Choice: Express Pass or Park to Park

[aljack34]

We are going in June. We only can afford EITHER the express pass for our 3 day trip OR the Park to Park option. If it were you, which would you go for? We are not huge Harry Potter fans I don't know if that makes a huge difference. We will go on the rides but are not hard core.

Right now, i have us staying at the Royal Pacific because of the express pass option. But now i am wondering if we should stay offsite and do the Park to Park option and forgo express pass.

 

[lillyshula]

If it were for my family I would chose to do the express pass over park to park. With park to park, the only thing you are really getting that you won't have with just a one park per day ticket is to be able to ride the Hogwarts Express between the two Harry Potter areas. I think it would be a better value to have the express pass for easier time management and have a better chance of riding something you loved more than once. You could do both parks once and than choose whichever park you liked the best for the third day.

 

[bchbetha]

I’d do the Express Passes. You’ll appreciate being super close to your hotel if you want a mid-afternoon swim or need a change of clothes or a break.

 

[brertoad]

Express Pass. You are going to save yourself a lot of wait time.

 

[kevdad]

Express Pass! It will make a much bigger positive impact on your trip to avoid long lines vs. being able to go from park to park once or twice.

 

[Gary2T]

Another vote for express pass here, but...

Have you run the numbers for getting a Seasonal Annual Pass (2-park)? A 3-day base (1 park per day) adult ticket goes for around $233 from the discount sites. A 2-park seasonal AP goes for $285. Even one of you having an AP will make you eligible for the AP rates on the room which could save you $100 or so per night on your room at one of the Deluxe hotels.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'll be the other side.

We haven't done Express Pass.

We have however done 3-day park-to-park. In 2011 and in 2017 when I went with my husband tickets were bought with a 2-day park-to-park plus 1 day free--in 2011 it was a deal straight through Universal and for the 2017 trip we bought through Undercover Tourist. We bought the park-to-park in 2011 before Hogwarts Express was around so that wasn't a deciding factor at all.

As with WDW park hoppers we find the flexibility great. It was nice to go to the other park when wait times were X or we found we were done with Y park. With Universal it is easier to get from park to park because they are next to each other. I will say that even though Hogwarts Express is not a deciding factor in us getting park-to-park it can make it easier depending on where you are in each park to get to the other park instead of walking to the front of the park, out and across to the other park.

Have you looked into ticket deals?

 

[BigB0882]

We are going in June. We only can afford EITHER the express pass for our 3 day trip OR the Park to Park option. If it were you, which would you go for? We are not huge Harry Potter fans I don't know if that makes a huge difference. We will go on the rides but are not hard core.

Right now, i have us staying at the Royal Pacific because of the express pass option. But now i am wondering if we should stay offsite and do the Park to Park option and forgo express pass.

Definitely Express Pass. Since you are going for 3 days you are going to have the chance to see both parks. I would do one park the first day, the other on the 2nd day and then go back to your favorite on the last day. You can use the Express to ride your favorite over and over.

 

[gotomu212]

Express pass. It makes an incredible difference!

 

[MrsDuck]

Definitely the Express Pass. Park to Park is really only worth it, IMO, if you want to ride Hogwarts Express to and fro.

 

[schumigirl]

Absolutely 100% go for Express Pass........no question about it......

It is worth its weight in gold........and it’ll be busy when you go......you’ll be glad of it......

You have 3 days.......so do a day in each park, with EP you can do what rides you want to do......then on your third day......choose the park you like the most.........3 days is a decent amount of time with EP!!!

 

[Slapshot1188]

IMHO not even close. You are there for 3 days so will see both parks. All you miss out on is Hogwarts Express. In return you get dramatically reduced wait times at a time of year that is hot and crowded.

Also, staying at RPH means you can walk to the parks... and even take a mid-day break back at the hotel.

Express Pass.