Is FOTL really that good?

[Castillo Mom]

We'll be staying at RPR for three days next August after nine days at WDW. Shortened our stay at BC by one day to add another to RPR, total of three days there. Anyway, we're looking forward to FOTL, but tell me is it that good? I mean, I can imagine that during August, the Universal resorts should be at about full capacity, plus factor in those who buy Express passes. Are the wait times really that short? What is the average time in line during that time of year with FOTL? Tell me all about it!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

When in August are you going? In mid-late August the crowds start thinning out. In early August, the crowds are still heavy.

With FOTL your wait time should not exceed 15-20 minutes, unless there are other circumstances. Plus since you'll be at the RPR, you can re-use your FOTL access as much as you want, say on MIB, for example. Your express wait time will also be determined by when you're staying, as stated above...

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We were there the third week of August a couple years ago, and even though the crowds had started to thin out, the FOTL helped us avoid lines a lot. I would only stay off-property in very slow times. Our wait times that time of the year were never over 15 minutes. I can't remember what the regular waits were, but in Men in Black we passed by the same people over and over again when we rode several times in a row.

That year we went to WDW for a few days, Universal for a few, and then back to WDW. It was so hard going back to WDW after having FOTL at Universal.

We were there last April and our wait time was 5-15 minutes on most lines where the regular wait would be more like 45-120 minutes. It was nice being able to ride MIB or Dueling Dragons several times in a row, even though I can sure understand if Universal starts limiting that to once or twice an hour. Also, Express passes run out early in the day on popular rides.

T&B

 

[keriannhoward]

We were there the last week of July this past summer (accck! as a native I should've known better!!!!) and the FOTL was a lifesaver. It's absolutely well worth the price of staying onsite. I completely agree with Tigger&Belle, I only stay off site at very slow times of the year.

Our longest wait was for Shrek and that was 25 min (but the regular wait was 2 hours)

 

[Castillo Mom]

Originally posted by the Dark Marauder
When in August are you going? In mid-late August the crowds start thinning out. In early August, the crowds are still heavy.

With FOTL your wait time should not exceed 15-20 minutes, unless there are other circumstances. Plus since you'll be at the RPR, you can re-use your FOTL access as much as you want, say on MIB, for example. Your express wait time will also be determined by when you're staying, as stated above...

We'll be checking in to RPR on 8/23, so hopefully crowds will be smaller. Thanks for the comments, seems like I made the right decision in extending our stay at Universal. Out here in California it's pretty much unheard of for us to wait in any lines less than 30 minutes since we usually do the theme park thing during the summer or holidays when crowds are thick. Something tells me we'll want to come back to Universal soon after this trip!

 

[dzneprincess]

We went to 2nd week in June this year, we stayed at PBH and FOTL was wonderful! We stayed for 5 days, and we had a blast. WE rode MIB and Spiderman way tooooo many times LOL But it was a realtively busy time of the year, and I don't recall having to wait more than 10 mins for anything that had FOTL access. We waited for Shrek, but only because it was opening week and as I recall there was no FOTL

 

[antmaril]

FOTL is fabulous. We stayed at RPR for three nights in July this year and at PBH over Labor Day weekend last year. I cannot tell you how great the FOTL perk is - you will love it. If you are staying at WDW first, you will have FOTL the line to look forward to at Universal.

We are going to RPR again during Presidents' Week - FOTL will definitely come in handy for us!!!

Enjoy!

 

[Motherfletcher]

FOTL is the best thing Universal has done since Frankenstien! Worked like a dream June, July and October.

 

[essmom]

How about the 3rd week of March? Is it bad then?

 

[SpideyHulk24]

Is FOTL really that good?......YES....YES...AND YES!!!!!!

I can't go back without it!!!!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by Castillo Mom
We'll be checking in to RPR on 8/23, so hopefully crowds will be smaller. Thanks for the comments, seems like I made the right decision in extending our stay at Universal. Out here in California it's pretty much unheard of for us to wait in any lines less than 30 minutes since we usually do the theme park thing during the summer or holidays when crowds are thick. Something tells me we'll want to come back to Universal soon after this trip!

8/23? That will be on a Monday, and since many FL schools go back to school around then, the crowds will be thinning out immensely. There will still be lines, but they shouldn't hit the 60-75 minute mark. Well, maybe Mummy and Shrek...

Originally posted by essmom
How about the 3rd week of March? Is it bad then?

That depends on how many school are on Spring Break at that time. Since Easter is 4/11, the 3rd week of March will be a time that would be considered "growing". I'd expect to see 30 minute waits as the norm then. Maybe more, maybe less...

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I think that some, if not most(?), colleges have spring break the third week of March. I have a daughter who will start college in a year and a half so then I will be paying attention to that sort of thing again.

In Oregon public schools our spring break was always tied to the beginning of spring, not to Easter. I don't know how many other school districts do that.

T&B