First time at Universal. Need help.

[mickeysgirl17]

I'm planning a weekend getaway for my husband's birthday January 19-20. He has been wanting to go to Universal/IOA for a long time so I finally decided to plan a trip for him and surprise him.
I'm already spending a fortune on the tickets and saving for meals, gas, etc. so my question is, Do I need to buy Express plus passes for these dates? It is a weekend - Saturday and Sunday but I heard this is a slow time. We don't like waiting in lines longer than 15-20 min.
I'm just hoping that I won't have to pay even more. It would cost us $166.08 just for the express passes. There will be 3 of us. Any help is appreciated. Thankyou.

[ky07]

I'm planning a weekend getaway for my husband's birthday January 19-20. He has been wanting to go to Universal/IOA for a long time so I finally decided to plan a trip for him and surprise him.
I'm already spending a fortune on the tickets and saving for meals, gas, etc. so my question is, Do I need to buy Express plus passes for these dates? It is a weekend - Saturday and Sunday but I heard this is a slow time. We don't like waiting in lines longer than 15-20 min.
I'm just hoping that I won't have to pay even more. It would cost us $166.08 just for the express passes. There will be 3 of us. Any help is appreciated. Thankyou.

Depending on if you are planning to stay onsite or offsite cause I don't think it will be busy cause it will probably will be slow and if not staying onsite will get you front of the line passes and in that case waits will not be long cause you bypass all the long lines..

[mickeysgirl17]

I won't be staying onsite so I'll need to purchase passes seperately which we cost me extra? How bad are crowds and lines at this time?

[ky07]

I won't be staying onsite so I'll need to purchase passes seperately which we cost me extra? How bad are crowds and lines at this time?

You can always wait till you get there and buy the express passes and yes it will most likely be busy since schools will be out for martin luther kings birthday which is that monday so it will make that weekend busy.

[phamton]

I would definitely wait and see if you need it. Arrive early and you will beat the crowds. I'd do Universal Studios on Saturday and Islands of Adventure on Sunday. IoA seems to get pretty busy on Saturdays.

[rwdavis2]

Wait and see. We went last year over MLK weekend and neither Saturday nor Sunday were very busy. The extra $50+ per ticket for Express Pass may not be worth it.
Bob

[mickeysgirl17]

I think I will wait and see. Does it cost more to buy the passes there than if I bought them online in advance?

[phamton]

It is almost always the same price online as a the park.