Universal Newbie

[Chipmunk89]

Hopefully one of you Universal vets can help me. I was going to buy the $79.99 internet special. On the website you have the option to buy an Express pass. What is the difference between the pass you can buy and the free pass that is given to onsite hotel guests? Also, can you buy the express passes at the park, or only online? The website stated that not all dates were available. Why is the difference in the price? The prices ranged from $55 to $19.

Just a few more questions. Are the passes you buy, like Disneys Fastpass? One per time. Also, can you use them as many times as you like? For example, if we found a ride we really loved, could we use it over and over for that one ride? Are the passes limited or unlimited?


Thanks in advance for helping the clueless one!

 

[Eeyore1925]

If you are staying on site, no need to purchase the extra Express pass. On site guests get express entrance to all rides as often as they like. Which is why we always stay on site!!!!!

If you are staying offsite, Express pass gives you 1 time express access to each ride.

Hope that helps.

 

[ky07]

Hopefully one of you Universal vets can help me. I was going to buy the $79.99 internet special. On the website you have the option to buy an Express pass. What is the difference between the pass you can buy and the free pass that is given to onsite hotel guests? Also, can you buy the express passes at the park, or only online? The website stated that not all dates were available. Why is the difference in the price? The prices ranged from $55 to $19.

Just a few more questions. Are the passes you buy, like Disneys Fastpass? One per time. Also, can you use them as many times as you like? For example, if we found a ride we really loved, could we use it over and over for that one ride? Are the passes limited or unlimited?


Thanks in advance for helping the clueless one!

The differance is if you stay onsite you get unlimited express pass which means you use your hotel room key is the express pass and you can use it as many times as you want on any ride versus the express pass you buy that can only be used once per ride and they mark it but in order to get the unlimited you have to stay onsite at HRH , RPR or PBH cause that is the perk for staying onsite and these are not sold.
Hope this helps

 

[Metro West]

Why is the difference in the price? The prices ranged from $55 to $19.

The price difference reflects the anticipated crowd level for that day. If the EP is $55.00 then you can expect the crowd level to be high...so if the EP is $19.00 it should be relatively slow time.

 

[Chipmunk89]

A BIG thanks to everyone! We decided to take the plunge and stay on-site!

 

[ky07]

A BIG thanks to everyone! We decided to take the plunge and stay on-site!

You won't regret it and have a great time

 

[bettyann29]

so am I understanding that since we are staying at HRH that we will have this pass and although its like the Disney FP its different in that there are no set times on it??

If thats the case, then this will be awesome! Just wanted to make sure I understand how it works..

also.. is there is a list of the rides/attractions that we can use this at??

 

[FireandIce]

so am I understanding that since we are staying at HRH that we will have this pass and although its like the Disney FP its different in that there are no set times on it??

If thats the case, then this will be awesome! Just wanted to make sure I understand how it works..

also.. is there is a list of the rides/attractions that we can use this at??

It's actually much better than Disney's fast pass, because it is unlimited. You can go on each ride as many times as you want.

You can use it at every attraction except for Pteronadon Flyers I believe.

 

[bettyann29]

It's actually much better than Disney's fast pass, because it is unlimited. You can go on each ride as many times as you want.

You can use it at every attraction except for Pteronadon Flyers I believe.

Oh my goodness.. it almost sounds too good to be true!!

This definitely makes up for what its costing to stay at HRH.. DH will be thrilled with that in itself but when he finds out about the express pass I wont be able to contain him!! He already thinks how brilliant Disney is with the fastpass and believe me, I hear about it every time we go to Six Flags when we are standing in line to ride the rides..

 

[Metro West]

It's actually much better than Disney's fast pass, because it is unlimited. You can go on each ride as many times as you want.

You can use it at every attraction except for Pteronadon Flyers I believe.

Oh my goodness.. it almost sounds too good to be true!!

This definitely makes up for what its costing to stay at HRH.. DH will be thrilled with that in itself but when he finds out about the express pass I wont be able to contain him!! He already thinks how brilliant Disney is with the fastpass and believe me, I hear about it every time we go to Six Flags when we are standing in line to ride the rides..

That's a wonderful perk when you stay onsite and it WILL spoil you.

 

[patster734]

Oh my goodness.. it almost sounds too good to be true!!

This definitely makes up for what its costing to stay at HRH.. DH will be thrilled with that in itself but when he finds out about the express pass I wont be able to contain him!! He already thinks how brilliant Disney is with the fastpass and believe me, I hear about it every time we go to Six Flags when we are standing in line to ride the rides..

FYI, you use your room key for the express pass.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

FYI, you use your room key for the express pass.

Correct. Once you check in--even if your room is not ready--you can get your room keys and your express access begins. When you check out, keep the room keys, as your express access is valid for the rest of that day.

As has been said before, staying onsite gets you unlimited use of the Express line. For the Front Row of Hulk, or to ride P-Flyers, you'll have to get to the park early when there are no lines.

 

[Metro West]

FYI, you use your room key for the express pass.

 

[dpayne1969]

the fotl is worth every penny you pay for the hotel.

it is sooooooooo awesome it is much much better than the FP because with FP you only get 1 ticket at a time,you use your room key all day on all rides theres no running to a kiosk to get your next ticket.

you guys will love it , it has spoiled my family. We were going to go to Disney but my kids voted universal.If i had the money i would do both because i love them both but you just cant beat the fotl thing.

Have an awesome trip & let us know what you think about fotl

 

[musicmom3]

The price difference reflects the anticipated crowd level for that day. If the EP is $55.00 then you can expect the crowd level to be high...so if the EP is $19.00 it should be relatively slow time.

When you say "slow," do you mean that it would be slow enough to have reasonable lines without purchasing the EP?

 

[tlinus]

When you say "slow," do you mean that it would be slow enough to have reasonable lines without purchasing the EP?

the lines would be pretty reasonable first thing in the morning and closer to closing time. The peak hours of the day you could get lines with 15 minute wait or 90 minute wait times.

you can wait until you get to the park that day to buy the express passes as well. see how the crowds look/wait times on the boards and decide then whether you want the passes or not.

hth

 

[tlinus]

Oh my goodness.. it almost sounds too good to be true!!

This definitely makes up for what its costing to stay at HRH.. DH will be thrilled with that in itself but when he finds out about the express pass I wont be able to contain him!! He already thinks how brilliant Disney is with the fastpass and believe me, I hear about it every time we go to Six Flags when we are standing in line to ride the rides..

That is the exact reason we continue to stay onsite now. DH will not do it any other way. We stayed onsite for the first time in October of 2006, April/May of 2007 and we are going again in 50 days.....its a wonderful perk and you will not regret it IMO staying onsite is the best way to experience Universal/IOA. Its the atmosphere, laid back planning and the general total feeling of being on a vacation.

ETA:

ALSO - remember to show your room card at the restaurants - its serves as a priority seating at most places (ie, less of a wait time)

AND - if you have a AAA card, show it everywhere you shop and eat in the parks-citywalk and hotel, you get discounts in most places

 

[musicmom3]

Thank you, tlinus. The wait-and-see approach works for me!

 

[Chipmunk89]

MusicMom,
The wait and see would help if you're stay offsite.

From my understanding, the pass you get from staying on-site is different from the pass you can buy at the park.

 

[minniemusician]

We stayed at HRH last summer and were able to use our EP on the day we arrived as well as the day we checked out so it is really a super deal since you get that extra day.