Universal Newbie ... Landyards?

[eiblehs]

Hey everyone! I will be visiting Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure for the first time in just a few weeks!

I was wondering if landyards were necessary/highly recommended. We have tickets with Unlimited Express. I see many vloggers wear lanyards around their necks for the APs, but are they needed for tickets too?

I have found a lot of Harry Potter themed lanyard and ID holders on Amazon for half the price of the ones Universal sells online. I will more than likely purchase them ahead of time from there if you guys agree they’re necessary!

 

[andieb0602]

With express pass I would say definitely because you have to show your room key every time you get on a ride if you're using the EP queue. Before covid I would even say you need them even without express pass if you have APs so you can get them scanned easily for discounts but mobile ordering may have made that a moot point.

 

[macraven]

I wear a lanyard for my ap card as I go hands free in the parks

I have the older small cc size fold wallet that UO sold eons back

 

[Jane Miller]

I ordered Hogwarts Express lanyard before last trip from online Universal store. Have also bought one at the parks when grand didn’t get it out from under Minions bar in time then tried to yank it free. Hulk strong! Really love lanyard as keeps from having to constantly dig in bags or pockets for EP. Room will unlock when card in holder as well. Be sure has slider seal and can keep ID and credit card (if desired) in between ticket and room key.

 

[Jane Miller]

Oh, we also hang the lanyards on door so we never ever forget them when leaving the room.

 

[nkereina]

Lanyards are a must for us. Your room key will be your express pass, and as PP mentioned, you will need to show it to the CM prior to entering the EP queue and mid-way through the EP queue, you will need to show it to a second CM who will scan it. They can scan it right through the lanyard so no need to take it out. On rides where you have to put your bags and personal items in a locker, lanyards are still allowed to be on your person. I know I'm usually wearing leggings without pockets so without my lanyard, I'd have no place to keep my room key/express pass while on those rides.

I usually keep my ticket on one side and just hold it up to the scanner at the entry gate rather than trying to take it out. I like the Universal lanyards because they will replace your plastic pouch for free if it rips. DH and I have each had to replace ours.

 

[eiblehs]

Thank you, everyone! I’m glad someone mentioned the sliding seal on the ID holder. The ones I was about to order off Amazon don’t seal; I would hate to lose my belongings. I’m just going to purchase the Universal lanyards from our resort gift shop when we check-in so I don’t have to pay shipping now.

 

[ruthies12]

Yup as others have said the lanyards are great! I put my pass with the bar code facing out on one side and the room key with the bar code facing out in the opposite direction so I can just hold it up to whoever is scanning. You need your ticket/pass to get on the Hogwart's Express in addition to getting in the park so easier to just have it in the lanyard with the EP.

I also highly recommend a runners belt to carry your phone. If you keep your phone in a three pronged runners belt around your waste and your EP/ticket in a lanyard your day will be so easy, the only rides you'll have to use a locker for will be rip ride rockit and hulk, everything else you'll keep your stuff on you and it's so much easier. If you purchase stuff in the gift shops just send it to the front of the park or on-site hotel.

 

[davper]

Having your express pass quickly at hand is a must. But I do not have mine hanging around my neck. I just don't like. Instead, I use a heavy duty retractable lanyard hooked to my belt loop. Similar to this one...amazon.com/link

 

[andieb0602]

I also highly recommend a runners belt to carry your phone.

Yes! It makes life so much easier. I lose all fashion sense at UO and carry a fanny pack. It's great bypassing the lockers. I'm looking to find slim ones for the kids to wear under their shirts to carry their phones and extra masks so we can distribute what we need to carry without crushing the masks.

 

[Polyonmymind]

I have sorta become obsessed with lanyards, like collectible souvenirs. I find I have more than I need, but I like the option of changing out lanyards depending upon my mood or fashion choice for the day.

 

[NickC]

Another yes for lanyards, especially if you have Express Pass.

 

[dbtex83]

Another yes for lanyards, especially if you have Express Pass.

What do you do with lanyards for the "no loose items" rides? For Express, do you scan in before or after lockers? Or could you just tuck the lanyard under your clothing for the ride?

 

[Jane Miller]

What do you do with lanyards for the "no loose items" rides? For Express, do you scan in before or after lockers? Or could you just tuck the lanyard under your clothing for the ride?

Tuck and wear with no problem.

 

[NickC]

What do you do with lanyards for the "no loose items" rides? For Express, do you scan in before or after lockers? Or could you just tuck the lanyard under your clothing for the ride?

I don't remember, actually. But, it must have been a smooth process or it would stick out in my memory more.

One thing that I do remember was when my son went to use the bathroom and came back without his lanyard. He said he hung it on the hook so it wouldn't get germs on it and forgot it. Luckily, it was still there when we went back. After that, the next couple of years, we did a lanyard check every so often. Same with Magic Bands, which....yep.....my son lost on Soarin'. We found that one too, but was a bit trickier to track down. To be fair, I also lost my MB when it unclipped when I raised the restraint bar on RNRC. There was a cast member checking the cars and ran after me. Must happen all the time. Oh, and my daughter lost her BBB bag with her autograph book and pins. We went to the lost and found, but no luck. My wife is the only one who hasn't lost anything. Wait....what was the question again?

 

[andieb0602]

The TMs will remind you to tuck your lanyards on the intense rides, too.

 

[OrlandoGirl357]

I bought plastic ID holders that attach to my lanyard. I had two on my main lanyard, one to hold AP and room key (EP), and the other held ID and a credit card. It made it super easy to get into the lockers and use my EP on rides.

 

[Skywalker3]

Another vote for lanyards. and fanny packs, or small backpacks if you don't mind lockers. Fanny packs can be covered by a shirt on rides like FJ, and I've used them often in the past. but I realized i prefer a backpack to make sure I can hold everything I need. My backpacks are like Hermione's beaded handbag....it's got everything. But back to lanyards. It's so much easier to have the tickets, Express in the lanyard, and not have to worry about digging around in pockets or a bag for it at each ride. And if you're holding the passes for kids, and then the party gets separated, you might forget to pass them off to the other person. was easier when each kid had their own lanyard. Last trip, I just used my pocket wallet, and that was fine, but I wish I'd had a lanyard. Just tuck away inside shirt for pictures, rides.

 

[nkereina]

I’m just going to purchase the Universal lanyards from our resort gift shop when we check-in so I don’t have to pay shipping now.

I'm not sure how good the selection is at the resort stores, but the Universal store at City Walk has a decent selection and the stores at the front of each park also have a lot to choose from.

What do you do with lanyards for the "no loose items" rides? For Express, do you scan in before or after lockers? Or could you just tuck the lanyard under your clothing for the ride?

You are allowed to keep your lanyard on you for those rides. Everything else must go in a locker. The lockers are always outside the ride queue, before you'd have to scan in for the ride. We always tuck our lanyards in our shirts while on the ride.

 

[dbtex83]

You are allowed to keep your lanyard on you for those rides. Everything else must go in a locker. The lockers are always outside the ride queue, before you'd have to scan in for the ride. We always tuck our lanyards in our shirts while on the ride.

We went on Friday and it worked great having lanyards. We got some HP lanyards in Diagon Alley first thing in the morning to carry our room key/Express Pass and our Dining Plan card. The other tip we learned was that you can use your room key bar code (or any bar code) for the lockers. Since we had mobile park tickets, it was nice to just use our lanyard for the locker bar code so we could put away our phones.