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

[Metro West]

DD frustrates me the most. There is hardly ever attendants (at least when I'm there) assigning groups (or individuals) to rows. I get annoyed waiting in the Q while you see cars with 1-2 seats open on nearly every row of the train.

I agree with the placement of groups but not individuals. I often go alone and usually ride in row 2 uness they have an opening in the front row. I don't want to have to ride in a back row even if it is filling up space. I think the problem with the empty seats is they close the gates too soon. By the time someone makes it up to the gate, it's closed and the train is ready to go. BUT..I was at IOA on Sunday and the guy on duty was doing a great job yelling for singles or parties of 2 to fill up the rows. I think if they continue to do that, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[goNDmay9]

guy on duty was doing a great job yelling for singles or parties of 2 to fill up the rows. I think if they continue to do that, it shouldn't be a problem.

I completely agree! In my experiences, DD is really the only ride that i have noticed the empty seats / rows and they seem to be the only ride that does not do the "party of 2 looking for 2" hollering thing.

I guess decades of going to disney and unviersal have us trained so well that is just bothers us! For some reason it drives me nuts too. Interesting that i only seem to notice it on DD.

 

[lorax123]

I completely agree! In my experiences, DD is really the only ride that i have noticed the empty seats / rows and they seem to be the only ride that does not do the "party of 2 looking for 2" hollering thing.

I guess decades of going to disney and unviersal have us trained so well that is just bothers us! For some reason it drives me nuts too. Interesting that i only seem to notice it on DD.

I'm glad it's just not me! It just drives me crazy, becuase at many times the ride really is basically a walk on. But, the lack of organization turns it into a 20 minute wait.

I really can't think of any other ride at Uni I notice this lack of organization either.

It just seems TMs hawking for parties of 1 or 2 to fill a row is the exception. The seem to be pretty loaded up with work as is, let alone looking to fill the cars.

 

[macraven]

i have been going solo to the parks.

i am very vocal when i see an empty seat.

i call dibbs on it very very loudly...........and i slip thru the gate at dd quickly so i grab any row that has an empty seat...

 

[basas]

My un-popular opinion: do-away with all Express pass and go back to one line.

 

[tropical depression]

My un-popular opinion: do-away with all Express pass and go back to one line.

running attractions with both sides open and all cars/trains on tracks at full capacity. the only extra line would be a single ridres, how much better could that be?

 

[Fan2CSkr]

My un-popular opinion: do-away with all Express pass and go back to one line.

Maybe not so unpopular with the local crowd that are spending a day in the parks. More unpopular with those (ME) that are coming and staying onsite and getting that perk! I love hotel express and would have a hard time adjusting if they did away with it. I'm not even sure I would visit as often as I do.

 

[AlexandNessa]

Maybe not so unpopular with the local crowd that are spending a day in the parks. More unpopular with those (ME) that are coming and staying onsite and getting that perk! I love hotel express and would have a hard time adjusting if they did away with it. I'm not even sure I would visit as often as I do.

Us too. In fact, if they did away with unlimited express for hotel guests, we wouldn't renew our APs when they came due.

 

[calgarygary]

Doing away with FOTL for onsite hotel stays would be successful if your goal is to reduce occupancy.

 

[goNDmay9]

Us too. In fact, if they did away with unlimited express for hotel guests, we wouldn't renew our APs when they came due.

Ditto for the Lewis'! And...while we do love staying onsite, i am not sure if we would continue to stay there without FOTL.

 

[macraven]

the fotl perk is a big draw for staying on site.

i wouldn't give it up.

hrh is kewl but not that kewl at the rates they charge if the fotl isn't available

 

[patster734]

Doing away with FOTL for onsite hotel stays would be successful if your goal is to reduce occupancy.

Totally agree! The backlash would be extremely bad for Universal if they did this.

 

[bubba's mom]

jumpin' on the bandwagon

 

[yankeepenny]

here is a thought- with all the hype regarding the arrival of Harry come 2009, droves will want to see the place.
and some will stay in the hotels on site, and doing away with the FOTL at that time will get no complaints from the thousands of extra folks who might not have going to the park except for harry. just my two cents- or should i say Penny.......

 

[macraven]

i'm thinking UO will have new hotels budget style put up with no fotl or perks

that way we all win.

we pay $$$ and get fotl

value resort pays $ and no fotl..........but they still are on site.


just think if UO adds more hotels and increases over 1000 rooms on site.
.......there go perks at city walk........head of line wait list probably woulldn't exist then

 

[bubba's mom]

i'm thinking UO will have new hotels budget style put up with no fotl or perks

that way we all win.

we pay $$$ and get fotl

value resort pays $ and no fotl..........but they still are on site.


just think if UO adds more hotels and increases over 1000 rooms on site.
.......there go perks at city walk........head of line wait list probably woulldn't exist then

i couldn't agree more.....my exact thoughts. Besides, i'm sure they don't want the UO hotels to turn into what Disney has.....TOO many hotels to offer the (fotl) perks

 

[hastrobb]

So I am wondering in the busy summer months with the FOTL pass, how long is the average wait?

 

[patster734]

i'm thinking UO will have new hotels budget style put up with no fotl or perks

that way we all win.

we pay $$$ and get fotl

value resort pays $ and no fotl..........but they still are on site.


just think if UO adds more hotels and increases over 1000 rooms on site.
.......there go perks at city walk........head of line wait list probably woulldn't exist then

That's interesting. I wonder if the room keys will be colored differently than the other hotels' to help the employees tell the difference.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We're another family that goes to UO regularly, because of FOTL for onsite guests. It's an experience like no other. We could actually drive over for the day, but never go unless we are staying onsite. Without FOTL, we'd be rethinking our vacation plans.

So I am wondering in the busy summer months with the FOTL pass, how long is the average wait?

We usually go in July, & the avg. wait is probably 10 min. It's not bad at all. You'll have a great time.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

i'm thinking UO will have new hotels budget style put up with no fotl or perks

that way we all win.

we pay $$$ and get fotl

value resort pays $ and no fotl..........but they still are on site.


just think if UO adds more hotels and increases over 1000 rooms on site.
.......there go perks at city walk........head of line wait list probably woulldn't exist then

That makes sense to me, but I wonder what the backlash would be. I'm sure there would be people complaining that there was a difference in the classes, & some were being treated as 2nd class citizens. They'd book the cheaper hotel knowing upfront about the lack of FOTL, then be irate because they were treated differently. Naturally, they'd have to rant that all WDW resorts offer the same perks. Yeah, because those perks aren't as good. I'm concerned that adding hotel rooms at UO may affect the perks. As I've said before, if they remove FOTL for the 3 hotels they currently have, I wouldn't want to own stock in the Loews Corp.