Universal Express Pass

[amystevekai&bump]

WE are now thinking of adding a day at Universal Studios and (depending on date availability of the pass) we were thinking of purchasing Express passes.

Has anyone any experience of ordering them and was delivery all ok?

Were they worth the money?

(We are going next May and will have 2 small children so wondered whether it might be beneficial in terms of allowing us to more quickly do the rides that our 8mth old won't be able to do - so that the person looking after him won't be hanging around waiting for us so long!!??)

Plus are all rides at Universal included or just a select few??

 

[wayneg]

I would not think you need them in May, but I have not done May for about 14 years, then it was quiet. Maybe someone could post who has been more recent.
We were there at Easter and no problems, get there at opening and do the busy rides first then do the shows later.
You can buy the Express after you get in the park you don't need to pay before hand. Even at Xmas when it was really busy they were still selling them inside the park.
For the popular rides would you not do child swap anyway? like Mummy etc, so you only have to line up once and you both ride.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

If you plan your days you shouldn't need them.
May is not one of the busiest times of year.

I agree with Wayne, getting there early means you beat the worst of the queues and it's cooler then too.

Many of the more popular rides at IOA and US are close to the entrance, such as Spiderman, Hulk, Shrek and Jimmy Neutron. It is very common to see many people head for these first.

Unfortunatley, and something that always gets on my nerves (at both Disney and US), is that not all the attractions open at 9, the likes of Barney and Woody Woodpecker for example open at 10, sometimes later so you will have to bear that in mind.
Jaws wasn't open till 11 on some days last August.

 

[wayneg]

Unfortunatley, and something that always gets on my nerves (at both Disney and US), is that not all the attractions open at 9, the likes of Barney and Woody Woodpecker for example open at 10, sometimes later so you will have to bear that in mind.
Jaws wasn't open till 11 on some days last August.

That gets me so mad. If the parks open then all the rides should be.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Brilliant - thanks for the advice - that should save me a few dollars!!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Just a point regarding this pay for 2 days get a third free that they are pushing on UK visitors. The price of that is $112. The main Universal web site pushes you to the Uk web site with that "offer"

this web url http://secure.universalstudios.com/...sCategoryGroup=UOMain&SalesCategory=UOTPTLive

Lets you buy a 2 park seven days admission for $86.98 plus tax!
Much better offer than the Uk one!

 

[wicket2005]

We have not bothered buying them in July (last two weeks) over the last two years and have not had any problems with lines. However, I would point out that we arrive at the park prior to opening times and hit all the major rides early on. If you don't arrive at the parks early you will hit long lines (in July anyway).

I think the passes are beneficial if you want to get on rides in the afternoons. Water rides are particularly popular. However, if you get to the parks early, you can get all the rides done by lunch, then spend the afternoon taking in shows or walks (Animal/Epcot/Sea) round the park.

 

[Toon86]

WE are now thinking of adding a day at Universal Studios and (depending on date availability of the pass) we were thinking of purchasing Express passes.

Has anyone any experience of ordering them and was delivery all ok?

As these passes were only $15/$20 for each park I thought it was well worth getting them at that price to be guaranteed a short wait on the major attractions.

I purchased them on-line using a credit card and got a reference number to use (with the credit card) in the automated ticket machine when I get to Universal. It should then just print them out.

 

[wayneg]

As these passes were only $15/$20 for each park I thought it was well worth getting them at that price to be guaranteed a short wait on the major attractions.

I purchased them on-line using a credit card and got a reference number to use (with the credit card) in the automated ticket machine when I get to Universal. It should then just print them out.

Depending on the day you visit and if you go for a 1 park or 2 park express they cost upto $54 each incl tax. almost as much as the entrance ticket.
They also only allow 1 ride on each attraction, we did Mummy 3 times at Easter.

 

[MorningGlory]

Just a point regarding this pay for 2 days get a third free that they are pushing on UK visitors. The price of that is $112. The main Universal web site pushes you to the Uk web site with that "offer"

this web url http://secure.universalstudios.com/...sCategoryGroup=UOMain&SalesCategory=UOTPTLive

Lets you buy a 2 park seven days admission for $86.98 plus tax!
Much better offer than the Uk one!

Better than both of those offers however (well, for me anyway) was the 3 park-5 day pass, as you get a free child's pass with that. Plus, the 5 days are split over the 14 days, so you dont have to try to get to Universal daily to try to make the most of your pass.

I paid $130 for that, so entry basically works out at $13pp per day.

Not sure if that offer is still ongoing though.