View Full Version : Disney Fastpasses vs Universal Expresses
Nostromo
21-05-2004, 22:54
I don't know about the others, but for us, the FP machines in the WDW parks worked much better than the Universal UEs, although we needed the latter only in US proper and not in IoA.
The FP machines are well located, easily spotted and almost always work correctly the first time. But the UE machines are poorly located, often hard to spot (especially in IoA, although we did not need to use them) and often do not work, needing the assistance of a park steward. The 'swipe' system is annoyingly tempermental and trying to scan the bar code does not always work either. Several people had problems at one at MiB one (among others) and even the first staff member could not solve the problem; in the end, they had to call an engineer, who said privately later that they were a nuisance.
armagedon
21-05-2004, 22:59
used them for the first time when we went over a few weeks ago, can't say i found any problems with the ones at universal but must admit the ones art wdw are easier to use and quicker than having to mess with the touch screen.
they are a brilliant idea though and save so much messing in queues will definately use them to the full next time we go over.
mark
steph_goodrum
22-05-2004, 00:08
Universal were charging $25 for a booklet with fastpass to all major rides, has that now been abandoned?
John posted a while back about those passes, so they must still be doing them
They don't have a booklet, just a card for fastpass...or at IOA they did at Easter. We 'invested' in two- one each for the boys....and it was certainly money well spent. As boring parents we don't really 'do' rides so just let them take the lead....we were all done by 2pm!!
The kids got to go on all the rides they wanted, straight to the front of the queues ( and even did The Hulk twice 'cos their cards weren't marked the first time but ssshhhh, don't tell anyone that!)
We were once given a hadful of passes by the Dudley Do-Right operator in IOA. They were having trouble with the network, she was fed up with it all so she gave us the last of her bundle.
Not too sure about this system of paying for them. Seems to be creating a two tier system (will they have a separate queue for paid passes soon ?) and just adds to the cost of the park.
I always wondered why they were advertised as being free when they were first introduced !
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by mikewj
Not too sure about this system of paying for them. Seems to be creating a two tier system (will they have a separate queue for paid passes soon ?) and just adds to the cost of the park.
[/quote]
I agree with that
MrEktion
23-05-2004, 04:15
Yes you can still up front pay for one Universal Express pass for every ride My guess is with this system sooner or later it will mean the Express Queue will be equal to the normal queue.
One major downer of this scheme is it means there are less normal fast passes to be distributed and we noticed the times when all Express passes had been distributed is now lunchtime for some attractions rather than the late afternoon we had seen before the scheme was introduced.
Nostromo, did you have Orlando Flextickets that you were trying to Scan/Barcode read at US and IOA. We had major problems last time we used these as many of the Express Machines couldn't read them. We had 5 day US/IOA passes this time and they scanned first time every time!
Mr E.
huckleberry house
23-05-2004, 10:41
Just so there isnt any confusion over fast passes at I.O.A/U.S there are currently two types of pass in operation.One is the express pass which you have to pay for (around $25 per person) this gives you one ride on each attraction without queing at all and secondly there are the fastpass machines which serve most rides and are issued free but you can only have one in operation at any one time until you have either used that one fastpass or until two hours have gone since it was issued,this is the one Nostromo was referring to as you swipe your entrance ticket to get your fastpass for a particular ride.Both types of passes are only available in limited numbers each day and they do go quickly.
Lesley
steph_goodrum
23-05-2004, 11:28
Lesley
I'm sure Universal call the machine ones the Express pass. I havent seen the paid ones so I dont know what it says on them. I personally wouldnt pay for them and think it wrong that they should have this system as once you have paid your entrance money the rides are suppposed to be free and it should be up to the park operators to ensure that there is an acceptable queuing time at the rides, not just keep letting more and more in.
I hope they haven't been too successful as you can bet your life Disney have monitored it and if they think it works it will be another feature brought into their parks, all adding to the cost of the family holiday.
Just don't do what my husband did and leave a 5 day hopper ticket at the mschine on the first[msnsad]
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
23-05-2004, 12:28
Here's a link that explains all about the 2 Express passes at Universal and IOA:
http://www.park-tickets.com/UniversalExpress.aspx
Nostromo
23-05-2004, 13:39
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by MrEktion
Nostromo, did you have Orlando Flextickets that you were trying to Scan/Barcode read at US and IOA. We had major problems last time we used these as many of the Express Machines couldn't read them. We had 5 day US/IOA passes this time and they scanned first time every time!
Mr E.
[/quote]
No, we had the ordinary 2-day/2-park tickets bought from this site. Several other people, some of them with tickets that looked different from ours, had similar problems. The machines near Shrek and particularly MiB seemed to be the culprits.
Nostromo
23-05-2004, 13:48
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by cameron
Just don't do what my husband did and leave a 5 day hopper ticket at the mschine on the first[msnsad]
[/quote]
It would not have been at Tower of Terror at MGM on Sunday, 9th may by chance? On that evening, we paid a lighning extra visit to MGM (using the so far unused 7th visit facility of our 7-day hoppers) to see Fantasmic again. Since we arrived a bit earlier than expected (the show was at 9pm and not 8:30 as it had been 11 days before), my bro-in-law and I got FPs for ToT and Aerosmith and managed to do them before Fantasmic. While at ToT's FP booth, I found a 5-Day hopper left in the machine and gave it to a steward.
This is one area where UE's are better since you always hold onto them while swiping or scanning. Perhaps WDW should add a feature to their FP machines where a beeper plus a bold red LED sign warns the visitor that he/she has forgotten to retrieve the actual ticket - similar to a car's warning when one takes keys out with the lights on.
steph_goodrum
23-05-2004, 16:34
"Just don't do what my husband did and leave a 5 day hopper ticket at the mschine on the first"
If you always hold onto your receipt when you buy your tickets and happen to lose them if you go to guests services you may be able to get them replaced.
Disney told us the first time we went about 7 years ago to always do this.