What is up with the express pass?

[BRIANSMOM]

I just returned from Universal and was very disappointed with the express passes. We were at the park around 9:30am and when we asked about the extra pass to get on to the rides quicker, they were SOLD OUT. When we tried to use our tickets to get a time to come back and ride some rides, the passes were distributed for the day. This was early in the am. What is the deal with this. I have never seen Disney have this problem. We went there too and although it was packed, we were able to get fast passes for everything we wanted to ride.
At IOA/US the lines were over 90 minutes long for everything and we did not get to do all we wanted. We did the 2 park one day because we did other things on different days while we were there. I am planning a trip for US in 2 years to give my self a break and was wondering what is the best way to stay onsite at US for less money. We go there to Orlando every year, but next year we will only go to Pensacola, the beach really impressed me, so I am starting now on gathering info for 2006 to stay onsite at US. Do they have a plan like disney to "layaway" not sure if that is what you call it, but you can put money down each month on your trip with disney.

I was very disappointed in US/IOA and next time want to be better prepared. The last time we went to IOA only, it was not this bad.
Any suggestions?

 

[eyecndi]

If you are going to buy the Express Pass Plus, my best suggestion would be to pre order it. Everytime I have gone, they are sold out. It doesn't matter what time you get there it appears.

 

[BRIANSMOM]

Thanks for the info. But why can't you get a pass with you ticket like at disney? Those were distributed as well for the day.

 

[eyecndi]

You are talking about something totally different.

The Express Pass plus is something that you buy to get to the FOTL.

They do have Express Passes for free like Disney that you get and pick a time on. You do run the risk of all the time slots filling up and them not distributing them anymore.

 

[MrNonacho]

Originally posted by BRIANSMOM
Thanks for the info. But why can't you get a pass with you ticket like at disney? Those were distributed as well for the day.

The attractions' Express lines can only handle so many people. With many people using their room keys or purchased Express tickets, the free method is the one that gets cut back. This is done by having less tickets available at the machines.

Disney doesn't offer Fastpass access for on site guests, nor do they sell booklets of tickets. This means that the Fastpass machines can give out a good deal more tickets without the return lines backing up as much.

 

[buzz2400]

We have found that you have to get to Universal as soon as it opens get a fast pass for jimmy neutron and go to shrek. As soon as this is over go to jimmy neutron and then head over to mummy. then do the remainder of the park. at ioa you have get there as soon as opens, get fast pass for hulk, ride spiderman, and then use fp for hulk, then you have to get fp for either flume ride (can't remember exact name) or popeye ride and then wait a long time in the other.

 

[Slacking]

Nobody mentioned this, but it is very hard to see everything in both parks in one day, especially during these crowded summer months. And also, for Universal's Express pass distribution, many passes are limited due to the hotel guest privelege, and express pass plus. Since Disney doesn't have these perks, they're able to distribute more passes.

 

[2BigKIdz]

The week of July 12 we bought express passes on 2 separate days once arriving at the parks, one day it was really late, about noon when we arrived. Most of the free passes were already taken. The lines were very long during this time. I guess we just got lucky that the passes were not sold out. There were a lot of people using them, maybe their popularity is rising.

 

[TiggerInNY]

Hi,

A friend of mine was just asking me about the Express Pass plus. How much does it cost? Is that cost above and beyond purchasing regular admission tickets? And, can you explain it a little better....like what the benefits of having it is?

Thanks. I know someone on these boards will have the answers.

TTFN,
Maria

 

[TiggerInNY]

bump

 

[phamton]

The cost is based on how crowded it is. They range in price between $15-30.

The advantage is you have a booklet for an express pass for every ride and show except Pteranodon Flyers. There is no time that you have to use them so you don't have to wait 2 hours like you have to do to get a second express pass. You could hit MIB at 10:00, BTTF at 10:15, Jaws at 10:30, etc.

The disadvantage, besides the cost, is the booklet doesn't include both parks. One booklet is for IoA and another for US. So if you are going to both parks, you have to purchase two booklets to use in two parks.

 

[TiggerInNY]

Phamtom,

Thank you for your reply. That helps a lot. I will tell my friend who is leaving on the 11th.

Thanks again.

TTFN,
Maria

 

[d4est]

Originally posted by BRIANSMOM
I am planning a trip for US in 2 years to give my self a break and was wondering what is the best way to stay onsite at US for less money. We go there to Orlando every year, but next year we will only go to Pensacola, the beach really impressed me, so I am starting now on gathering info for 2006 to stay onsite at US. Do they have a plan like disney to "layaway" not sure if that is what you call it, but you can put money down each month on your trip with disney.

I don't know about a "layaway" plan, but here is what I am doing for our trip in Feb '05. I have already purchased the 5 day for the price of 2 (2 park passes) passes for me, DH, and DS. They were 89.95 (kraft offer, no longer available, but there is another). You can get them at universalorlando.com (ticket store). It came to 279 for the 3 of us. Good deal if you ask me, and we can take our time at both parks since they are good for 5 days. ***tix don't have an exp date until you activate them, so you can safely buy them in advance.

I have made our ressies for RPR at 234/night. Expensive, but am counting on discount codes to come available (AAA, ENT, FAN) so that I can get it down well under 200/night.

I am carefully watching airlines to get a good deal on flights too. I won't buy until I can get them for under 200/person with taxes, fees included.

I figure if I take care of as much as I can over several months, it will be like a layaway plan.

HTH!!

 

[seashoreCM]

I have avoided visiting Universal because of the difficulty of getting express passes.

I really think that Front of the Line for hotel guests is out of control, it should be limited. There are only so many riders that a ride can take all day, and with so many "places" taken by hotel guests, there isn't much left for day guests.

Maybe another way of putting it is that Universal just doesn't have enough attractions.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/fastpass.htm