Fast Passes? About This Page:

[OrlandoFalcon]

Hi. I was wondering if Universal/IOA still has the fast pass kioskes(sp?) that allow you to swipe your park ticket? I heard they discontinued them, and now try to sell them to you.
thanks.

[Shell_of_the_South]

Welcome OrlandoFalcon to the Universal forums and the Passporter boards!

That's correct. Express Passes are no longer free. You can purchase them pretty much anywhere at the parks. Prices vary depending on the day you are visiting.

[Loretta Lowerison]

Welcome to the boards. I paid about $30 per person for the Universal Express in June. Which let us went into the express line once for each ride. I didn't enjoyed the fact that I spend extra money which I can only use once on each ride. I didn't really enjoyed it as the lines are almost the same. When Posiden broke down, the staff asked us to left via the back exits and said come back in a later time. Which we did, not able to get back into the express line because we have use it the last time.
They also sell the unlimited Universal express for both parks for one day for $149.99. Which I find is not worth it.

[OrlandoFalcon]

Thanks guys. I called em up, and the said the prices vary between $25-60 *gulp*. On the day we're going its $40. I think we'll do it, otherwise the entire day will be spent in lines. They told me that the Express Pass line is supposed to be about 15 minutes. I'll check back in afterwards to let yall know if its worth it.

[Shell_of_the_South]

When are you going? And how many people in your party? If there are 4 or more, you might do just as well to book a room at one of Universal's onsite resorts. This would give you unlimited entry to all Express lines for the length of your stay, better known as "front of the line" access. One night's stay would actually give you 2 days of "front of the line". We check in early before the parks open. Even though our rooms aren't ready we can get our room keys and head to the parks. Then they are good most of the day on the day you check out. Just show your room key to the ride attendant and they will direct you to the Express Pass line. Just another option to consider!

But definitely let us know your decision and how it turns out!

[LoriNSC]

My opinion-I wouldn't buy them. We just went June 28th-July 5th. Yes-it was during a holiday & was really only VERY crowded on the 4th. We didn't waste the extra money on the express passes & was able to ride everything we wanted more than once. Yea-you stand in line a little longer but I couldn't see forking out the extra $$$. We found better ways to spend that $$$ in Florida!!! And-we still had a great time at Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure. Just my opinion though...

[OrlandoFalcon]

Originally Posted by Shell_of_the_South

When are you going? And how many people in your party? If there are 4 or more, you might do just as well to book a room at one of Universal's onsite resorts. This would give you unlimited entry to all Express lines for the length of your stay, better known as "front of the line" access. One night's stay would actually give you 2 days of "front of the line". We check in early before the parks open. Even though our rooms aren't ready we can get our room keys and head to the parks. Then they are good most of the day on the day you check out. Just show your room key to the ride atteback and they will direct you to the Express Pass line. Just another option to consider!

But definitely let us know your decision and how it turns out!

Its 4 adults , 3 kids, and 2 under 3's. I live here in Orlando, and my friends will stay in my guest house. I will give you guys feedback when the day is done.

[Sue M.]

For pretty much the same price you could vacation in your home town & spend a night at The Royal Pacific or Hard Rock for the same price as buying the express passes. You can get a AAA discount at the hotels too.
We're spending a night at the Hard Rock for the 2 days of unlimited express pass perk!

[OrlandoFalcon]

Originally Posted by Sue M.

For pretty much the same price you could vacation in your home town & spend a night at The Royal Pacific or Hard Rock for the same price as buying the express passes. You can get a AAA discount at the hotels too.
We're spending a night at the Hard Rock for the 2 days of unlimited express pass perk!

Yeah, but its a family of 4 and a family of 5. We'd have to have 2 rooms, pack, and haul babies around, then have to eat at restaurants on top of it. Seeing as I live 20 minutes from the Parks, that wouldnt really make sense for us.
I got one of those blue tickets in the mail from Universal. It gives me a free ticket, and allows me to buy up to 6 @ $49.95, so its a good deal to start with.

I am talking to couple of folks, I got responses from Craigs List from, about getting a "hook up". I suspect they are employees. They say they can provide me with these Fast Passes for much less, and say they are willing to meet us, and go in the park to show they work.
As I said, I'll give yall the results. Hopefully it works out, and I can help someone else here have a nicer experience.

[Sue M.]

Hope it all works out. never thought of going on Craigs list!! Looking forward to hearing how it worked. Have a great time.

[DDuff]

Reminder that the passes you purchase only get you one ride on the major rides unlike staying on-site which gives you unlimited. I saw several very upset riders on our last trip to USF/IOA. Single rider is usually a good option as well.

[OrlandoFalcon]

Originally Posted by Sue M.

Hope it all works out. never thought of going on Craigs list!! Looking forward to hearing how it worked. Have a great time.

Yeah, the Orlando Craigslist is a good place to get deals on Orlando tickets.

[tinker_me_happy]

I want to stay one night in May of 2009 for the express pass but it looks like all hotels are not available at this time. I am hoping that means that they are just not booking all rooms, and not that they are all full! BUT there are only two of us, and if we can not get a room we are going to try and do 2 parks in one day using the single rider lines. We did buy the express pass for around $35 each last year, but didn't go on some rides and wanted to do others twice, so I don't think I want to spend the extra money like that again. I'd rather spend money on a nice room and have an open ended option. I am holding out hope that a room will become available for the night I want it though!!

[Disney Franatic]

My DD and her family were just there last week. They bought the fast passes at US and said they were a complete waste of money. Since they didn't use them at all at US, she asked if they could trade them in to use them the next day and were told no. She went to I of A the 2nd day and did just fine without buying them for that park.

[OrlandoFalcon]

Originally Posted by Disney Franatic

My DD and her family were just there last week. They bought the fast passes at US and said they were a complete waste of money. Since they didn't use them at all at US, she asked if they could trade them in to use them the next day and were told no. She went to I of A the 2nd day and did just fine without buying them for that park.

Hmm. Well, like I said, I havent been since they started selling them. I know when they were free, it made a world of difference. It would get me on Spiderman in 20 minutes when the quote time was 70 minutes.
I did find someone on craigslist that gets the unlimited, all day Fast Passes for free(she has a medical condition, so they give them to her). She is going to charge us $15 ea. I figure it cant hurt. I am spoiled, I won't stand in line more than 30 minutes to ride anything.