Policy changes for FOTL for hotel guests!!??

[palmtreegirl]

Baby swap will still be the same. It has always allowed the second person and any other children to go into the express line rather than waiting in line again. Even those who don't have FOTL are handled that way.

Thank you!!

 

[Goofy'sFriend]

I'm so disappointed. I specifically planned this trip and the tickets I bought (staying 9 nights, but bought the 5 days for 3 of us because I knew we'd have enough time......bought annual passes for DH and DS so they could go and do the coasters all the days we are there while I swim with little ones. I don't think they will want to head over now in the morning knowing they can only ride the coasters once.......alot of wasted money on the annual passes. The whole point of this trip was to be relaxed but still have the rides for the kids......we should have gone to the beach.....I'm so bummed).

Also, doesn't it usually storm about 3 o'clock every afternoon for a couple of hours. We like to back to the hotel at that time.

I'm not kidding when I say that this whole trip was planned around the great FOTL perk. I would have never ventured down to the FL heat in the middle of summer if I knew this was going to happen.

Thanks for the #'s Motherfletcher......I will make some phone calls.

 

[Goofy'sFriend]

One more thing.........how are they enforcing this new system? Will there be scanners taking our room key info? Or is up to the ride attendant to recognize who has already been through the line?

 

[Goofy'sFriend]

One more thing.........how are they enforcing this new system? Will there be scanners taking our room key info? Or is up to the ride attendant to recognize who has already been through the line?

 

[phamton]

This new rule was supposed to start on July 1. I was at MIB most of the day yesterday (July 6) and hotel guests were still re-riding. So at least right now, it isn't being enforced at MIB.

 

[FloridaMom]

This really stinks, and I think there should have been a notification to the Annual Passholders as well.

We were there in June, and with the heat of the summer, we rode the water rides at IOA over and over again. That is the whole point of staying onsite and paying the extra money. To get FOTL at any time you choose to. Otherwise we just wait in line with everyone else and pay much less on a offsite hotel.
And it is true that it rains almost every day after three pm, and then all outside rides close until the rain stops..

I am off to write a letter of complaint to Universal right now....

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

HMMM this changes things a bit...I must say. Why pay the extra $$ for nothing really...3pm is ridiculous. I am debating adding a night a night at POP or just do the 2 nights on site. I had hubby sold on staying onsite at Universal but what is the point now might as well save the cash and get the extra night at POP out of it. HMMM that stinks!

 

[BarryHom]

Although it is disappointing to see FOTL scaled back, but it's a lot better than no FOTL at all. I recall when the Poritifno first opened, onsite hotel guests got FOTL for the first hour of the park opening only. There's virtually no lines during the first hour of operation anyway, so it didn't make much difference. And also remember, if you stay at Disney, you really don't get much benefits at all. You do get early entry, but have you ever been to a park during early entry? It's pretty much mayhem.

Besides, the hotels are good hotels in their own right. To get the same quality hotel as, say, the Portifino at Disney, you'd probably have to stay at the Grand Floridian or the Contemporary. They cost around $250-$300/night, even with an AP discount. If you want to stay at the Polynesian rather than RPR, you'll be paying around $200-$250/night, even with discounts. Comparable hotels to the Universal onsite hotels around Orlando like the Peabody or the Renissance costs about the same, but you hardly see any other benefits, other than perhaps the Peabody ducks.

Lastly, I booked the Holiday Inn in Eatontown, NJ and it cost me $114/night! When I booked it, I thought, "Man, I could get the RPR or HRH for that price!" I don't get any other benefits at the Holiday Inn other than perhaps a contiental breakfast.

So beyond FOTL, I think the onsite hotels are worth staying at. Certainly people may not want to pay $$$ if the benefits are deceased, but they are still excellent resorts nonetheless.

 

[gbluvr2886]

It could be worse though and you could get only one ride in ALL day. During the summer it is needed because the lines are sooooooooooo long!!! I went to IOA on the 4th and waited only 15 minutes for the Hulk and Spidey and that was because there was no one, except for a few hotel guests, using Express. It makes the regular lines much nicer.

Atleast it will only be for the peak season (Hopefully). I know my mom and I want to plan a short vacation on-site and get some of the FOTL action since we've never done that before, but who knows now.

Very true!! Disney doesn't give you ANYTHING. *Not even for annual passholders*.

 

[Metallicat]

I really can't believe they would do this especially during peak season. you know, this is only going to make the regular lines that much longer. it affects EVERYBODY. I hope they sell enough of those express books to make up for their loss.
Here is about $2,000 they lost today. oh well, their loss, Disneys gain.

 

[Metallicat]

I stayed at the Contemporary a few weeks back for $149.00 per night with an annual pass discount. and they do offer e-ride nights sometimes in addition to early entry. and I don't have to pay $6.00 per day just to park my car either.
(yep, I am a little ticked at Universal right now )

 

[gbluvr2886]

I've never liked the whole FastPass/Express mumbo jumbo anyways. It's cool to have it for hotel guests and if you buy it, but it's not necessary. I'm glad they did something for the peak season. It's just way too crowded there this summer to accomodate everyone.

 

[Beckles]

Originally posted by Metallicat
I stayed at the Contemporary a few weeks back for $149.00 per night with an annual pass discount. and they do offer e-ride nights sometimes in addition to early entry. and I don't have to pay $6.00 per day just to park my car either.
(yep, I am a little ticked at Universal right now )

Wow, they offer you the privilege to pay for another ticket to go in at night and wake up at the crack of dawn to beat the crowds with early entry ... I'll stick with Universal and sleep in every morning ...

 

[Goofy'sFriend]

True, there is still some perk.....but, I spent over $700 on tickets thinking that I had FOTL all day. Now I feel like I'm losing out on my time from 9 to 3.

Maybe we could post this link for someone at Universal to read. I haven't seen this much action on a thread for quite a while.

I hope it all works out................

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by Metallicat
I stayed at the Contemporary a few weeks back for $149.00 per night with an annual pass discount. and they do offer e-ride nights sometimes in addition to early entry. and I don't have to pay $6.00 per day just to park my car either.
(yep, I am a little ticked at Universal right now )

You can get an AP rate at RP for $139. The EC rate is even less. Add in the parking charge and you'll still be paying less than Disney. E-Nights cost an extra $13.

Barry, Thanks for being the voice of reason. If the machine is finished issuing express passes for the day and the line is over an hour Universal should limit on site guests so more guests have an chance to ride the attractions.

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by Metallicat
I really can't believe they would do this especially during peak season. you know, this is only going to make the regular lines that much longer.

How would it increase the regular lines? All it cuts down on is hotel guests riding a certain ride over and over again. Now they will just have go to another ride and use FOTL. I seriously doubt that a hotel guests with FOTL is going to jump into a regular line and wait 90 minutes to re-ride MIB. They'll just ride MIB once and then head off to another ride to use their FOTL.

Rides like Mummy, Shrek, MIB, and Spiderman have such long waits for regular lines. If the hotel guests only rides them once each and comes back after 3:00 to ride multiple times, it can only cut down on the regular line waits.

 

[Metallicat]

Originally posted by Beckles
Wow, they offer you the privilege to pay for another ticket to go in at night and wake up at the crack of dawn to beat the crowds with early entry ... I'll stick with Universal and sleep in every morning ...

Its no big deal. the e ride night tickets are only $10 and only resort guests are allowed in the parks for 3 hours after they close on select nights. I love doing that and I do get up early and enjoy early entry.
I love both parks and will continue to go to both parks. I'm not married to either place so I don't feel the need to be faithfull to either one. so, if you want to stick with Universal thats fine. one less shorter line for me at WDW

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

phamton I agree. It should make the reg lines a little shorter.

See it is hard to compare to Disney because Disney is about the entire experience. People who stay off and stay onsite should get the same experience IMO. Disney's perks for staying onsite are the themed hotels, the transportation system e mornings/nights, UPHs....so they are treating everyone the same in the park which IMO should be that way. APH get discounts on stuff and restaurants.

Now for Universal it is a different experience they don't HAVE to worry about fairness as much because they don't sell themselves as a "magical" place etc. So to offer this perk isn't as big of a deal as if Disney did it. BUt IMO having the fast pass / express pass system should be enough for all guests.

Maybe people who visited from offsite frequently made it known that they were unhappy with it. Maybe it had a bigger negative effect then Universal planned with the off site guests.

How did it work with Florida residents? Did they have to wait in the regular lines?

Who knows. IMO it stinks that they took it away. This should have all been figured out prior offering unlimited FOTL. It is a big mistake to offer it then take it away.

 

[Metallicat]

Originally posted by phamton
How would it increase the regular lines? All it cuts down on is hotel guests riding a certain ride over and over again. Now they will just have go to another ride and use FOTL. I seriously doubt that a hotel guests with FOTL is going to jump into a regular line and wait 90 minutes to re-ride MIB. They'll just ride MIB once and then head off to another ride to use their FOTL.

Rides like Mummy, Shrek, MIB, and Spiderman have such long waits for regular lines. If the hotel guests only rides them once each and comes back after 3:00 to ride multiple times, it can only cut down on the regular line waits.

Some of us can't ride all the rides there. like me, there are only a few rides that I can even ride. I don't mind spending extra to ride my favorites as many times as I wish, but if I am limited, then I won't bother.

 

[FloridaMom]

Sent this letter to all concierge depts, guest services and Marketing dept:


Dear Sir/Madam:

I am writing to express my disappointment in the recent policy changes regarding FOTL access for onsite hotel guests. We recently stayed at Portofino in June 2004, and were very satisfied with the hotel and the FOTL access we enjoyed at the parks. It made our vacation much more enjoyable and because of the perk of FOTL we immediately made another reservation for August this time at Royal Pacific.

This change of policy that now only allows guests one turn per ride using FOTL before 3 pm is unreasonable and unfair to your hotel guests who are happy to pay your hotel rates for the privilege of FOTL. Also, as we well know, in your PEAK summer season, the afternoon thunderstorms will then prevent hotel guest from riding at all, since the outside rides all close during such times.

Frankly I would not rule out that your resorts have used of deceptive advertising. When we made reservations it was under the auspice that we would have the same FOTL privileges as enjoyed before. And we made both our reservations based on the advertisement on your site as printed below:


On-Site UNIVERSAL EXPRESSSM Ride Access*
Enjoy theme park rides and attractions without having to wait in the regular lines at both Universal Studios® and Islands of Adventure. For maximum benefit, stay at a Universal Orlando® On-Site Hotel- Portofino Bay Hotel, A Loews Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel®, or Royal Pacific Resort, A Loews Hotel - and enjoy UNIVERSAL EXPRESSSM. Just present your hotel room key card at each attraction's Universal Express entrance--no ride reservations are necessary. There's no better way to get the most out of your day!


As an annual pass holder, I am also very disappointed in the fact that there was no prior notification of such changes.

I would like Universal Studios to know that implementing this change will cause most of your returning onsite guests to reconsider the cost of staying in your resorts. Most of us are happy to stay at your hotels and go to your parks instead of going to the Disney Parks and Resorts, mostly because of the FOTL access that comes from staying onsite.

We are surely reconsidering our stay at RPR this next August and beyond.

Sincerely