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

[PlutoLuvr]

Really the only time I can recall the FOTL being longer or the same as the regular lines have been situations where the parks are crazy slow, but the hotels are packed. I can remember two trips -- evacuations, actually -- to USO during Septembers when hurricanes were going mad all over the state. Mid to late September is about the slowest time of year to go to Orlando theme parks, but the hotels were sold out due to evacuations and really the only lines for rides were in the FOTL queues. Nothing drastic, but like 10 minutes for the regular line on Jaws and 10 minutes for the FOTL line on the same ride.

Very strange trips, to say the least. The parks (and FOTL queues) were probably 90 percent FL resident evacuees. Very hard to enjoy yourself when you're wondering if your home will still be standing in the next day or two. And there were so many of us together in the same lines. And to happen two years back to back is uber strange.

The hypothesizing about what the new hotel will be like and whether it will offer FOTL is an interesting discussion and not too far off topic, IMHO. I mean, if USO is overextending itself in the EP department, a new onsite hotel, as well as the upcoming crowds for the HP island will no doubt have an effect on EP in its current state.

DH & I were talking about it last night, and we'd be up for a value hotel. It would mean a lot more visits on site for us. There are so many factors! We're only a quick two-hour drive away, and most of our Orlando trips are long weekends, anyway. We never go during busy seasons, so FOTL, while it's nice to have, isn't usually necessary for the times we go. A big factor for us is what you see in my avatar. And I can't drink two or three of them and hope to drive offsite to my hotel or timeshare, so we have to factor in cab costs. A value hotel onsite would be a notch in the "con" column for FOTL purposes, but it would be a big notch in the "pro" column for onsite partying purposes and at a modest price -- something USO doesn't have currently.

Like others have mentioned, we REALLY hope they don't do away with FOTL and institute some kind of EMH system instead. Blech! We're sleeping in the mornings and we're off eating, drinking and enjoying nightlife in the evenings. Plus, the times we go are positively dead and the parks are practically empty anyway. I can't imagine it would be cost effective to keep all those employees working for just a few hotel guests.

It shall be interesting to see it all unfold!

 

[lorax123]

this year the off season last day is oct 4th. my rate at hrh is very good for that day but it jumps for the next 4......


i totally and completely love hhn.......
tell your dw to try one night at hhn...........yea, i'm sure that will go over like a lead ballon

the cost for hhn this year has increased from last.
i can remember in 2000, my first year for hhn, was so cheap compared to what it is for 07

At first it went over like a lead baloon, but then I showed her the site is up. Now she's jonesing to go.

Our first year was 2000 also! Remember the tickets were $19.95? Now it's on par with daily admission.

Sorry about the hi-jack.

 

[GreyStr0ke]

You should not be waiting anymore then 15 minutes in line for Express. If you find yourself waiting longer then that, go complain to Phamton

Here's the proof:

 

[GemmaPixie]

Word being average- could be more, could be less

 

[GreyStr0ke]

45 minutes is a lot more then 15 mintues though...

 

[phamton]

Word being average- could be more, could be less

Don't see me--I can't control how many people decide to ride at the same time as you. This isn't pizza delivery where you pizza is guaranteed in 30 minutes or your order is free.

Sometimes when shows let out like Fear Factor, everyone heads for the nearest ride like Jaws or MIB. Just check the wait times and return at a slower time.

 

[bubba's mom]

i agree....if you stand in EP for 45 minutes, you better be waitin' 5 or less a bunch of other times to make up for that "average"

 

[GemmaPixie]

Yes but if you think about it, they are taking an average from queue lengths all year round. So in the slow months, most of the time the queue would be a walk on or only a few minutes and then in the peak months they are much longer. They are taking an average which is pulled way down because (I think, correct me if I'm wrong), the express queue is only long for a small amount of the year.

 

[lorax123]

Hey check this out on Screamscape! Someone important read my post complaining about DD! Cool!


Park News - (6/18/07) According to a report sent in over the weekend, Universal was testing out some new traffic flow procedures inside the Dueling Dragons queue. According to the report there was a ride op stationed just outside the castle who would stop the flow from entering the castle until a group of about 10 had gathered and then they would let that group in and stop the flow again. Things were normal again though the castle itself until you picked Fire or Ice and then another ride op was stationed to find out how many were in your party and directed you into a specific row on the coaster just as they do on Incredible Hulk. According to our reader, this seemed to work out a hell of a lot better in the end and greatly reduced the chaos that you normally experience while waiting to board the coaster. I don’t know if this is something they are going to do on busy days throughout the summer or if this was just a one day test to observe some new traffic flow patterns in anticipation of the Harry Potter conversion which will surely drive the crowds back into the Dueling Dragons castle once again.

 

[macraven]

did the ride op also stop the ep line?

 

[lorax123]

I don't know Macraven. But I suppose they would. Usually the Express line merges with the regular just before you choose a dragon.

I hope this would be permenant. But, I doubt they would do this in the off-seasons.

 

[macraven]

i'm going early october this year.

i would hope it would be the same as it was for you.


even when the 2 lines merge together, it would still be a good thing.