Do crowds matter when purchasing Express Pass?

[mkm1998]

I'm planning an Orlando trip for middle of November. I've already decided that we're going to get Express passes for the entire time we're at Universal (3-4 days). What I'm wondering is with Express, do I really need to pay much attention to crowd level predictions? I know there's a couple rides at Epic that could still be 30min wait with Express, but how about at the other 2 parks? And just want to confirm, at this point the only ride at all 3 parks not using express is the Pteranodon Flyers?

My thought is since we'll have express for Universal, it would be better to use the crown prediction guides to try and hit the Disney Parks instead on low attendance days. We're going the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, thru the weekend after. So I'm thinking it would make more sense to visit Disney first before the Thanksgiving crowds hit, and then when it more crowded we go to Universal with our Express passes.

Does that make sense?

 

[disneyseniors]

I've always gotten EP's while at Universal, but honestly there were times that we really didn't need them. The only ones we needed them for were the "newer" ones like when Escape from Gringott's first opened. I still got the EP's for our next visit in May. But I think that with Epic things just might be a lot busier than when we visited last. They make life easier when you do need them.

 

[mkm1998]

I've always gotten EP's while at Universal, but honestly there were times that we really didn't need them. The only ones we needed them for were the "newer" ones like when Escape from Gringott's first opened. I still got the EP's for our next visit in May. But I think that with Epic things just might be a lot busier than when we visited last. They make life easier when you do need them.

Thanks for the reply! We're bringing our 7-year old son. It'll be his first trip to Orlando. Waiting in any line more than 20 minutes is always fun with a kid that age. Plus, with as much planning as I have to do to figure out LL strategy while at Disney World, it's going to be nice to just be able to enjoy the Universal Parks with EP, and not really worry about what we should be running to next.

I've pretty much have the trip in my head laid out. Staying at the Swan for the Disney portion. 5 Park Days (1 for each park, 2 days for MK), and 1 break day. Then flip over to Universal.

Now I'm just debating if I would rather stay at Sapphire Falls the entire time at Universal, or do a split stay and head over the Helios for the last night or two while we're doing Epic. I'm leaning against no on Helios, only because I'm not really concerned with hitting the park right at open when I've got the EP.

 

[The Gatekeeper]

When you say "the Wednesday before Thanksgiving" do you mean the day before Thanksgiving because I would think there would be very little difference in crowds from the day before Thanksgiving though the weekend following the holiday. It will be packed in all the parks.
The week before should be lighter crowds so any plan to reduce your time in line is a good one.
Unless you're traveling with a child between 36" and 56", you won't be able to ride Pteranodon Flyers. Also, Dragon Racers Rally in Epic doesn't take Express either.
Thanksgiving is very crowded. You can be in line for at least 30 minutes or more on several rides, Hagrid's being on of them. Epic can be a nightmare if you're in line when a ride goes down. The good news is you have almost a year for operations to improve there.
Edit:
You'll have a kid so Flyers shouldn't be an issue. We like early admission, even with express. We liked Hogsmeade because the crowds were lower, especially nice if your kid likes to do spells. Also, it puts you in position to hit Pteranodon Flyers right at opening so there's no line yet since you're already back there at Potter. We could get 2 rides in easy before the wait jumped up. It's a fun ride but very short.
We also do Nintendo World at early admission even with Express. Not the rides, but all the STUFF. Get your kid a wristband and have a blast before there's lines for every little interactive device. Nintendo can be EXTREMELY overwhelming so hitting it early while everyone races to the rides is priceless.
I think you're going to really miss out on a lot missing Early Entry, especially with a kid. My kids LOVE the interactive Nintendo stuff as much as the rides. When it's crowded, it's no bueno.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

There will obviously be differences in the EP lines between super high crowd levels and "normal" crowd days. But for most rides that difference will be more along the lines of waiting 10-20min vs waiting 5-10min. Even in Epic, the EP lines work great when the ride is running well - IE we strode past 180min posted wait and were walking back out of Ministry within 20min. So I wouldn't let a long posted wait deter you. The difference will be most notable in the slow loading rides (Flight of the Hippogriff comes to mind) and rides where the EP merge is relatively early (Hogwarts Express from King's Cross/Universal side).

Make sure to price things out too - with the higher crowds around Thanksgiving also come higher EP and hotel prices. I would suggest getting your tickets and especially your EP as soon as you have nailed down your dates. The EPs have a tendency to increase in price, dramatically, and/or sell out...

 

[mkm1998]

When you say "the Wednesday before Thanksgiving" do you mean the day before Thanksgiving because I would think there would be very little difference in crowds from the day before Thanksgiving though the weekend following the holiday. It will be packed in all the parks.
The week before should be lighter crowds so any plan to reduce your time in line is a good one.
Unless you're traveling with a child between 36" and 56", you won't be able to ride Pteranodon Flyers. Also, Dragon Racers Rally in Epic doesn't take Express either.
Thanksgiving is very crowded. You can be in line for at least 30 minutes or more on several rides, Hagrid's being on of them. Epic can be a nightmare if you're in line when a ride goes down. The good news is you have almost a year for operations to improve there.
Edit:
You'll have a kid so Flyers shouldn't be an issue. We like early admission, even with express. We liked Hogsmeade because the crowds were lower, especially nice if your kid likes to do spells. Also, it puts you in position to hit Pteranodon Flyers right at opening so there's no line yet since you're already back there at Potter. We could get 2 rides in easy before the wait jumped up. It's a fun ride but very short.
We also do Nintendo World at early admission even with Express. Not the rides, but all the STUFF. Get your kid a wristband and have a blast before there's lines for every little interactive device. Nintendo can be EXTREMELY overwhelming so hitting it early while everyone races to the rides is priceless.
I think you're going to really miss out on a lot missing Early Entry, especially with a kid. My kids LOVE the interactive Nintendo stuff as much as the rides. When it's crowded, it's no bueno.

We're planning on Flying out the 18th, and Thanksgiving is the 26th. So the plan I'm working with is while the crowds are low, go through Disney World. Then on Thanksgiving we would move to the Universal Resort, and spend the next few days there with Express Passes to deal with the higher crowds.

My thought is that Universal with Express after Thanksgiving will be more manageble than Disney with just LL. I can't justify LP for as many days as we're doing Disney (5-6).

 

[mkm1998]

There will obviously be differences in the EP lines between super high crowd levels and "normal" crowd days. But for most rides that difference will be more along the lines of waiting 10-20min vs waiting 5-10min. Even in Epic, the EP lines work great when the ride is running well - IE we strode past 180min posted wait and were walking back out of Ministry within 20min. So I wouldn't let a long posted wait deter you. The difference will be most notable in the slow loading rides (Flight of the Hippogriff comes to mind) and rides where the EP merge is relatively early (Hogwarts Express from King's Cross/Universal side).

Make sure to price things out too - with the higher crowds around Thanksgiving also come higher EP and hotel prices. I would suggest getting your tickets and especially your EP as soon as you have nailed down your dates. The EPs have a tendency to increase in price, dramatically, and/or sell out...

Thanks! I'm trying to get moving soon. I'm also watching prices too. Want to lock in the Swan before that price starts creeping up.

 

[disneyseniors]

Thanks for the reply! We're bringing our 7-year old son. It'll be his first trip to Orlando. Waiting in any line more than 20 minutes is always fun with a kid that age. Plus, with as much planning as I have to do to figure out LL strategy while at Disney World, it's going to be nice to just be able to enjoy the Universal Parks with EP, and not really worry about what we should be running to next.

I've pretty much have the trip in my head laid out. Staying at the Swan for the Disney portion. 5 Park Days (1 for each park, 2 days for MK), and 1 break day. Then flip over to Universal.

Now I'm just debating if I would rather stay at Sapphire Falls the entire time at Universal, or do a split stay and head over the Helios for the last night or two while we're doing Epic. I'm leaning against no on Helios, only because I'm not really concerned with hitting the park right at open when I've got the EP.

Not the same plan as you, but we are staying at RPR and don't plan to get a reservation at an Epic resort for our 2 days pass to Epic. We will just use the bus transportation. I hate moving while on vacation so that plays a big part in it. Your 7 year old son is at a perfect age for Disney/Universal. He will absolutely love it Our first trip with the kids was when they were 5 and 7 and it was great Have a wonderful time no matter what you decide

I just read that you will be there before Tk? We were there before TK once. We left the day before. It was great before the day before, then it got really crowded. But we were used to going when there weren't very big crowds. We are retired and could plan our trips around those slow days.