rides so I thought I could make due with 5 room keys for 8 people.

The passes are your room keys. They have your name and age (if you are under 18) on them. So an adult could not use a child's key, etc.

 

[macraven]

you register each guest at the hotel when you check in.

If you have more than 2 adults booked for the room, it would be an additional $25 per night charge besides the room rate.

The limit is 5 per room.
4 adults are the max per room.

like damo stated, the names and under 17 have ages on them.


if a TM questioned the validity of the hotel key card, what would you do if the person had to answer questions or prove they are a guest at the hotel.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Guests requiring special accomodations can also request a guest assistance card from Guest Services, which they can present to a TM at the entrance to the attraction. The TM will either direct them to the front of the line, or write down a time for them to return at which time they will not have to wait in line. I am not sure how many times this can be used at each attraction, but there is no charge to acquire one if it is needed. Call Guest Services for details.

ETA: I think with a Guest Assistance Card, you can bypass the regular lines for FJ and RRR. However, these cards are only for guests who have medical/health or other valid reasons why they are not able to wait in the regular lines (and the rest of their party). There is no other way I know of that you can skip the regular/single rider lines for these two attractions.

I believe that at Universal the assistance pass actually gets the person a time to come back and then get on right away.

To clarify: Universal's assistance passes are valid at Rockit and FJ. Also, the getting a return time only applies if the regular line exceeds 30min.

 

[Music City Mama]

I found out from someone who went to Universal/IOA a few weeks ago, that the express line entry/VIP express line entry does not apply to the main Harry Potter attraction, and to the roller coaster in the main Universal Studios theme park. However, the front of the line pass does allow one to bypass the lines for these 2 attractions.


Can one tell me in more detail what is the difference of these 3 "express" line entries, and how does one get (outside of staying at one of the Universal Studios hotels) these 3 passes?

To clarify what I was told:

My business acquaintance and her husband and children bought a regular theme park entry ticket (they did not stay at any of the Universal hotels) with the regular (nonVIP) express option - I believe it was 2 days for 5 people in the party.

Then he found out that the express line option did not include the Harry Potter and a few other attractions. He complained to customer service, stating that he paid all that money, but at the time of purchase, it was not made clear to him that the express line option did not include some of the most poplular rides, including the Harry Potter attraction.

He was successful, with his complaint. He was given what was called "front of the line" passes x 3 for each of the 5 members of the party. This pass allowed them to legally "butt in" to the front of the line, by pushing past the people standing in that line - as these rides or attractions do not have a separate express line.

He sounds like a real gem.

Secondly, I call B.S. on what they claim they received.

 

[Metro West]

He sounds like a real gem.

Secondly, I call B.S. on what they claim they received.

Yeah exactly since there is no such thing as a "front of the line pass" to begin with.