Major Change To Express Pass?

[Yoshi]

I was just reading Screamscape and someone sent a picture of a ride entrance greeter with a Q-Bot clipped to their belt. Screamscape is saying this could mean Universal is testing out the system or they could be changing to it.

I hope that they don't change over to Q-Bot. If they did you would no longer be able to just to right to the Express entrance whenever you wanted and instead have to get a ride reservation time the same way the Q-Bot system is used at Six Flags. Six Flags has 3 tiers of Q-Bot. The basic level makes you wait the same time as the length of the standby line so if a line is an hour long, you have to wait an hour to enter the Q-Bot return line. Gold level reduces the time to 50% - 75% and Platinum reduces it to 90% and you get to ride 2 consecutive times.

 

[hydrotony]

Universal is switching to a PHOTO ID card for the on-site resort guest front of line access. It seems too many non-resort guests were using their friends room cards who were staying on-site. I don't know if this is related to the Express Pass which is a separate daily fee.

 

[damo]

I don't think they are changing onsite passes to the Q-bot since they have just invested int he new photo ID system. They could very well be changing the purchased express plus passes to Q-bot though. That should make for a more organized use of the express pass lane and help to stop the express plus passes from being used multiple times as well.

 

[Bluer101]

I hope this is not going to affect onsite express pass. It would be nice if they make this new system shared with maybe the single rider line and make the express a true hotel express. If it makes it longer for onsite guests I will have to rethink where I'm going to spend my hard earned money.

 

[damo]

I hope this is not going to affect onsite express pass. It would be nice if they make this new system shared with maybe the single rider line and make the express a true hotel express. If it makes it longer for onsite guests I will have to rethink where I'm going to spend my hard earned money.

It should make it better. Q-bot is more a managed queuing system where it tells you where to go at what times, so the paid express pass people should be more uniform through the parks.

 

[patster734]

It should make it better. Q-bot is more a managed queuing system where it tells you where to go at what times, so the paid express pass people should be more uniform through the parks.

I'm not seeing how this would work for paid express. Would people have to select their preferred times at purchase, or would purchasers be at the whim of the ride time allocator? If I was debating about purchasing an express pass, but had little or no control over what time I could use it, I'd be reluctant to buy it.

 

[damo]

I'm not seeing how this would work for paid express. Would people have to select their preferred times at purchase, or would purchasers be at the whim of the ride time allocator? If I was debating about purchasing an express pass, but had little or no control over what time I could use it, I'd be reluctant to buy it.

When we used it at another park we were told when to go to what rides. It made appointments for you.

This is how q-bot at legoland works...

A Q-Bot allows you to reserve a place in a virtual queue line for your favourite rides without having to actually stand in line!

Rent your Q-Bot.
Select your ride using the Q-Bot buttons.
Receive your ride time on the Q-Bot screen.
Explore the Park, visit our shops and restaurants or, if you have time, ride a different ride.
Go to your chosen ride on or after your allocated time.
Enter via the Q-Bot entrance.
Enjoy the ride!
Repeat this simple process for your next ride.

The Q-Bot allows you to reserve one ride at a time.

 

[macraven]

i don't do reservation times for rides.

had to do it for six flags before and i haven't been back to those parks since.



i'm interested in what others post here that are the facts to this new project.
need to learn more on any changes if that is what evenually will happen.

i guess we really won't know until some site posts details or any info on it.

 

[patster734]

When we used it at another park we were told when to go to what rides. It made appointments for you.

Did you like that system? Were the appointments logical or did it have you traversing the park back and forth to get to your next appointment? Did you get to experience all of the rides under this appointment system or did you skip some due to the time constraints? Afterwards, did you feel that the time appointments made you travel through the park commando style?

Sorry for all of the questions, but the closest experience I have to this appointment system is Disney's Fastpass. I've always viewed Universal as a laid-back, easy-going trip with little planning, and I'm concerned that this appointment system will destroy that. And I suspect that if Universal does implement this system that it will be used for the Onsite Hotel Express Pass in time.

 

[macraven]

Did you like that system? Were the appointments logical or did it have you traversing the park back and forth to get to your next appointment? Did you get to experience all of the rides under this appointment system or did you skip some due to the time constraints? Afterwards, did you feel that the time appointments made you travel through the park commando style?

Sorry for all of the questions, but the closest experience I have to this appointment system is Disney's Fastpass. I've always viewed Universal as a laid-back, easy-going trip with little planning, and I'm concerned that this appointment system will destroy that. And I suspect that if Universal does implement this system that it will be used for the Onsite Hotel Express Pass in time.

i'm sure if that would happen, the onsite hotels would have a lower occupancy rate for some months.

you read of how many book a room one night on site for the 2 days of perks.


if a person goes in a group to disney, one person could do the run for the fast pass machine.
when someone goes solo, that's a lot of back tracking and zigging and zagging just for the fp.

i don't do fp at the motherland.
i use my own system.

i wasn't aware of this subject until i read this thread today.
i'll have to wait and see what plays out.

 

[Bluer101]

And I suspect that if Universal does implement this system that it will be used for the Onsite Hotel Express Pass in time.

This is my major concern. I really hope this will not be the case. Hope its for the bought express or what ever name they call it. Then leave the true express for the onsite hotels.

I think with the new onsite express pass with photo id that has been mentioned, this other Q-bot should be for new paid express.

Hope this does not change before my June-July trip, I will take my money somewhere else.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

We just got back from our first visit to Universal ... we were there yesterday and today. Stayed onsite at RPR. Our room keys had individual names, were barcoded and scanned by the ride attendant (using a little machine on their belts) on each ride where we used the Express Pass. Every rider had to have a room key.

Since it was our first visit, I just thought that was the norm.

 

[Bluer101]

We just got back from our first visit to Universal ... we were there yesterday and today. Stayed onsite at RPR. Our room keys had individual names, were barcoded and scanned by the ride attendant (using a little machine on their belts) on each ride where we used the Express Pass. Every rider had to have a room key.

Since it was our first visit, I just thought that was the norm.

That is the normal onsite express pass.

 

[macraven]

yup, that is how it always has been.
scan the hotel key.

plans now are for photo id's to be included for onsite guests using EE and ex lines.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I hope this is not going to affect onsite express pass. It would be nice if they make this new system shared with maybe the single rider line and make the express a true hotel express. If it makes it longer for onsite guests I will have to rethink where I'm going to spend my hard earned money.

Onsite hotel guests will have to get an express pass with their photo on it. The express pass they receive will still be unlimited use.

 

[Badge]

All this talk about changes to the express passes really has me worried!

For one, if they ever removed the express passes (or removed the Unlimited part and made me carry around this Q-Bot thing) the odds of me paying ~$200 a night for a onsite hotels drops to nearly zero. The unlimited express passes are the main reason I stay onsite and it is what makes Universal such an amazing, fun filled, yet relaxing vacation.

This is the first time I have heard about adding pictures to room keys, and it is something I fully support! As long as the process is quick and simple, I see no problem with the extra protection when it comes to keeping the express lines down. I do wonder how it will work though? Are they going to set up "screens" near the check-in areas at the hotels to have your picture taken? Will the image be placed right on the card or will it be like most cruise ships where the image is stored to the barcode on the card and when it is scanned, the picture shows up?

As far as Q-Bot (or whatever it is called) goes, I am not a fan. I used it at a Six Flags and hated it. I am not a fan of planning out what times I want to ride what rides. I simply want to walk up to them and get in line. This system is basically just becoming an advanced fastpass system if that is the case. You can control your return time with Fastpasses, yet they are free to everybody. People buy the express access yet they will no longer have the freedom to ride what rides they want, WHEN they want to ride them. I just can't see this system working well.

I am a firm believer in the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" The current express pass system never seemed to have any issues besides hotel guests letting their friends borrow the room keys. So, they are fixing the only one true problem I had with the system. However, they are playing with fire (so to speak) when it comes to changing a system that has been working fine for years. A system that they make a lot of money off of. Why take any risks with screwing it up and giving it a bad name?

 

[macraven]

badge, i read that the photos could be taken by the kiosk.

other than that, the process should be starting up soon, if not now.


it will prevent those that stay onsite to 'give' their hotel key cards to others, not staying in the hotels, for usage in the parks.

there are hotel guests that do not use the park on their check out day.
who knows if they sell their hotel key cards......?

i fully support this new system of the photos w/ hotel key card.

 

[RMulieri]

Well if they change the resort express perk to qbot, I will be really upset and rethink my stay.We had the best trip this Jan staying onsite,so much so we want to go back for another 6-7day stay onsite.If they changed it , I would cancel.Honestly, I can't imagine them doing this.They invested in the Photo express pass for resort guests and with all the really cheap hotel options right near universal, I would think they want people to stay onsite, and to stay onsite they need to offer some "perk".They get rid of this perk and many onsite guests will move off.

 

[keishashadow]

not sure of the % of guests who 'share' their onsite express passes and whether it affects the line length. I have ridden over on boat with people from RPR who were loudly planning their day as to meeting with friends offsite and how they'd share the EPfigured it was isolated incident.

i'm all for the photo id' card

 

[disneywithfive]

Don't like the sound of the Q-bot system for onsite guests. It's going to cost me $1000 more to stay onsite during our upcoming trip but is worth it for the FOTL access, whenever we want it. Our dd has special needs and there is no possible way to schedule a time to return to a particular ride as we never know what her medical needs will be at that time. Disney is changing their fastpass system and looks like Universal might also. If they do, I'll have to rethink things. Won't be worth the extra money to stay on site; that's for sure!!! What I think is so funny, the times we've used the FOTL access, there weren't many families in line.