Express Pass Plus

[jennibug]

Hi all,
DH and I are heading down to Orlando (again) in September. Last year when we were there, in May, we purchased the express pass plus to go along with our tickets and it was well worth it. Are they still offering this? We are staying at WDW and will only spend one maybe two days at Universal. We probably won't need it because we are going in September when the crowds are WAY down, but it would still be nice to have.

Thanks!!

 

[champagnegirl26]

They are yes. I purchaced mine in advance from the universals holidays web site. the price is dependant upon dates and ours cost $37 on top of entry price, but i hope well worth it!
Enjoy!
Claire.

 

[jennibug]

Can you tell me what that website is?
Thanks!!

 

[Metro West]

The company website is www.universalorlando.com

I would wait on purchasing the EP + though. You may not need it unless it's really busy.

 

[3Mousketeers]

Is that $37/per ticket for the express plus pass? Do you know how to find out the current price (we're going the end of June for 1 day)? Thanks.

 

[Metro West]

Is that $37/per ticket for the express plus pass? Do you know how to find out the current price (we're going the end of June for 1 day)?

Yes..it's $37 per ticket in addition to the regular ticket price. I don't know if the Universal website has the current pricing but I know it's in the $35-37 range in the summer.

 

[phamton]

Is that $37/per ticket for the express plus pass? Do you know how to find out the current price (we're going the end of June for 1 day)? Thanks.

You can only purchase them a month in advance as they only set the
price based on the anticipated crowds.

If your date is further than one month in the future, it won't show the
express pass plus option when you purchase the tickets.



Go to: http://www.univacations.com/
Click on "tickets only" then enter your dates and number in party. Then
click search.

When it takes you to the next page. scroll down to where it says:

Departure Date: Nights:
Use the GO button to Book Your Tickets Now!

Enter the date and number of nights and click "Go." It should then take
you to a page that has the Universal and Islands of Adventure Express
plus pass along with tickets. That says: Option Price Guide
Universal Express Plus-Islands of Adventure $XX.xx (this will be the
price not x)
Universal Express Plus-Universal Studios Florida $XX.xx


Included features and/or taxes:
Handling Fee 2.00



Do NOT purchase express unless you know the exact date you need them as
they are dated and only good for the date on the pass. Also the express
pass is sold for each park. You can't use the Universal express pass
card at IOA. They do have one that includes both parks and is about $10 more.

 

[3Mousketeers]

Thanks Phamton.
With that much per person, its starting to make more sense to spend a little extra money to stay one night at one of the resorts to get the unlimited FOTL (instead of just the once per ride express pass plus). But, now I'm worried after reading the above posts that FOTL will be limited for the time we'll be there (the last week in June).

 

[phamton]

But, now I'm worried after reading the above posts that FOTL will be limited for the time we'll be there (the last week in June).

Even if they do limit it, it is just once per ride before 3:00 PM. So you can hit everything once and then go back and re-ride your favorites after 3:00 PM. Even last year when they had the limit on it, only a few rides even enforced it.

 

[ralfrick]

I hate to contradict the expert, assuming you're the same Phantom from IOACentral, but I ordered our plus passes for July 18 on March 15. It was through the website, and they arrived in the mail a few days later.

Cheers.

 

[phamton]

I hate to contradict the expert, assuming you're the same Phantom from IOACentral,

No problem. Despite popular belief, I am known to make plenty of mistakes.--and yes, I'm the same phamton.

but I ordered our plus passes for July 18 on March 15. It was through the website, and they arrived in the mail a few days later.

I should have put "usually" in my answer. It was a copy and paste of another post from months ago. In fact, in my last post about this on IOACentral I did say usually. It seems for the summer months they already know it will be crowded and the express passes are at the most expensive rate. But if you were going in October, you would most likely not be able to get the price until a month before you go, if that makes sense.

I first made this "copied and pasted" post several months ago when people couldn't figure out why the express passes weren't showing up for their ticket purchases while others were seeing it for their vacations. I played around with the calendar a bit and observed that unless my vacation was within that one month window, the express pass option wouldn't show up.

Heck, they may make the option available a year in advance now. I haven't gone back to check the website so I don't know for sure. I just copy and paste this reply for the instructions for finding express pass on the website.

I welcome corrections to my posts as I don't want to pass on false information.

Bev

 

[Donnask8pro]

I can purchase 2 park/ 1 day at the door? There is no way to purchase this ahead of time? Thanks

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Yes, you can.

 

[phamton]

I can purchase 2 park/ 1 day at the door? There is no way to purchase this ahead of time? Thanks

They don't offer the 2 park express plus online. You will have to purchase it when you get there, either outside the gates where they sell tickets or inside the gates at some of the stores in both parks.

I thought you were staying onsite. If you do, you will have FOTL anyway. Also depending on the handicap that one of the children has, you can get a guest assistance pass at guest services which will usually cut down on your wait time.

 

[goofy!]

Thanks Phamton.
With that much per person, its starting to make more sense to spend a little extra money to stay one night at one of the resorts to get the unlimited FOTL (instead of just the once per ride express pass plus). But, now I'm worried after reading the above posts that FOTL will be limited for the time we'll be there (the last week in June).

I really, really wouldn't worry about the 3pm once per ride thing. They announced this last year right before we left for our vacation. To say I was steamed would be an understatement. I was bound and determined to give Universal a piece of my mind that I had reserved our rooms, believing unlimited FOTL, etc.

However, when we got there, it was never an issue. We would ride everything once, go over to the other park - ride everything else once and then, low and behold it was 3pm. And we were going non-stop in the heat of the day. We could easily have taken a break during the day and returned at 3 and had unlimited access for the next seven (I get tired just thinking about it) hours!!

We found that the only rides that ever enforced it (and we were there for 8 days) was Hulk, spiderman and Mummy. And then only occasionally if the standard wait time was getting long.

So unaffected by this were we, that for the first couple of days, we had our touring plan, pulling express passes to increase our 1x per ride. We ended up giving our express passes to people waiting in line because we didn't need them. Or just forgetting about them. I have one sitting here that we pulled for Hulk on 8/2/04 at 10:00:39 for a return time of 12:45 to 1:45. We stopped pulling express passes when we realized we never needed them and we were just taking express passes from somebody who could actually use them.

So, while the concept of 1 ride before 3pm sounds awful, it really isn't. This is only for approx. 6 hours (9am - 3pm) during the most crowded and hottest part of the day. After 3pm you still have 7 hours of unlimited rides. And really, because between 9 and a bit after 10 - the parks are pretty empty, you don't even need to use your FOTL - so you ride once through the regular line and then later, you use up your FOTL.

So, really, don't worry about it. Just remember you still have 7 long, long hours of unlimited rides.

 

[Donnask8pro]

I did book RP for Fri night (black Fri) just to get FOTL but I am going to cancel that night and go 1 day during our time share because everyone seems to think go on MOnday when the crowds are lower. My sons handicap is severe. Wheelchair.

 

[phamton]

Get a guest assistance pass at Guest services. It should cut down on your wait time considerably.

 

[Donnask8pro]

Thank you. I have only been to WDW, never US/IOA. I wasn't sure of their policy. Can the family (DH, Me and Ds4) go with him, like WDW? I am going to go on MOnday instead. Thanks for the heads up..

 

[phamton]

Yes, everyone will be able to accompany him. On some rides, it won't make your wait less but on others it will.