1 day w/EP or 2 day tickets no EP

[kditty]

I asked yesterday about entertainment the day of arrival which got me thinking.......
My husband and son are doing a very short surprise trip for my son's birthday (Oct 4 -6). He is a huge HP fan and has been wanting to go for some time. I had originally planned for them to get to MCO 10:30am, go to hotel to relax/swim look around, and then dinner at City Walk and Blue Man Group show. The following day they were going to have 1 Day Park-to-Park tickets with express passes and would hopefully get to do/see most of HP and a few other things. Now I'm wondering if instead we should do 2 Day Park-to-Park tickets without express pass and have them go straight to the parks after checking in that day.

So my questions is would you generally prefer to get as much time in the parks as possible in 2 Days and not see or do anything else? Or relax a bit on the day of arrival and get to do other things and do the parks with express passes in one day?

Such decisions! Especially since its a surprise for my son and I can't ask him which he would prefer.

 

[Ed J]

Get 2 day tix and stay at one of the hotels that include EP. This way you get 2 days of EP for "free".

 

[AmberK24]

I think that 1 day to cover both parks is a stretch even if it's during down time. Since they will be there during HHN time, HS will be closing early on those nights as well. How old is your son? If he would like HHN, I would do that on the arrival day, then 1 day on the next day. Since most people at HHN are there for the houses, you may be able to get in a few rides as well, then express the next day. If HHN is definitely not for them, I would do 2 days and go to IOA while HHN is going on.
Above all those, I would stay at one of the resorts that includes unlimited express...it can be invaluable!

 

[bchbetha]

2 days!!!!

 

[kohlby]

2 days. The crowds won't be super high that time of year - likely more moderate. You will be able to do a lot more without express having almost 2 days in the parks than 1 with express. Since it's a short trip, no need to relax! You could still do BMG one evening.