Express pass help

[Jim P]

Looking for a little help or explanation: We are WDW pros, but this our first big trip to Universal. I see when you book one of the signature hotels you get the express passes for the length of your stay. Here is a scenario, I book the Portofina Hotel for (2) nights. It asks me if I want a 1, 2, or 3 day express pass. This means I will get the express pass on the day I check in, day 2 and the day we check out, correct? Now does that express pass include Epic Universe, or do I need to buy a separate one for Epic Universe?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Sounds like you are looking at a package? It normally wouldn't ask you anything about EP just to book the room. Most typically, the packages don't save much money over booking everything individually, plus they are much less generous with the cancellation. Room only you can cancel up until 5-6 days out for a full refund. The main benefit to the package would be that if you cancelled the whole trip, your tickets would be subject to the package refund policy (otherwise tickets are generally not refundable).

The EP that comes with Portofino will cover your checkin day through your checkout day (so 3 days for you). You do not need to pay extra for it or indicate in any way that you want it, it is automatically given to each person on the room via the room card. This is true no matter how you book the room (ie, even if you booked it on Priceline or other third party site). It does NOT cover Epic or Volcano Bay.

 

[DisneyMom93]

Do NOT add the EP when you book it. Your room key is your EP.

The only reason I would book a package is if there’s a big chance I would have to cancel. I think if you purchase tickets separately than the hotel that they are non-refundable. With a package I think everything is refundable. Make sure to check the cancellation policies before you book anything.

I haven’t booked it with Tickets because I’ve been getting the AP because we plan to visit more than once. And sometimes I get the APs anyway because the hotel AP Discount makes up for the difference with the price of the tickets versus the annual pass price. But we always go to the park for at least five days. The last deal we got was a 15 month AP for the cost of a regular 12 month AP. So we are able to spread out our visits even more.

Also, only one of the APs has to be Preferred, which costs more but gives you all the discounts for dining and merchandise and hotels. The rest could be the regular APs as long as the blackout dates don’t affect you.

 

[sherlockmiles]

So the included express pass at the original 3 lowes hotels are not applicable to Epic.
If I stay at helios and buy express pass, will that express pass work at the original 2 parks too?

woof! I'm finding pricing out a vacation at universal equivalent to purchasing a small car! yikes.

 

[Jim P]

When you pick the package on the website there is no screen where you add and pay for the EP it automatically adds it to package.

I am thinking of booking a signature hotel for just 2 nights to get the EP's and then moving to a cheaper hotel for VB and Epic Universe. I looked at just buying tickets and adding the EP's, it almost more than the package

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I wonder if packages are doing that now if you have selected Epic tickets?

If I stay at helios and buy express pass, will that express pass work at the original 2 parks too?

Multi-park EP will. I think most/all of the multi-day EP is also multi-park? If you get single day, read the description because there are a lot of options. There is an Epic only option.

 

[sherlockmiles]

Wow is the universal site confusing. The express passes say each ride is allowed 1x. Is that 1x per day or 1x for the length of the express pass?

The express pass you get from the original hotels are not limited to 1x per ride , right?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

1x / day.
All Epic EP is 1x (per day). The other parks offer either 1x or unlimited versions. The hotel EP is unlimited.