Another Express Pass Plus Tickets Worth it Question

[JMLBrats]

Okay, so we're going for one day the last week of August and staying on site is out of the question this trip so please don't bother trying to convince us of that. We plan on doing the on site thing sometime w/in the next couple of years, but not this trip. Anyway, we have 3 kids, DS7, DD5 and DD2.5. DD 2.5 does not have much patience for lines and can make our lives a living you know what. Plus originally we thought the parks would be open until 10:00 but now realize that they will be closing at 7 which obviously leaves us w/less time do get everything in.
We have 2park, 1 day no expiration tickets from a previous trip so we would like to hit both parks. Our kids have a lot of energy and can pretty much go all day, but if we did the Express Passes I was thinking that we might have a chance to do a nice sit down lunch for a break in the middle of the day. We have a day picked out that we plan on going on, but what if that day there is a horrible rain storm or something-prob a stupid question, but could we get our money back for the Express Passes or use them another time? Are we better off just buying them at the gate that day to avoid that kind of problem? Any thoughts & info appreciated!

 

[damo]

You don't even need to buy them at the gate. You can buy them inside the park all over. My advice is to get to the gates before the parks open. Do everything you want to do before the crowds start which is around 11 am. Then if the crowds seem to be getting crazy, purchase the express pass. You may not even need them. However, once you buy them, they are only good for that day.

 

[JMLBrats]

You don't even need to buy them at the gate. You can buy them inside the park all over. My advice is to get to the gates before the parks open. Do everything you want to do before the crowds start which is around 11 am. Then if the crowds seem to be getting crazy, purchase the express pass. You may not even need them. However, once you buy them, they are only good for that day.

That sounds like a good plan. I think the parks don't open until 10 am that week so we won't have much time before the crowds start, but maybe we'll be able to get in some of the really good ones. Which ones do you suggest hitting first?

 

[damo]

That sounds like a good plan. I think the parks don't open until 10 am that week so we won't have much time before the crowds start, but maybe we'll be able to get in some of the really good ones. Which ones do you suggest hitting first?

Both parks open at 9. That means you want to get to the parks around 8:30. The gates often open early. Since your kids are small, I don't think the major coasters will be your biggest draw. You should have no problem with all the other rides.

 

[JMLBrats]

Both parks open at 9. That means you want to get to the parks around 8:30. The gates often open early. Since your kids are small, I don't think the major coasters will be your biggest draw. You should have no problem with all the other rides.

Oh they do open at 9:00 don't they? don't know what I was thinking! Anyway thanks for the tip about getting there at 8:30-I would never have thought to arrive that early.-and yeah, my kids are kind of on the tall side and they are daredevils so they'll usually go on anything they are tall enough to ride. Our problem is that our 2.5 yr old is the worst of all-she would probably go on the Hulk coaster if she could!

 

[bubba's mom]

I'm guessing the last week of August isn't going to be as bad w/ crowds since the park is closing at 7....if it were going to be really busy, they'd stay open later....but most kids are back in school that last week....i know we are!

 

[Metro West]

I'm guessing the last week of August isn't going to be as bad w/ crowds since the park is closing at 7....if it were going to be really busy, they'd stay open later....but most kids are back in school that last week....i know we are!

Yeah..that's when it starts to get back to normal levels until..........HHN!

 

[yasuern]

Is this what you are thinking of getting for the end of August this year?


http://secure.universalstudios.com/...goryGroup=UOMain&SalesCategory=UO2ParkUEPLive


Am I reading this correctly that there are none available for that time???


Also do you need to buy 4 of them? Wouldn't that be over $200??


You can stay at RPR for one night for the same price and auto Front of the line not just once say for spiderman but as often as you want.


Sorry I know you said not to try to convince you to stay on site but with the prices what they are seems staying on site might be an option.
We did the stay off site thing ONCE and never again - Also to my knowledge Florida(at least Oralndo area) is not going back to school until after Labor day this year - so although the parks are closing earlier - the local teens ARE going to be there - They were there in full force 3rd wknd in July.

https://universalhotels.ibe.netbook...x=1&conversionFactor=&roomsSortOrder=RateType


Sue

 

[Metro West]

Am I reading this correctly that there are none available for that time???

I think they didn't load any dates on the website. I can't believe all EP are sold out for the next four months!

Also do you need to buy 4 of them? Wouldn't that be over $200??

Yes...each person in the party would have to have an EP.

We did the stay off site thing ONCE and never again - Also to my knowledge Florida(at least Oralndo area) is not going back to school until after Labor day this year - so although the parks are closing earlier - the local teens ARE going to be there - They were there in full force 3rd wknd in July.

Actually...Orange County schools go back August 20th..not after Labor Day. Seminole and Osceola will go back around the same time.

 

[damo]

You guys just need to scroll down further on that page to find the prices. There are several charts and you're just looking at the first ones.

 

[JMLBrats]

You guys just need to scroll down further on that page to find the prices. There are several charts and you're just looking at the first ones.

Exactly, also shows the last week of August dates as being totally available right now.

 

[JMLBrats]

Is this what you are thinking of getting for the end of August this year?


http://secure.universalstudios.com/...goryGroup=UOMain&SalesCategory=UO2ParkUEPLive


Am I reading this correctly that there are none available for that time???


Also do you need to buy 4 of them? Wouldn't that be over $200??


You can stay at RPR for one night for the same price and auto Front of the line not just once say for spiderman but as often as you want.


Sorry I know you said not to try to convince you to stay on site but with the prices what they are seems staying on site might be an option.
We did the stay off site thing ONCE and never again - Also to my knowledge Florida(at least Oralndo area) is not going back to school until after Labor day this year - so although the parks are closing earlier - the local teens ARE going to be there - They were there in full force 3rd wknd in July.

https://universalhotels.ibe.netbook...x=1&conversionFactor=&roomsSortOrder=RateType


Sue

Thanks for the suggestion of staying on site. (I know it's hard to resist!) We always do Universal off site and always love it. We really really want to stay on site sometime and it's not about the money, it's just that we already had made plans w/other family members to stay at Disney and we don't want to interupt that stay to have to move for 1 or 2 nights. Hopefully we'll be able to try it out next year. It'd be awesome to be onsite for when they open HP, but I'd also be very scared of what kind of crowds will be there!

 

[Davidjill]

The last 2 trips to WDW we've had a room for one night at RPR just to use the FOTL for two days. Both times we only used the room to change to go swimming before going back to our DVC room. With an AAA rate it was well worth it.

 

[curlyjbs]

The last 2 trips to WDW we've had a room for one night at RPR just to use the FOTL for two days. Both times we only used the room to change to go swimming before going back to our DVC room. With an AAA rate it was well worth it.

We just book the room too. Never stay in it. Just checked in and out.
~Connie