fast passes? Yes or No?

[jovi]

Someone on another thread, has said, fastpasses are no longer available here ( Universal Studios) or Islands of adventure!![:O] is this true? If so it is going to work out a very expensive holiday when we go next July, if for everytime we want to go on the bigger thrill rides we will have to purchase a express pass ticket, if we go on alernate days. can someone shed some light on this please[msnsmile]

[jovi]

[:I] Whoops thought I had posted on the Universal Studios thread, not the islands of adventure[msneek] Sorry.[msnwink]

[jackie greaves]

Yes you are right Vicky. If you want to fast pass you now have to pay for it. $30 each to fast pass once on each ride. Can work out very expensive, depends how much you like queuing.[msnwink]

[steph_goodrum]

Vicky
We had annual passes for the parks but now they have expired we intend to take advantage of the excellent offer on this site, by buying 2 or more multi day Disney passes you get 50% off 1 or 2 day Universal 2 park passes. If we find the queues are too great then we may consider buying the fast passes as the cost would then be about the same as if we had paid full price for our tickets but I would have to be dragged kicking and screaming to Guest services to pay for them as I think it is a diabolical system that they should be able to fill the park to capacity without considering whether you are going to be able to go on the rides, and then charge people extra. I certainly wouldnt pay if I had paid the full price.

As we are fortunate enough to have been several times we can pick and choose but I intend to keep a diary for the days we are there and complain to Guests services if we find we are unable to go on more than 1 or 2 rides because of the numbers.

[cad-properties]

Great Suggestion by Babblin Boo, if you buy the Universal tickets from this site and take advantage of the special offer, then if you do have to purchase the Fast passes the cost would be about the same as the full price.

If you find that some of the queues for the bigger rides are too great, then try the single rider entry. We used this on our last visit for the Mummy Ride at the studios, the queueing time was over an hour, but we were prepared to be split up to get on the ride quicker. It was great, we waited about 15 minutes in that queue and my Husband got on the car after me, so I didn't have to wait long for him. I just had to keep telling myself that it was a stranger sitting next to me, so I couldn't grab them !!

Clair.
http://www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/495.aspx

[russell148]

After being the bearer of bad new's about having to buy a fast pass now our friends came back yesterday from staying at our villa and were totally unimpressed that Universal wanted another $180 for a party of 6 for fast passes, because they have been many times they knew they were being ripped off unlike for example a first time visitor would not.

I wonder if Disney are watching devolpments and might get rid of there fast passes?

Russell

[christhear]

I am hoping that with people having to buy fast pass tickets the fast pass queues will be shorter, thus allowing people in the normal queue to geton the ride quicker. We will be going at the end of august so will let you know how we got on.
this will be the first time my 8 year old son is big enough for the coasters so we will definately be queing for these.

[russell148]

Our freinds did not buy fast passes and they queued for over an hour on most rides and that was in May

Russell

[jovi]

Thanks, we have been three times before so know which rides we want to go on, we will be taking my brother with us this time and his two daughters 15 and 8(1st time) We were telling him not to worry about the ques because of fastpasses.
We haven't been this time of year before (July 2007) and wouldn't be if it wasn't for my son having his exams!! We know the parks are going to be crowded, not having the fastpass facility just makes it worse, so if you are going August I would appreciate the feedback[msnsmile2]

[russell148]

I have just looked at the Universal website and price varies between $15 to $40 per person for a fast pass depending on the time oy year.

We are going in august and i checked the dates out for a fast pass and the price was $35 between the 6th and 19th but only $20 between the 20th and 26th August so i have changed our holiday planner now and will visit the universal parks between the 20th and 26th.

So working it our if you buy a 5 day flex ticket and a fast pass for your 2 visits to Universal it works out at approx £38 per person to be guaranteed a go on all the rides without queuing for over an hour on most rides.

Plus leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the park and not having to rush around collecting fast passes every 2 hours and later in the day there being no passes left for the popular rides.

Also universal on there site say they only issue a set amount each day but you can order them online.

Russell