Universal Orlando: Universal Express℠ Passes

This spring break, my family visited Universal Orlando. While we have been to Disney many times as a family it was my daughter's first visit to Universal and the first trip since 2000 for my husband and I.

The last time my husband and I had been to Universal Orlando was when they were testing the idea of how to expedite the lines. At the time of our visit, they were giving out handwritten paper passes similar to Disney's Fast Passes to return at a specified time to ride the ride. Basically the passes were distributed from a folding table across from the line entrance and they were logging them in a paper notebook.  I remember we were able to sign-up for a pass for Jurassic Park and use the expedited line 15 minutes after getting our pass despite the 40 minute line at the time.

Since that time, Universal Orlando has adopted the Universal Express℠ system which provides "front of the line" access for most rides (only Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ and Jurassic Park Pteranodon Flyers® are currently excluded). They have two varieties of Universal Express - Standard which is valid for once per ride and can be purchased for either park or both parks and Universal Express - Unlimited which is valid for unlimited times per ride across both parks. Currently unlimited Universal Express℠ is free to Universal Orlando Resort guests*.

Universal Express℠ is an additional cost if you do not stay on site. The cost varies based on projected crowd levels that day. So if you are visiting at a crowded time of year when the pass will be more. We were there the Thursday/Friday before Easter and a one time use pass would have been $89.99/person each day. Since we were visiting at a busy time of year, we felt that Universal Express℠ was going to be a requirement and decided to stay on site since it was less expensive than staying off-site and buying a one-day front of the line pass for three people. We stayed two nights at the Loews Royal Pacific hotel. Hotel guests also receive one hour early admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This was key for us as we arrived 30 minutes prior to regular opening and waited 45 minutes to ride. When we exited the ride the line was 90 minutes long and quickly rose to over 2 hours where it stayed most of the day. We did get in line at 11p with another 45 minute wait to ride it again (we rested mid-day).

Look for this
Symbol

With Universal Express℠, you use a separate ride entrance that has a shorter queue. On some rides the Express entrance has its own loading area, on others it merges with the regular line near the loading area. We are very glad that we stayed onsite. While we still waited 15-30 minutes for many rides with the Express pass, some had upwards of 2 hour waits without the pass. We probably saved an average of one hour per ride. It definitely helped us finish both parks in 1.5 days.

Disclaimer: I am an iTunes affiliate and am compensated for sales through iTunes links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links. Please verify app prices as they can change frequently.

A good way to judge predicted crowd levels is to look at the daily pricing of Universal Express℠. While we were at Universal Orlando, we used Universal Orlando Maps Free by VersaEdge Software, LLC for our iPhones to find ride wait times. We found it to be reasonably accurate in wait times (The wait times are user submitted, so I would submit wait times as well.). The paid version ($1.99 currently), Universal Orlando Maps, is the same app but without ads which leads to more visible space on the map. They also offer the Universal Orlando Magic Guide (currently $3.99) which adds food and dining information to the paid program. You do not need to be in the parks to see wait times, so you could download the program before your trip to see what typical wait times are like and decide if you want Universal Express℠.



*Currently Universal Orlando has three resorts - Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel®, and Loews Royal Pacific which are all deluxe resorts. In 2014, they are opening a moderate resort, Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Universal Express℠ will only be provided free to the deluxe resort guests. Guests at all resort levels will receive one hour early admission to Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Universal Orlando: Lockers

Universal Orlando Lockers - by ffg on Flickr -
Used under Creative Commons Attribution License

Many rides at the Universal Orlando parks do not allow you to bring any loose objects on board (purses, water bottles, backpacks,hats, sunglasses, souvenir bags, etc). Fortunately, Universal provides complimentary lockers at these rides so you do not have to try to spend a day in the parks without any of these items.

Lockers are located near the start of the line queue and provide a limited time for FREE. Since we stayed on site and had the Universal Express front of the line pass, the complimentary time was sufficient. Lockers are locked and unlocked by fingerprint at touch screen kiosks located in the locker bays. Be sure to remember your locker number for when you return.

We visited at one of the busiest times of year (the Thursday/Friday before Easter). There were sufficient lockers at each ride, although once or twice we had to find which section of lockers still had them available. With the crowds, there was often a line of 2-3 people at the kiosk to rent or open your locker

Now for the two downsides of the locker rental:

Be the Mean Mom/Dad
If your child is anything like mine, they will think the locker fingerprint is cool and beg to be the one to do the locker. I'm warning you now, don't give in like I did. Stay strong, be the Mean Mom (or dad) and don't let them. Why do you have to be the mean parent? Because it won't work with a kids fingerprint. It will let you think it has worked by processing the fingerprint and unlocking your locker. But, when you return it will not open. You will have to search out an attendant and have them unlock your locker through their touch screen. We had this problem with my daughter and when we found the attendant another family had the same problem. My original thought was that maybe the kids fingerprints were too small so the reader was confused. But, upon more thought I am wondering if it is a children's privacy issue and they don't save fingerprints under a certain size.

Paid Lockers when you want them
Interestingly the lockers were free when you were not allowed to bring items on rides such as for The Mummy, Men in Black, Spiderman, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, etc. However on the water rides such as Jurassic Park where you want to protect your items, you had to pay for the lockers. (And don't let your locker close as it will lock itself as opposed to the free lockers that waited for you to push the button. Yes, I had to pay for a locker twice.