Hotel Express pass is not what it used to be...

[lookingforward]

We are here at US/IOA for memorial day weekend. I realize that it is a holiday weekend BUT...there seems to be more people WITH the express pass than without. They must be selling more of the passes than I remember. Today, the express line for MUMMY was 45 minutes. Kind of defeats the purpose, in my opinion. I know that the express pass only allows one go around for each ride. Some of the ride personnel were advising hotel guests to come back later in the day after most of the bought passes were used up. EVerything is still much fun but the express option is not what it used to be.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

We are here at US/IOA for memorial day weekend. I realize that it is a holiday weekend BUT...there seems to be more people WITH the express pass than without. They must be selling more of the passes than I remember. Today, the express line for MUMMY was 45 minutes. Kind of defeats the purpose, in my opinion. I know that the express pass only allows one go around for each ride. Some of the ride personnel were advising hotel guests to come back later in the day after most of the bought passes were used up. EVerything is still much fun but the express option is not what it used to be.

We just returned Wednesday and I totally agree. I already wrote a letter. More than a few times the express line was longer than the regular line. We actually left the parks to swim at Portofino a couple of times in hopes that the crowds would thin out. Very frustrating.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Writing a letter is a good idea. People really need to be giving them feedback. I've noticed a few people saying they had the same experience. I really hope they remedy this ASAP.

 

[damo]

Maybe they need to start making sure that these express passes are only used once per ride. When we were there, the attendants were not doing this. We only encountered the problem once.

They can probably bump the express pass price if it is getting too popular.

 

[G8r4evr]

We are here at US/IOA for memorial day weekend. I realize that it is a holiday weekend BUT...there seems to be more people WITH the express pass than without. They must be selling more of the passes than I remember. Today, the express line for MUMMY was 45 minutes. Kind of defeats the purpose, in my opinion. I know that the express pass only allows one go around for each ride. Some of the ride personnel were advising hotel guests to come back later in the day after most of the bought passes were used up. EVerything is still much fun but the express option is not what it used to be.

Wow! Definitely sounds like they are overselling them. When we were there for Mothers Day weekend, our longest wait in the Express Line was for The Mummy...and that was like 2 mins. LOL

 

[Cass]

Wow, this is very disappointing news

 

[t-and-a]

So if the EP lines were that long, I wonder how long the stand-by lines were!

 

[GemmaPixie]

It must have been disapointing for the people that paid for the express pass aswell. They paid for their hotel and extra to be able to go in the fastpass lane and ended up having to wait a long time..just like you. At least your express pass was free- and you can use it as much as you want. The park must have been chocker-blocked!

 

[damo]

Or maybe there was a malfunction at Mummy that caused the backup? What were the lines like at the other rides?

We had one crazy day at IOA when we were there but Universal was pretty calm.

 

[Patita]

that worries me. I have booked RPH only because the express line

 

[BettyCv]

Wow, this is very disappointing news

I agree. We leave for our Universal vacation in one week.

Betty

 

[gschmerl]

Or maybe there was a malfunction at Mummy that caused the backup? What were the lines like at the other rides?

We had one crazy day at IOA when we were there but Universal was pretty calm.

That could be possible. The Mummy is the one ride where my on site express was backed up. It was because of malfunctions on the ride.

 

[IluvmyRott]

Those who are going to the parks in the next few weeks please keep us informed about this. I would normally never pay $200 a night for a hotel, so if the express line is not being properly handled, I will definitely cancel my reservation!

 

[Mainebound]

Maybe they need to start making sure that these express passes are only used once per ride. When we were there, the attendants were not doing this. We only encountered the problem once.

They can probably bump the express pass price if it is getting too popular.

I agree. Our last two visits, our express passes were not checked/marked except for super popular rides like Mummy and MIB, and then only after the first hour or 2 of park opening.

 

[yaytezIOA]

I think really they need to stop selling Express......yeah right. But the only way the express will go down if the hotels are fully sold out, as they are this weekend, will be to limit the amount of express sold.

 

[damo]

What was the price of express passes this weekend?

 

[Fan2CSkr]

What was the price of express passes this weekend?

One day 2 Park
Between 30.99 and 40.99.

One day 1 Park
Between 25.99 and 35.99

Price em higher and sell less. I wonder what the summer will bring.

 

[lookingforward]

The mummy was not malfunctioning, it was just super crowded. Many tour groups were here and some of them got the passes automatically as part of their package. It seems to me a bit of overselling. I love Loews hotels so I don't mind spending the extra money but when you stay here you are buying the priviledge of express. It is not 'free' to hotel guests by any means. All three hotels were sold out so I am sure that added to the delays.

It is just not the same as it was, but everything changes. During busy hotel times (when they are charging upwards of 300 per room) they should cut back on overselling the express. There is just so many that the system can handle in such a way that the "perk" remains a perk.

We are still having a great time, despite this issue. The Portofino rocks, by the way. Everything about it has been a pleasure. Had dinner at Nascar and that was great too. Loved their remodel. More soon...

 

[inkkognito]

They definitely need to start marking those one-use Express Passes. The other day, hubby did a solo trip to USF (I was stuck working) and saw one family get quite belligerent when a Mummy TM marked off their pass. The dad said, "Why are you doing that? NO ONE else has done that all day!" (And mind you, this was after 4 p.m....so goodness only knows how long he had been using it.)

 

[Lisa P.]

All three hotels were sold out so I am sure that added to the delays.... During busy hotel times (when they are charging upwards of 300 per room) they should cut back on overselling the express. There is just so many that the system can handle in such a way that the "perk" remains a perk.

Makes me wonder what will happen if they actually open the hotel(s) mentioned in the "master plan" posted on another thread. If the Express Passes are a good moneymaker, but something's got to give, what will it be?