Express Pass - Desperately trying to cut costs

[Tiggr88]

Okay...I did some investigating for you....

A two day parkhopper is $235
A two day unlimited express is $215 for your dates

However, if you get the bundled ticket with express it is $379. That saves a bit of money!

Does the combo lock in you for specific dates to visit? Usually the tickets can be used over a period of time but the express passes are for a specific day, correct? Does that mean the combo then acts like the express pass so the admission only works on those dates?

Also, is there any discount for getting multiple days of express pass if it is not part of the combo? It just seemed to double up when I was on the express pass page.

If there is a post about ticket option advice that I missed, you can just point me in the right direction.

Thanks

 

[Tiggr88]

Does the combo lock in you for specific dates to visit? Usually the tickets can be used over a period of time but the express passes are for a specific day, correct? Does that mean the combo then acts like the express pass so the admission only works on those dates?

Also, is there any discount for getting multiple days of express pass if it is not part of the combo? It just seemed to double up when I was on the express pass page.

If there is a post about ticket option advice that I missed, you can just point me in the right direction.

Thanks

Actually, I found this as I clicked further through the options. If I read this correctly, it means that my first day must be the date I select (which was 3/20), but can use the second day by 3/26, is that correct?

You MUST use your ticket on the start date you select on the calendar. Remaining 2-Park Park-to-Park + Universal Express Unlimited™ days can be used anytime between March 20th - 26th 2017

 

[ELSA711]

I am in the same boat. Going to US 6/21-6/24, staying for 3 nights.
We went through the list of rides and my kids are smaller and may not be interested in anything other than Harry Potter, ET and Minion Mayhem. So with that. Can anyone help me if EP is worth it or staying at the lower grade hotels good enough for early entry.

What are the top 5 rides you would use EP on in both parks (US/IOA)?

 

[TommyJK]

I am in the same boat. Going to US 6/21-6/24, staying for 3 nights.
We went through the list of rides and my kids are smaller and may not be interested in anything other than Harry Potter, ET and Minion Mayhem. So with that. Can anyone help me if EP is worth it or staying at the lower grade hotels good enough for early entry.

What are the top 5 rides you would use EP on in both parks (US/IOA)?

Those dates will likely be moderate to high crowd levels

If EE on those days includes Universal side, then it will help with Minions (hit this first as it's right at the entrance) followed by Diagon Alley.

In terms of EP top 5 rides in each park, It would be most beneficial for:

IOA:

• Kong
• Hulk
• Spiderman
• Dudley Do Rights (will be hot and this has a slow standby queue)
• A possible mix of other rides depending on their wait times (Dr. Doom, Jurassic Park, Suess Rides, other water rides...)

Universal Side

• Minions (ALWAYS a long queue. Either hit first at EE or anytime if you have EP)
• Rip Ride Rockit
• Simpsons
• Transformers
• Mummy

 

[ELSA711]

Those dates will likely be moderate to high crowd levels

If EE on those days includes Universal side, then it will help with Minions (hit this first as it's right at the entrance) followed by Diagon Alley.

In terms of EP top 5 rides in each park, It would be most beneficial for:

IOA:

• Kong
• Hulk
• Spiderman
• Dudley Do Rights (will be hot and this has a slow standby queue)
• A possible mix of other rides depending on their wait times (Dr. Doom, Jurassic Park, Suess Rides, other water rides...)

Universal Side

• Minions (ALWAYS a long queue. Either hit first at EE or anytime if you have EP)
• Rip Ride Rockit
• Simpsons
• Transformers
• Mummy

Thank you so much!! This helps a ton.
My kids won't be able to do Dr. Doom or Hulk due to height. My 2 little ones already said no to Mummy and my oldest will be iffy with height on Rip Ride Rocket.
The 3 bigs ones on here for us would be Jurassic Park and Minions. (I'd like to see Kong but may not be able to convince my younger two to go)


(another ?? in comparing water rides to the 2 at WDW if I may)
My youngest hates Splash because of the 'drop' but will ride Kali River...thoughts on which water rides are best at US/IOA

 

[wookiebeck]

Jurassic Park ride is like a PG-13 Splash Mtn. Dudly Do-Right is more funny, like SM. Popeye's Barges is like Kali Rapids, except 3 times as long and a virtual guarantee to get soaked. Lots of fun.

 

[ELSA711]

Jurassic Park ride is like a PG-13 Splash Mtn. Dudly Do-Right is more funny, like SM. Popeye's Barges is like Kali Rapids, except 3 times as long and a virtual guarantee to get soaked. Lots of fun.

Thanks! So stay away from Jurassic? She doesn't like drops!
She doesn't mind the rough rapids type rides but anything with a drop to get wet she doesn't like. Except Everest, go figure. Maybe it's the straight 'drops' I can't figure it out.

Nice LOGO!!

 

[cassie58]

Maybe you can just buy the express pass for the first day, and stay at Cabana Bay, which will give you the early entry to do Harry Potter both days. You could do all your top pics/longest line rides day 1 with the pass, and finish up day two with anything you missed, or do favorites again early in the day before longer lines.

 

[Darcy03231]

We done US/IOA multiple times, sometimes staying on-site and other staying off-site. When staying off-site we've never purchased the express pass (and we've been there during the summer months). If you're mainly interested in seeing the HP stuff, the express pass doesn't help there. We've found if you get the parks before rope drop you can get a lot accomplished before the lines get out of control (except for Minions, for some reason that line always is long). I would just stay at Cabana Bay and make sure you're there for rope drop and get as much in as you can in the two days you're there.