The future of Universal express pass with virtual lines

[wilkeliza]

It will really depend on how they work the system, but look at it this way --- If you the virtual lines are about the same length as the old standby lines, you are losing nothing. If you get a return time for Kong one hour later... You could always choose just to stand there for an hour, no different than standby. But you'd also have the option of just walking around, getting a snack, using the bathroom.

The big difference is once the return times are gone they are gone. If they don't make the first and last hour standby available then if you miss a return ticket to say Forbidden Journey or Gringotts then you are SOL. At least now if you want to wait 4 hours towards the end of your park day you can (not that any lines get that long any more).

 

[havoc315]

The big difference is once the return times are gone they are gone. If they don't make the first and last hour standby available then if you miss a return ticket to say Forbidden Journey or Gringotts then you are SOL. At least now if you want to wait 4 hours towards the end of your park day you can (not that any lines get that long any more).

As I said, all depends on how they implement the system. They could do standby the last hour of the park. They could also guarantee the ride as long as you get into the "virtual line" by a specific time, just like current standby lines. So if the park closes at 9 pm, you are guaranteed a ride on Gringotts as long as you get on the virtual line by 8:30. (Yes, your return time may be after park closing). It really depends how they implement it. It won't necessarily be like the Disney fastpass system that gives out a limited number of passes.

 

[wilkeliza]

As I said, all depends on how they implement the system. They could do standby the last hour of the park. They could also guarantee the ride as long as you get into the "virtual line" by a specific time, just like current standby lines. So if the park closes at 9 pm, you are guaranteed a ride on Gringotts as long as you get on the virtual line by 8:30. (Yes, your return time may be after park closing). It really depends how they implement it. It won't necessarily be like the Disney fastpass system that gives out a limited number of passes.

That's what I was saying as well. There was a test where it did give out a limited number and they weren't available once they were gone. If that becomes the case I could see it really backfiring.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That's what I was saying as well. There was a test where it did give out a limited number and they weren't available once they were gone. If that becomes the case I could see it really backfiring.

I think Craig touched on that in one of the Dis Unplugged episodes..something to the effect of maybe being able to ride the ride in the last hour of park being opened if the return times were all gone. I thought to myself...that means someone is forced to stick around to the end of the day to ride that ride.

*I hope I'm remembering his explanation/mention of it correctly*

 

[wilkeliza]

I think Craig touched on that in one of the Dis Unplugged episodes..something to the effect of maybe being able to ride the ride in the last hour of park being opened if the return times were all gone. I thought to myself...that means someone is forced to stick around to the end of the day to ride that ride.

*I hope I'm remembering his explanation/mention of it correctly*

Yeah that was one way that was tested. It is the only one that makes sense if they don't want standby during the day. If they say no standby at all at any point and oh if you don't get a pass sucks to be you then I feel like they are going to have a ton of upset people.

 

[havoc315]

Yeah that was one way that was tested. It is the only one that makes sense if they don't want standby during the day. If they say no standby at all at any point and oh if you don't get a pass sucks to be you then I feel like they are going to have a ton of upset people.

And that's why they are running tests. And Volcano Bay will likely serve partially as a park-wide test.

Where is will really upset people --- If they absolutely cannot ride a particular attraction, unless they have booked a time days or weeks in advance.
Where the overall experience will likely be positive -- even if there is some limitation on the ability to ride, as long as you can get a guaranteed time by as late as same-day afternoon. I think people will mostly adjust if at 8pm they are told, "sorry, no more times left for today before the 9pm park closing".. as long as they can still get a time at 4 or 5 pm. On the other hand, if you can't ride even something like Transformers, without reserving a time that morning, then I think there will be a major backlash.