Express Pass for one day in mid-July. Absolute necessity?

[DerekV914]

My DGF and DParents are planning a one day visit to just IOA on July 16th. We only have the one day, and really don't want to spend all day waiting in lines. If we don't get the express pass, will we spend the majority of our day standing in a line? If we do buy the express pass, how much faster do those lines move than the regular stand by lines? Any help would be appreciated as we are all seasoned Disney vets, but babes in the woods when it comes to Universal. Thanks in advance!

 

[Texaschick1104]

You can buy the express passes when you get there if you see the need. I would expect the lines to be long especially in the middle of the day. You might be better off booking a night at an on-site hotel and getting unlimited express for up to 5 people and early entry to the park. If you are really set on getting express passes, I would look into the prices of express and a hotel room and compare.

 

[horseshowmom]

My DGF and DParents are planning a one day visit to just IOA on July 16th. We only have the one day, and really don't want to spend all day waiting in lines. If we don't get the express pass, will we spend the majority of our day standing in a line? If we do buy the express pass, how much faster do those lines move than the regular stand by lines? Any help would be appreciated as we are all seasoned Disney vets, but babes in the woods when it comes to Universal. Thanks in advance!

You can buy the express passes when you get there if you see the need. I would expect the lines to be long especially in the middle of the day. You might be better off booking a night at an on-site hotel and getting unlimited express for up to 5 people and early entry to the park. If you are really set on getting express passes, I would look into the prices of express and a hotel room and compare.

In the middle of July, I would guess yes, but I would also do what is suggested above. Plus a room would get you early entrance for two days. We actually did that one Christmas, and it worked great! My daughter and her husband decided to stay in the room that night even though we already had accommodations. There are a lot of discounts on rooms so be sure to check on that too.

 

[macraven]

My DGF and DParents are planning a one day visit to just IOA on July 16th. We only have the one day, and really don't want to spend all day waiting in lines. If we don't get the express pass, will we spend the majority of our day standing in a line? If we do buy the express pass, how much faster do those lines move than the regular stand by lines? Any help would be appreciated as we are all seasoned Disney vets, but babes in the woods when it comes to Universal. Thanks in advance!

july 16th, the time many will be doing summer vacations......
july is a busy month in the parks, in all orlando parks..

express lines should be no longer than a 20 minute wait.
regular lines will positively exceed that time period.

use the single rider lines for the rides that offer them.
sometimes it is faster in the srl than the express, depending on the ride.
since you all are adults, it would work out fine.
it isn't that easy to carry on a conversation with the person next to you on some rides. if you don't mind being separated for the time period of the ride, this would cut your wait times down.


be at the entrance 45 minutes in advance.
if the park opens at 9 be there at 8:15.

there are times the guests are let in 15 minutes early before official opening time.

onsite hotel guests can enter the IOA park one hour prior to opening.
there will be many in the parry hotter section at ioa.
that is the only section at ioa that is opened early.

hit the rides up front then, as your waits will not be bad at all.
many guests will be rushing to the back of the park for parry hotter.

hit the back of ioa in the last 2 hours before closing time.


be sure to check up front when you enter of any ride/show closings.
pick up a park guide map for any show times, meet and greets, etc.

go online www.universalorlando.com in advance and familiarize yourself with the layout of the parks.
check out on the uo site of the eateries, restrooms, first aid, etc.


at the studios park, most will head to the transformers as it is new.
if that line has a 70 minute or more wait, hit the other rides.
those lines will not be long.

everyone hits the newest attractions in the parks.
that opens up the other rides for less waits.


if you hit this park early in the morning, do what you can with limited waits.
if you are spending hours in lines, consider buying the express passes.
they are valid for each ride/show once.
use them then for the rides/shows you want to do but haven't yet.

then repeat the rides you have already done with the express.

if this is your first time in the park, pick one park and do it all.
if there is more time left in the day for you, go to guest services and upgrade your one day park ticket to a park to park ticket.
you are only paying the difference between the two tickets.

then go to the other park and do the highlights.

if you want to eat at city walk after you leave the parks go here:
www.citywalk.com

click on orlando and you will find restaurants w/info and menus


if it rains, crowds usually thin out.
don't buy the ep in advance as they are park related, non refundable passes.