Express pass vs Virtual Queue

[disneymore2]

So we are going to Universal in late October. We are staying at Royal pacific- so will have express pass. Except for rides that don’t take express pass- is there any reason to get Virtual queue? Is it the same line.

 

[NicoleLarson]

There's no reason to get virtual queue if its a ride that has EP. But since Hagrids does not have an EP line, you will need to get a virtual queue. On other rides the virtual line is a different line than the EP line.

 

[disneymore2]

So Ep is always quicker then virtual queue?

 

[GoofyDad_4427]

So Ep is always quicker then virtual queue?

Having EP is like having a virtual queue for every time slot the rest of the day. For example, on Jimmy Fallon if you do the VQ you get a time period to return. If you have EP, you can just show up at the VQ return any time you want.

 

[Tormania]

Couple questions about Hagrid's VQ. Does it operate like ROTR boarding passes and once their gone their gone? Is there a traditional stand-by line for Hagrids or is VQ the ONLY way to ride like BGs for ROTR?

 

[jdrum3]

Couple questions about Hagrid's VQ. Does it operate like ROTR boarding passes and once their gone their gone? Is there a traditional stand-by line for Hagrids or is VQ the ONLY way to ride like BGs for ROTR?

No, they release as they come available as wait times go down if that happens once activated. When VQ activates, it is the only way. They won’t activate virtual until standby gets to a certain capacity. It can have a 70+ min wait with no VQ option.

 

[only hope]

So Ep is always quicker then virtual queue?

Mostly. Aside from Jimmy and Fast and the Furious (which is closed atm),
vq is turned on when the standby line gets close to spilling out of the queue. So vq does not mean a short wait.

 

[boxer]

How do you know when the VQ is active for Hagrids? Meaning, is there a specific time (like ROTR), or is it just start when the park opens?

 

[Loudbmw]

We were at the parks today (Monday Oct 5). Virtual queue didn’t become active until 9:00 am and only Jimmy Fallon showed up all day. Jimmy Fallon was a walk-on all morning as Universal Studios was not busy.

Both scare houses opened at 10:00 am for guests. We had hotel express passes and both houses had express entrances but we didn’t need them that early. We did both houses in about 30 minutes. Team members did a great job spacing groups so you got to experience all the scare actor.

Hagrid’s Motorbike went down early afternoon and reopened with a 70 minute wait time posted. It only took a total of 20 minutes, most of that time was just walking the queue.

Lou

 

[mommycakes]

We were at the parks today (Monday Oct 5). Virtual queue didn’t become active until 9:00 am and only Jimmy Fallon showed up all day. Jimmy Fallon was a walk-on all morning as Universal Studios was not busy.

Both scare houses opened at 10:00 am for guests. We had hotel express passes and both houses had express entrances but we didn’t need them that early. We did both houses in about 30 minutes. Team members did a great job spacing groups so you got to experience all the scare actor.

Hagrid’s Motorbike went down early afternoon and reopened with a 70 minute wait time posted. It only took a total of 20 minutes, most of that time was just walking the queue.

Lou

We are heading there on a Monday at the end of October. Do you feel your Express Passes were worth the cost? Thanks in advance!