Fastpath

[mdadinnj1]

I recently learned that fast pass tickets at Universial must be purchased, and may cost from $20-$50 depending on the time of year. And, if you want to get right to the front of the fast pass line, there is an additional charge! I soooo hope this info is incorrect. I realize their business is to make money, but this would just be absolute greed, with no regard for a family's pleasure. Anybody ever experience this?

 

[Metro West]

I recently learned that fast pass tickets at Universial must be purchased, and may cost from $20-$50 depending on the time of year. And, if you want to get right to the front of the fast pass line, there is an additional charge! I soooo hope this info is incorrect. I realize their business is to make money, but this would just be absolute greed, with no regard for a family's pleasure. Anybody ever experience this?

No no...this is completely incorrect. Universal is Express Plus passes...not FastPass or Fast Path tickets...whatever they are? If you purchase the EP you will get to go through the Express line once per participating attraction. The only way you can truly go to the front of the line is to take a private guided tour of the park and yes...it's expensive. Not many people elect to do it because of the cost. The EP prices vary depending on the anticipated crowd level for that particular day. The higher the crowds...the higher the cost.

 

[Bluer101]

It's not incorrect. It's the greatest thing about Universal. Just stay at one of their onsite hotels and you will receive unlimited express pass for your stay. The purchased express pass you talk about is once per attraction.

Years ago Universal tried Disney's version and they changed it to the purchased one. I have been to Disney a lot ( we live here ) and find it annoying you have to plan your day around running for fast passes. If Disney changes to a bought one Or for hotel guest I would visit more.

 

[ky07]

I recently learned that fast pass tickets at Universial must be purchased, and may cost from $20-$50 depending on the time of year. And, if you want to get right to the front of the fast pass line, there is an additional charge! I soooo hope this info is incorrect. I realize their business is to make money, but this would just be absolute greed, with no regard for a family's pleasure. Anybody ever experience this?

Universal has no fast pass it is express pass and yes it does depend on how busy the park is on that day of how much the express pass costs and I don't think it is greed to offer something that will get you on the ride faster and they are not forcing you to buy them but I think once you stand in line for a hour or longer you will come to like the express pass and while I have not bought them cause I like staying onsite cause when you do you get unlimited express pass by showing your room key

 

[JKMJ441724]

That can get really expensive for a family!

 

[Bluer101]

That can get really expensive for a family!

That's why we stay onsite. Some people even stay one night onsite to get the 2 days of unlimited express pass, well worth it on busy times. We won't go without being onsite, it truly makes it a relaxing vacation, no rushing around.

 

[JKMJ441724]

It's not incorrect. It's the greatest thing about Universal. Just stay at one of their onsite hotels and you will receive unlimited express pass for your stay. The purchased express pass you talk about is once per attraction.

Years ago Universal tried Disney's version and they changed it to the purchased one. I have been to Disney a lot ( we live here ) and find it annoying you have to plan your day around running for fast passes. If Disney changes to a bought one Or for hotel guest I would visit more.

Hmmm... Interesting thought process. I had not considered it like that.

That's why we stay onsite. Some people even stay one night onsite to get the 2 days of unlimited express pass, well worth it on busy times. We won't go without being onsite, it truly makes it a relaxing vacation, no rushing around.

We are members of Disney's timeshare, so we stay on-site there and Universal would only be a one or two-day trip for us. But kinda makes me want Disney to do unlimited FP for their on-site guests so, like you said, I don't have to plan my day around my FP times!

 

[damo]

One reason they are purchased passes at Universal is because unlimited express passes are given to anyone who stays onsite. If they had free express passes at the parks, why would people bother to stay onsite when there are so many other hotels within walking distance to the parks?


When they had free expresses passes at the park, they were generally out of them in the morning and that created a ton of customer complaints.

 

[Metro West]

We are members of Disney's timeshare, so we stay on-site there and Universal would only be a one or two-day trip for us. But kinda makes me want Disney to do unlimited FP for their on-site guests so, like you said, I don't have to plan my day around my FP times!

Disney has too many resort guests for them to ever do anything like Universal does for onsite hotels.

 

[JKMJ441724]

Disney has too many resort guests for them to ever do anything like Universal does for onsite hotels.

Another good point. Dang it.

 

[Metro West]

Another good point. Dang it.

LOL...Yeah...I've seen many discussions on the Disney side of the DIS about this subject.

 

[quadaunt]

Disney has too many resort guests for them to ever do anything like Universal does for onsite hotels.

I was just getting ready to type the same thing. WDW has dozens of onsite resorts, Universal has three. For all WDW onsite guests to have an unlimited FastPass would mean that the FP lines would be longer than the standby lines.

I returned last week from a two-night stay at Universal / IOA (for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter). I upgraded to an annual pass when there as I do plan on returning within the year. That helped with the room rate at the Royal Pacific Resort. For me the three days of early entry and the unlimited Express Pass was worth spending a little more than I would normally spend for a room.

 

[tinydancer09]

I was just getting ready to type the same thing. WDW has dozens of onsite resorts, Universal has three. For all WDW onsite guests to have an unlimited FastPass would mean that the FP lines would be longer than the standby lines.

I returned last week from a two-night stay at Universal / IOA (for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter). I upgraded to an annual pass when there as I do plan on returning within the year. That helped with the room rate at the Royal Pacific Resort. For me the three days of early entry and the unlimited Express Pass was worth spending a little more than I would normally spend for a room.

I mean the express pass at disney sounds like a good plan to me I never stay onsite at disney so whatever shortens the stand by line is FINEEE by mine!

Can you imagine if they dedicated three ro four hotels as "express entry hotels?" You have to pay big bucks and once theyre all booked up no one else can get any. People would be booking vacations YEARS in advance!

 

[holcomb-mania]

We are members of Disney's timeshare, so we stay on-site there and Universal would only be a one or two-day trip for us. But kinda makes me want Disney to do unlimited FP for their on-site guests so, like you said, I don't have to plan my day around my FP times!

We just returned from a split-stay: 5 nights at Kidani, 3 nights at PBH. Went to SeaWorld (and pool) while at Kidani, UO/IOA (and pool) while at PBH. Will do this again, despite cost (during summer). Was worth it for FOTL and PBH is outstanding.

One weird thing: Jambo (and other Disney resorts we've stayed in) always seems really crowded. PBH seemed DEAD, and I know it wasn't. But the restaurants, piazza and pools always had room. Most times you could shoot a shotgun across the piazza without hitting anyone. Maybe it's the proximity to the parks and Citywalk.

 

[bumbershoot]

That's why we stay onsite. Some people even stay one night onsite to get the 2 days of unlimited express pass, well worth it on busy times. We won't go without being onsite, it truly makes it a relaxing vacation, no rushing around.

That's how we feel, so far. Even during a slower time in December having the Express Pass from staying onsite made things even quicker. We liked that.

 

[Bluer101]

One weird thing: Jambo (and other Disney resorts we've stayed in) always seems really crowded. PBH seemed DEAD, and I know it wasn't. But the restaurants, piazza and pools always had room. Most times you could shoot a shotgun across the piazza without hitting anyone. Maybe it's the proximity to the parks and Citywalk.

This is normal for all three resorts. There is plenty to do between the parks, Citywalk, resorts (remember you can resorts hop), and offsite that it always seems not crowded.