Simpsons and express pass (a Harry Potter question in disguise)

[carmiedog]

I read that when Simpsons opened, the express line was temporarily not operating. Anyone remember about how long before they starting using express? I'm asking out of curiosity of what to possibly expect for the Harry Potter attractions. We're thinking fall (Sept? Oct? Nov?) 2010 and I'm hoping that there won't be construction delays and HP will have been open several months by then.

And a sad note...because of Disney's 4/3 deal, we're changing up our plans and not making our first visit to Universal this June. The good news is, that when we do go in 2010 (that sounds like such a long ways off ), we'll have 4 days of exclusive Universal instead of 2 squeezed in at the end of our Disney stay. Unless, of course, Universal puts out a deal as enticing as Disney's, in which case we'd be FORCED to do both.

 

[macraven]

the delay of the express line was not a long time for the express lane.

i checked out the promo disney is having.
i have the bounce back promo for this year.

after i figured it all out, there was only a $65 difference for me from the BB i have paid on.
i get the free dining with the BB and the new promo does not have that.
not everyone could get the deals that some have posted about.
congrats on being one that did!

i have tried to keep up on what is happening for the parry hotter portion but it is difficult to pin point exactly when all of it will be completed.

i don't know if there will be a soft opening with most of that island in full operation or if there will be add ons to the rides/attractions/food places.

i hear the projected opening is 2010 but don't have an idea if that is for everything in that island to be operating.

my guess would be a partial opening for that island as universal would want to bring in new guests for parry.

hopefully you will be able to do universal prior to the opening so you can explore the other islands and what you can do in them.

i do both parks.
the one thing i like about universal is staying on site with the perks they have for the guests.

i can see it now when parry hotter opens completely.
rates for rooms and availability for rooms will change from what us regulars have now.
that's a good thing and a bad thing.

your question about special for universal to lure the people in is a valid one.

universal has the ticket promo that would be beneficial for you to buy now.
one week, yes, 7 days of both parks for under $100 total pp.

buy now and save them for the future.

i can't see any promo other than the ticket special.
if there are parry hotter fans, they will come on their own without the additional incentives.

universal already has perks for those that have the PAP and the AAA cards.
they allow the person to get 10% off merch and food in the parks and selected city walk places. 20% discount for premiere passes.

with the AAA, you can get up to 35% discount for the onsite rooms.
the AP runs specials for sometimes better room rates.

i'm sure package sales will increase for newbies to universal.
if that would come up, be sure to break it down to see you are getting the best deal. do it the same way you would when deciding on a room only or package at disney.

i' m sure Sea World and Wet and Wild will see increases when the parry hotter fans stay at universal hotels. there is free transportation by shuttles to both of those places from each on site hotel.

i remember when you could get a room at rph for $89 a night and that was without using a discount card.
those days are far behind us now.

with the opening of the new island, i can only guess things will increase at the park...

have fun at the motherland.
try to visit the darkside before PH comes to town.
you might find it enjoyable.
both parks have different things to offer all the guests that love to vacation in orlando.!

 

[macraven]

came back to add since you are not familiar with universal ....
for the month of october, HHN is the hard ticket event. it is held on weekends, fri, sat, sun in the beginning 2 weeks. after that, thursday are typically added in. when the schools in orlando have their fall breaks, HHN is extended for a few weekdays. local hhn goers refer that to Hell week for hhn. (very crowded time period)

parks close early for that event. the studios at 5 and ioa for 6:00.

of course, things for time closures could also change but this is how it has been since i have attended them since 2000.

a low period for universal is when HHN is over.
early november is a great time, so is september.

if you stay on site, september is the low season, you know, value season and rates are a lot less then.

just something for you to consider when you start making your plans for universal.

 

[donaldduck352]

came back to add since you are not familiar with universal ....
for the month of october, HHN is the hard ticket event. it is held on weekends, fri, sat, sun in the beginning 2 weeks. after that, thursday are typically added in. when the schools in orlando have their fall breaks, HHN is extended for a few weekdays. local hhn goers refer that to Hell week for hhn. (very crowded time period)

parks close early for that event. the studios at 5 and ioa for 6:00.

of course, things for time closures could also change but this is how it has been since i have attended them since 2000.

a low period for universal is when HHN is over.
early november is a great time, so is september.

if you stay on site, september is the low season, you know, value season and rates are a lot less then.

just something for you to consider when you start making your plans for universal.

Mac is in the know on this!!!

 

[Metro West]

I read that when Simpsons opened, the express line was temporarily not operating. Anyone remember about how long before they starting using express? I'm asking out of curiosity of what to possibly expect for the Harry Potter attractions. We're thinking fall (Sept? Oct? Nov?) 2010 and I'm hoping that there won't be construction delays and HP will have been open several months by then.

And a sad note...because of Disney's 4/3 deal, we're changing up our plans and not making our first visit to Universal this June. The good news is, that when we do go in 2010 (that sounds like such a long ways off ), we'll have 4 days of exclusive Universal instead of 2 squeezed in at the end of our Disney stay. Unless, of course, Universal puts out a deal as enticing as Disney's, in which case we'd be FORCED to do both.

The Express line has been fully operational at The Simpsons for quite a while now so don't won't change.

No one is really sure about when HP will completely open...I'm thinking summer 2010 at the earliest.

Nothing wrong with the Disney deal...you have to do what you have to do in these tough times. I'm not even sure if I'm going to renew my Disney pass in April...unless I get a big tax check...which I'm not expecting.