Express Pass

[Tandyc]

I'm confused. Is an Express Pass the same as a FOTL pass? I see on Universal's site that EPs are available at the park, but how much are they? Will I need one for each park even if I go to both parks in the same day? Can I buy one and share it with others in my group? We have a young child in our group so we'll be doing the baby swap.

Thanks for any advice on these things.

Tandyc

 

[macraven]

fotl is a perk for the guests staying on site in one of the three hotels.

express pass plus is not free.
the price depends on the season/ date and can range from $15 to 30 pp.

the epp is good for only each ride and attraction one time.

you asked if others can use it, well, i believe so...........but it wouldn't work on the same ride.

if you and your wife did the baby swap, maybe that would work.......you do the ride, wife holds the child. you get off and switch for her to ride. gee, this question is over my head. by common sense i would think the other adult could ride then but i can not say for sure

 

[seashoreCM]

Has Universal discontinued the free one ride at a time Express Passes given out from kiosks like Disney's Fast passes? I heard at least one rumor about this discontinuance.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/fastpass.htm

 

[macraven]

it's not a rumor anymore.

only epp and/or fotl holders use the express lanes

 

[Goofy Rulz]

You mean someone not staying on site cannot get Fastpass-type tickets anymore? When we were there in March there were kiosks just like at WDW that gave you tickets w/a return time. That would be a definite downer if that's the case. Please tell me that's not true!!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

fotl
if you and your wife did the baby swap, maybe that would work.......you do the ride, wife holds the child. you get off and switch for her to ride. gee, this question is over my head. by common sense i would think the other adult could ride then but i can not say for sure

I can answer the Child Swap one. The whole point to Child Swap is to enable guests with children who can't ride - to be able to exprerience rides without going through the line TWICE, thereby making their wait time double. For example if a party wanted to go on an attraction and the wait time was an hour - Universal doesn't want the the party who waited with the child/children to have to go back in line and wait ANOTHER hour.

So, the people who are going on the ride go in whichever line they should (express or non-express) and go on the ride. When they come off the ride, at that point they are swapped and the people who waited with the child/children - then are put on the ride bypassing any lines. (in most cases backdoored right on the ride). Basically BETTER than Express for the person who waited.

This can also be used in instances where perhaps there is a grandparent or someone not able to go on an attraction but cannot wait alone while everyone else rides. (the point being it doesn't HAVE to be a child in all cases)

 

[Goofy Rulz]

I just called Universal. They said that the Express Pass & FOTL are offered free to those staying on-site. If you are staying off-property you would have to purchase them. There are certain black-out dates on these. And the cost per ticket varies with the time of year you are there. I asked about the kiosks outside of the rides and if they were still being used. I was told that they are not being used right now (and she didn't know why), but may be used again during the summer or during more busy times. If you ask me, they're trying to re-coup their loses on the mistake they made on the kids free tickets and trying to force people into purchasing these Express tickets to avoid lines. My guess is that the kiosks would be operational again in the summer & busier days. I was told the same thing last year and when we went during Easter break the kiosks were operating.