Universal "Express" ..... I don't think so!

[Frances999]

We are staying at Portofino Bay and visited IoA today. The express pass access was a complete waste of time and many people were furious (we visited guest services to lodge a complaint and joined four other families also complaining about the same issue).

At Duelling Dragons, the listed wait time was 10 minutes. With our express passes we waited 35 minutes.

At Poseidons Fury we waited 50 minutes (the board showed next show in 10 minutes). Groups who joined the REGULAR line AFTER us went flying through the line and straight in. The express line was so darn busy that it took 3 runs of the show until we could get in. Apparently, they allow 100 express guests only, regardless of the length of the regular line.

We had similar experience at Cat in the Hat where the cast member seemed to completely disregard the express lane.

We never once went to the "front of the line" and more often than not we ended up waiting for longer than we would have done if we just went in the normal standby line. The lady we spoke to at guest services said that this happens regularly(?!) and is "to be expected" (huh?). She said it "all depends on how many express access passes they sell that day" and that we visited on a day when they had "sold more than usual".

We've really enjoyed our Universal trips in the past but this, and the disgustingly poor attitude of all Cast Members we encountered, has made us decide to not re-visit in the future. Our Disney experience was a million times better in all regards.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Ouch. I know that Dueling Dragons is suffering from the Harry Potter construction. The line is all sorts of wonky and there's not much they can do about it.

 

[torinsmom]

Yeah, I am on the fence about buying the Express passes or just saving my money. Last summer, we just got there at opening and did the popular rides first. We also utilized the single rider lines quite a bit. Now, THOSE are a time saver.

 

[busy mom]

Wow, that stinks.

Is Express Pass the same as Front of the Line? Do they use the same ride entrance? We are paying out of the nose to stay at the Hard Rock next week to take advantage of the FOTL feature. Not sure if it's worth it now...

 

[Coach81]

Good question, mom.. we are in the same boat in a month or so..

 

[Rip]

Wow, that stinks.

Is Express Pass the same as Front of the Line? Do they use the same ride entrance? We are paying out of the nose to stay at the Hard Rock next week to take advantage of the FOTL feature. Not sure if it's worth it now...

Express is what is normally referred to on here as "front of the line". Essentially, UO used to have Express kiosks just like Disney, and the system worked pretty much the same. Then, they realized that they could sell them so they removed the kiosks and implemented the current system. As a perk, they give you unlimited Express Pass if you stay onsite, the difference being that the ones you purchase can only be used once per attraction per day, and if you purchase one for IoA it is only good at IoA, you'd have to purchase seperate ones for US (unless they have changed this, since moving we stay onsite so I haven't purchased EPs in years).

I have never had the issues the OP has described, but I can see where, if the park was nominally slow and a high proportion of people bought EPs, it would happen. If the only reason you are staying at HRH is for the EPs, you may want to check the RPH. It's generally less expensive and is better themed, IMO. Then again, it's typically slow there from mid-January through at least the first of March, so it's not likely that you'll need EPs anyway.

 

[DecaturDad]

Wow. We are going during spring break and staying at the Portofino. Until this post, I was expecting 10 to 15 minute waits. If this is truely how the system works, I don't think we will be coming.

 

[busy mom]

Our trip is next week - MLK weekend, so we too were counting on the FOTL benefit due to high crowds. We have ressies at both the HRH and Embassy Suites. We were holding off on the weather forecast for next week (Embassy Suites has an indoor pool and my kids will be miserable if they cannot swim) to decide where to stay.

HHmmmmm...lot's of thinking to do now.

 

[ThemeParkGuy]

Sorry about the bad time- when we visited Thanksgiving week (arguably a more crowed time) we never waited more than 5 minutes with our FOTL priviliges from the hard rock. The only exception was "Dissaster" where we had to wait for the next show. It was such a great expierence our next trip will be Universal only. If given the choice- stay at the hard rock- the vibe is top notch and the resort perks cannot be beat. I would suggest aksing for a customer serivce manager if you are unhappy with the results.

 

[busy mom]

Thanks ThemePark Guy, we will take your comments into consideration....

 

[bstnsprts]

Sorry about the bad time- when we visited Thanksgiving week (arguably a more crowed time) we never waited more than 5 minutes with our FOTL priviliges from the hard rock. The only exception was "Dissaster" where we had to wait for the next show. It was such a great expierence our next trip will be Universal only. If given the choice- stay at the hard rock- the vibe is top notch and the resort perks cannot be beat. I would suggest aksing for a customer serivce manager if you are unhappy with the results.

We visit three to four times a year. We were also there Thanksgiving weekend, both Friday and Saturday. Never waited more than five to ten minutes with FOTL. At one point Jaws was a 45 minute wait, we walked right to the FOTL and on the ride. On some rides we were passing the same people in the regular line as we rode two or three times in a row. In all our trips to UO we have always used FOTL and never had an issue. We've been at slow, medium and busy times.

 

[mapmakerj]

We were there at the end of June this past summer and FOTL was wonderful! We were there the week leading up to the 4th of July and there were also some Brazil tour groups arriving and by using FOTL (we stayed at RPR) we never waited more than 10 min. for any attraction. We also had a past stay in early Dec. and the FOTL lines were about the same as the standby lines. So by my experience, FOTL is not necessary during slow times and it is a blessing during busy times.

 

[keishashadow]

i assume the OP meant her keycard perc vs buying express pass as she was a onsite guest.

you'd think there would be an initial flurry of activity (until all options were utilized on the express passes if the access is 1 X per attraction) with things settling down in the afternoon .

still, i'd be upset too to find the express line consistently triple the wait at times as standby, glad i've never experienced it.

 

[Darcy03231]

We were there last April for spring break and really never waited in lines with the Express Pass (we stayed at the Hard Rock). Most rides were walk on to 5 minutes. I think the longest we waited was for the Simpsons (around 15 min - standby line was 90 min).

 

[rpbert1]

We have been staying onsite for 5 years now, usually stay 3 weeks in July, and has been over the 4th on 3 occassions.
our waits for the fotl would usually be anything from a few mins to about 15 mins although an average would be 10 at the most.
At DD in July, we had an extremely long wait, because the CM was busy putting people on from the baby swap, and rather than 2 riding, it usually turned out that everyone who got of sometimes about 6 people they would all get on again leaving one of the ones who got of with the child.
We complained to guest services about this, and they confirmed that one was allowed to get back on with the person who had been waiting, not everyone in the family, they said that they would have a word about it at DD[this was the only ride with the problem] to the TM.
We got a phone call when we got home from Guest services, about our complaint and said that it had been high lighted to the CMs.
the thing with DDs is that once you get through the express line, there is usually lines to whichever Dragon you choose, so you need to just join the line there, and wait.

 

[francie57]

We go every Aug. and have never had to wait more than 10 - 15 min., if that for the Express line. The only time there was a longer wait was for Dueling Dragons because they were putting new cars on the tracks.

 

[Pink Flamingo]

So sorry OP. We've been in August & June & have had a great experience with Express entry ~ no real waits to speak of the whole week we were there EXCEPT when my kids rode DD late one afternoon (probably a 30 minute wait). However, I'm not sure what the regular line wait was b/c DH & I didn't ride that go round.

One of the main reasons we stay on-site is because of the Express pass. I would be very disappointed if the Express line was consistently longer than the regular line.

 

[Darby O'Gill]

The busy summer months make it a good deal.....if your going in fall, winter(not dec 25th through new years), and most of spring(careful for spring break)....then Express isnt a good option, especially if you are buying it.
My one my caveat ill throw at that is for the HHN(Halloween Horror Nights)....i couldnt suggest Express enough if you want to see most attractions in one night as it seems that all of orlanos teens and young adults hang out there every month of Oct

Darby O'Gill
(older, still waiting on the wisdom tho)

 

[TraceyL]

We also noticed much longer waits in the express line before Christmas. Usually we find the majority of people have onsite fotl keys but it was mainly purchased express passes in the express lines. We had issues with MiB (line outside the express entrance side door), Poseidon's Fury (waited over 30 minutes - which was as long as the standby line - & then no vortex ), DD (no difference between the standby & express lines)

Guess we've been spoilt as previously we've been able to walk on to every ride with < 5min waits

 

[Frances999]

OP here. Today we visited Universal and waited 20 minutes for Twister (same as posted standby line) and 25 minutes for The Mummy (standby line listed at 45 minutes).

We also noticed much longer waits in the express line before Christmas. Usually we find the majority of people have onsite fotl keys but it was mainly purchased express passes in the express lines. We had issues with MiB (line outside the express entrance side door), Poseidon's Fury (waited over 30 minutes - which was as long as the standby line - & then no vortex ), DD (no difference between the standby & express lines)

Guess we've been spoilt as previously we've been able to walk on to every ride with < 5min waits

Exactly - we used hotel express in summer of 2008 and it was awesome: never waited more than 10-15 minutes. They are selling way too many of the express plus passes. Few people are using hotel room keys; most have the passes.