Free Universal Express passes going away?

[BarryH]

Well, I've been hearing rumors of the free Universal Express passes going away at Universal Orlando. I visited Universal on 12/27 and 12/29. The Universal Express pass machines never opened, even when the lines for the rides were reaching 75-90 minutes. Personally, I doubt they will ever open again.

 

I know some people are crying fowl, but I thought back to the last time I used the free Express passes was at least a year ago, if that. Sometimes I'd pick up a Caro-seuss-sel Universal Express pass as a joke. I usually arrive early and ride what I want, or use the single riders line.

 

Universal still has the paid Universal Express Plus passes and the Express pass for onsite guests. If you want to use the paid Express option, consider staying onsite instead. I stood behind a group of 7 people at Guest Services and they were buying the Universal Express Plus passes. Their total was $500 for two days worth of Express Plus passes! For that amount, they could have gotten two onsite hotel rooms at the Royal Pacific. If they checked in at 7 am on their arrival date, they could use their room keys as Express Plus passes and also would have had a place to stay.

 

I don't really see eliminating the free Express passes really affecting attendance. Heck, Sea World and Busch Gardens don't use any type of Fastpass system and people still queue up for their rides!

[YoshiFan]

When I was there 2 years ago during that same week, the only machine that I saw all day that had passes available was for Terminator. Everything else was gone for the day and that was at around 10:00 a.m. (when I got to the park). Based on that, it sounds like the free pases were very limited anyway so I can understand if they did get rid of them.

[CoasterCrazy]

When I went to the parks on Xmas eve and Xmas the Universal Express Pass machines didn't open. However, I didn't care that much since I bought a Express Pass while I was buying my tickets.

[coaster05]

To me it seemed a lot more confusing then Disney's system. When I was there on my honeymoon it was the first time I had used fastpass at any park and Disney's made perfect sense. Then I went to IOA and I could not tell if they had a free system or just a pay system. I am sure I was not the only one so I will not miss a loss of their express system.

[RCTfan]

When I visited Universal back in July, I used them a few times. We got some for Hulk and Dudley Doo-Right Saw Falls. It helped on Hulk but not really the Falls. It rained for like an hour or so then stopped. The park was empty following the downpour.

 

I found it convient but it was confusing to use at first. I think its stupid to pay for the Express Passes, especially like $30 per park or whatever it is. Its like $10 or $15 at the Six Flags with Q-Bot, isn't it?

[SharkTums]

^To be fair, the Universal Express (which ranges in price from $15 - $30 per park depending on season) should be compared with the Gold Qbot (ranges from $20 - $25 per person)

 

So they're actually quite similar.

[haiderodes]

There were two things i liked about the free express system...

 

1. It gave you the option to pick the time you wanted to experience the attraction.

 

2. They grouped various rides at certain terminals meaning you didn't have to go all the way to that attraction to get the passes.

 

That said, in the end it doesnt really matter to me. Yes it could be a convenience, but if things are operating at an efficient level then they arent necessary anyway.

[YoshiFan]

I wish Gold Q-Bots at Great Adventure were that cheap. For 1 person it's $68, 2 people $101, 3 people $134 etc.

[socalMAN123]

Wow, I'm really surprised at this. I wish they did this at USH, but yet again, who would pay money to stay in some probably really low quality motel that is sponsored by the park, just to get the Express ride access?!

---Brent 8)