Assistance pass vs. Express for august

[chmurf]

I get the Attractions Assistance Pass at Universal due to disability

Usually we would book a room at RPR or PBH to get unlimited express for 2 days, and that's on top of our WDW booking (call it throwaway night, or double booking

But I've realised that this might not be necessary.
Assistance Pass states that when posted wait time is 30 minutes or less, you may enter the express line immediatly (and get a return time if wait time is more than 30 minutes)

I had never thought about it, but do I really need the Express when I have the Assistance Pass ?

Next august (last 2 weeks) we'll be staying for 11 nights at CBBR with APs, and I had planned to wait for APH rates to book a couple of one nighters at RPR to get the Unlimited express for at least 4 days (on top of our CBBR booking)

Am I getting ready to throw money down the drain ? If we hit the parks early, take a break , and then go back late near closing, how likely will we meet lines over 30 minutes ? Well, having Attractions Pass, do I need express at all, or will the crowds justify booking addtional nights at a Deluxe in order to get EPs ? (okay, I'm not trying to say that Attractions Pass is a way to save on express, we really do need Attractions Pass, I'm ready to pay if it's of any benefit to us. But I'd like to avoid paying for something I already have, especially when we're there for 11 nights with APs so we can take it easy and hit multiple low crowd mornings)
Thanks

 

[figmentfan423]

I get the Attractions Assistance Pass at Universal due to disability

Usually we would book a room at RPR or PBH to get unlimited express for 2 days, and that's on top of our WDW booking (call it throwaway night, or double booking

But I've realised that this might not be necessary.
Assistance Pass states that when posted wait time is 30 minutes or less, you may enter the express line immediatly (and get a return time if wait time is more than 30 minutes)

I had never thought about it, but do I really need the Express when I have the Assistance Pass ?

Next august (last 2 weeks) we'll be staying for 11 nights at CBBR with APs, and I had planned to wait for APH rates to book a couple of one nighters at RPR to get the Unlimited express for at least 4 days (on top of our CBBR booking)

Am I getting ready to throw money down the drain ? If we hit the parks early, take a break , and then go back late near closing, how likely will we meet lines over 30 minutes ? Well, having Attractions Pass, do I need express at all, or will the crowds justify booking addtional nights at a Deluxe in order to get EPs ? (okay, I'm not trying to say that Attractions Pass is a way to save on express, we really do need Attractions Pass, I'm ready to pay if it's of any benefit to us. But I'd like to avoid paying for something I already have, especially when we're there for 11 nights with APs so we can take it easy and hit multiple low crowd mornings)
Thanks

THNX and I was going to ask the same question for the same time.

 

[dsmom]

We were there the 2nd week of December this year. We have the disability pass for our son and stayed at PB. We only used the disability pass, never needed the express from the resort. We are planning on staying at Sapphire Falls next December for that exact reason.

 

[macraven]

If you have the assistant disability pass, you don't need to buy the ep

The only situation that might happen is having to backtrack to the ride for the time you can use it
One restriction is, you can't get another ride time set up until the first one has been used
This is really a minor thing and don't let it discourage you in your decision

 

[Minniesgal]

We found August massively busy in 2013 and there wouldn't have been a wait under 30 mins anywhere.

Express pass didn't even help as at some of the rides the express line was as long as the regular line.

We did one day without express pass and waited all morning to get into spiderman. After that we bought express pass.

 

[dsmom]

With the disability pass we never had to wait even when the wait was over thirty minutes, not sure why? We also got to use the elevator at the train, cutting down on a lot of walking. We got to use the elevator at the Seuss train also. At the grinchmas show during Christmas we got front of the line and front row seats.

 

[chmurf]

Thanks all
I'm fairly familiar with the disabiity system at both universal and the motherland (now that they've moved to a similar system as universal) and I've been using them for several years now

I was concerned about heavy crowds especially when TP has it at 9 out of 10 for my dates

I thought Express would have gotten us faster in line. As per the 30 minutes rule, on high crowds assistance pass = wait this much and enter express line, and express = enter expres line NOW
Since we barely can stay more than 4 hours at a time in the parks, I thought express through a deluxe hotel booking would work better than assistance pass with cutting time in the park (not time in express line which will remain the same either way)

I will reconsider and try to use a combination of assistance pass, early entry and sensible touring plans

Thanks for your advice

 

[macraven]

Chmurf, when you talk to the TM at guest services explain all the needs you have in order to have the assistant pass benefit you the most

They can be customized to your specific needs

I get the pass but only to avoid stairs
My needs are for the elevator use.
All other rides I use the ep lines

 

[chicagoshannon]

Do you need to get the assistance pass if you use a wheelchair? Our party would just need to use an elevator and can't stand form long periods.

 

[macraven]

i think that would be obvious to the TM that the elevator is the only way you could reach that ride.

when they see a person in a wc, they would know stairs would be out of the question for them to reach a ride.