Changes to Universal resort guests "front of the line" access
About This Page:

Shell_of_the_South · 07-07-2004, 07:14 PM

I have read on another board that Universal has changed their policy for resort guests who use their room key to get "front of the line" access, or Express pass, as Universal calls it. Supposedly during peak times resort guests can only use their room keys one time before 3 p.m. on major attractions. After 3 p.m. resort guests will have unlimited express pass as before.

I cannot verify the accuracy of this info. Many people had reportedly contacted Universal and got conflicting information.

If you plan to stay at a Universal resort and are unhappy with this change, I suggest you let Universal know how you feel. It could make a difference if the powers that be know that potential resort guests are unhappy and could change their plans.

Universal Orlando® Resort:

1000 Universal Studios Plaza

Orlando, Florida 32819-7610

Email: guestservices@universalorlando.com

Guest Services – (407) 224-6350

Portofino Bay Hotel

5601 Universal Blvd

Orlando, FL 32819

Phone: 407-503-1000

Fax: 407-503-1010

Hard Rock Hotel

5800 Universal Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32819

Phone: 407-503-ROCK (7625)

Fax: 407-503-ROLL (7655)

Royal Pacific Resort

6300 Hollywood Way

Orlando, FL 32819

Phone: 407-503-3000

Fax: 407-503-3010

Update 7/8/04 - I phoned Universal guest services, and they did verify that this change is true. It went into effect 7/4/04.

**HiddenMickey** · 07-08-2004, 09:37 AM

From what I understand, this is valid through July (but could possibly last longer). As someone who is planning a trip to Universal in the next year, you can bet I'll be keeping my eye on the outcome of this decision.

-HiddenMickey

Annabel · 07-08-2004, 10:06 AM

[ QUOTE ]
resort guests can only use their room keys one time before 3 p.m. on major attractions

[/ QUOTE ]

how could they check that you've been on other attractions tho?

If they do change it so resort guests cannot enjoy front of the line access as hubby and I have certainly done in the past, they will see the numbers drop of people staying at their hotels for one or two nights I think. That's the major reason we stay there - how else can hubby get his five/six goes on Hulk one after the other

Annabel

Tinkergirl · 07-08-2004, 10:33 AM

Could be wrong but doesn't it just seem like they are really testing out and trying to "beat" WDW in that area?

Shell_of_the_South · 07-08-2004, 11:45 AM

Let me clarify: Resort guests will be able to use their room key to enter the Express pass line (Universal's version of Fastpass) one time per attraction on major attractions before 3:00 p.m. After 3:00 p.m. you can enter each attraction's Express pass line as many times as you like.

For somebody who loved to ride MIB, the Hulk, and Spiderman over and over with no wait, this is quite disapointing. We are rethinking our plans for next year of staying in a Universal resort. To me, you could stay off-site and get an Express pass for the attractions you don't want to wait in line for and have a similar experience as resort guests do. In the evening the crowds slim down at Universal anyway. So I don't see the big advantage to staying onsite with less opportunities to use your "front of the line" pass/room key.

I've sent emails to Universal's guest service and I'm mailing a letter via snail mail today. I will let you know what I find out!

Teddysmom · 07-09-2004, 11:13 AM

How disapointing. This was the major reason I was considering visiting here. I will email them this as well. Thanks Michelle. You are always so great with the Universal info!

Annabel · 07-09-2004, 06:23 PM

I too will email as I feel that strongly about it.

Annabel

**Luvsun** · 07-09-2004, 10:31 PM

Hi everyone! I have not been on in so long - and one of the reasons is that we just returned from a small vacation in the Tampa area - during which we traveled to Orlando and stayed at the Royal Pacific Resort on Universal studio property. The reason I chose an on-site resort was for the very reason you guys are discussing. I have only been home two days and I can tell you that we used our hotel key every single time to go to the front of the line - and it is GREAT! Our middle son (age 20) who went with us got on the HULK roller coaster 4 consecutive times - and they never once told him he could not use the hotel express line. We went on rides more than once (Jurassic Park, dueling roller coasters, Spiderman)and they never questioned any of us. Now - I must tell you - now that I have been there - I have decided once is enough for me. I am so spoiled with WDW - there is no place like WDW for me! The resort was beautiful and I would not hesitate to stay there again, or any of the on-site hotels! But if you are not going to the parks or city walk - I am not sure why you would stay that close. The Royal Pacific has the same type of feel as the Poly. Of course - I still prefer the Poly! The parks are geared towards a more 10 and up age group. They do have places in both parks for the younger ages - but on the whole, I believe that Universal is trying to reach the teens and older. But if it is any help to any of you traveling there - definitely stay at a Universal resort and take advantage of the hotel key - it is very much worth the extra $$ you spend. We all agreed that staying there was great - but it was even better because of being able to go to the head of the line! The longest we had to wait for any ride (it was Spiderman) was about 10 minutes. And now - I am planning my next WDW vacation! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Annabel · 07-09-2004, 11:33 PM

Hiya

Glad to hear you had a great time. Hubby and I love front of the line access - and staying at the Hard Rock Hotel is an amazing experience. I really hope that they stick to letting hotel guests use their room keys to get on rides. Enjoy your planning for your trip to WDW - I love planning too.

Annabel

LisaJ · 07-10-2004, 07:42 AM

I think that the Universal area resorts are quite expensive, and would only book them if I could get to the front of the line. What a perk!!

However...

If they are going to take that away, or change it as you all are pointing out, I would have to consider staying "off-site".

greystone98 · 07-10-2004, 10:56 AM

Well, as I've said many times before, we absolutely LOVE Universal and wouldn't consider a trip to Orlando without visiting. We've stayed at Royal Pacific our last two times and love the resort, the transportation directly to CityWalk, and the front of the line access.

Were this to change, would we change our plans? We'd still have to go to Universal, but we might consider a less expensive lodging alternative. Glad you didn't experience not being able to ride the rides over and over again.

Shell_of_the_South · 07-26-2004, 03:05 PM

I got a letter in the mail today in response to the letter I mailed to Universal Orlando. The letter is from Bob Gault, Jr., President & Chief Executive Officer (or his secretary!). But the signature appears to be that of a busy man - you know the hurried signature you can't read.

Here is basically what his letter said:

"This restriction is for one ride per attraction until 3:00 p.m. and only during limited peak periods throughout the year, this to properly serve all of our paying guests. I'm sure you will agree that this is still a major convenience for our resort guests and I hope you will stay with us again."

The bold words were underlined in the letter.

I don't know what "peak periods" mean, but this letter does make me feel better. We're planning another Universal trip next year, and I hope we can plan it around these "peak periods" and get as much FOTL access as we want!

RobDVC · 07-26-2004, 04:09 PM

I'm sure they were getting quite a few comments from daily visitors about "I've been standing in this line for an hour, and I must have seen this one person go in the express line 6 times." I'm sure there are quite a few people "abusing" the privelege.... Heck, if I stayed there and had that privelege, I know I would abuse it for some of the rides too....Who Wouldn't?

Shell_of_the_South · 07-26-2004, 04:18 PM

I'm not sure there was a policy to "abuse". Resort guests could enter the Express line as many times as they wanted as long as they showed their room key. I know we had to show a room key for each person and an employee scanned the cards to make sure they were valid, so it would have been hard to sneak in that line without either a valid room key or a valid express pass.

RobDVC · 07-26-2004, 05:31 PM

Agree, it's really not an "abuse", which is why we both put it in quotes. I just think they want to avoid people taking too much advantage of the situation on their most crowded days... I'm sure the frustration level in the stand-by lines is near the boiling point on a typical peak day, then to just add salt to the wounds by seeing somebody get on the ride 4-5 times before you even get on it once probably caused a few tense situations....