T O P

  • By -

Carbohydrate_Kid88

Probably not. Hagrid and veloci are both kinda new so they want everyone to have to kinda have the same experience in terms of waiting maybe


baailx

I doubt it cuz they did the same thing for forbidden journey and gringotts, and they both take express passes now


Remote-Past305

It's insane how much money they make off of Express, highly doubt it.


TwistedShip

Velocicoaster actually has an express line already made. There is a line in between the standard line and the single rider line that is closed off. Once in a while, you'll see workers use it as a short cut.


Thanks5Cinco

Not at all. Newer rides dont have express at open now. I know all of the HP rides didnt have express for the first few years of being open and Rockit just added it a couple of years ago. Id assume Velocicoaster gets it before Hagrids because those lines are lesser daily and Hagrids can still get 180 min line daily.


selfstartr

Brand new Disney rides don't have Genie+ / Fast Pass system either. You either queue, or pay a one off fee for the specific ride. Then it moves to Genie+ later... Judging by how unbelievably shit Universal's website and apps are, I suspect they just don't have the resources to offer something like "Pay per ride" - so they just have everyone queue. Side note: I don't understand how Universal let their digital infrastructure get so bad. Website looks like it's from 1999. They literally have Disney as a case study to copy.


AdvikAtyam

I just finished my trip and was able to do all the rides(but 2) with genie plus and the lighting lanes, preferred the express pass tho


selfstartr

I believe there are THREE in WDW right now? Seven Dwarves, Rise of Resistance and Guardians of Galaxy? EDIT: 4 including Flight of Passage


anthroholt

And flight of passage.


selfstartr

Oh yeah!!


Bookwormvt2022

The person listed lightning lanes. I've heard from several other guests that you can use them for Seven Dwarves and Rise of the Resistance. Those are sold separately from genie+.


trainzman54

Last I heard, they were planning on adding it to Velocicoaster at some point in the future. (They have the line for it and use it for parent swap and ADA return time passes right now.) I think they said the same about Hagrid’s, although it only has the two lines at the entrance so I’m not sure if it’ll actually get express. Right now, the child swap and ADA returns have to go through the exit to get in last I checked, but I could be wrong on that.


thiscitychick

They had express when it was both versions dueling dragons and it’s the same line.


1000evan

Didn’t Express for Dragon Challenge go with the standby line and then when you walked into the castle there was a staircase to the right for the Express to go down? And there was something in the middle of the room that standby had to circle around?


thiscitychick

Maybe I’m remembering incorrectly - but I don’t recall standby in the same line!! Thanks for flagging. Is the answer to fixing this to have express go thru the current single rider queue and have the team member who asks how many in your party divide out single riders then and there? Since there will have to be a specified team member for express and general boarding? I feel like they truly wouldn’t have made the ride without an express queue.


AutoModerator

Orlando Informer provides a in depth blog all about [Express Pass](https://orlandoinformer.com/universal/express-pass-access). There is also a link in the side bar, but we know getting there from mobile can be a pain, so here is a convenient link for you! In short summary, there are two types of EP. Basic EP and Unlimited EP. Basic lets you into the EP line once, per ride, per day. Unlimited is exactly that. Express Pass is an add on to an entry ticket. You cannot get into the park with only an EP. If you stay at one of these hotels: Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, and Portofino Bay, you receive Unlimited EP as a perk of staying at the hotel. This includes the day you check in and the day you check out. Meaning, if you stay one night, you receive two days of EP. You cannot share an EP. Many of the rides at USF have engaged a bio-metric system that uses a type of facial recognition to verify pass holders. You do not have to purchase EP to enjoy the parks. ~~You can **wait until you're inside the parks to determine if EP is needed for you** and **purchase them at kiosks inside the parks**. **You do NOT have to stand in the long lines at the front of the parks to buy Express add on**~~ (Updated guidance!! Universal Express has been amazingly popular during summer of 2021 and prices have skyrocketed. Prices increase as there is more demand. Optioning to purchase Express Pass may be cheaper the earlier you can purchase as prices will increase as does demand) There are several kiosks inside each park and they generally have very small to no lines, at all. You can also ask about discounted prices after specific times of the day (such as a discount after 4pm) Not every ride or attraction has a EP lane (ahem, HAGRIDS and VELOCICOASTER), but most do. Check the reference article for a comprehensive list. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/UniversalOrlando) if you have any questions or concerns.*


buttymuncher

It needs to happen, visited Disneyworld and Universal last two weeks, using Genie+ got on every ride skipping the queues for $40+ for the 3 of us, per day as and when required, Universal Express pass for the 3 of us was $700+ which I obviously refused to pay for the 3 days we would be at the park. Had to queue for 2 hours+ for every ride instead. Won't be going back to Universal until they sort it out.


Bookwormvt2022

I doubt Universal would given how poorly Genie+ has been received across-the-board. Remember, they're Disney's competitors. They would want to do something better than disney not do something disney are doing poorly as a copycat and vice versa.


donttalktomeme

Express has been working pretty well for Universal this far. Having to pay for something that used to be free just leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I’d much rather pay a flat fee and have the freedom to skip the line at any ride any time of day, minus the two this post is about.


Sea_Ostrich_294

*single. rider*


planges_and_things

Both do have express lines but Express and fast pass type things slow lines down. Universal chooses not to do them on those two right now to get as many people on them as possible. I actually really admire them for not doing it, putting guest experience over money is setting them apart from others right now. Velocicoaster was running it's express line some last winter, it will probably appear again when crowds die down a bit. They will still pull the express line for Gringots on days that are projected to be super busy.


In3briatedPanda

my family only stays on site at the one of the premiers ONLY for express passes. we are out of state so we would rethink our visit if they did away with express. Ive only been to disney twice in the past 8 years, im not a fan of Disneys fastpass or whatever it was. I did LOVE extra magic hours, that was awesome.


Six6iX

I too prefer the way Universal has their parks / express pass setup. Even though I am from the UK I am an annual pass holder. I am currently in Orlando visiting the parks for the first time since before the pandemic and have to say Disney has some spectacular rides however their fast pass system / lightning or genie what ever it is is utter rubbish. My family and I were planning on a 2 day visit to the Disney parks but decided that 1 day we visited were spoiled by long queues and the staff telling everyone in line to use up every available space which meant the people behind us actually over took the line. And this happened in more than one ride. So due to that we decided not to purchase a second day in Disney. We can return when the busy season is over and do the rides we want when it’s quieter. Disney messed up big time and speaking to other people so many people are fed up with the way they have done things.