Why so many different tickets?!

[LMO429]

We recently spent 5 nights at Universal.

I was just curious why they can not condense all the tickets onto your room key.

We had our room key. Then we had to have seperate tickets for city walk pass, our admission ticket and then we had to go to a kiosk to take pictures which was our express pass.

oh and then halloween horror nights/express pass (which maybe I can understand about that being separate)

what is the reason for this? there has to be a better way then having to carry around 3 different tickets everywhere you went.

 

[damo]

The hotels aren't operated by Universal, so maybe that is why?

You had a separate ticket for a Citywalk pass? Your multiday ticket includes your Citywalk pass.

 

[LMO429]

The hotels aren't operated by Universal, so maybe that is why?

You had a separate ticket for a Citywalk pass? Your multiday ticket includes your Citywalk pass.

Not this time around. There was a separate ticket for your citywalk pass..then another ticket for your admission..then another ticket for your express pass. your room key was not used for express this trip. it kinda was ridiculous all the tickets you needed.

 

[damo]

Not this time around. There was a separate ticket for your citywalk pass..then another ticket for your admission..then another ticket for your express pass. your room key was not used for express this trip. it kinda was ridiculous all the tickets you needed.

That must be new, then. The Citywalk pass has always been part of the multi-day ticket. Ya, that makes no sense whatsoever.


The new express pass was implemented to stop misuse. I'd rather they do that then discontinue the perk.

 

[patster734]

That must be new, then. The Citywalk pass has always been part of the multi-day ticket. Ya, that makes no sense whatsoever.


The new express pass was implemented to stop misuse. I'd rather they do that then discontinue the perk.

I don't think Universal would ever discontinue that perk. The day they discontinue it, Loews would face massive cancellations of their Universal hotels, and would have to lower prices significantly to keep customers.

And I find the implementation of the new express pass system rather silly. In an age where companies are moving from paper documents to electronic documents to save on the cost of paper, the idea of requiring customers to get an additional paper ticket for express pass is backwards thinking in my opinion. If they're that concerned with misuse, just add the picture to the roomkey.

 

[macraven]

i haven't found it an inconvenience in separate tickets.

i have my ap, express id card as the basics i need for the parks.



same way when i am at the motherland.
room key, passes are separate cards.

 

[bumbershoot]

i haven't found it an inconvenience in separate tickets.

Neither have I, but I started with Disneyland before they had "Keys to the Magic". Back then you had your room keycard, a weird-sized paper slip to give you permission to charge to the room and get in for Magic Morning, and then whatever ticket/tickets you might need for the parks/extra things (though back then they didn't have the Halloween party at Disneyland).

Universal feels like home to me b/c of that, LOL. Though I've never needed the Citywalk pass as we don't do anything in the evening there (and so far have only been to Margaritaville, their awful Starbucks, and took shelter from a storm in a clothing shop) so I don't have that. And I haven't yet gotten the separate Express Pass. Someday, hopefully this year! (otherwise renewing our APs was a silly move, LOL)

 

[SammySlythers]

The paper photo express passes started as a stopgap measure to cut down on the extreme abuse of the old system. People used to stand outside the front gates on their last day and sell their roomkeys for $5 less than what the express passes were going for that day - Universal was losing a lot of money from it so they implemented the photo passes to stop it. I don't know why they don't switch to printing the pictures on the room keys. Maybe because of the new resort being 'value' and not having the same benefits they wanted a different pass for the unlimited express the nicer hotels get?

It does stink having to carry so many pieces with you, but I'm sure Universal is making bank on lanyard sales now. The only thing that really annoys me about it is there are certain lazy TMs and certain areas of the resort that don't do their jobs properly and inform guests about this policy where they could easily print their express. Instead the guests get all the way to the front of an attraction and the nice TMs doing their jobs properly get screamed at.

 

[macraven]

when i checked into the onsite hotel in october, my information packet from the front desk, had the info in it about obtaining the picture id pass.

i was also directed to the kiosk in the hotel to have it processed.

also informed if the pass is lost, it can be replaced at guest services in the park.

 

[bumbershoot]

when i checked into the onsite hotel in october, my information packet from the front desk, had the info in it about obtaining the picture id pass.

You're such a good person, to read the stuff they give you immediately.

 

[macraven]

 

[pokee99]

The paper photo express passes started as a stopgap measure to cut down on the extreme abuse of the old system. People used to stand outside the front gates on their last day and sell their roomkeys for $5 less than what the express passes were going for that day - Universal was losing a lot of money from it so they implemented the photo passes to stop it.

Holy crap - really? I can't believe people would have the stones to participate in something so blatantly fraudulent! And I was worried that I would be doing something wrong by staying onsite for one night and really not staying there at all (just paying for the one night to get the cheaper express passes for 2 days).

I guess that's the same thing that people are doing at DL with the hopper passes and why DL now has a special line for 4 and 5 day passholders where they have to show ID with their pass. Lots of people were complaining about that because sometimes children have no picture ID. Maybe photo passes are in order there, too...

 

[indimom]

when i checked into the onsite hotel in october, my information packet from the front desk, had the info in it about obtaining the picture id pass.

i was also directed to the kiosk in the hotel to have it processed.

also informed if the pass is lost, it can be replaced at guest services in the park.

Ooh, that's good to know. When we went in 2008, my niece lost hers on Disaster first thing the morning and we had to go all the way back to the hotel to get it replaced.
We're going back next summer (booked yesterday, yippee!) and I can't wait! Love, Love, Love USF, IOA, RPR, and the Express Pass.

 

[macraven]

i saw the kiosk machine inside guest services.
can't miss it.

 

[dls881]

We'll be in Universal for the first time in about 20 years.

What is the City Walk pass?

 

[damo]

We'll be in Universal for the first time in about 20 years.

What is the City Walk pass?

It is for the cover charge if you go into the restaurants/clubs later at night. The price is included in your multi-day ticket.

 

[patster734]

So silly question time: If this system is designed to cut down on misuse, but kiosks are located at guest services at each park, what prevents someone from buying/getting a room key and using it to get an express pass with their picture on it at the guest services' kiosks? Is there someone checking ids at the guest services kiosks?

 

[damo]

So silly question time: If this system is designed to cut down on misuse, but kiosks are located at guest services at each park, what prevents someone from buying/getting a room key and using it to get an express pass with their picture on it at the guest services' kiosks? Is there someone checking ids at the guest services kiosks?

I heard that if you are replacing a lost card, it has to be done through Guest Services as the previous one has to be cancelled. I would imagine they check IDs then. So unless an express pass was never made, ID would need to be shown to get a replacement express pass card.

 

[patster734]

I heard that if you are replacing a lost card, it has to be done through Guest Services as the previous one has to be cancelled. I would imagine they check IDs then. So unless an express pass was never made, ID would need to be shown to get a replacement express pass card.

Ok. Hopefully that's how it works. I almost had to test the process out last month when my express pass got wet when water had seeped into my lanyard from the persistant rain. Fortunately, it still worked and so I didn't need a replacement.

 

[*LittleMermaid*]

The Citywalk party pass is a separate ticket if you book a vacation package. They include a complimentary Citywalk Party Pass with every Universal Park and Resorts Vacation package. Yes, multiday tickets include Citywalk but single day tickets do not.