Disney is our favorite but Going to universal first time-

[Calnative]

Spending most all of our vacation at Disney but will try universal parks two days. we can only afford to buy express pass at one of the Universal Parks. We have kids from 9 to 15 going with us. Five children. Which park do you think is better to get the express pass for our age children. Any input would be greatly appreciated! We have tickets to go to both parks we just can't buy express passes for both. And the days we are going they are very expensive in February. Thanks!!

 

[MiceFan]

Unless crowd levels are 7+ on both of your days, I wouldn't bother with the express passes. If you just really want them, I would make a list of the rides you think your group will want to do in each park and buy the express pass for the park where you have the most rides. Make sure to check the list of rides that allow you to use the express pass.
Have fun!

 

[hedberg1661]

where an you staying? I Stayed at Cabana Bay and loved it.

 

[JRennie]

Unless crowd levels are 7+ on both of your days, I wouldn't bother with the express passes. If you just really want them, I would make a list of the rides you think your group will want to do in each park and buy the express pass for the park where you have the most rides. Make sure to check the list of rides that allow you to use the express pass.
Have fun!

This! I personally don't find the lineups to be bad at universal at all, especially in comparison to MK. Go for RD and get your popular rides (Harry Potter) done and you should be fine without express passes.

 

[Calnative]

We are going Saturday feb 13 and Monday feb 16. Looks like very crowded days because of presidents week.
Which park do you all prefer?
I appreciate your feedback so much!!!

 

[illinidp]

I definitely prefer IoA. Several attractions at US recently closed and The Hulk is closed for refurb at IoA. Are park-to-park tickets through Undercover Tourist an option? They are necessary to ride the Hogwarts Express.

 

[soniam]

I don't quite know which I would get express for, if only one. We stay onsite, and it's included. However, these are the rides that do take express that I remember seeing long lines for when we went last March. I would look at descriptions of the rides to see if you think you would want to do it and pick the park with the most rides you like. Based on pure numbers, it looks like IOA wins. However, you should really consider what you would actually ride. Plus, Minions has the worst waits of everything, except Forbidden Journey and Gringott's which don't take express anyway. So, that could trump some other stuff.

Minions - US
Transformers - US
Simpsons (some) - US
Rip Ride Rocket (Didn't ride it, but seems like it could have long waits) - US
Spider Man - IOA
Dragon Challenge (see Rip Ride) - IOA
Hippogriff - IOA
Hulk (see Rip Ride. Plus it's down for refurb) - IOA
Fear Fall (see Rip Ride) - IOA
Jurassic River ride (see Rip Ride) - IOA
Ripsaw Falls (see Rip Ride) - IOA

 

[ArwenMarie]

We were at Universal last year those same days and it was crowded, really crowded. We didn't have Express Passes and we left early. Get to the parks for opening and try to get as much done as you can. As for the EPs I would get them for USF, I think there is more to do there especially if it ends up being cooler that day and you don't want to get drenched on the water rides at IoA.

 

[RMulieri]

It depends. The headliner Harry Potter attractions ( gringotts , Forbidden Journey and Hogwarts express ) do not take it. In the Studios, the ride with the longest wait other than gringotts is Despicable Me and that can have waits of 90 mins on slow days. BUT as another poster mentioned 3 attractions/shows in the Studios closed recently..Twister ,Disaster and Beetlejuice, they may not have been popular, but they absorbed large crowds during busy times..Other than Forbidden Journey ,Hulk, and Spiderman ( and Hulk is closed till summer) I never really see huge lines at IOA

Personally, I would wait to see if you need the express before you buy it.If you change your mind, the crowds aren't as large as you thought or the weather is bad, they are NON REFUNDABLE

 

[Calnative]

Thank you for all of your input!!! We really appreciate it!!! May try to do both parks in one day. We have to base tickets for all of us in our family. Could we use both tickets in one day? That we can go to Disney one extra day. It's only $10 to add one extra Disney day.

 

[nfceagles]

If you book the cheapest deluxe room you can find on property and list the maximum of 5 guests, you'll get 5 express passes for two days (day of check in and day of check out). That might be cheaper than buying them, but you'd need a second room to cover the whole party of 7 and the financials may not work out for that.

 

[Mooghan]

You might be able to get buy with just using the express pass for one day. My friend and I went right after Diagon Alley opened up, so it was hot and extremely crowded. We used the park-to-park express pass for just one day and got a ton of stuff done (I think about 27 rides). We rode everything that we wanted to that day except for the Gringotts ride. Do you have two single day park admission tickets or a two day park to park ticket?

 

[Calnative]

We have a two day base ticket which we are trying to exchange/upgrade to a one day park to park. I spoke with universal today and they are looking into it thank you for all of your input! New plan is park to park one day with express pass.

 

[bumbershoot]

We have no idea what kind of kids they are or what their interests are. Look at the uni website and figure out the best fit for your group.

 

[SA mom]

Based on my family, I think I would rather stick with the 2 day base ticket and spend a day in each park. My kids were 10 the last time we went and we spent 2 hours in the Jurassic Park Visitors Center. They also really liked that Woody Woodpecker play area and the Jurassic play area. The only thing you would not be able to do is Hogwarts Express. You could still express pass one day. The two Wizarding areas are really detail intense and if your kids like Harry Potter, they could spend a lot of time just poking around the areas, looking in the window, sifting through the shops. It is so much more than just rides.

Have a great trip!