Can't decide whether to get park to park tickets....

[ToyStory3]

We are going for 2 days in early June. We will have express passes since we are staying at PB. We will get there around lunch-time on day 1 and will have all day on day 2. I had planned on getting park to park tickets but now I'm wondering if it's worth the extra money. It will be about an additional $250 for our family and this is an add on at the end of a beach vacation. We are also staying club level (which is very important to us) so that's another added expense. I'm sure the Hogwarts express is a great ride - but is that the biggest reason for getting park to park tickets? With the express pass I'm thinking it would be pretty easy to make sure we get to ride everything we want over 2 days. Other factors that I should be considering? Thanks!

 

[kbelle8995]

That really depends. If you have a hard core Harry Potter fan on your hands there's no way they will want to miss the Hogwarts Express.

There is something to be said for being able to go to another park if the other one is crowded. Keep in mind that your going in summer and it's going to be busy. You can go and then upgrade to a park to park when you are there if you change your mind

 

[gotomu212]

We like to switch back and forth several times a day. Hogwarts express is one way to move, but the 2 parks are so close it's about a 2 minute walk gate to gate. If crowds get too heavy in one park we like to switch, or near the end of the trip if there's a favorite ride we want to ride one more time we'll switch, it's also good if a ride is down one day you can go and ride the next.

 

[MandLBee]

Our family of 7 is going to cost $1500 for ONE DAY in Wizarding World (including food and wands). Makes me crazy. But I can not skip it. It's once in a lifetime and the kids are all at the proper ages to really enjoy it together.

 

[macraven]

Being able to go p2p can be worth it

If you are in the studios and some rides go down, you lose out
Switch to the other park

If the park you in have has a surge of crowds, switch parks


If you have the UO app, you can find out line waits and ride info when you are in the parks

Or you can check the time wait signs for rides/events in the park you are in


If you have 2 day base tickets, you can always upgrade them to p2p in the parks

Go with basic tickets and decide later if you want flexibility to park hop

 

[bbkangs]

I wouldn't worry about doing the park to park tickets. Since you are arriving around lunch, that is plenty of time to ride everything you want. I would go to Universal Studios first because I like Islands of Adventure the most, so personally, that is the park I would devote a full day to. Also try to make time for City Walk! There are some awesome restaurants to eat at. =)

 

[ToyStory3]

Thanks all!

 

[bumbershoot]

We are also staying club level (which is very important to us) so that's another added expense

We love club level when we can get it, BUT... have you really thought through if you'll even be able to use it?

Unless its changed they don't have much out other than chips and water/soda/coffee at lunchtime. If you want to partake in dinnertime offerings you'll be leaving the park early. Dessert offerings are after that so really if you're there for the evening offerings you're done with the parks. Mornings have always been difficult for timing if we want to get to the parks for early entrance.

For a short trip when we want to hit the parks, club just isn't worth it for us. It's worth thinking about. I do get that it's important to you; it is to DH, too. But if we never manage to hit the lounge for anything without giving up the precious park time, then it's wasted money.

 

[ToyStory3]

We love club level when we can get it, BUT... have you really thought through if you'll even be able to use it?

Unless its changed they don't have much out other than chips and water/soda/coffee at lunchtime. If you want to partake in dinnertime offerings you'll be leaving the park early. Dessert offerings are after that so really if you're there for the evening offerings you're done with the parks. Mornings have always been difficult for timing if we want to get to the parks for early entrance.

For a short trip when we want to hit the parks, club just isn't worth it for us. It's worth thinking about. I do get that it's important to you; it is to DH, too. But if we never manage to hit the lounge for anything without giving up the precious park time, then it's wasted money.

Yes - I know what you are saying. We did think about it and ultimately decided that we love staying CL even when we don't make it back for all of the offerings. Breakfast is one of our favorite perks. It's so much more relaxing to us than waiting in line or buying things to keep in our room. And, I'm hoping that since the parks and resort are so close we will take a couple breaks and head back for a snack. Thanks!

 

[bchbetha]

We like to switch back and forth several times a day. Hogwarts express is one way to move, but the 2 parks are so close it's about a 2 minute walk gate to gate. If crowds get too heavy in one park we like to switch, or near the end of the trip if there's a favorite ride we want to ride one more time we'll switch, it's also good if a ride is down one day you can go and ride the next.

My sentiments exactly.

 

[maverik85]

Also I'd say it's nice to be able to switch back and forth just due to the number of attractions. The parks are great but the overall ride count isn't real high. Granted during summer there will be longer lines but with an Express pass you'l probably be able to get through them fairly quick. So you might be able to get through each park on its own without needing the full day. I've actually been there in summer before and covered both parks without and express pass with time to spare. So if you can spread out more an dexpereince more stuff over the day will be better too.

 

[kohlby]

Am I reading correctly that you won't have two full days but 1.5 days? If so, you're going to struggle to get all you want done in just half a day likely in one of the parks. Have you been recently? Or do you go regularly enough that you know what you want to get done during this quick trip? If it's a first-time trip or it's been a while, do park-to-park unless you have another trip planned soon to do what you're going to miss.

 

[ToyStory3]

Am I reading correctly that you won't have two full days but 1.5 days? If so, you're going to struggle to get all you want done in just half a day likely in one of the parks. Have you been recently? Or do you go regularly enough that you know what you want to get done during this quick trip? If it's a first-time trip or it's been a while, do park-to-park unless you have another trip planned soon to do what you're going to miss.

We will get there around lunch time on day 1. With longer hours in the summer we will still have a good bit of time - but you are correct that it's not 2 full days. We haven't been there in many years and my kids have never been there! I'm researching now on the different attractions and possible "touring plans". So, we are basically first timers.

 

[cdnusagurl]

We're getting park to park tickets for two reasons. 1)DH is a HUGE Harry Potter fan and I know he would be bummed bordering on really upset if we flew all the way to Universal and he didn't get to ride the Hogwarts Express. 2) As awesome as IOA looks to me, US really doesn't seem to appeal to me that much, so I don't think we'll spend much time there. Sure, we could go back to the resort and relax by the pool, but I'm going to Universal to see the parks. The last thing I want to do is be stuck somewhere all day because I can't hop over to the next park that is literally a 5 minute or so walk away.

I think you should get the park to park ticket.

 

[damo]

You can always upgrade.

 

[derekw]

A few years ago we did one night staying at POR onsite with Express Pass but did not have parktopark in early/mid June. Those were two full days but we did everything we wanted and often multiple times w/ Xpress. You cannot do Hogwarts Express w/out park to park and remember the big HP rides (Hogwarts, Gringott's and Forbidden Journey) do not accept Xpress so you'll be waiting for those probably at least hour wait unless you get there at opening/closing. Another 'risk' (low) is that a ride could be shut down the day you visit and without p2p you may miss it.

 

[soniam]

We go back and forth between the parks much more than we do at Disney World. It's just so convenient. We can finish with a park in part of a day and do the other later in the day. Plus, the train is pretty cool, and you have to see it in both directions.

 

[pcstang]

We go back and forth between the parks much more than we do at Disney World. It's just so convenient. We can finish with a park in part of a day and do the other later in the day. Plus, the train is pretty cool, and you have to see it in both directions.

Exactly! We bounce between them multiple times a day.