Universal Front of Line Pass

Luv Bunnies

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Sep 3, 2006
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We're going to Universal in July and I would rather not spring for front of the line pass. However, I'm wondering if we will end up frustrated by having to wait in long lines all day? Do enough people buy the passes to really impact the wait time of those who don't? We're planning on spending one entire day in the park, and possibly part or all of a second day if we think we need it. I can get 2-day passes through my teaching union for $69 each. I'd much rather do that than spend $119 per person for just one day. Any advice would be appreciated!:)
 
Long lines only happen during peak times, holidays etc. Most of the time Universal isn't that crowded so front of line is helpful only on packed days.

Animal Show, show up 15 minutes before. Rarely a line.

Water World, 15 minutes before, as long as you're in the que you will get a seat. All seats are good but if you want front center then 20-30 minutes prior. An crowded days they usually add a show right at park closing thats announced late in the day.

Terminator, bad lines only on busy days.

Shrek, most in que line will get into next preshow.

Tram Tour, can get bad line mid-day on moderate to busy days. Otherwise averages 10-20 minutes wait.

Simpsons, bad line almost all day every day unless very uncrowded day. Often they don't have all cars operating for some reason and line crawls.

Jurassic Park, bad line only on very busy days in which case can be 40-60 minutes. Otherwise 5-10 minutes.

Backdraft, Special Effects, typically 15-20 minute lines on most days unless very crowded.

Mummy, 15-20 minutes on low to moderate days, 30-40 on busy days.

My typical plan is to get to Universal at opening. Ride Simpsons first thing. Next head to the lower lot and do all rides and shows there. Lines will be short here as most people do everything on upper lot first. Next, take tram tour if busy day, otherwise see Water World, Shrek and Terminator first. Animal Planet can be seen when convenient.
 
We went in July and did not wait more than 15 min. for anything. As with any park, get there early you will save tons of time! I don't think the front of the line pass is worth the extra $$$
 
We went in mid January during the week, so it wasn't at all busy. We walked on all rides and easily got good seats for all shows. We saw people walking around with the front of line passes and thought how stupid they were for purchasing them when all rides were walk on as it was. The longest line was the Simpsons which was 15minutes and even then we weren't too bothered. I guess it just depends on the time of the year and day that you go, but generally they aren't needed especially during the week when most people are at school/work (unless you go during a public holiday or holiday period)
 
I live very close to universal and pop in there quiet often, I very rarely see long lines for anything(in the past 6 months the longest ive waited for anything was 30 minutes for simpsons, everything else is generally 5-10 min waits). July might be a little different but if your doing a full day you should easily be able to cover the whole park and then some without a pass!
 
I'll jump in and offer a slightly different view. I visited Universal around 7 or 8 times last year, usually during peak periods (like July, as the OP is planning), and generally during the weekends.

Because King Kong 360 3-D opened last summer (as part of the tram tour), it seemed like the park was very crowded during all of my summer visits. Perhaps it will be less this year, now that King Kong has been open for awhile. Also, if you go mid-week during July, perhaps crowds will be lighter. But I would definitely check the Studio Tour wait time early and try to get that done in the morning. Last summer and winter, the wait times for the Studio Tour was 60 minutes or more during most of my visits. In fact, a few times, the wait time skyrocketed to 120 minutes, with the line extending *before* the elevator down to the normal tram queue.

Again, this was a new attraction that opened last summer, so perhaps the frenzy is over. But definitely check the wait time for the tram early on as you get to the park. There is a digital wait time/information board just past the entrance to the park, and it's a good place to start the day. Have fun with your trip to USH!! :goodvibes
 
lffam, I just read your review, wow it sounded awesome! You are making me excited, I know our kids (teens) will love it too, I haven't been there for YEARS, it sounds like it's changed so much, there was no Simpsons, Waterworld, etc. just the backlot tour where you go past the "flood" and the Psycho house, and Jaws...don't remember much else, actually...looking forward to it!!
 
With two days you wont need fol passes. We just got back and did the entire park with the exception of a few of the smaller shows in one day. It was also spring break!! Try to do it during the week instead of the weekend.
Our strategy was to do the Simpsons first, then the lower lot (Mummy and Jurassic Park),then back to the upper lot for another round of Simpsons, the we hit Shrek and Terminator. After T2 we went to lunch. After lunch was Tram tour which had a 10 minute wait, the animal show, House of Horrors, we then opted out of Waterworld and did Simpsons,J.Park, and Mummy one more time each.

Have fun!
Nate
 
We were there for Christmas weekend 24-25-26 and seriously, we did not have long waits at all. With the hotel/Sheraton Universal I had "length of stay" so I could not upgrade to FOL passes. (I don't know may be I could of?)

I am not kidding it was an awesome time and the only real waits were for Shrek 3D but that was at the pre-show while the show was going on. I thought that was kinda long. And we did wait awhile in a large crowd to get into Water World. Mummy, Simpsons, Jurassic Park, T2, Back Stage Tour … all walk ons. :thumbsup2

ENJOY, we loved it!!!! :cool1:
 
When we were there last summer, we waited one hour for the tram tour. That was about mid-afternoon. I thought that I had read or heard that that was one attraction that didn't generally get a really long line-up, so we did other attractions first. If we go again this summer, I would try to do the tram tour in the morning, as it is my favorite attraction there. I've been wondering about the front of the line pass too, but it's so expensive...
 




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