Best place to buy tickets? Do we need Express?

[ceecee]

We are going to Universal for 3 days before our annual Disney trip late January. I booked at Cabana Bay so we won't have the Express, we are mainly going to see Harry Potter. I spoke with Universal and she quoted me a price for tickets ($50 more than Undercover Tourist for 3 tickets) she said if we buy elsewhere we need to stand in line to get the tickets, if we get them thru Universal we can pick them up at the hotel. Does anyone know if in fact the long line will use our entire early hour entry?

 

[VacaPlanner2012]

Undercover Tourist has always sent a ticket in the mail that allows you to go straight to the gate. Maybe she was concerned with the timing, but UT has always delivered to us within 7-10 days, so you are right on the border as far as timing. There always seemed to be plenty of kiosks, not sure how long the line would be.

 

[epcotty]

As I recall even going with AAA just means you use a machine to get the tickets before entering, even that's not a big deal. Undercover Tourist seems even better than that. And I don't think Express is necessary

 

[damo]

Undercover Tourist definitely sends the actual ticket. When you do kiosk pickup with Universal, you have to stand in line at the kiosk. There is no need to buy direct from Universal.

 

[ceecee]

Looks like I missed the deadline for "10 business days" to get them from Undercover, so does anyone know how their paper tickets work? Do we have to exchange them for regular tickets.

 

[damo]

Looks like I missed the deadline for "10 business days" to get them from Undercover, so does anyone know how their paper tickets work? Do we have to exchange them for regular tickets.

If you are talking about print at home tickets, no you don't exchange them, they are your tickets. If you want a smaller ticket, use kiosk pickup. You can get those at the machines in the hotel lobbies or at the entrances to the parks.

 

[kohlby]

We had to pick up our AP's at the park. It wasn't a long line - or any line! They had kiosks and it was super easy. It was the Sunday after Thanksgiving when we went, so low crowds.

 

[violakat03]

In late January, no you shouldn't need Express. Anyway, if you're focusing on HP, it won't work at Grigotts, Ollivander's in Hogsmeade (unsure on DA, haven't been there yet), or (unless something has changed recently) Forbidden Journey.

 

[macraven]

If many extend their stay after the potter gala event, there could be some crowds after the potter gala event is over

 

[ceecee]

When is the Harry Potter Gala?