I’m familiar with all the AAP changes. I got my IBCCES card and was approved at USH (local), when I had an AP last year, but don’t know if it’s different at UO with the new facial recognition technology there (not at USH). I also have never been with a large group. As empty nesters now, it’s usually just me or the 2 of us. Now we’re going to UO in April with a group of 11, 9 adults and 2 children, one of which will be too small to ride most of the rides. I know I can only have 5 people with me, so how does UO handle the others? At Disney, everyone else goes through the queue, then my husband and I meet them at the LL merge point, but UO ExP lines can often be well over 30 minutes. That is a no go. Is there a way we can all go together by meeting up or using child swap or what? I’m trying to figure out the best way to handle this. I don’t want to be separated from most of my family the whole time, but that’s what happens at Disney. Anyone with recent experience? All the threads I could find were from 2 or more years ago.
Some specific questions. Is the AAP linked to my ticket? Do you have to choose the ones on it with you or can you choose who goes with you each time? How does it work with child swap? Any chance having it work with the whole group at once?
Hello! Apologies for not seeing this sooner!
I want to bring up a couple of things, because I suspect they are different from UH.
- UOR has made their AAP digital. It functions very similarly to the DAS. Which gives it less flexibility than there used to be.
- The Express Lanes at UOR can indeed be 30 minutes, but most are typically 20- even at Epic as long as a ride is operating as it should. AAP uses Express at UOR ( I’m not sure if UH uses alternative queues like Disneyland sometimes does)
- Hagrid’s doesn’t have Express, so your family would be in the full standby lane.
- Unfortunately, It would be very challenging to try to use AAP and standby together in a group. But maybe it helps the budget that 5 of you wouldn’t need Express? And you could make return times for Hagrid’s twice and ride with both groups.
- I’m not sure what you use an AAP for. But I just want to make sure you know that for most attractions you have to be able to walk on the ride without a mobility aid. This has caught many guests by surprise because it’s a new restriction. I just want to make sure everyone knows.
I’m sorry there isn’t a great answer, in actuality it has all become a little harder.
Hello!
- The AAP is linked to your ticket.
- Take your party to guest services and they will add everyone to the app. Be sure they have their tickets.
- You can have yourself +5
- When you make the return times on the app you will choose who is riding (just like DAS)
Sorry, I forgot child swap. You keep all of the kids in line with you at Universal- so you will just decide who stays in the room first.
Thank you for your reply and welcome.
We will have UExP for US/IoA because of a deluxe stay, but ExP at Epic is so costly. I even priced out staying value and getting a 3 day, 3 park ExP, and it was still more than a Deluxe/Helios stay. Crazy (these were estimates because the exact $ aren’t available for April yet). I figured we would do Hagrid’s twice using AAP, but it’s Epic that is the problem. When I have my post IBCCES approval interview with them (is that done online now before the trip), I suppose I’ll have to ask them how to manage it with a big group.
My DH and I will be in Orlando early in the week to do Disney. The rest are flying in Saturday, and will likely arrive in the evening. I was planning on going to guest services Saturday afternoon to set it up, but is that not possible? I’ll have everyone’s ticket on my account (I assume that’s how it works, like at Disney). Can I just add them all or does each of them actually have to be there for a picture or something?
With the child swap, does everyone but the adult with the child get to ride again or just the waiting adult with one other person? Disney just does one other. At Legoland, we all got to ride again. My son waited with the baby, then I exchanged and waited with the baby. Everyone else got to ride twice.
Ride Swap- Technically, one person can ride again so nobody has to ride alone.
This is something that might have some flexibility.
Setting up AAP - you all have to be there in person, with photo id if they are old enough to have it.
Well, that’s unfortunate. Hopefully their flights come in soon enough Saturday to do this before we’re doing EE the next morning.
Complete your early entry goals first, then go to guest services to set up AAP.
And after your vacation, please share how it went!!