Policy changes for FOTL for hotel guests!!??

[phamton]

One suggestion on the letter. I would change this sentence: "This change of policy that now only allows guests to ride once on FOTL before 3 pm" isn't exactly correct.

You can ride as many times as you want to with FOTL just not on the same ride. In other words, there are no re-rides before 3:00. FOTL is still effective before 3:00.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Well, I for one, have mixed feelings about this new policy. I agree to some extent w/those of you who have said that you should just do everything once and then by the time you have done everything once it should be 3. But I also must say that my DH will not ride a lot of things there. He does not do coasters or things with big drops. He really enjoys MIB, Popeye, and Spiderman. When we go, we always do those over and over. So, we had been planning to stay on site during our next trip for the FOTL priveleges so that we could do those over and over w/very little wait. I really can't see paying so much $$$ for a hotel if we can't use the FOTL over and over. If it was just me, it would not matter, b/c I am fine w/doing everything. But it will completely ruin my DH's trip.
I won't stop going to Universal. I will probably just consider staying offsite (unless this policy changes...praying for that!), and paying for a cheaper hotel. I would rather buy express booklets since it would be the same as the new onsite FOTL policy and would be cheaper for us.
Oh, and as far as Disney, I don't understand why everyone has to compare that to US. They are both very different. So, why argue over which is better, cheaper, has more benefits, etc.? I enjoy both and I also don't mind paying the extra $10 for e-Nights as Metallicat mentioned. Both parks have different things to offer, so I am not even going to start the comparisons. Just wanted to let everyone know that it is silly to argue over that. Sorry if this offends anyone!

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by Tasha+Scott
Well, I for one, have mixed feelings about this new policy. I agree to some extent w/those of you who have said that you should just do everything once and then by the time you have done everything once it should be 3. But I also must say that my DH will not ride a lot of things there. He does not do coasters or things with big drops. He really enjoys MIB, Popeye, and Spiderman. When we go, we always do those over and over. So, we had been planning to ......

It really sounds like they're only enforcing the new rules when the parks are crowded.

Why don't go to the park in the morning and go on the attractions at least once. You can get a machine issued express pass you should be able to go on some attractions at least twice. Go back to your hotel for lunch and a pool/nap break. Return to the parks in the afternoon and go on the attractions as often as you want.

 

[FloridaMom]

I Agree with Tasha, Universal and Disney are completely different. I have been to both many times, and will continue to go to both.

The perks of staying onsite at Universal was FOTL, and I am sorry if it bothered the regular park guests that we were allowed in as many times as we wanted, but that came with a price. And we all were very happy to pay the high prices of the onsite hotels. And it made many of us return guests, many times a year. So, while Universal may have received complaints from regular park guests, I highly doubt that they were returning to the park every month or so as many of us do.

So, yes, there will always be complaints, but you get what you paid for, especially in America. And this change of rules is certainly not what we have paid for. By staying onsite we paid for FOTL access at all times, not only once per ride before three.

 

[bratray]

HI floridamom

do you have email addresses to where you sent this letter as i would like to write a letter too and send out- hopefully, email out

i think you wrote a well worded letter and hopefully if we all take the time to write a few lines the "big wiggs" will take notice

thanks

 

[FloridaMom]

Bratray;

I faxed the letter and also emailed to all the addresses below. I directed it to VP of Marketing.
Feel free to copy my letter and add your own comments to it if you like. I think we all should contact them and let them know that we don't like this new policy at all. If they hear from enough of us then they will have to do something.


Universal Orlando® Resort:
Guest services fax#407-224-5717

Islands of Adventure Guest Services – phone (407) 224-6350
Annual Passholder Services –phone (800) 564-5764

Portofino Bay Hotel
Fax: 407-503-1010

Hard Rock Hotel
Fax: 407-503-ROLL (7655)

Royal Pacific Resort
Fax: 407-503-3010

guestservices@universalorlando.com
RPRconcierge@loewshotels.com
HRHconcierge@loewshotels.com
PBHconcierge@loewshotels.com

 

[ear_poppin]

Floridamum I thought your letter was just great. Hope it is succesful !!!

Denise

 

[Goofy'sFriend]

Thanks FloridaMom. I've sent my letters too.
Let's hope for the best.........

 

[Tinkbell]

Well, that figures. I have my very first Universal onsite trip coming up this Saturday. I'm staying for 4 nights. I would have cut that to 2 nights if I knew the policy would change. Having never had this privledge before, I'm not sure how it will affect me. I guess we could get by doing no rerides before 3, but it sure stinks to not have the option. Oh well, here's hoping the after 3pm thunderstorms stay at a minimum.

I'll send an email as well. Remember when Disney took away the Early Morning Entry? That didn't last all that long because Disney onsite guests complained.

How are they enforcing this rule? Will the room keys know if you've been on before 3 already?

 

[mrspaha]

When I first started planning this (our first trip to Universal), I called the Universal guest services to find our what this express pass was all about (this was before I discovered these wonderful disboards). The guy I talked to explained express passes, FOTL, etc and really was trying to convince me to stay onsite because of the FOTL. I had been checking other places in the area (embassy suites, HI, LaQuinta and a few others). Based on FOTL, I decided it was worth the extra money to stay on the property, and made ressies for the Hard Rock.

Since our trip is planned for the first week in August, I don't even know if I can get any of the discounted rates at other hotels that I was looking at if I were to try to book new hotel reservations at this time. (Frankly, I'm not sure if I would switch at this point anyhow).

My feeling is that if Universal wants to initiate a new policy, they need to do so for a FUTURE date in time, and make known that fact AHEAD of time that the FOTL benefit is being modified.

It's definitely not fair to the people that have made their reservations to stay onsite under the impression that they would have UNLIMITED FOTL privileges, as Universal has been promoting.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Thanks for the e-mail addresses FloridaMom. I have also sent a couple of e-mails concerning this. I am waiting to see if I receive a reply. Will let everyone know what is said if I do.

 

[d4est]

Originally posted by mrspaha

My feeling is that if Universal wants to initiate a new policy, they need to do so for a FUTURE date in time, and make known that fact AHEAD of time that the FOTL benefit is being modified.

It's definitely not fair to the people that have made their reservations to stay onsite under the impression that they would have UNLIMITED FOTL privileges, as Universal has been promoting.

Well put mrspaha---that is how I feel. I made ressies based on what Universal was promoting AT THE TIME. For them to change things now, would be more understandable IF it didn't effect those of us that made legit ressies before the changes (kinda grandfather us under the old ways).

 

[BarryHom]

You know, I was thinking of the new policy and perhaps we can work around this with a theme park plan I follow anyway.

Here it goes:

9 am to noon: Ride the rides

noon to 3 pm: Eat, watch shows

3 pm to closing: Ride the rides

The first hour of the park opening is the best, IMHO. Lines are way short and you can get multiple rides in on the Hulk, etc. Personally, with my hotel keys, I usually head to stuff that you can't use the keys on first: front seats of Dueling Dragons, Pterandon Flyers, etc.

Like I said, it may be disappointing to some, but if you plan your attack, you will get to ride what you want anyway.

 

[Mouse Man]

Sorry, this also screams false advertising to me. I will be at the HRH on Saturday. The Hard Rock sent me this lovely welcoming email dated July 1. I give you this beautiful quote from the HRH:

And when you stay at the Hard Rock Hotel, you have unlimited access to Universal Express, which means for most theme park rides and attractions, you won't have to wait in line with the general public. Imagine that. It's an on-site resort exclusive. Just for you.

I do see the words "UNLIMITED access" in there. My sons can talk of nothing but riding MIB over and over again for hours. Yes, we can do this after 3, but that is not what was advertised to me when I booked this vacation 6 months ago. If they want to start implementing this in 2005, that's fine. Those of us going in the next couple of weeks are really getting screwed over by Universal.

 

[Michigandermom]

I, too am very disappointed to hear about the change in policy. I just received my vacation packet for our upcoming trip, and nowhere does it say that there has been a change. In fact, the brochure raves about this wonderful perk that allows on-site hotel guests unlimited express passes. My family and I are morning people. We were planning on hitting the parks early and leaving by early afternoon to head back to the pool. This will seriosly change our plans. I sent an e-mail to the HRH letting them know how disappointed I am about this change in Universal policy.

 

[Goofy'sFriend]

Barry, are you traveling with children? It makes a world of difference if you are with children and your children are of varying ages and you are touring the parks.....each one has different interests. Time is of the essence in the summer.

I agree with everyone that says this is not what we purchased when putting deposits on hotel rooms and buying costly tickets.

I would have never gone to FL this time of year if I had known the rules would be changing. This is why we don't go to Disney in the summer. We do not like the lines, and with heat it is unbearable.

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by Mouse Man
My sons can talk of nothing but riding MIB over and over again for hours.

They would be able to do this even without FOTL passes the first couple of hours after park opening. I do it all the time.

Lines for MIB were 90 minutes yesterday and yet I saw hotel guests using FOTL to re-ride even then. This change was supposed to have taken place on July 1, yet the employees there haven't been told and they are not scanning passes there at all.

 

[Mouse Man]

Originally posted by phamton
They would be able to do this even without FOTL passes the first couple of hours after park opening. I do it all the time.

Lines for MIB were 90 minutes yesterday and yet I saw hotel guests using FOTL to re-ride even then. This change was supposed to have taken place on July 1, yet the employees there haven't been told and they are not scanning passes there at all.

I sure hope you're right, phamton, although we were hoping to sleep in and arrive at the parks at around 10:30 or so. I guess we will have to wake up a bit earlier than planned. I sure do hope nobody is checking this attraction for the next week or so though. I told my sons about the change and they are better sports about it than I am. They just said that they would be fine waiting until after 3, even it there are thunderstorms. They take after their mom, who goes with the flow.

 

[phamton]

delete

 

[ajksmom]

Thank you for the contact info. I also sent off a few letters to express my concern over their "change in policies" even though we just returned and the old policy was still in effect when we were there. Since we booked at RPR back in early April there have been alot of changes in their policies. They no longer offered the teen loews gift upon arrival, stopped the grade A program, and also stopped allowing discounted stays to qualify for a Loews upgrade in status or the welcome gift. All rather small "nuisances" but aggravating anyways. When booking your stay you are in essence forming a contract with them, they expect us to keep up with our end of the bargain, how come they don't have to deliver what we purchased. It leaves you wondering what else they may change in the future. Maybe their next change will be to take the pillows and blankets out of the rooms.
The actual change in policy may not be too bad. This was our 1st visit and with the exception of going thru Jimmy Neutron twice one morning for my DS3, we didn't re-ride. We were too excited to see the next ride or attraction. By noonish or so we would go eat and head back to the hotel to nap or swim until later in the afternoon when we would head back over. It's the fact that such an important feature, that made the decision to stay on-site worth the cost, was changed with no notice. I feel terrible for those who are showing up down there this week to find this out last minute.