Universal Orlando AAP goes digital

[Keladry84]

Universal Orlando is trialing a digital AAP, which went live today in the app (12/4/2025).

They have updated their faq regarding accessibility with info regarding the digital card. Paper cards are still available upon request.

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/faqs/park-information

Does anyone here have experience with the digital aap and the process for setting it up and/or using it?

 

[NotTheBatesMotel]

We will be at Epic on Saturday and my son has the IBCCES card/uses the AAP. I’ll report back on how it goes.

 

[Scott R. Scherr]

There have been reports that many people at Universal are being told to have someone wait in line and for the individual to join them in line when they get close to the front. This seems to be the offering for many new AAP holders.

 

[Keladry84]

There have been reports that many people at Universal are being told to have someone wait in line and for the individual to join them in line when they get close to the front. This seems to be the offering for many new AAP holders.

But would that actually be AAP holders, or those who were not granted the AAP but rather directed to a different accommodation?

 

[gap2368]

Hoping it is like Disney, and from what I have seen on social media, it is where all parties have to be in the park, and you just select any ride you want on the app. I do plan on going to Universal later in 2026 with some friends. So I have a lot of time for the bugs, if any to work out and know how the system works.

 

[Scott R. Scherr]

But would that actually be AAP holders, or those who were not granted the AAP but rather directed to a different accommodation?

These are people who were approved after submitting medical documentation and then were given this as the accommodation at the park.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

There have been reports that many people at Universal are being told to have someone wait in line and for the individual to join them in line when they get close to the front. This seems to be the offering for many new AAP holders.

Sounds like perhaps Universal was too generous with their new accommodations (vs what the park can handle without impacting operations) or too many former DAS users headed to Universal instead and they now have to roll some of them back, like what happened at Disney.

 

[Keladry84]

These are people who were approved after submitting medical documentation and then were given this as the accommodation at the park.

Then that would not be the AAP, but a different accommodation.

 

[Scott R. Scherr]

Then that would not be the AAP, but a different accommodation.

Correct and good clarification. My point is that there are people expecting to get AAP after submitting medical documentation and are being refused it and instead offered to have some of their party wait in line and the person who cannot wait in line join them. This is a relatively new change for Universal.

 

[HopperFan]

HUGE!!!!

~ First walking between can be exhausting especially at EPIC.
~ It has not been uncommon for Team Members to struggle with return times and often giving us a wrong time.
~ Returning we have had issues. EX: Mario ride we returned and the TM marked through our time and THEN proceeded to tell us it was currently down. They said no problem come back in an hour and we are good. Of course we were not because they had marked it out. Took a manager and too much explaining to get on the ride. (was not worth the aggravation).
~ Cancelling a time and getting a new one is like asking for $1 million dollars.

I much rather deal with an app & computer than humans.

 

[NotTheBatesMotel]

We went to Epic today-we had an amazing time. The digital version of the AAP was excellent. I only had to restart the Universal app once-which IMO is an improvement over our varying experiences with the Disney app. Amazing functionality for this only being a few days into rollout. The facial recognition software at the rides malfunctioned a couple times, but they just scanned the app and sent us on our way through the express line.

Once you activate it at guest services, it lives under the Profile->Attraction Queue Accommodations. I’m attaching a screenshot of what the AAP screen looks like. Super user friendly. The only difference I can recall between this and the DAS (I haven’t been to Disney in a couple years because of their DAS changes, so this could’ve changed) is that there’s a small “rest window” between scanning in at the ride and booking your next ride. You essentially can’t book your next ride as you’re in the queue for the current ride like you could with the DAS.

Universal continues to impress us and we will continue visiting parks that utilize the IBCCES system. I hope Disney implements something similar in the future because their current system doesn’t work for my family that has multiple different disabilities and we no longer visit Disney parks due to this.

 

[mommy2paisley]

There have been reports that many people at Universal are being told to have someone wait in line and for the individual to join them in line when they get close to the front. This seems to be the offering for many new AAP holders.

I was just told this. I have three kids, one who has Down syndrome and the other two who are neurodivergent, that Disney easily gave us DAS for, and we were told re-entry was all they would do. I’m interested in seeing how it works.

 

[gap2368]

I was just told this. I have three kids, one who has Down syndrome and the other two who are neurodivergent, that Disney easily gave us DAS for, and we were told re-entry was all they would do. I’m interested in seeing how it works.

So universal denied you but Disney approved you.

 

[DL1WDW2]

Universal Studios Resorts have not distributed the Park Map Guides for a long time.
I try to keep and laminate at Office Supply Store … .
I miss children spreading them out to read the map and talk about their plans for next day when we’re in hotel room.
I was at EPIC for Grand Open Day hoping they would have a special EPIC Park Map brochure … So I am getting old but still learning new things with APP s ! I guess that is good for my brain .