No Express Pass During The Summer

[DISUNC]

We planned on going to Universal the end of July. Haven't decided on 1 or 2 days yet. HOWEVER....On the Universal web site they DO NOT SELL Express Passes from 5/18 to 8/26!!!!!
Is this accurate? If so we may just skip this altogether.

This is a major point for us!

 

[Akdar]

Yes they are selling them, but they are an outrageous $50!!!!

Here is a copy and paster from the site:

$50 1-Day/2-Park Express Plus Pass

This pass allows you to bypass the regular lines by providing Express Access to almost every attraction at both Universal Studios Florida® AND Universal's Islands of Adventure® theme parks. Express Access is a separate line at each valid attraction with an average wait of only 15 minutes or less.

Please note that the Express Plus is not valid for admission to either theme park.

This Express Pass is valid on one (1) of the following dates (based on availability):

4/20 - 4/22, 4/28 - 4/29, 5/2 - 5/6, 5/13, 5/19 - 5/21, 5/26 - 8/19, 9/3, 11/24 - 11/25 and 12/26 - 12/31/2006.

NOTE: Date selection is required before entering ticket quantity.

Delivery options available with this ticket: Print@Home - Free! [$0], Electronic Pickup - Free! [$0], United States FedEx [$15.00], and International FedEx [$20.00].

 

[phamton]

I suspect you didn't scroll down to the bottom of the page and just looked at the $15 express pass. The one park express is $40 for all of July:
http://secure.universalstudios.com/...goryGroup=UOMain&SalesCategory=UO1ParkUEPLive


$20 1-Day/1-Park Express Plus Pass

This Express Pass is valid on one (1) of the following dates (based on availability):

5/18, 5/22 - 5/25, 8/20 - 8/26,

$35 1-Day/1-Park Express Plus Pass

This Express Pass is valid on one (1) of the following dates (based on availability):

5/19 - 5/21, 5/26 - 6/19, 6/21 - 6/23, 6/25, 8/6 - 8/19,

$40 1-Day/1-Park Express Plus Pass

This Express Pass is valid on one (1) of the following dates (based on availability):

6/20, 6/24, 6/26 - 8/5,

 

[DISUNC]

DUH! the old scroll down the page trick!
Thanks!

That is a pretty hefty price, however if I buy the 2 day adults, the kids are free! This helps the cost difference.

Can you purchase the Express tickets at the gate the day of? Or must you know your excact day in advance?

It's been awhile since I went to Universal!

 

[phamton]

You can buy express when you get there. They sometimes sell out by noon though. The express passes are dated so you must know the exact date you will be using them.

 

[DISUNC]

Thanks for all your help!

 

[Akdar]

I'm still confused as to why the 2 park passes are $50 for next Tues through Satuday (5-2 through 5-6) It seems they are usually $50 when it is expected to be busy?? I would think next week will be slower. I guess it's just my luck, because I'll be there from 4-30 to 5-7. Phantom, any thoughts on this?

I know there has been much debate about express passes, but I for one like them, I hate waiting in line , that's just me. Staying onsite isn't an option right now (we have a timeshare in the Orlando area). I'm hoping I won't need to use them next week, I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[phamton]

Usually if the express is high they expect larger crowds. I am not aware of anything special for that week but I'll see what I can find out.

 

[bubba's mom]

Whew! When we're going, it's $40!!! For a family of 3,4 or more, you might as well stay onsite with shelling out the EP money!

 

[AndRu]

The extra cost for you US citizens is bad but for those of us travelling from abroad it's yet another cost we could do without. The move to start charging for, what I believe was a free and fair system, is a poor one.

On our next trip to US in Aug '07 we're going to have to plan our itinerary carefully as parking, extra money for express passes (it's not like we can nip back every year) on top of an already high entry fee is going to affect our budget.

For me personally, it's a dissapointing decision that I have written to US about.

 

[bubba's mom]

For me personally, it's a dissapointing decision that I have written to US about.

good for you someone here that actually DOES something instead of just complaining all the time!!

 

[Sleepy]

The extra cost for you US citizens is bad but for those of us travelling from abroad it's yet another cost we could do without.

While I do understand the extra expenses of flying overseas, doesn't your exchange rate give you more bang for your buck? Something like $1.70 for every British Pound?

 

[Shooby doo]

Although at $1.70 to the pound is a fair exchange rate,in recent years it has been as low as $1.38, & I wouldn't try to guess at your exchange rate in Naples. Don't forget that most US holiday makers are not going to WDW/US for 2-3 weeks our current expenditure for sept stands at £2800 for flights & hotel,£600 for Disney passes,£450 for Flex passes,£500 for car hire,£150 for La Nouba tickets,£100 for car parking at airport & another £100 for an overnight stay at Manchester before departure.All that's before one cent of spending money,tickets for MNSSHP & HHN,$10 a day park parking...........& US want me to spend another $100 a day to jump a line on a ride!!

SD

 

[La2kw]

Whew! When we're going, it's $40!!! For a family of 3,4 or more, you might as well stay onsite with shelling out the EP money!

That's why we stay onsite.

 

[Sleepy]

Although at $1.70 to the pound is a fair exchange rate,in recent years it has been as low as $1.38, & I wouldn't try to guess at your exchange rate in Naples. Don't forget that most US holiday makers are not going to WDW/US for 2-3 weeks our current expenditure for sept stands at £2800 for flights & hotel,£600 for Disney passes,£450 for Flex passes,£500 for car hire,£150 for La Nouba tickets,£100 for car parking at airport & another £100 for an overnight stay at Manchester before departure.All that's before one cent of spending money,tickets for MNSSHP & HHN,$10 a day park parking...........& US want me to spend another $100 a day to jump a line on a ride!!

Actually, we use the Euro and I can assure you it is not nearly as nice as yours in regards to exchange rates. Unfortunately, we are Americans who are paid in American dollars, so we have no exchange rate to recoop some of the extra expenses in Florida.

 

[soloflyer]

I want to write to someone in charge concerning USF price gouging of persons not staying on site with these pay express passes. We're going this summer and it makes the price of our two day USF tickets about $170 each!!! tHAT'S ABOUT $85 A DAY. tHEY ARE INSANE! iF THEY THINK THIS IS GOING TO BOOST PARK ATTENDANCE OR MAKE FOR HAPPY CUSTOMERS THEY ARE SADLY MISTAKEN. i FOR ONE WILL NOT BE RETURNING TO usf UNTIL THEY TREAT ALL THIER PAYING CUSTOMERS WITH SOME RESPECT!

 

[Shooby doo]

To be honest Sleepy I don't think we get as much bang for our £ as we used to when I first started visiting the US.Although I wouldn't go as far as saying that things are equal ,the savings are not as good as they were,especially eating out,if anything that is one area where I think there is no difference price wise. I tend to stock up on sports gear but not because there is a massive price difference but more because the US has a much greater selection. I also think that prices are slightly inflated in Orlando & find this noticeable at BG & on one of our holidays spent down in the Fort Lauderdale area.
The problem is that once you have been you are hooked for life!! What we're spending on one holiday this year could buy a "normal" family 3-4 2 week holidays!!
SD

 

[phamton]

Soloflyer, no one is required to buy express. It is only an option. Do you boycott an airlines because they have first class? You can fly first class or coach depending on what you can afford or what you choose to spend your money on. I have only bought express once and that was for Halloween Horror nights. I either stay onsite or skip express. You can tour the parks and hit all the rides without express. It just takes a little planning.

 

[Sleepy]

To be honest Sleepy I don't think we get as much bang for our £ as we used to when I first started visiting the US.

Ahhhh...I think I can understand what you are saying, but too complicated to explain because you are dealing with inflation as well as monetary conversion. As long as your Pound is worth more than the US Dollar, you are still getting more bang for your buck as compared to an American taking the same vacation. After daily life of dealing with less bang for my buck, I am thankful to be getting a vacation in a place where my dollar value is equal.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I want to write to someone in charge concerning USF price gouging of persons not staying on site with these pay express passes. We're going this summer and it makes the price of our two day USF tickets about $170 each!!! tHAT'S ABOUT $85 A DAY. tHEY ARE INSANE! iF THEY THINK THIS IS GOING TO BOOST PARK ATTENDANCE OR MAKE FOR HAPPY CUSTOMERS THEY ARE SADLY MISTAKEN. i FOR ONE WILL NOT BE RETURNING TO usf UNTIL THEY TREAT ALL THIER PAYING CUSTOMERS WITH SOME RESPECT!

This is Universal's biggest onsite perk. You pay for the privilege, but it's in the form of a more expensive hotel stay instead of purchasing the express passes. Yes, WDW has fastpass machines available to everyone, but they also have perks for onsite hotels that noone else can get. A family staying offsite at WDW can't even purchase the extra magic hours, if they wanted to. Personally, we're willing to pay more for the hotel room in order to get FOTL at UO. On the other hand, we don't get mad that we can't take advantage of EMH at WDW, if we choose to stay offsite. We understand that the policies are put in place to fill the hotel rooms. If we choose to not occupy one of their rooms, we make a conscience decision not to take advantage of this perk. JMO