Universal Express Plus Pass

[dizzyc]

I've been thinking about buying these passes but wondered if they are cheaper to buy in the park on the day? I will be going right at the start of school summer hols (July 09) so I'm anticipating it will be really busy - my itinerary so far has US on the Saturday & IOA on the Monday, the cost for Saturday is $45.99 each & for the Monday is $35.99 each which is a total of $246 for the three of us (approx £130).

I begrudge paying over £100 to be able to get on the rides quicker and we don't mind queuing for 30/40 minutes for each ride - I read that you can buy these passes in the park so I was thinking I would wait till we are there and see how busy it is. Does anyone know how much they cost to buy on the day? (in high season).

I have already rang Virgin to see how much extra it would cost to stay on-site for a couple of nights but they wanted an extra £400!!

Are the queues longer than an hour in high season? We would be at the park by 9am each morning and are not in a rush to leave as my kids are old enough to cope until 9/10pm, could I manage without these passes?

[cherry pie]

its no cheaper to buy them in the parks. but if you book 1 night at a universal hotel yu get 2 days of the pass which is unlimited, where as if you by it you only get 1 ride per attraction KWIM?

[SpiderFadge]

I have already rang Virgin to see how much extra it would cost to stay on-site for a couple of nights but they wanted an extra £400!!



Try booking direct with universal. We're staying 1 night in August which gives the 2 days FOTL pass, for approx £130. The benefits of unlimited FOTL speak for themselves but don't forget the Universal hotels are of a very high standard and just strolling back at night to have a beer or 2 adds to the whole experience.

[Vabeth]

I'd book a room direct with Universal! One nights stay gets you 2 days unimited FOTL access, unlike the Express Passes that can only be used once per ride! :wave:

[dizzyc]

I'm already doing a split holiday (8 nights on I-Drive & 8 night at WDW) and now I've had time to think about it I don't really fancy the idea of moving a 3rd time!! Is it possible to book the room but not actually stay there?

[SpiderFadge]

I'm already doing a split holiday (8 nights on I-Drive & 8 night at WDW) and now I've had time to think about it I don't really fancy the idea of moving a 3rd time!! Is it possible to book the room but not actually stay there?

Absolutely it is! Just check as early as poss, collect your room cards (which act as your FOTL pass) and away you go :spin:

[dizzyc]

Absolutely it is! Just check as early as poss, collect your room cards (which act as your FOTL pass) and away you go :spin:

I've just checked the Universal website and there's no availability for the dates I want - maybe it's too far in advance, but I also tried dates for July this year to get an idea on prices and it showed no availablity for one night but if I put two nights in it's available:confused2 The total cost was $518 dollars. I might wait a while then & see if availability comes up nearer the time for one night only - I like the idea of being able to go on the rides quicker more than once so if the price is right & dates become available I will book a room but not actually stay there.

[Flo]

You wouldn't need to move to stay there you could just take a small bag from your other accommodation with a change of clothes etc. If you were going to use 2 days FOTL then you might as well get full value by staying over the night and not travelling back and fore your other accommodation.

[Vabeth]

You wouldn't need to move to stay there you could just take a small bag from your other accommodation with a change of clothes etc. If you were going to use 2 days FOTL then you might as well get full value by staying over the night and not travelling back and fore your other accommodation.

That's exactly what we do!
We just pack an overnight bag and leave everything else at our main hotel! The Universal hotels are so lovely it really would be a shame not to make full use of the room! :wave:

[Flo]

We were going to do this and then I found out that I could book a split stay with Virgin with Tesco deals so we are now staying for the first 3 nights at HRH and then on to Disney.

[dizzyc]

You wouldn't need to move to stay there you could just take a small bag from your other accommodation with a change of clothes etc. If you were going to use 2 days FOTL then you might as well get full value by staying over the night and not travelling back and fore your other accommodation.

That's a really good idea, if I'm gonna pay for the room I should use it - If I manage to book I will take an overnight bag & just take my valuables with me (money/camera etc). Does anyone know how early you can check in? Could I turn up at 8.30am so that I can get into the park first thing? And would I just leave the overnight bag with them at reception until I returned later on in the evening? Sorry to ask so many questions!!

[Vabeth]

That's a really good idea, if I'm gonna pay for the room I should use it - If I manage to book I will take an overnight bag & just take my valuables with me (money/camera etc). Does anyone know how early you can check in? Could I turn up at 8.30am so that I can get into the park first thing? And would I just leave the overnight bag with them at reception until I returned later on in the evening? Sorry to ask so many questions!!

Yep, you can check in as early as you like and if your room isn't ready they will look after your bags for you! :wave:

[alexisemma31]

We bought the express passes last year, and begrudged paying every penny of it.

However, after a day in IOA with every ride over an hour wait we didn't really have a choice. The next day was great, just walked onto each ride (after buying the express passes) . But I felt like we had wasted a day of our holiday.

This year we are going to stay overnight at one of the Universal hotels, just to get FOTL.:wavey:

[OrlandoLover]

We were going to do this and then I found out that I could book a split stay with Virgin with Tesco deals so we are now staying for the first 3 nights at HRH and then on to Disney.


Hi Flo, hope you don't mind me asking but how much did they charge and how many days are you in disney for? Just trying to get an idea of what it'll cost me. Was £3465 the price that you have paid in your signature? If so how many people are in your party

[Saratoska]

we have went July last couple of years and felt IOA was the busiest with long waits for Spiderman etc but tbh we thought US wasn't that busy 15-30 minutes for nearly all the rides apart from MIB which was 60 minutes

[dizzyc]

I've decided I will book one night at a hotel on-site but I've got one further question - can you add your ticket to your room key like you do at Disney? I'll be buying my tickets soon but I think it's just an e-mail receipt that I will get - do I have to change this at the park or can they add it to the key?