IBCCES card and express pass?

[3kidz4dis]

I have a DAS pass for Disney and would like to apply for IBCCES at Universal...does this help when trying to decide if an express pass is worth it?

 

[keishashadow]

U express passes are intended for shorter wait times at the attractions
it is often suggested to add the EP to the AAP to maximize your experience.

The AAP eliminates waiting in the attraction standby line. There are at least two or three different levels of AAPs issued, with varying accommodation procedures.

With the base one (orange card), your actual wait time can wind up in the same ballpark as the standby line. You just won’t be standing in line, instead returning as assigned.

the next level (gold card), also has you return. However, you then have the option of being escorted directly to the attraction loading area by a team member vs entering the express line.

The Express Pass is more of a FOTL, and can be combined/stacked with the AAP I.E. request an AAP return time, then use the EP to do something else

While the disability boards are the go-to place for info, see below, copied over from the sea world boards

basically, you apply to IBCCES, indicating which parks you plan on visiting. after you indicate your specific needs and share basic confirming info with them, you will receive a number.

you then contact the specific park.

Universal, will get back to you to discuss by phone pre visit. Note that many have reported here that they are quite disgruntled. Turns out even tho they did receive an IBCCES card; they weren’t approved for any accommodation at Universal that they were granted in the past. Others, were surprised when it was determined they were eligible for a higher level of assistance.

many are complaining here of the process changing. However, once you do receive an IBCCES card, it appears to be a simple process to recertify it each year.

https://accessibilitycard.org/

the disability thread on these boards has an extensive sticky on IBCCES and many other threads asking specific questions.

 

[3kidz4dis]

U express passes are intended for shorter wait times at the attractions
it is often suggested to add the EP to the AAP to maximize your experience.

The AAP eliminates waiting in the attraction standby line. There are at least two or three different levels of AAPs issued, with varying accommodation procedures.

With the base one (orange card), your actual wait time can wind up in the same ballpark as the standby line. You just won’t be standing in line, instead returning as assigned.

the next level (gold card), also has you return. However, you then have the option of being escorted directly to the attraction loading area by a team member vs entering the express line.

The Express Pass is more of a FOTL, and can be combined/stacked with the AAP I.E. request an AAP return time, then use the EP to do something else

While the disability boards are the go-to place for info, see below, copied over from the sea world boards

Thank you so much for taking the time!!! I didn't realize this issue was on the disability thread. I appreciate it!

 

[Keladry84]

Express and AAP work differently but both do similar things - put you into the express line. Whether you want just the AAP, or pay for Express on top of it depends on your needs and what you want to accomplish. This is how each works:

Express: Allows immediate access to all express lines except for Hagrids (and Pterandon fliers). Can either be 1x per attraction, or unlimited, depending on which you pay for. Anyone that is willing to pay (or is staying at a deluxe resort) has an opportunity to purchase/receive this add on.

AAP: Gives a return to to an attraction based on the current stand by time, which then gives access to the express lane. This is valid on all attractions, including Hagrid's and can be used multiple times for the same ride, but you can only have 1 active return time at a time. Only guests with a disability and a valid need to the AAP have access to it and must go through the IBCCESS/phone call with universal to be approved. There is no cost for the AAP. Standard AAP return times works as follows:
- Current standby line is 25 minutes or less: Immediate access to the express line
- Current standby line is 30 minutes or more: Receive a return time equal to standby line (sometimes -15 min but not always), and gain access to the express lane at that time.

As previously posted, there are different tiers of AAP, however, most people have the standard as described above. If you qualify for something more, Universal will explain how it works.

Now, whether or not you need both: If you want immediate access to express lines (no return time), or want to ride rides while waiting for your AAP return time, then Express would be worth it. Otherwise AAP should be sufficient.

Do note that with either/both systems, on high-crowd days you might still have difficulty accessing a ride. Case in point - my last trip I got a return time of 80 minutes for Mummy. At the end of the 80 minutes, the standby time had blown up to 2 hours....leaving the estimate for the express line at 1 hour, which is too much for me to risk without knowing the exact environment of the queue - so even with the AAP, I was unable to ride, and I had also already waited for the ride by blocking out my AAP return time for the wait time, so.......just be flexible with either system.

 

[Lyndylou]

Can I jump into your thread please and ask a question. We applied for the first time for the IBCCES and have been approved. Does anyone know what the line is usually like for guest services to get the actual AAP. We are going early August. I seem to remember a 2 hour line 4 years ago so we couldn't wait ( autistic son ) to apply for IBCCES. Anyway as I've applied online and have it ,do we still have to wait in that line for the AAP ?
Thank you

 

[Keladry84]

Can I jump into your thread please and ask a question. We applied for the first time for the IBCCES and have been approved. Does anyone know what the line is usually like for guest services to get the actual AAP. We are going early August. I seem to remember a 2 hour line 4 years ago so we couldn't wait ( autistic son ) to apply for IBCCES. Anyway as I've applied online and have it ,do we still have to wait in that line for the AAP ?
Thank you

The next step is to have a conversation with a UO rep who will determine your level of accommodation. They will issue you a case number, which you then have to bring to guest services to get your paper AAP for the length of your trip. This must be picked up at the beginning of each trip.

I had to wait about 30 minutes at the guest services (later afternoon) outside of Universal Studios. This was the worst place to wait - the entrance to the park has really loud music. I would recommend picking up the AAP from the guest services just inside of the park or at the IoA guest services instead. I don't know the wait times at the other two guest service locations. Just a heads up - the line moved incredibly slowly, so could easily be more than a 30 minute wait depending on the time of day.

 

[Lyndylou]

Thank you

 

[Kerr84]

Does anyone know if I can go to guest services the night before we need to get the AAP pass? Or does it have to be the first morning?

 

[Keladry84]

Does anyone know if I can go to guest services the night before we need to get the AAP pass? Or does it have to be the first morning?

If you have a case number, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to. It would be better if you have it ahead of time so you don’t spend park opening waiting in a guest services line.

 

[Kerr84]

If you have a case number, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to. It would be better if you have it ahead of time so you don’t spend park opening waiting in a guest services line.

That is what I am hoping! I don’t want to have to wait in a long line during early entry.

 

[keishashadow]

The next step is to have a conversation with a UO rep who will determine your level of accommodation. They will issue you a case number, which you then have to bring to guest services to get your paper AAP for the length of your trip. This must be picked up at the beginning of each trip.

YMMV. That’s how it did run for my party, except once Staying offsite late last year.

Had experience being informed its “length of stay” (onsite) vs length of visit in the parks.

We had to revisit GS twice for the two different days my party visited. Equated to two longish waits, one nearly an hour. Not huge issue, as just positioned one person in line and the others out of the hot sun. Then, all joined when it was time to speak to TM.

No idea if that was a fluke or current method of operation. Would be interesting to hear if other’s had this experience.

 

[MinnieMSue]

So I do have the AAP but honestly it does not work for me. Purchasing express pass is the only way I can really enjoy the parks. With the paper pass having to go to the ride and sometimes wait in line to have it filled out and then find a spot to wait for our time and go back to the attraction and then wait in the express line - it’s kind of hard for me. Not to mention the wait to get the pass to begin with. It is so much easier to just buy express and go to the express lines and not have to deal with the back and forth of getting times and returning to the lines. I think I used it once per trip (not per day but per trip) - Hagrids is really the only time it helps over the express but most trips we do now are just HHN so we aren’t even in that park and we definitely buy express for that event as waiting at least an hour to return and then in the long express line is a no go for me. We would not get much done using the AAP.

 

[happysavermp]

Does anyone know if I can go to guest services the night before we need to get the AAP pass? Or does it have to be the first morning?

I asked guest services in Citywalk on 4/20 (our tickets were not active until 4/21) and was told no. He also let us know that we needed to get the physical card from guest services at either the park entrances or at the guest services right inside the parks gates. The next morning during early entry we went to the guest service location inside of Islands of Adventure. We were the fourth party in line. There was one worker at guest services. She was with the same party for about 45 minutes. By then the line behind us filled the entire queue. Eventually another guest service worker arrived. I was chatting with the two families in front of me who were also waiting to be helped and there for the AAP pass. Both families and my family each took about 5 minutes to get the pass once the second worker arrived.