Express Pass - What is the real deal?

[jmsvss]

Are they available (we are staying offsite) for an additional cost?

Whats this about machines being closed?

If available, when and how do we get them (already ordered tickets online)?

BTW - we'll be there Pres day and day after.

 

[jenniferm]

We went Dec 29 & 31 and the machines were shut down. A ride attendant told us that they have been shut off since September. Our only option was to purchase an Express Pass Plus for $35 a person. YIKES! They did tell us that if we had ordered the EPP when we bought our tickets online and used our MasterCard that we could have bought them for half off. DH doesn't remember seeing that option and we might not have done it anyway since we weren't expecting the regular express pass machines to be turned off.

Somebody here said that the express machines were going to be working at Spring Break but I don't know.

 

[Taratink]

Where do I buy the Express pass and can you add it on to a 2 or 3 day ticket?
Tara

 

[Laurabearz]

Where do I buy the Express pass and can you add it on to a 2 or 3 day ticket?
Tara

You can add it to any ticket for as many days as you want... meaning if you buy a 5 day ticket you could just buy 1 day of Express pass...

As to where to buy them... I scoured the US site last night looking to scope out prices for my June trip and I found a write up about them, but no link to buy them online. Hopefully someone else can direct you there as I came up empty last night!

 

[Slacking]

I think they're a rip-off and not needed, but you can purchase Express tickets in person at the parks. (There may be an option online too, not positive on that, but just like LB above, I looked and couldn't find it, so maybe there isn't an online option.)

 

[phamton]

Universal usually only sets the price based on the anticipated crowds so sometimes you can only purchase them a month in advance, so if your date is further than one month in the future, it might not 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.

 

[Donnask8pro]

Is Express same price at the door? Can you purchase it online w/o buying park tickets through them also? Whats the cheapest way to go for only 1 day/2parks. I know you pm'd me 73.00 at the door. It is more $$ online than the door. But can you purchase at the gate and if so more money? Think we'll need them on Sat Feb 11th, 1st day of Mardi Gras? (obviously we decided to go) Phantom your the best. Thanks for being there when we all need you. Donna confused? I was after rereading it.. lol

 

[A Mickeyfan]

If they are like $30 each (just for example) and you have 4 in your party..that is $120, for that price, you woud be better off trying to stay onsite & get all the rides all day long instead of just once each!?!?

 

[Donnask8pro]

30 BUCKS gets you 1 ride? OMG are they kidding me? I was there in Dec/Nov and stayed onsite, never had to think of express pass before. And obviously not again...

 

[yaytezIOA]

Get there early! Thats the best way, besides staying onsite. Onsite is the way to go, your room keys are your express pass. Nothing extra to pay. If you dont plan on wasting your money on the express (i usually save it and waste it on the good drinks at the various places) get there early. Get there early. Did I mention get there early? And do the park starting with Hulk and Ending with Cat in the hat....for IOA.... Start with Shrek and end with T2 for USF.

 

[costanza]

I'm not sure about you people, but making myself go to bed early enough to be able to force myself to wake up at sunrise in order to get ready to go to an amusement park at opening is NOT what I call a vacation!
If the free express passes for off-ste guests is gone, then that will GREATLY impact any future plans to go back to USF (which we have gone to probably 10 times over the last 15 years). We ALWAYS try to go during the off-season, but often STILL have long lines to wait in. Waiting in long lines is NOT what I call a fun vacation either.

 

[phamton]

If the free express passes for off-ste guests is gone, then that will GREATLY impact any future plans to go back to USF (which we have gone to probably 10 times over the last 15 years). We ALWAYS try to go during the off-season, but often STILL have long lines to wait in. Waiting in long lines is NOT what I call a fun vacation either.

Dave, I mean costanza, you can choose to go or not. I seriously doubt it will impact Universal crowds at all if they do away with express. If you truly go in the off-season then you should not have any lines. I went to IOA yesterday at 1:30 PM and rode everything as a walk on with 4 other people. Even Hulk and Spiderman was a walk on. Today I went to Universal with 4 people and we didn't arrive until 12:45 PM and once again everything was a walk on except for Mummy which had a 5 minute wait.

Edited to add: We went to Magic Kingdom and Epcot the day before yesterday (Monday). We arrived at 9:45 AM and there were already lines. We rode Pirates as a walk on at 10:00 AM but nothing else was a walk on at MK. Almost all the fastpass machines were covered. We wanted one for Haunted Mansion but they were covered all day and there were none for Pirates either. There were fastpasses for SpaceMountain, SplashMountain, and BTMRR which we did utilize as the lines were 30-50 minutes long. We went over to Epcot and both Mission Space and Spaceship Earth were walk ons but Soarin' was a 45 minute wait. We didn't get a fastpass for it as the return time would be to close to the time of Illuminations. Neither Universal nor IoA needed express pass this week but Disney did and many of their fastpass distribution kiosks were covered.

 

[jmsvss]

I may be eating these words on Feb 22rd when I'm back home all snuggled in my bed (I'll be at Universal/IoA on 20-21) but I feel like biting the $15.98 bullet for an Express Pass so that I do not have to stand in a looonnngg line is a good gamble. I am not able to go as frequently as I would like - my last visit was 2002 so I have to maximize my time. I, unfortunately, am going at a somewhat busy time. I thought about moving from WDW to a Universal property but it was going to cost an extra $400.

I also know, as phamton pointed out, that I would have spent my 4 previous days the WDW lines. I don't expect it to be a no wait experience - I'm just buying an edge.

We'll see...

 

[costanza]

Dave, I mean costanza, you can choose to go or not. I seriously doubt it will impact Universal crowds at all if they do away with express. If you truly go in the off-season then you should not have any lines.

First of all, who is "Dave"? Second, I realize I can CHOOSE to go or not. Third, I don't care what the general public does, as most of them at USF are probably first timers anyway and never enjoyed express pass. Lastly, it sounds as if for some odd reason you don't believe I go to the Orlando parks in the off-season. Not that it matters what you believe, but my wife and our daughters usually go to the Orlando parks in late Oct. - early Nov., and every year the "off-season crowds" get bigger and bigger, at least half of which seem European.

 

[lindalinda]

jmsvss, let us know how it turns out. Bet you have a blast.

 

[phamton]

Lastly, it sounds as if for some odd reason you don't believe I go to the Orlando parks in the off-season. Not that it matters what you believe, but my wife and our daughters usually go to the Orlando parks in late Oct. - early Nov., and every year the "off-season crowds" get bigger and bigger, at least half of which seem European.

No what I am saying is that the term "off-season" means there are low crowds. If the crowds are heavy in October and November then it isn't truly an "off-season" is it?

This week is an off season. I waited no time at all on any ride at Universal and IoA. I did wait at Disney. Most of the fastpass kiosk were covered at Disney so we had to wait in line. Disney quietly covers their fastpass kiosks and not a word is said on this board. Universal does and there are at least 5 threads about it, and one thread that has recently been closed.

 

[All Aboard]

Neither Universal nor IoA needed express pass this week but Disney did

I understand your point. But, honestly, this statement is not good news for Universal. Attendance going in opposite directions.

 

[DonaldHockeyDuck]

If you buy the express book, are you able to trade off any of the passess,
ie. trade a hulk for a one fish, as for trading I mean with someone who also bought the express book.........

 

[phamton]

It's not a book. It is a pass that they mark or scan similar to a ticket. It lets the ride attendant know if you have ridden the ride already. You are certainly able to trade with your friends. Let them use your express for Hulk while you use theirs for One fish. The pass doesn't have your name on it.

 

[macraven]

think of it this way.

you have a family of 4 and you want head of the line priviledges for the rides and attractions. stay on site in a value season and spend the $150 a night for a room. that $30 a person x 4 would equal $120 if you bought epp would be included in that room.

$120 epp + $30 room = $150...............

it's all in the math.

and the kicker is you get 2 days of fotl. when you check out the next morning, your fotl key is valid that day until the park closes.


the epp is good only for one ride/attraction only for the entire day.
fotl, no limit on rides /attractions.