You’re Welcome! I, genuinely, love being able to talk about UOR. I try to go a few times each year, but haven’t been since last December. I had to cancel three trips this year… uuuggghh!
Getting to help you is a great way for me to still being doing “something” Universal related.
(I was a WDW mega fan for 30+ years. I still go, but only to the parties these days)
It’s staffing issues. They don’t operate every slide during EPA, just those near the front half of the park and wave pool. You can’t even get in either lazy river until park opening either…
Yes. This area at the front is my favorite free shaded area. It’s right past the gift shops and next to the lockers. Plus, it’s not too far away from food and cocktails. (Kohola Reef & Dancing Dragons)
It is inconvenient if you are at the back of the park and need to take a break. However, there’s enough free covered space that you don’t have to “compete / fight” for it like a couple areas in the back. Plus, IMHO, these stay shaded all day.
That’s just me…everyone has their own favorite spot.
Yes! This is because you have to “activate” your express pass at the concierge / guest services desk to begin using it. (This may have changed since I used UXP at VB in 2022… You may be able to activate it in the app these days…)
The UXP (Express Pass) will allow you only one time to enter the queue of a slide without any waiting.
If you go to EPA (Early Park Admission) you can wait to activate your UXP until park opening. This will allow you to go on the most popular slides like Krakatau 2 - 3 times with little to no wait without “wasting” an express pass admission. You can come back to those slides after park opening to repeat them using UXP.
You’ll see Krakatau with a posted wait often at 240+ minutes or “at capacity” by lunch time on peak days.
I love the Tapu Tapu system of “tapping in” to get your reservation and then it vibrates / tells you when to return. You still have to wait in a short queue, but you can go explore inside the volcano, relax in the lazy river, get food / drinks & etc… while you wait to be called.
