Express Pass during low crowd times?

[Gdes1]

I'm just beginning research on a father-son trip for my husband and 11 year old (at time of trip). I have read that if they visit during a "green" or low-crowd day, they don't need the express pass and that 2-3 days is plenty of time to experience Studios and IOA (they can skip the waterpark). However, my son would probably LOVE to ride his favorites again and again and again. So at that point, it's not about "we got to ride each thing once", it's the freedom to ride things over and over without more waits. Most likely, I'd book them into one of the hotel and ticket packages that includes the Express passes.

Is that a waste during a lower crowd day? Also, while I am at it, the main reason for the visit would be for my son to experience all things Harry Potter, so even if rides and lines are not an issue, I have heard that those areas of the park are really packed, hence wanting to go on a low crowd day. Or are the HP areas packed no matter what and we should not focus so much on being there for a low-crowd day?

I hope this makes sense. I feel my choices are:
1) Miss a few days of school to get a low-crowd day so that HP is more enjoyable AND get the Express passes so he can ride things all he wants during a 3-day, 2-park stay.
2) Go on a low-crowd day but without Express passes and hope he can ride a few things more than once without 30 min+ waits (also 3-day, 2 park stay).
3) As long as I am paying for Express passes, go on a medium crowd day because HP is packed no matter what so he might as well not miss school because the HP experience is the same as any other day and the Express pass lets him ride lots of rides.


Which statement/choice is the best?

 

[Hitchhiking Ghost]

I think, my opinion only, that in capturing the feel of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley that they really made those areas constricted, with very bad traffic flows. The trade off is that authenticity of the feel, Diagon Alley is after all an alley, Hogsmeade has a tight English village feel. So instead of having a more open feel to those areas, it can feel a bit claustrophobic. I would hate to be in there in a high densitity day. I think Hogsmeade is the worse of the two as far as traffic flow goes, especially with getting in/out of Hogsmeade Train Station. Can't imagine what that area would be like once Hagrid's ride opens.

If you did two nights in one of their EP hotels, you can easily get 2 1/2 days in on a two night stay, we did a three night stay with a 1/2 day, two full days, and less than half day, that was more than enough. Even on low attendane days, I think the EP is still valuable, especially with HP and some of the roller coasters. We did Hollywood and Hulk coasters multiple times, getting on/off/on again and seeing the same people still in line. I'd go with #2

 

[Sue M]

We all tour differently and for us, with hotel that had EP, we found 3 days wasn’t enough. And wished we had 4. To do it more leisurely. We liked spending time in both Harry Potter areas. Orlando Informer has a very good touring plan for 3 days.

 

[Squirlz]

We started going back when the only 3 onsite hotels all provided EPs. I still would not stay any other way. We can get so much more done and have time for just relaxing and people watching or hanging out at the resort.

 

[bobbie68]

Hi I think either time you choose the express pass is a nice perk to have.

Yes the HP areas do get very crowded at any time. We find that early to mid morning is best or later in the evening a few hours before it closes.

We always have had the express pass and always will no matter what time of year. We enjoy the freedom that it gives us to tour the parks.

I would look at room only reservations and not a package. The packages are more restrictive for cancelling. All you need it to so a room only at one of the three deluxe for your express pass. You can buy your tickets separately.

Personally I stopped taking my daughter out of school in middle school it just became to much work to make up. Plus I do like the warmer time of year to do the resort pools. We usually go between June and August.

 

[Gdes1]

Thank you for all of the answers! This is exactly the kind of info I was looking for. I never would have thought we could book the hotel, but not tickets, but book tickets later and still get EP as part of the hotel stay. I am kind of bummed my daughter and I won't be going. I was really looking forward to that nice hotel. But, we were just at WDW and learned she doesn't like bigger rides, and since I do, that leaves one child not wanting to do what the rest of us are doing! She and I are not the HP fans, either. Nothing against it, I just don't need to spend $500 in food/hotel/tix to see it. So probably best we find a good time to send the guys to really enjoy this and go on scary ride after scary ride. I will also make it not less than 3 days, since that was also a good tip.

 

[bobbie68]

You're welcome glad it was helpful