Universal 'fast passes'

[maclondon]

are these only for people staying at universal properties or can you buy them - like you do at lego land uk?

I'm going with virgin so we get two passes to get in early, but thats it - the two Harry Potter ride have no express passes anyway - so maybe we don't need them

while i may go on some of the big roller coasters they are probably too extreme for the kids who will be happy with the simpsons/spiderman and suess worlds.

 

[DisFanJen]

People staying on-site at a universal hotel get free Express Pass access but you can buy it as well.

You can either buy a 1 ride ticket (you can use it on all the rides but only once, so once on the mummy, once on Rip Ride Rocket, etc.) or you can buy an unlimited pass with as many re-rides as you want.

Prices fluctuate so you will need to look up your specific date.

 

[scoobydooby]

For four it would almost certainly be more cost effective to stay on site at Universal for a couple of days than to buy the passes.

 

[DisFanJen]

For four it would almost certainly be more cost effective to stay on site at Universal for a couple of days than to buy the passes.

This is probably true. Especially as you get the access on the day you check-out as well as check-in. So two days Express access for one night at a Universal hotel.

 

[maclondon]

This is probably true. Especially as you get the access on the day you check-out as well as check-in. So two days Express access for one night at a Universal hotel.

Interesting though there's actually 6 of us. I guess we may get away worth a couple of passes and share of its possible to do that.

 

[DisFanJen]

Std Express Pass is usable by more than one person but you won't be able to share an Express Pass Ultimate between people.

If I remember the cost of a Express Pass Ultimate is $100+ per person so if you had 2 rooms for 6 people you may save a heap. You'll need to do your maths though.

 

[hydrotony]

Only by staying at the 3 deluxe Universal resorts you get free unlimited express pass. You do not get EP if staying at new Cabana Bay resort. Resort EP is an actual card with your photo on it, no sharing allowed. The EP is valid from the (and including) day you check in through the day you check out.

You can buy the "only one EP per ride" option or the "unlimited" rides option but then again no sharing the "unlimited" option.

 

[chmurf]

Interesting though there's actually 6 of us. I guess we may get away worth a couple of passes and share of its possible to do that.

as both previous PPs mentionned, there will be your picture on the Unlimited Express and that pass will be manually scanned by a Team Member, twice (once at the entrance of the express line, and once at the point where the express line meets the regular line)

If you get caught with a pass that's not yours, it might get confiscated ... (and won't be replaced)

getting rooms at RPR might be cheaper than buying the unlimited passes

 

[Cyrano]

Even though your room will not be ready you could check in at 6.30am and then get your hotel front of the line access pass as well as early entry.

The hotel will normally text you later in the day when your room is ready.

This way you will be able to maximise your time for the rest of the park after doing the Harry Potter attractions

 

[maclondon]

Even though your room will not be ready you could check in at 6.30am and then get your hotel front of the line access pass as well as early entry.

The hotel will normally text you later in the day when your room is ready.

This way you will be able to maximise your time for the rest of the park after doing the Harry Potter attractions

And theres the rub - we will be heading straight to Forbidden Journey on day 1 and to Gringotts on day 2 - no express options of any sort on either of those.

most likely spending morning in HP land and the afternoon doing the rest of the 'normal' rides - which by then will have long queues.

 

[scoobydooby]

And theres the rub - we will be heading straight to Forbidden Journey on day 1 and to Gringotts on day 2 - no express options of any sort on either of those. most likely spending morning in HP land and the afternoon doing the rest of the 'normal' rides - which by then will have long queues.

Why don't you price what six Express Pass Plus would cost and what one EPP and one room for 5 would cost, as that gives those people EPP with the room. You don't have to sleep in it. Only problem there is only 5 of you would get the two day early entry..... Six is a rough number for your particular dilemma I'm afraid.

 

[scoobydooby]

Why don't you price what six Express Pass Plus would cost and what one EPP and one room for 5 would cost, as that gives those people EPP with the room. You don't have to sleep in it. Only problem there is only 5 of you would get the two day early entry..... Six is a rough number for your particular dilemma I'm afraid.

Amended. I just re read you already have two early entry tickets so this would work for you. Question is if it is worth about $250 to you to get everyone in early with an EPP?

 

[maclondon]

i just priced staying there
its £375 ( 635.425 USD ) to book two rooms for one night.
that would give us express unlimited for two days

buying the one shot passes for 2 days (one day in each park) is $70 each
so $420.

buying 6 express unlimted passes for 2 days = actaully i cant for the life of me work out from the universal site - but probably more than 635$


suddenly fast pass seems cheap

 

[scoobydooby]

Have you worked out cost of one room and two separate passes as you already have two 'free' early entry days? We bought the passes in 2010 it was a horrible fortune so next year we have just booked to stay at Universal for a few nights before Disney. We only go to Universal every 5 years or so though.

 

[chmurf]

buying 6 express unlimted passes for 2 days = actaully i cant for the life of me work out from the universal site - but probably more than 635$

you need to go to >tickets, then expand the "PARK-TO-PARK + UNLIMITED EXPRESS TICKETS" tab, then select the date


prices vary depending on the date.

Tickets + unlimited express start at $135 per day for a 2 days ticket.

Non-Peak, per day: Adult $135.00 / Child $130.00
Standard, per day: Adult $155.00 / Child $150.00
Peak, per day: Adult $170.00 / Child $165.00
Holiday Plus, per day: Adult $180.00 / Child $175.00


so, if you go non-peak, your 6 tickets + unlimited express start at $1725 including taxes.

standard season will hit you for $1980 for the 6 of you.

i just priced staying there
its £375 ( 635.425 USD ) to book two rooms for one night.
that would give us express unlimited for two days

you'd still need to add regular tickets to the room price.

you get express, but not entries.

 

[maclondon]

you need to go to >tickets, then expand the "PARK-TO-PARK + UNLIMITED EXPRESS TICKETS" tab, then select the date


prices vary depending on the date.

Tickets + unlimited express start at $135 per day for a 2 days ticket.

Non-Peak, per day: Adult $135.00 / Child $130.00
Standard, per day: Adult $155.00 / Child $150.00
Peak, per day: Adult $170.00 / Child $165.00
Holiday Plus, per day: Adult $180.00 / Child $175.00


so, if you go non-peak, your 6 tickets + unlimited express start at $1725 including taxes.

standard season will hit you for $1980 for the 6 of you.



you'd still need to add regular tickets to the room price.

you get express, but not entries.

GULP - i already have 14 day flex tickets so just need to add on express
to be honest - i will probably just do the one shot express - its a couple of hundred less than booking a room i dont need. and my kids aren't that mad on ride that they will want to go again and again - YET - when they get older i can see that being a requirements -and ill book a room

 

[maclondon]

Right i just went to the UK site for Universal and they want £252 a day for express passes for one park (just passes not tickets - also not sure if these are one shot or multi-go)
so over £500 for two days so booking hotel for one night, two rooms at £375 is well worth doing.

 

[wilma-bride]

Not sure when you are planning to go but, since you have early entry anyway through Virgin, essentially staying onsite will only get you access to teh non-Harry Potter rides (with the exception of Dragon's Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff). depending on when you're planning to visit, you might not even NEED Express passes.

 

[Sam1]

Yeah, it depends on when you're going. Last October it would've been a waste of money for us because we never queued for more than five minutes and we did everything in both parks. We had the early entry with Virgin for one day, so that was the Harry Potter bit sorted.

This year we've booked the Hard rock, but that's mainly for something different, yet close to the action, after being at Disney for two weeks.

 

[jon18uk]

Do you NEED Express Pass? We've been in May, September & December and never bought Express Pass and always ridden everything we wanted to over 2 days in the parks.

But then we have never paid for queue passes at Thorpe Park, Alton Towers etc either.