EP or no EP end of August?

[mommymanda]

I am pricing a vacation and we've been to Disney a few times the last week of August and find crowds bearable with minimal wait. However with them would could pick the few fastpass rides that were busy to get on quickly.

If I'm reading Universal's info right you have to purchase an Express pass to beat the lines.

How bad will the crowds be? The current package that offers "free express pass" somehow costs $350 more for my family (which being translated to Canadian still is sadly much more).

So is this upgrade worth it at that time of year or can we manage? Yes my daughter and I will be excited to see Harry Potter stuff, but not disappointed if we have to miss something due to a crazy wait.

 

[schumigirl]

The two main Potter rides, Forbidden Journey and Gringotts don't participate in EP if that's makes a difference to you at all.

Late August used to be fairly quiet......but it's gotten busier over the years. Kong also opens this year and that could affect crowds.

Are you planning to stay onsite at one of the three hotels that offer unlimited EP? This is a perk of staying at one of their onsite hotels......no extra purchase necessary. It's much better than Disney FP system. No return times, just use it as you wish.

Cabana Bay and Sapphire Falls offer only early entry, the other three offer EE plus EP.

Have a look at the website if it's all new to you www.universalorlando.com

Gives you plenty of information on all sorts of things about Universal

 

[mommymanda]

HI
Thanks
Our dates will be Aug. 27- Sept. 2
I am looking at the new resort Sapphire falls, it fits our price range and they are currently offering a promotion for the "free" express pass...however as I said it works out to a chunk more than the same package without the pass. I like the idea of the pass, just not the cost as this trip at the moment is still not certain thanks to the joy of my Canadian dollar.

 

[schumigirl]

The U.K. Pound isn't doing great either.......it is what is.

It'll be worth it......EP is worth it's weight in gold......even on quieter times. Rides like Despicable Me have queues of 60-90 minutes or more regularly........that was on so called quiet days in September.

 

[PinkMagnolia]

I feel your pain. We are also CDN and are going to UO for the first time the last week of August as well. We opted for 5 nights (4 park days) at Cabana Bay simply for the cost. From what I understand, if we participate in EE and have a smart touring plan, we should be OK. I just can't justify the extra cost (we are doing a cruise as well), so it really depends how you feel about spending the extra $$ on something else. With four park days, we should be able to do everything. If you have the kind of family that values sleeping in, it may be wise to consider modifying your vacation to include the Express Pass.
I got a great rate from Expedia Cruise Centers (an agent) - CDN $780 for 5 nights in a Standard Room.

 

[macraven]

If you are not at a hotel that has the ep perk, you can always buy the ep in the park at the stores or guest services

If crowds are high the day you are there, make the decision then

You can look at the ticket site, list your dates and see what ep is selling for

If the price is low or moderate, you don't need to buy them

Use single rider lines for the rides that have them and use early entry if staying at the other two onsite hotels

 

[chmurf]

I am looking at the new resort Sapphire falls, it fits our price range and they are currently offering a promotion for the "free" express pass..

Where did you see that ?

The current promotion is a $150 dining credit for stays of 4 or more nights

Express passes are not offered at Sapphire or Cabana bay. You can purchase them but you don!t get them free like you do at the 3 deluxes

 

[macraven]

That hotel will give you the early entry perk but not free express.

 

[dja14]

We are going the last 2 weeks of Aug- beginning of Sept. I am not planning on it being really slow. I thought it would be at first but I have seen way more people than I thought saying they were going then. I figure #1 we have to go then and #2 surely it will be less than midsummer

What we are doing is staying offsite (for space mostly) but we are getting a deluxe room for 1 night so we have 2 days of express pass. I figure surely that will be enough if crowds are heavy to get what we can't do any other way. For our family of 5 it was cheaper to do that than buy express passes. We can't do full parks days though, so that is why I thought we might need it. If nothing else it will be 2 days of not waiting.

We are also looking forward to Harry Potter sections but a couple of the rides aren't express pass anyway and I figure the looking around will be fun as well.

At this point I am more concerned about waiting an hour in the security line. I am really hoping that gets streamlined.

 

[macraven]

For the time you have the onsite room,
You can use early entry and hit potterville that morning

 

[schumigirl]

dja14........ Walking to the parks from your hotel or using the boat you won't have the long queues to get to the park that you would coming through from the parking garage.

 

[mommymanda]

Oops it is not the Sapphire that is offering the not so free, free express pass. It is the Royal Pacific that is having that offer. Which most likely means it is free, because I was comparing with the Sapphire price. Either way I will do some more research if we get the current three day ticket promotion that will also help us see more in our days there.

 

[chmurf]

Oops it is not the Sapphire that is offering the not so free, free express pass. It is the Royal Pacific that is having that offer. Which most likely means it is free, because I was comparing with the Sapphire price.

Royal Pacific is a deluxe, Sapphire Falls is a moderate.
Deluxes get Express Pass for free. You hardly can compare the prices of 2 different hotel categories.

if we get the current three day ticket promotion that will also help us see more in our days there.

the 2 days + 1 free tickets currently under promotion have to be used up by May 31st. If any admission day remains on the ticket after that date, that day will be lost.
so if you go any later than May 29th (going to parks 29th, 30th or 31st of May) don't purchase those tickets, or you'll be denied entry.
You go late august, early september, so those tickets are not for you.

always read the fine prints aka Terms and Conditions

 

[mkwj]

I thought I saw where there was an option for the 2+1 that didn't expire as soon as May. It was a few dollars more. It may be the buy 2 get 2.

 

[squirrel]

Check out Air Transat for hotel prices in Canadian. I had already booked with a TA and wasn't able to cancel my booking but the deal a month or so ago would have saved me $330 CAN for Cabana Bay or I would have been able to stay in a Family Suite at Cabana Bay for the same price as a standard room.