How does front of the line access work for Universal hotel guests?

[disneymom1]

Can someone explain to me how front of the line access works for guests staying at the Universal hotels? Do you get a pass to come back to the ride later or do you just get to go in a special line at each ride using your room key?

 

[Boldido]

After you check into your hotel, take your key cards with you to the parks. (Take all of your key cards. Each person using FOTL privileges needs a card, although many times they just looked to see if there was more than one. They even gave us one for our one year old daughter.) At any of the rides that have an "Express" line, you just have to show them your room key and they will let you into the line. You don't need to get a separate paper ticket.

 

[highlander447]

Also at Shrek thers not an express line but just let the cm know you are a hotel guest and they will let u in another way

 

[Mainebound]

FOTL is unbelievably easy and effective. Just show the card and you are in! We felt like VIPs every time we were ushered to the FOTL. I actually felt a little bad for the folks in the standby line. In some cases we used a separate entrance altogether. I was a bit skeptical before our trip, but we are converts to staying onsite just for the FOTL. Touring is so easy and stress free. No commando plans like we have to devise for WDW (which we also love). So great with our little ones who cannot stand lines.

 

[sters]

If the hotels are particularly crowded, won't there be long lines in the FOTL areas?

 

[Dad of 3]

If the hotels are particularly crowded, won't there be long lines in the FOTL areas?

We have been UO in March when the hotels are filled and express lines are not that crowded. Fifteen minute wait max. There is less than 3,000 rooms at OU hotels. That is less than Caribean Beach at WDW. FOTL is great, but it is expensive, since UO hotels are priced the same as WDW deluxe in peak periods.

We were at HRH on the second week that it opened. Back then, there was no express lines. You just showed your hotel key to the attendant and they told you how to go in via the exit. Many people told us that we were going the wrong way, but we got on the attraction right away. Ah, the old days, no wait at all.

Dad of 3

 

[april riddle]

Hi we were there over Thanksgiving week and we did not wait on anything. One afternoon we were coming out of Universal and the wait for Jimmy Neutron was going to me about 10 minutes and my kids said they didn't want to wait that long! It was awesome and having spent the Sunday before Thanksgiving at Magic Kingdom and waiting over an hour for each ride- we are total converts. It was great and the Royal Pacific was really nice too! I would highly recommend it to anyone.

 

[nymomof3]

i am a little confused, how dothey let the standby line in, do they let some fotl go and then so stand by or do they let all fotl people go first and when theres no more fotl people the other people go, how does it actually work.

 

[Dad of 3]

i am a little confused, how dothey let the standby line in, do they let some fotl go and then so stand by or do they let all fotl people go first and when theres no more fotl people the other people go, how does it actually work.

It is not literally "Front of the Line", it is always having the express pass for the attraction.

There are two queues to most attractions. One queue for the general public and the other is for hotel guests and those with express passes. General public can get express pass for an attraction, in the same manner as WDW guest get a FastPass. Thus the express pass queue is usually much shorter than the general public queue. Each ride is different but most cases the attendant will alternate letting the same number of people in from each queue. Since the Express queue is shorter, the wait time is shorter.


See the sticky post:
How to get to the front of the line (includes Universal Express information)
for more information.

Dad of 3

 

[Cheryle423]

We just got back and did RPR for the first time so we could experience the FOTL privilege.. it was so nice! We definitely felt like VIP's!! Sometimes even when there was only a 5 minute wait, we would use it anyway, because it cuts down the walk through all the mazes to the front of the attraction!!

I had never been there and was a little skeptical as I am a huge WDW fan.. but gee... it was so nice not to wait in any lines!!! and also the walking to and from the parks is a HUGE perk as far as I am concerned!

April riddle.. we were like you.. if there was a wait we just didn't want to do it. we were so spoiled by the FOTL!
If you can swing it, I would definitely stay on site.. I think it was worth it.

 

[highlander447]

It really does spoil u though and I agree worth it as u get more relaxation on your vacation

 

[phamton]

Some rides like Men in Black and Mummy have two tracks of cars. One track is used for express and front of the line and the other track is for regular or standby. These rides do not alternate between standby and FOTL when they let people in.

 

[Mainebound]

and also the walking to and from the parks is a HUGE perk as far as I am concerned!

I totally agree! We have always stayed onsite at WDW and used the buses. It takes so long even to get from resort to park (like 30 minutes, not counting waiting), never mind to DD or any other place. This past March wer used taxis several times because we were so sick of waiting for buses. But even if you have a car or taxi, WDW is just so HUGE that everything is a hassle (a fun and wonderful hassle, to be sure).

Being at Universal was so relaxing. If we were hot or tired, we were back at HRH in literally 10 minutes of pleasant strolling. We could just "be in the moment" wthout worrying about PSs or where we had to be next. This is why I think it is better to end your vacation at Universal.

We are so torn about staying onsite this March with the high prices. Ugh!

 

[disneymom1]

Just got back. Visited both parks on 12/30 and 12/31. Stayed at HRH so we had Hotel Express Pass. Never waited more than a few minutes for anything eventhough it was Christmas week!!! From now on, staying at a Universal hotel is the only way for me!!!