December 5 - 9

[DisneyMomx7]

We have stayed at Universal 5 times so far.

We have always stayed at hotels with express pass.

We have APs and just found fantastic airfare for December 5-9 ($200 for 5 of us round trip!)

Since this is an unexpected additional trip we were thinking of just booking Sapphire Falls or
Cabana Bay ($99 per night with AP discount).

How much do you think we will miss express pass on those dates? I'm hoping that they are
low attendance and we won't regret not getting them. Can anyone talk me off the ledge about
giving us the convenience that we are used to with the express passes?

Thanks!

 

[turtlechick6]

hey I will be there with you!!! We are going to be there in the parks the 7-9 and traveling on the 6 and 10. So we should see you there! My research so far showes low crowds.

 

[littlejimmy]

sorry cant talk you off the ledge. express pass has spoiled me and I fully admit to being an onsite express pass snob. being able to go on rides with little to no wait is just too good to pass up for my family.

 

[saskdw]

We have stayed at Universal 5 times so far.

We have always stayed at hotels with express pass.

We have APs and just found fantastic airfare for December 5-9 ($200 for 5 of us round trip!)

Since this is an unexpected additional trip we were thinking of just booking Sapphire Falls or
Cabana Bay ($99 per night with AP discount).

How much do you think we will miss express pass on those dates? I'm hoping that they are
low attendance and we won't regret not getting them. Can anyone talk me off the ledge about
giving us the convenience that we are used to with the express passes?

Thanks!

We were at UO Dec. 1st-12th last year. We stayed at RPR and had the EP. This is a great time to go to UO. Crowds were light and lines were short. I don't really think the EP saved us much time. The only time we there were lines longer than 20 mins were the HP rides that don't have EP anyway.

I would say this is one of the best times to go without EP.

 

[kbelle8995]

I was at Cabana Bay about that time last year. I had a wonderful time. Most of the lines were very short waits. We did fine with no EP. And I love the way Cabana Bay was decorated for the holidays. Just lovely with Christmas themed activities. (Elves in the lobby one night, A choir on another) It was somewhat busier on the weekends. I was there for the Dis party. Also a great time. Kong ride is the only one that might give you trouble line wise.

Since SF was not opened I have no comment on what they did for the Holidays

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Thank You!!!

We have stayed at HRH 3 times, RPR twice and Cabana Bay for one night before moving to RPR

However all those times were either summer or spring break. I think we will stick with our plan of a really cheap "extra" trip and see how we do

 

[kbelle8995]

Use the early entry for Potter. It gives you a great advantage. If it becomes too much you can always purchase an express pass for the day. I tend to miss most of the line because I use single rider when the line is too much. As I said weekends will be busier.''

When I went to Kong they had dismantled the single rider and were using it for EP. But Hogsmeade was open early that day and I walked straight to Kong when they opened the walkway. I was pretty much walking on the ride.

Good luck. Also universal has a good app which has the wait on each ride. The problem like Disney is getting the Wifi to work.