Just Back and a few take aways

[Music City Mama]

I think they would stop selling express pass as an add on before taking away the hotel perk. We would never consider staying off site, but getting rid of express pass would drastically change that.

I agree. One thing I've noticed this time that I didn't notice last time we were here is just how many "Buy Express Passes Here" signs we saw. I think more and more off-siters are doing this and I think they'd raise the prices even more or take away this add-on before taking away this perk for those staying on-site.

 

[macraven]

Do you think they will remove the Express Pass perk from one of the hotels as they are getting to the point where the Express queue can't cope?

no way


it's a selling point for staying at the deluxe hotels.

i can see the price going up for the limited and unlimited EP's that are sold.

 

[RMulieri]

As much as it pains me to say this, I think if they stopped giving the express passes with deluxe stays, I would stay offsite or at the cheapest resort .Doubt that will happen though.My guess is they would stop selling as many passes or INCREASE the prices on the ones they sell

 

[johde]

I think they would stop selling express pass as an add on before taking away the hotel perk. We would never consider staying off site, but getting rid of express pass would drastically change that.

While it might not be a popular opinion, I think the opposite would be true. Cabana Bay and Sapphire Falls are onsite hotels without express privileges. At least so far, Cabana Bay has been able to fill rooms most of the time without extreme discounting. If Universal felt they could fill the deluxe rooms with Unlimited express and be able to sell more express passes, and possibly lower the prices slightly, it is something they would consider.

While I'm not sure they would completely get rid of it as a hotel perk, they could change it from Unlimited Express to the 1 trip per ride express for hotel guests. It's been a long time ago, but another thing they could do limit the unlimited express passes to 1 trip per ride per hour. So, if you rode Hulk in the Express line you couldn't ride Hulk again for another hour but you could immediately move on to the express line for Spiderman. This type of system hasn't been used since I think 2002.

 

[macraven]

anything is possible to adjust the time periods or days of the week to stagger usuage of the ep's.

 

[elaine amj]

Also, Universal Studios opens at 8:30 every day despite the 9:00 opening time.

And sometimes earlier than 8:30am. Our first morning we showed up just before 9am and staff told us gates opened at 8:30am. Gringotts was down anyway Our second morning we showed up at 8:30am, almost on the dot, and the gates had already been opened at some point with plenty of people ahead of us. 10-15 min wait at Gringotts.

 

[ElenaJane]

And sometimes earlier than 8:30am. Our first morning we showed up just before 9am and staff told us gates opened at 8:30am. Gringotts was down anyway Our second morning we showed up at 8:30am, almost on the dot, and the gates had already been opened at some point with plenty of people ahead of us. 10-15 min wait at Gringotts.

I heard a cool tip while I was there last week...which probably everyone knows. But if you are staying on property you can go to IoA at 8 and then take the Hogwart's Express to DA and be the very first people in line for Gringotts. I might try that next time!

 

[disneydawn71]

I heard a cool tip while I was there last week...which probably everyone knows. But if you are staying on property you can go to IoA at 8 and then take the Hogwart's Express to DA and be the very first people in line for Gringotts. I might try that next time!

Yup! Did this last week and worked out very well for riding Gringotts 1st thing in the morning. The 2 days we did this the boarding time for HE varied slightly but we made it over to DA before 9am (I can't remember exactly when but safe to say between 8:30-8:45) from the time we put our stuff in lockers and boarded the ride, maybe 10 minutes tops. People start queuing at the Hogsmeade entry for HE fairly early, one morning we just went right up the steps to the platform, one morning we circled around.

 

[RMulieri]

I heard a cool tip while I was there last week...which probably everyone knows. But if you are staying on property you can go to IoA at 8 and then take the Hogwart's Express to DA and be the very first people in line for Gringotts. I might try that next time!

Hogwarts only starts operating once Studios is opening.You get to the studios Kings Cross Station around the time the guests from the front of the park are getting there.This also ONLY works IF the train isn't having technical issues that day.On our most recent trip, we only managed to successfully use the train strategy ONCE in our week stay since the train seemed to be having issues the one day and on the other we tried the studios had opened early and the first train made it to the Studios AFTER the gates were already in the park 15-20 mins so Gringotts already had a wait when we got there

 

[Parker Clan]

How's the line for Gringotts lately? Breaking down a lot still? I thought it was such an amazing ride & looking forward to riding at least once!

 

[Disneyliscious]

I don't see a problem with lifting your shirt at the waistline of your shorts. Another option could be a pat down. Even though you dont have pockets on the back, doesn't mean you couldn't have a knife or ice pick taped to your back or stuffed in your pants line. People can and will do crazy things and these employees don't know us from Adam. For me, i'm glad to hear they are taking these precautions. I've not been to US/IOA yet but a few posters here have almost convinced me. Also a Disney convert I guess. So sick of all the planning over there.

 

[ElenaJane]

How's the line for Gringotts lately? Breaking down a lot still? I thought it was such an amazing ride & looking forward to riding at least once!

We rode it May 30th. We had to be evacuated at the very end, but it froze off and on during the ride. I agree, that it is good when working! The next day my family told me the same thing happened again. We did get a cool "golden ticket" that could be used as an express pass on everything, including FJ and HE.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

How's the line for Gringotts lately? Breaking down a lot still? I thought it was such an amazing ride & looking forward to riding at least once!

We were there from May 1st to May 8th. We had no problem with Gringotts (rode it twice, once was a walk-on, then with a 10 minute wait), nor did we see it down anytime when we were in that area.

 

[Bluer101]

We rode it May 30th. We had to be evacuated at the very end, but it froze off and on during the ride. I agree, that it is good when working! The next day my family told me the same thing happened again. We did get a cool "golden ticket" that could be used as an express pass on everything, including FJ and HE.

Oh, it was you I was waiting for in the single rider line. We were there too and it was down for about 20 minutes as they evacuated the ride.

We were evacuated the day after grand opening and it took forever to be helped off the ride.

 

[ElenaJane]

Oh, it was you I was waiting for in the single rider line. We were there too and it was down for about 20 minutes as they evacuated the ride.

We were evacuated the day after grand opening and it took forever to be helped off the ride.

LOL! Sorry about that!

 

[Bluer101]

LOL! Sorry about that!

JK.

 

[goNDmay9]

We are here now - leaving in the morning after the Character Breakfast at RPR. After much angst and debate - and for the first time ever - we ended up staying off site at the Marriott Grande Vista and went to the parks on Wednesday and Friday. It wasn't completely awful without FOTL. That being said, I will probably never do it again - HA. I was calling RPR Wednesday while in line for the Flight of the Hippogriff to see if I could snag a room for Thursday! That line was BRU-TAL!!! They only had King rooms available though and I needed space for 5.

The crowds were not as awful as I feared - posted time at Gringotts was actually 30 - reality was 60. FJ was 30. It might be because we did the kiddie rides in the morning and afternoon and were totally okay with missing things. The evenings / late afternoons were pretty nice. I think the thunderstorms helped a bit. We were able to do Hulk with a 15 minute wait. Jurassic Park was 5. MIB was 10, Simpsons was 10. I think the Mummy stayed around 30-45. RockIt and Transformers were never less than 60 though. I joked that all of my old favs (Hulk for example) were now classics in the eyes of the newer attractions and no one wanted to ride them anymore. Glad to see that is not the case. Oh yea - and I suspect the crowds will increase. Not sure if it is any indication, but the power pass summer black out dates started today (Saturday).

Both Hogwarts and Diagon Alley were completely packed with people though. Not that we suspected any different - but those attractions are definitely driving the attendance. It would be cool to see an aerial view of the park that dictated the most condensed areas.

And to add to what others have said...I don't see them taking away express pass for onsite deluxes either. Perhaps it is my own prejudices, but we actually opted to stay offsite versus Cabana Bay. If we cannot get FOTL - the convenience is nice (ESPECIALLY with a double stroller) - and I have been wanting to try out the lazy river, but we would rather have the space in a 2 or 3 bedroom once you remove FOTL.

 

[goNDmay9]

Oh yes. And add us to the "Disney seems to be a plan it 180 days in advance vacation or else" camp as well. I would say I was a convert bc of that - but I found the dark side years ago!!! I love Disney and I love Universal. But Disney is making it difficult with the way our family vacations. We now get our fix on Disney Cruises instead. My youngest (will be 2 next month) has actually never been to Disney but has been to Universal twice. She was born after fast pass plus.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Both Hogwarts and Diagon Alley were completely packed with people though. Not that we suspected any different - but those attractions are definitely driving the attendance. It would be cool to see an aerial view of the park that dictated the most condensed areas.

And to add to what others have said...I don't see them taking away express pass for onsite deluxes either. Perhaps it is my own prejudices, but we actually opted to stay offsite versus Cabana Bay. If we cannot get FOTL - the convenience is nice (ESPECIALLY with a double stroller) - and I have been wanting to try out the lazy river, but we would rather have the space in a 2 or 3 bedroom once you remove FOTL.

Just got back early this morning. I agree that the WWOHP areas were packed - but most of the rest of the park was empty in the mornings! We walked on to Mummy, Transformers, MIB multiple times last week before 10:00, only to see those rides above 60 minutes by lunchtime. DH wouldn't ride much of anything if the wait was more than 30 min, b/c he got spoiled by riding the good things so quickly each morning! We lucked into really low crowds on our first day and only waited 20-30 min for Gringotts; we rode FJ toward the end of our trip, around 10:30am with a 30-40 min wait.

The crowds were much larger than our early June trip in 2012, but we were able to do darn near everything we wanted without needing an XP. But I think it would be different in July or early August.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I am going down in July. Last year was nuts at this time. Like the OP I go twice a year (early December for the other). Bought an annual pass so I will definitely add the unlimited pass the two or three days I go.