I am planning a trip for a group of 7, including myself, my sister and her husband, their kids age 20+. 14, 4 & 4 (twins). Right now, they are staying at All Star Movies from 3/17 - 3/24. They will have a car. I am staying at All Stars Movies 3/17 - 3/22, leaving early Wednesday morning.
They have been to Disney once before without the youngest ones, but not to Universal. This may be their only trip back. One of the main reasons for the trip is to get the 14 yo and my sister to see the HP sections at US/IOA. Right now, her, myself, oldest daughter 20's and the 14 yo would do US/IOA. The youngest and her husband would probably take a pool day back at ASMo. There really doesn't appear to be much for the 4yo's to do, as one of them is not yet 36" and looks like they can't even do Cat in the Hat.
My sister and her 14yo are not big thrill ride people. So this would be mostly HP sections and simulator type rides. I'm thinking MIB, Simpsons, ET, Shrek and Minions, mostly US. At IOA, they could do Seussland, and maybe Spiderman and Jurassic Park. But the real emphasis is HP.
The last couple of times I've been to US/IOA with my family, we have stayed at the HRH for several days and had the unlimited express passes. I need some help determining the best way to do this on this trip and have many questions I'm hoping you can help with.
Mardi Gras
It looks like Mardi Gras is now every day during the time we will be there. The website says that the US rides come down when the parade starts? Is that correct, does it include Diagon Alley? What time is the parade? If early, what time do the rides start up again? Looks like the park closes at 8. Does that make the crowds much worse on Sunday than during the week?
Crowds & Express Pass
How are the crowds this week? What kinds of waits should we expect? I'm trying to decide if we need express passes or not. They would probably be fine with the one ride passes, since they are not big thrill riders and if we do this in one day, there wouldn't be a lot of time for multiple rides anyway. I know if we stick to HP, we can get this done in one day. With express pass, could we get this most of the rides I mentioned in as well in one day? That might still be better than trying to do a second day.
Right now, the one ride pass is 65 and the unlimited is 85. Is it more expensive day of? Do the prices ever rise as we get closer or do they sell out?
Are there any rides other than HP that are excluded? Kong?
Combo Pass
If I want to commit to a specific day, I know I can get a single day ticket & unlimited EP combo that would be the same price as the separate one park and one ride EP ($155 ticket + $65 one ride pass = $220 per person), basically turning the one ride EP into an unlimited for the same cost. Committing to two days does basically the same thing. A two day ticket + 2 day single ride is 365 and a two day combo is 360.
Can the combo passes be upgraded? If I buy a 1 day combo for $220, can it be upgraded to the 2 day for $365 while I am there if I decide that I can't get everything done?
Can I buy the one day combo at $220 and then "upgrade" to a second day without the EP? If I buy the 1 day combo for $220, can I add a day for $100, which is the difference between a 1 day regular admission price ticket ($155) and a 2 day regular admission ($255)?
Are the combos only available for pickup at window or kiosk? What about regular tickets or EP's. do you need to stop at the window or kiosk? If so, who needs to be there? Could I get all tickets if I am there Friday night? If we were all there, could we get them all Friday night and then not use them until Sunday or Monday? I'd hate to waste time in the morning since we'll already be commuting from Disney.
EE Park
Is there any way to tell which park will be EE that week? According to the website, it looks like Nov and Dec were US and January appears to be IOA, but they don't have anything listed as EE after that.
Sorry for all the questions, this is becoming challenging to plan. We usually avoid doing both US and Disney on the same trip for ticket price reasons, but it really can't be avoided here. Originally, it was only going to be the older kids and we thought just a few days at US, but with the youngest now coming, that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense at US.
I'm still toying with the idea of staying at US for a night or two, but the hotel prices on-site gave me sticker shock. Even with APH discounts, RPH is 260 and we'd still have to buy tickets. Plus we need 3 rooms. We could stat at SF for EE and to save on commute time, but still need the tickets and EP if needed. then have to pack and move.
They have been to Disney once before without the youngest ones, but not to Universal. This may be their only trip back. One of the main reasons for the trip is to get the 14 yo and my sister to see the HP sections at US/IOA. Right now, her, myself, oldest daughter 20's and the 14 yo would do US/IOA. The youngest and her husband would probably take a pool day back at ASMo. There really doesn't appear to be much for the 4yo's to do, as one of them is not yet 36" and looks like they can't even do Cat in the Hat.
My sister and her 14yo are not big thrill ride people. So this would be mostly HP sections and simulator type rides. I'm thinking MIB, Simpsons, ET, Shrek and Minions, mostly US. At IOA, they could do Seussland, and maybe Spiderman and Jurassic Park. But the real emphasis is HP.
The last couple of times I've been to US/IOA with my family, we have stayed at the HRH for several days and had the unlimited express passes. I need some help determining the best way to do this on this trip and have many questions I'm hoping you can help with.
Mardi Gras
It looks like Mardi Gras is now every day during the time we will be there. The website says that the US rides come down when the parade starts? Is that correct, does it include Diagon Alley? What time is the parade? If early, what time do the rides start up again? Looks like the park closes at 8. Does that make the crowds much worse on Sunday than during the week?
Crowds & Express Pass
How are the crowds this week? What kinds of waits should we expect? I'm trying to decide if we need express passes or not. They would probably be fine with the one ride passes, since they are not big thrill riders and if we do this in one day, there wouldn't be a lot of time for multiple rides anyway. I know if we stick to HP, we can get this done in one day. With express pass, could we get this most of the rides I mentioned in as well in one day? That might still be better than trying to do a second day.
Right now, the one ride pass is 65 and the unlimited is 85. Is it more expensive day of? Do the prices ever rise as we get closer or do they sell out?
Are there any rides other than HP that are excluded? Kong?
Combo Pass
If I want to commit to a specific day, I know I can get a single day ticket & unlimited EP combo that would be the same price as the separate one park and one ride EP ($155 ticket + $65 one ride pass = $220 per person), basically turning the one ride EP into an unlimited for the same cost. Committing to two days does basically the same thing. A two day ticket + 2 day single ride is 365 and a two day combo is 360.
Can the combo passes be upgraded? If I buy a 1 day combo for $220, can it be upgraded to the 2 day for $365 while I am there if I decide that I can't get everything done?
Can I buy the one day combo at $220 and then "upgrade" to a second day without the EP? If I buy the 1 day combo for $220, can I add a day for $100, which is the difference between a 1 day regular admission price ticket ($155) and a 2 day regular admission ($255)?
Are the combos only available for pickup at window or kiosk? What about regular tickets or EP's. do you need to stop at the window or kiosk? If so, who needs to be there? Could I get all tickets if I am there Friday night? If we were all there, could we get them all Friday night and then not use them until Sunday or Monday? I'd hate to waste time in the morning since we'll already be commuting from Disney.
EE Park
Is there any way to tell which park will be EE that week? According to the website, it looks like Nov and Dec were US and January appears to be IOA, but they don't have anything listed as EE after that.
Sorry for all the questions, this is becoming challenging to plan. We usually avoid doing both US and Disney on the same trip for ticket price reasons, but it really can't be avoided here. Originally, it was only going to be the older kids and we thought just a few days at US, but with the youngest now coming, that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense at US.
I'm still toying with the idea of staying at US for a night or two, but the hotel prices on-site gave me sticker shock. Even with APH discounts, RPH is 260 and we'd still have to buy tickets. Plus we need 3 rooms. We could stat at SF for EE and to save on commute time, but still need the tickets and EP if needed. then have to pack and move.
