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Universal Express Pass
- Thread starter G00fyDad
- Start date
Disneymom201
Active Member
That was my question too, but for a weekend in November. We would like to do one day, park hopper. If we add in the express pass, that's close to $800. Yikes!!!!
If you're in Orlando somewhat regularly, here's what you should do:
Get the Annual Passes (one Premier, the rest whatever works for you)
Use APH discount for one of the three deluxe hotels. Stay one night, and enjoy the parks for two days.
The money you will save with the Premier in the long run is enormous - between 15% and 20% off all food and merchandise in the parks and CityWalk.
We go to Universal all the time because the annual passes pay for themselves.
I wouldn't recommend doing a One Day Park Hopper even with Express Pass. You'll still miss too much. The parks need two days to enjoy, minimum.
Get the Annual Passes (one Premier, the rest whatever works for you)
Use APH discount for one of the three deluxe hotels. Stay one night, and enjoy the parks for two days.
The money you will save with the Premier in the long run is enormous - between 15% and 20% off all food and merchandise in the parks and CityWalk.
We go to Universal all the time because the annual passes pay for themselves.
I wouldn't recommend doing a One Day Park Hopper even with Express Pass. You'll still miss too much. The parks need two days to enjoy, minimum.
HTF
Well-Known Member
Wait so your gonna skip it cause you have to wait in line like everyone else?? I highly recommend you reconsider but it is what it is.
KingdomofDreams
Well-Known Member
Express Pass can't be used for the Potter attractions at either park, however if you are staying onsite - even at Cabana Bay - you get early entry (1 hour before opening) for the Potter sections and attractions. Cabana Bay guests do not get the Express Pass benefit, but they do get early entry. In October, the crowd levels may not be so high that Express Pass is really necessary for the other rides/attractions.
I can tell you what we do. I get one AP that will get me the AP hotel discount. I'm saving $100 per night at Portofino this summer with the AP discount and that also gives us unlimited EP. Plus, there will be more money saved through purchasing the rest of our group's multi-day park-to-park passes at a 15% discount and whatever I save with the AP discount offered throughout the property for food and merch. All in all, I feel pretty satisfied that I'll be getting my money's worth.
I'm going to skip it because I have about one or maybe two days out of our trip to spend at the Universal parks. This is why I don't go to Kings Island or any other amusement park because I'm not going to go and spend 3 hours standing in line for an attraction and waste my entire day.
By the looks of your double ?? quote I see you don't approve. Now I'm confused (??) about why it matters to you so much?
I appreciate the advice. Thank you. However, we do not go often enough to get annual passes. And we will be staying on Disney property, but I thought I might take two days away from Disney to spend at Universal. I just don't know if I can justify spending that much money for one or two days at a park when I'm going to have to spend the majority of the day standing in line.
LithiumBill
Well-Known Member
Personally, we do 3 disney days, and 2 uni days on our 7 day trips... we skip AK and find two days at uni to be plenty.
maxairmike
Well-Known Member
Do you not expect to stand in lines when you go to a park, especially for the new attraction? It's just a reality of life. Disney is the only park that offers a virtual queue/line jumping pass that is good for every attraction that offers it; at any other park with such a system the new or popular rides are either not included, or in a much higher priced option.
You're going in October, so you really shouldn't see insane lines for much, if anything. Even Hogsmeade was manageable in October of 2010.
You're going in October, so you really shouldn't see insane lines for much, if anything. Even Hogsmeade was manageable in October of 2010.
HTF
Well-Known Member
I'm just trying to figure out how you can justify skipping the resort because you will have to wait in line "all day" First off you won't be in line "all day" since your not going during a peak time. In addition to that your going a full 15 months post grand opening. As Mike mentioned Phase 1 was manageable in the fall of 2010 let alone another year later. Finally it matters to me cause from the sound of it you'd made your mind up about skipping Universal before asking about Express. Which sucks and I hope you change your mind, I mean hey you might actually end up having fun
HTF
Well-Known Member
DisneyPrincess5
Well-Known Member
We went for two weekdays last October (first-second week) and we did not need it at all. Granted we strategically planned how we rode things to avoid it but I don't think we ever waited longer than 30 minutes for anything which is fine with us. I HATE spending the extra cash on that. Good luck and have fun!
Captain Chaos
Well-Known Member
Went two days last October and didn't need Express at all... Minimal wait for FJ, 20 minute wait for Spiderman.. Walked right onto Transformers (went to it first thing in the morning)... Only long wait was Despicable Me...
I'm just trying to figure out how you can justify skipping the resort because you will have to wait in line "all day" First off you won't be in line "all day" since your not going during a peak time. In addition to that your going a full 15 months post grand opening. As Mike mentioned Phase 1 was manageable in the fall of 2010 let alone another year later. Finally it matters to me cause from the sound of it you'd made your mind up about skipping Universal before asking about Express. Which sucks and I hope you change your mind, I mean hey you might actually end up having fun
Okay, first, you don't know me so please do not pretend to know what I was thinking. How stupid would it be if I had already made up my mind to not go only to ask the question I did? Second, I don't care whether it is peak season or not. The lines will still be long enough that it will likely waste most of the day waiting in them. This (as I've stated before) is why I do not go to other theme parks like Kings Island. And third, I was on the fence about my decision in the first place, and after hearing that Express Pass would not even be an option for the WWoHP attractions it just made up my mind for me right there. I posted this thread hoping to get constructive thoughts, and that is what I have gotten (mostly). Now I am sure that I do not want to go now. I cannot believe that I forgot about the members that are so in love with Universal that it makes anyone else that does not see the same way they do seem irrational.