I've done a search, but can't find out what the new info is on FOTL. HELP!!

[mofred]

I've been reading replies to other threads and seeing things like, no more FOTL-you now get in the Express Line. Is this correct? What does it mean as far as the difference in wait times for FOTL and Express? In other words, is the wait time for Express longer than what it would have been with FOTL?

I did a search to try and find more info and not clog up the board, but sorry Robin and Barry, No luck

 

[BarryHom]

Since the end of February, FOTL meant that you got to go through the Universal Express line after flashing the key. This may change for some attractions, as key readers are coming up that limit FOTL to some rides. The limit is one FOTL ride per day. So in essence, FOTL right now is really an all-day Universal Express pass, good for most attractions and all day long.

 

[mofred]

Thanks, Barry. What are the waits like for things like MIB and Spiderman on the weekend?

Thanks again!

My first trip to Universal is this Friday!!!!

 

[Beckles]

Universal is not offering anything that it calls Front of Line anymore. Now hotel guests get unrestricted access to the Universal Express lines (no Universal Express tickets needed, just show your key). During our visit in May this typically resulted in the same to slightly longer waits than we had experienced previously using Front of Line access. Universal Express is supposed to guarantee a maximum wait time of 15 minutes, so that is what you should expect now for on-site hotel guests.

 

[kyleally]

We jsut returned yesterday, were there at the HRH two nights, the FOTL is wonderful! It was really hot, and we were able to do all we wanted at both parks, got a table 1 hours before others at Margaritaville (SP?) and went back Sat am for our favorites before we left. Sat. was much busier in the parks, but the only wait we had was for Spiderman (my fav!) and that was about 5 minutes. Had a great time!

 

[Barb]

Ok, I'm still confused. Is there FOTL or not? Or has FOTL access become Universal Express? We'll be there in 2 weeks and my hubby is asking what we should expect. Thanks!

 

[Beckles]

Originally posted by Barb
Ok, I'm still confused. Is there FOTL or not? Or has FOTL access become Universal Express? We'll be there in 2 weeks and my hubby is asking what we should expect. Thanks!

There is nothing that Universal calls Front of the Line anymore. You get unrestricted (no tickets required) access to the Universal Express line with your hotel key for the entire day.

 

[Barb]

Thanks, Beckles. That still seems like a really good perk for staying at a Universal Hotel!

 

[Beckles]

It's an excellent perk, and I prefer the new Universal Express to the old FOTL. The old FOTL was only until noon, where the new system is all day. I prefer the slightly longer average wait and not having to wake up early ...

 

[jcl110]

Okay, so I call the Hard Rock Hotel today and a very nice clerk tells me that Front of the Line Access for on site hotel guests has not changed since February , that there are no restrictions on FoTL as of today's date.
So anyone staying in the Hard Rock in the next few months should not have any problems with FOTL.
I asked the clerk to verify this with her supervisor.
After all, hundreds of people have booked vacations well in advance and to change it without advance warning to those people , (myself included) would be
very bad business. So why scare everyone who has waited so long to enjoy this perk, by posting confusing and rheotorical answers, if you really dont check it out first? Just call the Hard Rock and my info should check out. To the original poster of this subject, all I can say is:
Enjoy your vacation and dont believe everything you read on this site.

 

[Beckles]

Originally posted by jcl110
Okay, so I call the Hard Rock Hotel today and a very nice clerk tells me that Front of the Line Access for on site hotel guests has not changed since February , that there are no restrictions on FoTL as of today's date.

I've been to Universal four times this year, staying onsite everytime, and I can promise you it's changed since February during the course of this year. There is no more Front of the Line access like there was at the beginning of the year. You get unrestricted (no ticket required) access to the Universal Express lines.

When I was there at the beginning of the year (January and February), you went in the out door, and through the back doors, and so on, and went straight on the ride, the old Front of the Line system. Now you go to the dedicated Universal Express lines which are now open all day (as opposed to when they were only open for the first few hours the park was open). Sometimes the wait is not any longer ... other times it is a little longer, but still quite reasonable.

It's different, trust me ... and it's not called Front of the Line anymore because it is different.

 

[jcl110]

Hi,
So what your saying is that FOTL only truly existed till the end of February?
Than that would mean that the reports and postings here where everyone raved about FOTL were actually raving about waiting on the Express Lines? How long a wait did you experience on these lines?
The people at Hard Rock still call it FOTL when questioned about it . I remember reading posts and not to long ago where some people said they got off a ride and went right back on. So since the Express Lines have times to go on ride, does this mean that at times the line is empty and you walk right on, and that is what everyone interprets as FOTL?
I will be there next month.... I will let you know what it really means..

 

[Beckles]

Originally posted by jcl110
Hi,
So what your saying is that FOTL only truly existed till the end of February?

That's exactly what I'm saying ... though I think it was late March/early April the switchover occurred to be more precise, but it was between my visit in early February and late April.

Than that would mean that the reports and postings here where everyone raved about FOTL were actually raving about waiting on the Express Lines?

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. During the slow times, they are pretty much the same thing, but not always. My longest wait under the new system (this is hard to believe) was about 15 minutes for Jaws (of all rides).

How long a wait did you experience on these lines?

Average wait in late April was about 5 minutes. Some walk on ... others 5-10 minutes, and Jaws was by far the longest at just about 15 minutes (got to watch some of the cheesy video for the first time ever).

The people at Hard Rock still call it FOTL when questioned about it .

From what I can piece together, Universal is really trying to avoid this, because it is inaccurate.

I remember reading posts and not to long ago where some people said they got off a ride and went right back on. So since the Express Lines have times to go on ride, does this mean that at times the line is empty and you walk right on, and that is what everyone interprets as FOTL?

I assume so. I myself am not big on riding the same ride over-and-over back-to-back, so have never even really tried. Under the old system this was not a problem (I did it a few times on MIB, cut through baby swap, that's the only ride I ever really wanted to ride back-to-back).

I will be there next month.... I will let you know what it really means..

I'll be there again in two weeks, but I doubt my experience from late April and late May will have changed, except that I'm expecting to have to wait a *little* more (parks will be busier), but not a lot more ...

 

[lookingforward]

I was there is April and although it is not called Front of the Line (It is called All Day Express Ride Accesss, or something like that) it is AWESOME. I never waited more than 15 minutes during Easter week. Most of the time it was less than that, some rides were an immediate walk on. We saw both parks two time over during our stay of three days. I can't wait to get back. I think anyone going this summer will really appreciate the hotel perks, no matter what its called. Enjoy!

 

[jcl110]

Beckles,
Thanks for clarifying it for me and have a great trip.

 

[Notatourist]

Beckles-

they still have the VIP tour...

something to keep in mind.

(407)363-8295

 

[Robinrs]

Barry and I both enjoyed WYMCI, (whatever you may call it) and it was AWESOME. It may have changed since earlier this year but it still is a great perk.

I went during a holiday weekend and the longest wait I had was for 5 minutes waiting for Hanna Barbera. There's no need to fret, this is worth your time.

Notatourist: I took the VIP tour back in Sept and it was truly an experience. I had Brett, a 10 foot tall bald guy, and he made us feel like celebrities. Unreal experience!

 

[SherryfromOK]

If the new rule is that you can use your room key for FOTL for each ride only once, how do they know? Does the computer tell them by my room key? I thought we only flashed them our room key? If that is true, would it make sense to use the 3 express passes first, before they ran out in the afternoon, then use the room key if you wanted to do it again? Does that make sense?

 

[gschmerl]

You only show your key now, but when the key readers are installed they'll know you've been there before.