How does the front of line access work?
for almost every ride (except Forbidden Journey) there are 2 or 3 different entrances for the ride.
- Standby
- Single Rider (not all ridesà
- Express
the FOTL (unlimited express) you get for staying at a Universal Hotel (NOT Cabana Bay, only the top 3 hotels) will give you access to the "express" line.
A Team Member will scan your Pass at the entrance, and then again at the point where the Express and Standby line merge.
This works basically as a Fastpass, except that it's often much faster (thankfully as you're "paying" for this FOTL pass)
The wait is really minimal, and at some rides you don't even merge with the regular standby line, you just board the vehicle. It's basically walk on for every ride, except those that work with "shows" where you will have to wait for the previous show to end before you're allowed to enter the theatre.
be advised that at many rides you bypass the preshow.
for example, at Spiderman, you don't get to do the Daily Buggle photograph if you ride Express, you need to ride Standby to enter that "office" and take the picture
So if we check in at 8am do we get early access and passes for that day and the next ?
yes. As long as you have park tickets for both days. You'll get Unlimited express for both days no matter what, but they won't do no good if you can't enter the parks
those are not tickets.
i have tickets already but mum is huge harry potter fan so dad and i thought be nice to surpirse her with a stay here for the early entry and expess passes but we have only ever stayed onsite at disney so wasnt sure how it allworked 
