I'm confused about the Express Pass

[BigDopeyMom]

Questions about FOTL and Express Pass...

I understand what FOTL is (onsite guests use room key to get on rides unlimited amount of times)

Then there is an Express pass that you can purchase and the price depends on the day of year that you go. Does this pass give you only one express line visit for each ride per day?

Is there also an Express ticket that is similar to the WDW FastPass that you can get for an individual ride via a ticket machine outside that ride? I was just reading somewhere about this type of pass, but i'm not sure if this information is old or current.

Thanks for any clarification....

 

[Metro West]

Questions about FOTL and Express Pass...

I understand what FOTL is (onsite guests use room key to get on rides unlimited amount of times)

Then there is an Express pass that you can purchase and the price depends on the day of year that you go. Does this pass give you only one express line visit for each ride per day?

Is there also an Express ticket that is similar to the WDW FastPass that you can get for an individual ride via a ticket machine outside that ride? I was just reading somewhere about this type of pass, but i'm not sure if this information is old or current.

Thanks for any clarification....

You have a great grasp on the differences!

FOTL is only available to onsite hotel guests and is unlimited access for the duration of the stay.

Express Plus passes are available for purchase and the price is based on the anticipated crowd level that day. More people = more expensive the EP. This pass will give you access ONCE per attraction.

Univeral no longer has the Express machines outside each ride like Disney. They took those out in summer of 2005 or 2006.

 

[DocOck]

I've always stayed on site and have always had the room key, so I never had to buy EPasses, but i was wondering, do they scan it at each ride to know that you have already been in that line? Or do they punch it?

 

[BigDopeyMom]

Thank you MetroWest...I had a strange feeling that those machines were history! I am squeezing in a 2 or 3 day trip to US/IOA at the beginning of our WDW trip (we would probably be at US/IOA somewhere around 8/21-8/23). I am looking to do it as cheaply as possible and the only reason i would consider staying onsite is for the FOTL. I would have no problem staying at the DoubleTree for $80/night. I'm just trying to decide if it's worth it to book one night at PBH to get the FOTL for 2 days. PBH is the only onsite available during that time.

Thanks again!

 

[ky07]

I've always stayed on site and have always had the room key, so I never had to buy EPasses, but i was wondering, do they scan it at each ride to know that you have already been in that line? Or do they punch it?

If I am not mistaking they mark it at each ride when you use it

 

[pixeegrl]

That's what they did to me Jan of 2007. Don't know if they changed it or not.

 

[Metro West]

Thank you MetroWest...I had a strange feeling that those machines were history! I am squeezing in a 2 or 3 day trip to US/IOA at the beginning of our WDW trip (we would probably be at US/IOA somewhere around 8/21-8/23). I am looking to do it as cheaply as possible and the only reason i would consider staying onsite is for the FOTL. I would have no problem staying at the DoubleTree for $80/night. I'm just trying to decide if it's worth it to book one night at PBH to get the FOTL for 2 days. PBH is the only onsite available during that time.

Thanks again!

You are most welcome. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

 

[inkkognito]

I think they're starting to try scanning at some attractions instead of marking. I haven't been over there in awhile, but that's what hubby found out recently. We have Premier Passes which are good for unlimited, but the scanner still beeps if it's used more than once in the same day.

 

[Notatourist]

You have a great grasp on the differences!

FOTL is only available to onsite hotel guests and is unlimited access for the duration of the stay.

Express Plus passes are available for purchase and the price is based on the anticipated crowd level that day. More people = more expensive the EP. This pass will give you access ONCE per attraction.

Univeral no longer has the Express machines outside each ride like Disney. They took those out in summer of 2005 or 2006.

Hotel keys get you instantly into the express line. You still might have to wait a few minutes to get onboard, but, it is NOT Front of the Line.

Front of the Line, or what I prefer to think of as NO Line access is only available on the VIP tour.

Thank you.

 

[Metro West]

Hotel keys get you instantly into the express line. You still might have to wait a few minutes to get onboard, but, it is NOT Front of the Line.

Front of the Line, or what I prefer to think of as NO Line access is only available on the VIP tour.

Thank you.

What?

 

[damo]

Are there still people who think FOTL means actual front of the line? I think people realize it just means that you get to use the express line.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

What?

She has a point, MW. VIP tours are the only true Front Of The Line method. Everything else gets express line access.

Of course, you could always meet a really nice TM who feels like putting you through the VIP path for their attraction.

 

[Metro West]

She has a point, MW. VIP tours are the only true Front Of The Line method. Everything else gets express line access.

Of course, you could always meet a really nice TM who feels like putting you through the VIP path for their attraction.

OK...here's the deal.

MOST people describe the Express access for onsite guests as FOTL to keep it clear in their heads as different from the EP you have to purchase. No one has said anything about true FOTL or that no wait access or what that means. The OP's post and my response said nothing about be able to go to the front w/o waiting...so I'm a little confused why all the fuss about my response. I know the VIP tour is different but the OP didn't ask about the VIP tour.

 

[DanielG]

In regards to the purchased Express Pass use, our first trip was during spring break 2007, and we were able to ride a good many of the rides multiple times before they marked our ticket. It seemed like as the busier the park got, the more diligent they got in marking the passes. That was my experience, and it may not hold true for you.

Daniel

 

[RAPstar]

In regards to the purchased Express Pass use, our first trip was during spring break 2007, and we were able to ride a good many of the rides multiple times before they marked our ticket. It seemed like as the busier the park got, the more diligent they got in marking the passes. That was my experience, and it may not hold true for you.

Daniel

That's true too. My step-mom and family wnet when it was slower and she said they never marked her EP and she rode ROTM until she was dizzy.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

OK...here's the deal.

MOST people describe the Express access for onsite guests as FOTL to keep it clear in their heads as different from the EP you have to purchase. No one has said anything about true FOTL or that no wait access or what that means. The OP's post and my response said nothing about be able to go to the front w/o waiting...so I'm a little confused why all the fuss about my response. I know the VIP tour is different but the OP didn't ask about the VIP tour.

I'm just giving you a hard time, MW. Though some of our other posters take "FOTL" a little too seriously.