Just Back... FP+ Pros & Cons

[Laketravis]

In the future we will enter the park and face a line that will take us from ride to ride like a bunch of cattle. Free will is going to be a thing of the past.

Ericar, in the future Disney will ship a Magic Helmet instead of a Magic Band, pre-programmed with the customer's favorite attractions and experiences. It will be complete with 4D water spray and smell dispensers, as well as vibrating motion packs that are strapped on prior to use. The only wait required will be the amount of time it takes you to don the helmet and put on the goggles. Of course, you'll only be able to use each experience once and there is a limit of three per day for up to the number of days you purchase.

Walt was trying to tell us something in the final scene of the Carousel of Progress!

 

[ericar]

They made a movie about this called "Brainstorm" . Your probably not far from the truth

 

[erc]

Holosuites from Deep Space Nine. But the FP+ return time is 400 years.

 

[tweak89]

Now I'm confused... This is what you said:

But we just got back from Universal and I must say I HATED their Express Pass! (From what I've read on these boards, I must be the only one in the world who does not love it, I know...)
At Universal, it seemed we were always waiting in line, even with EP (which came with our hotel stay). Maybe we were just using the wrong strategy, but I'm not sure what else to do there. Since EP is useless on the rides that actually have the longest lines, you've got no choice but rope drop SB. We waited 45 min and 20 min for Gringotts during Early Entry (for which we had to get up at 5:30 am Central Time ), and also explored HP world during the mornings since that was the only time you could breathe in there. By the time we got to the other rides at mid-morning, most had waits of 20-30 min or more. The actual wait time with EP was really unpredictable - one time (on Spidey) SB was listed at 20 min, and we actually waited 20 min in the Express line (basically everyone in line had express!), while another time it said SB was 30 and we waited 10. You just never knew what you were in for - but there was almost always a wait even with express.

What am I missing? How can someone not dislike something and hate something at the same time?

I wonder, though, if you completely understand how it works? It's not guaranteed front of the line access. Best explanation I've found:

For example, let’s say the regular standby line for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is a 45 minute wait. Then the Express Pass line will likely get you on the ride in about five to 10 minutes. This brings to light our first important point: Express Passes are not “front of the line” passes. When Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure are busy, there will be a wait when using Express Passes. However, the wait will be significantly shorter than the standby line, and you will practically never wait longer than 15 minutes.

This is exactly what we found/expected. Only on the above mentioned Rip Ride Rockit did we ever experience anything over 15 minutes. I think mostly because it's the first big attraction you come across when entering Studios. Everything else was a walk on or 10 minute wait. Still, IMO, better than either version of FP.

 

[RMulieri]

I have done Onsite Universal trips 2x and going on my 3rd this week..The most I have ever had to wait for express pass was 20 mins on despicable me and that was during a peak time in August..Most times the waits were 5 mins if any wait at all ..They advertise waits of 20 mins or less.It isn't Front of the line access immediately.I cant tell you how many people I heard flipping out at Universal employees thinking that the passes give immediate access..They don't. If the SB lines are showing 20mins and you wait 20 mins in the ep line, then the SB line time is not right or the ride has/had downtime

 

[SmithSmith]

I have done Onsite Universal trips 2x and going on my 3rd this week..The most I have ever had to wait for express pass was 20 mins on despicable me and that was during a peak time in August..Most times the waits were 5 mins if any wait at all ..They advertise waits of 20 mins or less.It isn't Front of the line access immediately.I cant tell you how many people I heard flipping out at Universal employees thinking that the passes give immediate access..They don't. If the SB lines are showing 20mins and you wait 20 mins in the ep line, then the SB line time is not right or the ride has/had downtime

Interesting. I could probably pull a dozen recent quotes from this board that describes and praises the express pass as exactly that: "front of the line access".

Have fun on your trip!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Interesting. I could probably pull a dozen recent quotes from this board that describes and praises the express pass as exactly that: "front of the line access".

Have fun on your trip!

Chiming in to say that I had the same déjà vu. I guess it is FOTL for convenient comparison to WDW, but truthfully described when a poster claims they didn't like to because of how it worked as advertised.

I will just save my money and go at a slow time where I can wait 20 minutes in standby and not have to worry about it.

 

[mesaboy2]

Interesting. I could probably pull a dozen recent quotes from this board that describes and praises the express pass as exactly that: "front of the line access".

Have fun on your trip!

In my experience, most people who use the term FOTL either understand that FOTL is not its actual function (but don't outright say that) or just misunderstand the term. I don't often see knowledgeable and experienced posters purport that it literally means FOTL and would be interested in those quotes.

 

[RMulieri]

In my experience, most people who use the term FOTL either understand that FOTL is not its actual function (but don't outright say that) or just misunderstand the term. I don't often see knowledgeable and experienced posters purport that it literally means FOTL and would be interested in those quotes.

A lot of the regular posters on the UNI board call it FOTL, but they all know that isn't the case..

 

[norybell]

Chiming in to say that I had the same déjà vu. I guess it is FOTL for convenient comparison to WDW, but truthfully described when a poster claims they didn't like to because of how it worked as advertised. I will just save my money and go at a slow time where I can wait 20 minutes in standby and not have to worry about it.

I've never been, but it sounds to me like it might feel like a FOTL pass on a slow day (and thus be referred to as such), even if it isn't officially FOTL.

 

[SmithSmith]

In my experience, most people who use the term FOTL either understand that FOTL is not its actual function (but don't outright say that) or just misunderstand the term. I don't often see knowledgeable and experienced posters purport that it literally means FOTL and would be interested in those quotes.

Thank you for asking for proof of my claim rather than just accepting it as fact.

Here are 5 quotes from just one thread. When I read these I thought they gave the impression that an EP allows one to walk right on while FP+ required a short wait. I'm sure I could find more but I don't have time to hunt them down.


Suvadoo: You may be right, but I don't think it's fair to compare express pass to FP+. Express pass gives you front of the line, with no reserved ride times, for EVERY ride at Universal, except the Harry Potter. (Emphasis not mine)

Love Tink: Express Pass that gets you to the front of the line at all but two attractions in each park* during Christmastime is not comparable to a FP+ that gets you a "shorter wait" for at least one popular (or Tier 1) attraction per day!

Love Tink: I'll check with my kids and see if they preferred walking to the front of every line, all day every day, and getting into the parks an hour early to ride the two rides for which they couldn't do this (and then re-riding using the single-rider lines they both have)...or whether they preferred using their FP+ for Nemo and Spaceship Earth.

Lucky Bee: Had we done so we would have missed out on amazing parks, with amazing rides and attractions, and with real front of the line "fast" passes for more than just 3 rides

Lucky Bee: We had 0 wait because of our express passes for all rides except Gringotts where we had to wait...wait for it....30 minutes (you know ...about the same time at the waits were for POTC at Disney, and other secondary rides there).

 

[erc]

Ouch. Burn.

 

[mesaboy2]

Thank you for asking for proof of my claim rather than just accepting it as fact.

Here are 5 quotes from just one thread. When I read these I thought they gave the impression that an EP allows one to walk right on while FP+ required a short wait. I'm sure I could find more but I don't have time to hunt them down.


1. <redacted>: You may be right, but I don't think it's fair to compare express pass to FP+. Express pass gives you front of the line, with no reserved ride times, for EVERY ride at Universal, except the Harry Potter. (Emphasis not mine)

2. <redacted>: Express Pass that gets you to the front of the line at all but two attractions in each park* during Christmastime is not comparable to a FP+ that gets you a "shorter wait" for at least one popular (or Tier 1) attraction per day!

3. <redacted>: I'll check with my kids and see if they preferred walking to the front of every line, all day every day, and getting into the parks an hour early to ride the two rides for which they couldn't do this (and then re-riding using the single-rider lines they both have)...or whether they preferred using their FP+ for Nemo and Spaceship Earth.

4. <redacted>: Had we done so we would have missed out on amazing parks, with amazing rides and attractions, and with real front of the line "fast" passes for more than just 3 rides

5. <redacted>: We had 0 wait because of our express passes for all rides except Gringotts where we had to wait...wait for it....30 minutes (you know ...about the same time at the waits were for POTC at Disney, and other secondary rides there).

Quotes 1 and 2 in my view fall into the category of using the term FOTL but not literally meaning it. Quotes 3, 4, and 5 I agree are misrepresenting (via the phrasing I bolded above) how UO EPs work. Two of those read as hyperbole to me--reasonable people can disagree--but the use of the word "real" in Quote 4 is unfortunate.

Ouch. Burn.

Seriously?

 

[Mkrop]

So between Christmas and New Years in the parks after dinner, which attractions were you able to walk on without FP?

Yeah since I was that at that time I would love to know, we did not experience this at all

Depends on the park, but here goes.....

First evening we were at Epcot. FP+'d Soarin', SE, MS. Walked on American Adventure and Mexico boat ride. Had to skip Mexico early in the evening due to line, was back later when there was no line. We got seats last minute for the Candlelight Processional. We didn't focus on attractions this day, as we weren't in the park until about 4. By the time we used our 3 FP+ and did those three other attractions it was getting close to time for our Illuminations Dessert Party (first time we ever did that). Between a little shopping and a drink here or there, there wasn't a lot of time to do other rides, but by 8:30 we could walked into any of the World Showcase movies, or hit up Seas, Imagination, EO, Ellen with marginal waits. I suggested them, but they aren't the greatest repeat attractions, and for a lot of people Epcot isn't about the attractions. Storytellers, eating, shopping, drinking.....that's what many like this time of year, including us. We didn't 'do that many attractions' as there aren't that many to do. No, we didn't ride TT this day, but that never happened without a long standby in the afternoon evening under FP-, not when it's busy. We did ride Soarin' which was only possible because of FP+.

Second night isn't going to knock your socks of with the raw number of attractions, as we did a relative flyby at DHS with our friends. Arrived at 5:45 to use TSMM FP+ good from 5-6, went right to Star Tours FP+ good from 6-7, did the Osborne Lights until it was time for our 7-8 ToT FP+. Again, enjoyed a couple drinks (bartender at HBD couldn't quite comprehend double Beam on the rocks, like it needs to be mixed), hit the dance party by the Hat for a few while we munched roasted pecans, then we high tailed it over to Epcot for Fish and Chips and Illuminations. Again, not a huge attraction count, but not because of FP+. By the time we left there were attractions like Muppets that didn't have long lines. Again, rides like TSMM and ToT wouldn't have happened without FP+. No down time, and no waiting in lines.

Third night was Epcot again, same deal as previous Epcot night, but FP+ TT instead of Soarin', and we used CP dinner package.

December 30 we used FP+ in the MK from 5 to 8:30 with Wishes in between. After that there was Dole Whip somewhere in there, dinner at Casey's, a 15 minute wait or so for Small World, hit up Philharmagic, DJ dance parties and other such NYE Eve revelry. Shopping in vain for Pandora charms. Before we know it, it's fireworks time to 'ring in' the not New Year. After the fireworks we do Laugh Floor, walk on TTA (actually had a line earlier), hit Buzz 2x with a 5 minute wait, ride the Teacups with no wait. At 1:30 we decide to leave, but most rides were walk on with the park open until 3am. A 5 pm park arrival on arguably the third busiest day of the year after Christmas and New Years. About 7 hours in the park, 11 rides and attractions, two great fireworks displays, DJs and dancing. Quite a bit better than 3 FP+ and long lines for everything else for the day. This after we did TSMM, RnR, ToT and Star Tours before we checked out of the BC and went to the GF, where we had a sit down breakfast, took a nap and had a dip in the pool/hot tub.

You'll forgive me if I leave NYE at Epcot out of the attraction counting. Not a typical night!

Our last night on January 1 was in the MK again. After sleeping in after NYE and breakfast at Park Fare and some resort pool/hot tub time, we head over to the MK a little after 3:00. Use our FP+ from 3:30 to 6:30, four rides in all given how we split them up. Did Little Mermaid with a 10 minute wait, shopped, picked up a 4th FP+ for Thunder Mountain later that night and left for dinner at 6:30. 3 hours, 5 attractions, our first LeFou's Brew, and more fruitless Pandora shopping. Back to the MK about 10:00, when we use our 4th FP for Thunder, then proceed to do Teacups, Barnstormer x2, Dumbo, Jingle Cruise, and Buzz x2, a with no SB line, before the park closes at 1:00. 3 hours, 8 attractions, bringing the count for the afternoon/evening to 13 attractions in 6 hours of park time. Again, quite a bit better than 3 attractions and long lines for everything else. Has we not slept in and rope dropped the park I bet we could have pushed the attraction count to 20 in 9 hours, and the park was packed!

Pick away!

We were there on Dec 30 from opening until 9pmish. It rained off and on all day and finally was raining when we left at 9pm, so despite having ponchos, DH was done when standby lines were horribly long and the kiosks were covered, so no more FPs available. He said I am not standing in these lines just to make it to midnight, plus we all got really sick the next day. We did very well that day, had FPs for midmorning until midafternoon. Then we were able to score two additional ones, Jungle Cruise and Hunny Pots. So I think you lucked out that you chose your FPs for the early evening. We did great at rope dropish, did not get there on time. Did fine with the FPs and then stood in a ridiculously long line for POTC and Haunted Mansion. Haunted Mansion did not move, the only people they were letting through were FP people, and let me tell ya guests were getting mad.

I do realize from you later postings that your idea of night and mine are different and we also dont kill time by having drinks, we are there to ride rides or go to shows. My idea of night is from dusk until about 10ish. We have never done the late nights, they dont work for us with rope drope strategy that we usually employ.

DH and I were surprised how much we were able to get done on a day that was suppose to be so crowded. But after 6pmish forget it.

We monkeyed with doing FPs first thing and then getting more, and then doing rope drop and having the FPs for later. The latter strategy worked better. Now I will say FP was great for the days we did decide to go later, but that was all we did for the most part our FPs and some minor things.

Our weirdest day was 12/28, we got to DHS around 7ish. Our goal was our FPs and Osbourne lights. We missed TOT FP, rode TSMM FP and used a FP on Muppets which is a colossal waste. But the weird part was that the lines were super long, but it felt like NO ONE was there, and the Osbourne Lights were empty, that part was great! No FPs available after we used the 3rd one on Muppets.

 

[SmithSmith]

Quotes 1 and 2 in my view fall into the category of using the term FOTL but not literally meaning it. Quotes 3, 4, and 5 I agree are misrepresenting (via the phrasing I bolded above) how UO EPs work. Two of those read as hyperbole to me--reasonable people can disagree--but the use of the word "real" in Quote 4 is unfortunate.:

I can see taking the first quote in the way you describe, but I didnt. It was because of the way the poster felt the need to spell it out and underline it. To me it implied REAL front of the line access, or else why not just write "Fotl"?

The second quote, I plainly disagree. They poster called the EP "front of the line" while describing FP+ as a "shorter wait". To me that signifies that "front of the line" is better than a "shorter wait".

 

[mesaboy2]

I can see taking the first quote in the way you describe, but I didnt. It was because of the way the poster felt the need to spell it out and underline it. To me it implied REAL front of the line access, or else why not just write "Fotl"?

The second quote, I plainly disagree. They poster called the EP "front of the line" while describing FP+ as a "shorter wait". To me that signifies that "front of the line" is better than a "shorter wait".

Fair enough. Unfortunately all of us are prone to hyperbole and poor use of words when making empassioned arguments.

 

[SmithSmith]

Fair enough. Unfortunately all of us are prone to hyperbole and poor use of words when making empassioned arguments.

Thank you for a polite exchange. I am so not used to that.

 

[DisneyKidds]

So I think you lucked out that you chose your FPs for the early evening.

As for the MK on the 30th, I'd say luck had very little to do with it. I got the FP+ for the rides I wanted and then moved the times around knowing we would not hit the park until around 5:00, and that there would be long lines for most attractions when we got there. Had no trouble lining up the times when I made the FP+ reservations. Even with the long lines we got Small World and Philharmagic with doable/no SB lines around the 9:00 to 10:00 time frame. Between the early fireworks, using our FP+, doing a couple of standby attractions, DJ dance parties and eating we didn't have any down time. FYI - we rope dropped DHS that morning, knocked out TSMM, RnR, ToT and Star Tours in and hour and fifteen minutes!

The devil is in the planning details, which somewhat depend on what your party is able to accommodate. I realize everyone might not be able to tour exactly like we do, but that doesn't mean the opportunity isn't there. Knowing the forecast and coming from a break at the hotel we were also able to prepare for the weather, and being rested we didn't have any trouble staying past the midnight fireworks. After the midnight fireworks the park was wide open, no waits on most rides. I realize you couldn't stick it out, but for anyone who can close down a park with the best of them....it was great. There's something special about the MK in the wee hours of the morning. Nothing better than Laugh Floor when you are a little punchy!

A perfect example of people being in the same park at the same time and, depending upon how they planned their day, having very different experiences. You were there from 5-9, somewhat tired from a long day in the park, no FP+, long SB lines for a lot of rides, with the weather exacerbating whatever level of frustration you might have been feeling. We were there from 5-9, rested and prepared for the weather, FP+ in hand, able to jump on a couple SB attractions, excited to enjoy the park and a couple great fireworks shows even though we knew it would be crowded. We looked forward to easy touring after the fireworks, which we found. I wanted to stay until 3am but the kids were tired and my wife wanted to head back at 1:30. Being the only night we had the 1br Villa who was I to argue. We had already gotten a lot done that night and we had a long night ahead on NYE so we passed on another hour and a half in the park when we could probably have done another 10 attractions, maybe even a coveted few Lake would "want to do"! Hey, it still sounds like you had a good day and got a fair amount done, more even than your 3 FP+ rides and long lines for everything else. Sorry you met with some frustration. Were you able to see the fireworks from somewhere outside the park? They were really cool.

I feel for you on the 28th. Like I said, we did a fly by in between AK and Epcot (Illuminations). We didn't have time for anything but our FP+ and the Osborne Lights, so we didn't even look at SB lines. The opportunity for a drink came when we had 15 minutes between FP+, but we'd have found time for a drink either way. As for ToT, we had two groups ride with FP+. Kids went first, adults went later. They had been having issues with the elevators all night. Even the FP+ line was 25 minutes as half the elevators were down. SB waits were like 300 minutes! When our adult group got off around 9:00 they had just shut the ride down and cleared out the lines.

 

[Cyrano]

Folks please leave the arguments for off the boards.

Normal service was temporarily suspended, but should now be returning

 

[Love Tink]

Fair enough. Unfortunately all of us are prone to hyperbole and poor use of words when making empassioned arguments.

I was the poster and it wasn't hyperbole.

In our experience, both times we have used it, the Express Pass at Universal has been a front of the line pass. I use that expression to describe how it worked for our family, not how the item might be described in Universal's promotional materials.

We have visited at the beginning of December and the end of August and the crowds were very low in the parks. We were able to walk to the front of pretty much all the lines (including Despicable Me, Spider-Man, Transformers). We did have to wait about 10 minutes at Rip Ride Rocket once, but that was the one noticeable exception.

At a couple of rides, (Men in Black, Mummy) the ride operators told us how to come back through the baby switch area to re-ride, so we didn't even have to go outside and walk through the line to get back to the front of the line. In this way, we were able to ride Men in Black six times in a row before we had to quit to get to our locker before time ran out.

If we ever do a trip to Universal during a more busy time of year, and find that Express Pass waits become more than 0-5 minutes, I may feel differently. But as of now I definitely think of them as front of the line passes.

P.S. Despite similarly low crowds during our August Disney World visit, the waits were generally 5-10 minutes, or what I would qualify as short waits, not front of the line.