Hotel Express pass at Volcano Bay

iona · Mar 30, 2017

Has anyone heard anything about which hotels, if any, will have Express Pass privileges at Volcano Bay? I thought there would be no such thing as Express Passes at VB given the whole TapuTapu thing but, given that they're selling both one-use and unlimited Express Passes, I guess I was wrong!

The main reason that I ask is that on the Universal website under the benefits for Portofino Bay Hotel it says "When you stay at select Preferred and Premier on-site hotels, you'll get a free Universal Express Unlimited pass to skip the regular lines at participating rides and attractions in Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal's Volcano Bay (opening early summer 2017).". However, the same text on the Hard Rock and Royal Pacific pages only mentions US and IoA...

mjhtvchick · Mar 30, 2017

That's interesting...this page from Universal's website doesn't make reference to the individual park names at all...https://www.universalorlando.com/we...mpare-features/index.html#theme-park-benefits

Hopefully, its just outdated language.

GrnMtnMan · Mar 30, 2017

mjhtvchick said:
Hopefully, its just outdated language.

They don't have the language consistent yet.

I just pulled this up on the Loews website:

I think if Portofino was getting an exclusive benefit, it would be highlighted in many places.

Marthasor · Mar 30, 2017

I just came on here to ask the same question!! OP, the page you quoted seems to make it sound like Portofino, HRH and Royal Pacific will be getting the VB Universal Express Unlimited benefit. Yes, I think the language just hasn't been updated on the other pages on the site. I hope so, anyway!!

pcstang · Mar 30, 2017

From what I'm hearing the three deluxe will get express. The updating on the site is lagging behind, as usual.

GrnMtnMan · Mar 30, 2017

pcstang said:
From what I'm hearing the three deluxe will get express. The updating on the site is lagging behind, as usual.

I hope so. I pulled this from the PBH page on UO website, and it seems to indicate that other hotels will be included. I'd think it would say 'exclusively for PBH guests' if that was the case:

For reference, PBH and HRH are listed as Premier and RPH is listed as Preferred:

mjhtvchick · Mar 30, 2017

Just released!

Universal’s Volcano Bay Express Pass
Volcano Bay will be the first water park to rely on Virtual Lines, which will use the TapuTapu wristbands to alert you when it’s your turn on the rides. But with an optional Universal Express pass, guests can bypass the Virtual Line experience and ride Volcano Bay’s rides at their convenience. Volcano Bay Universal Express pass prices vary by the date, and can be purchased for one use per ride ($24.99 to $49.99 per person per day, plus tax), or as Universal Express Unlimited ($49.99 to $79.99 per person per day, plus tax). Note that Volcano Bay Express access is NOT included after 4 p.m. with Premier Annual Passes, but it IS included with overnight stays at the Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, and Royal Pacific hotels. Also, Express is not accepted at the headliner Krakatau Aqua Coaster attraction.

GrnMtnMan · Mar 30, 2017

mjhtvchick said:
Just released!

Universal’s Volcano Bay Express Pass
Volcano Bay will be the first water park to rely on Virtual Lines, which will use the TapuTapu wristbands to alert you when it’s your turn on the rides. But with an optional Universal Express pass, guests can bypass the Virtual Line experience and ride Volcano Bay’s rides at their convenience. Volcano Bay Universal Express pass prices vary by the date, and can be purchased for one use per ride ($24.99 to $49.99 per person per day, plus tax), or as Universal Express Unlimited ($49.99 to $79.99 per person per day, plus tax). Note that Volcano Bay Express access is NOT included after 4 p.m. with Premier Annual Passes, but it IS included with overnight stays at the Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, and Royal Pacific hotels. Also, Express is not accepted at the headliner Krakatau Aqua Coaster attraction.

Where did you see this?

jagafen · Mar 30, 2017

IF the info above is accurate, that is great news to hear. Keeping my fingers crossed this is the way it plays out!

iona · Mar 30, 2017

GrnMtnMan said:
For reference, PBH and HRH are listed as Premier and RPH is listed as Preferred:

View attachment 228335

The wording under "Free Universal Express Unlimited" has now changed to "(a value of up to $89† per person, per day. Only available at Universal Orlando Resort™ and Universal Studios Florida™. Valid theme park admission required)". I'm not sure what the extra sentence in the middle means in practice!

GrnMtnMan · Mar 30, 2017

iona said:
The wording under "Free Universal Express Unlimited" has now changed to "(a value of up to $89† per person, per day. Only available at Universal Orlando Resort™ and Universal Studios Florida™. Valid theme park admission required)". I'm not sure what the extra sentence in the middle means in practice!

It still says "Free Universal Express Unlimited™±(A value of up to $89^ per person, per day. Valid theme park admission required)" when I pull up that page.

There's a bunch of things out-of-date on the website. I was curious about the transport between HRH and Volcano Bay, and when I pulled up the footnote, this is what I got:

iona · Mar 30, 2017

GrnMtnMan said:
It still says "Free Universal Express Unlimited™±(A value of up to $89^ per person, per day. Valid theme park admission required)" when I pull up that page.

How odd! I'm yet to work out how to post a screenshot of my iPhone on here but I'm definitely seeing extra words (which weren't there this morning!).

mjhtvchick · Mar 30, 2017

GrnMtnMan said:
Where did you see this?

This particular reference was from Attractions magazine...http://attractionsmagazine.com/everything-need-know-universal-orlandos-volcano-bay-tickets-pricing/

Also posted on Orlando Informer...http://orlandoinformer.com/blog/volcano-bay-cabana-rentals-premium-seating-universal-express/

Laura_Dee_ · Mar 30, 2017

GrnMtnMan · Mar 30, 2017

mjhtvchick said:
This particular reference was from Attractions magazine...http://attractionsmagazine.com/everything-need-know-universal-orlandos-volcano-bay-tickets-pricing/

The wording on that posting has changed. It now says "Note that Volcano Bay Express access is NOT included after 4 p.m. with Premier Annual Passes, NOR is it included with overnight stays at the Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, and Royal Pacific hotels. "

mjhtvchick said:
Also posted on Orlando Informer...http://orlandoinformer.com/blog/volcano-bay-cabana-rentals-premium-seating-universal-express/

I don't see anything on that page that says that Express will be included for hotel guests. Did you see that earlier there?

mjhtvchick · Mar 30, 2017

GrnMtnMan said:
The wording on that posting has changed. It now says "Note that Volcano Bay Express access is NOT included after 4 p.m. with Premier Annual Passes, NOR is it included with overnight stays at the Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, and Royal Pacific hotels. "

View attachment 228430

I don't see anything on that page that says that Express will be included for hotel guests. Did you see that earlier there?

Wow!! That's crazy! I wish I had copied the OI quote earlier too! That's really too bad! :sad2:

Hopefully it is just while things are busy for the first little while and it will eventually be included.

GrnMtnMan · Mar 30, 2017

mjhtvchick said:
Wow!! That's crazy! I wish I had copied the OI quote earlier too! That's really too bad! Hopefully it is just while things are busy for the first little while and it will eventually be included.

The Portofino section on Universal's website still says it's included. That seems like the freshest language on the website (note that wet and wild closed in December but it's still mentioned in some places). I'm hoping that Universal's Portofino is correct and the rest need to be updated. I've used the email tool on Loews' website to ask a concierge to clarify. I'll post when I get an answer.

mjhtvchick · Mar 31, 2017

GrnMtnMan said:
The Portofino section on Universal's website still says it's included. That seems like the freshest language on the website (note that wet and wild closed in December but it's still mentioned in some places). I'm hoping that Universal's Portofino is correct and the rest need to be updated. I've used the email tool on Loews' website to ask a concierge to clarify. I'll post when I get an answer.

I listened to the Orlando Informer podcast last night and they said that while the info was very confusing throughout the day and that it seemed to go back and forth at times, they had confirmation that the Express Passes given to hotel guests would NOT include access to Volcano Bay. It is going to be an entirely different Express Pass system that gets loaded onto the Tapu Tapu you are given at the park. The only way to get this Express Pass is to pay for it.

Seth Kubersky also tweeted last night:

Seth Kubersky @skubersky
I confirmed with @tomschroderUOR that @Loews_Hotels guest at Portofino/Hard Rock\Royal Pacific do NOT get free #VolcanoBay Express

And followed it up with....

Seth Kubersky @skubersky
If all guests at the 3 hotels got VB express it would break the Virtual Line for everyone else. Have to limit for capacity.

Similar reasoning to not giving EPs for IOA and USF to Cabana Bay and Sapphire Falls guests...

GrnMtnMan · Mar 31, 2017

mjhtvchick said:
I listened to the Orlando Informer podcast last night and they said that while the info was very confusing throughout the day and that it seemed to go back and forth at times, they had confirmation that the Express Passes given to hotel guests would NOT include access to Volcano Bay. It is going to be an entirely different Express Pass system that gets loaded onto the Tapu Tapu you are given at the park. The only way to get this Express Pass is to pay for it.

Seth Kubersky also tweeted last night:

Seth Kubersky @skubersky
I confirmed with @tomschroderUOR that @Loews_Hotels guest at Portofino/Hard Rock\Royal Pacific do NOT get free #VolcanoBay Express

And followed it up with....

Seth Kubersky @skubersky
If all guests at the 3 hotels got VB express it would break the Virtual Line for everyone else. Have to limit for capacity.

Similar reasoning to not giving EPs for IOA and USF to Cabana Bay and Sapphire Falls guests...

Gotcha. Not surprising.

But they need to get this stuff off of the website then:

I booked Portofino yesterday based on this. Copied today's news to further time-stamp the false advertising.

iona · Mar 31, 2017

That's a shame but as others have said not surprising. There's still early entry available to hotel guests so I guess we'll be making use of that in the summer!

Hotel Express pass at Volcano Bay

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