Express Pass? How much of a difference does it make, and what's the best strategy.

[persimmondeb]

We're staying at Loew's Royal Pacific for one night, which we booked pretty much just for the Express passes (although I did get Club level, because hung for a lamb...). We have one day park to parks for the next day (morning), and are staying at Endless Summer that night. We're figuring that they'll make it easier to get done what we want to in one day, but only my son has ever visited before. I won't be riding much personally (possibly just Hogwarts Express and CaroSuessal) but my son will want to go on almost everything, and my husband may want a fair amount (although he's kind of Pooh sized and has some trouble with harnesses and getting knocked around on coasters).

 

[macraven]

You’ll get two days of usage for the ep lines

day you check in and day you check out

save your first room key to use for ep lines when you are staying at Endless Summer

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Plan for Hagrids first thing in the morning, preferably arriving about an hour before park open to reduce the wait for it. Otherwise, that and Velocicoaster are the only rides you have to worry about not using EP for. Generally, only Hogwarts Express gets appreciable waits with EP.

Sounds like you are not a ride person - other than exploring, you should also consider riding at least ET, the Seuss Trolley train, & the Cat in the Hat. They're all very gentle

 

[persimmondeb]

Plan for Hagrids first thing in the morning, preferably arriving about an hour before park open to reduce the wait for it. Otherwise, that and Velocicoaster are the only rides you have to worry about not using EP for. Generally, only Hogwarts Express gets appreciable waits with EP.

Sounds like you are not a ride person - other than exploring, you should also consider riding at least ET, the Seuss Trolley train, & the Cat in the Hat. They're all very gentle

I like dark rides, actually, but yeah, not a lot of motion. Spinning is okay (I do teacups) but really nothing with any drop. I had seen the trolley ride, and I may, but I'm almost certainly the only person who'd want it at all, and I can feel guilty about making my family wait while I ride kiddie rides. I hadn't realized how tame ET was, but it looks doable, and my husband probably would like it. I'm a little surprised they still have it, but that's okay. Cat in the Hat looks good, and I can probably talk the rest of the party into riding with me. Thanks!

 

[persimmondeb]

You’ll get two days of usage for the ep lines

day you check in and day you check out

save your first room key to use for ep lines when you are staying at Endless Summer

We're only doing one park day, but it's the day we check out of Royal Pacific (and into Endless Summer), so it should be fine. We'll just make sure to hang onto that key, and we're probably not checking into Endless Summer until late.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

You can add in MiB then - no drops, some spinning (can be a lot of spinning). Think Toy Story Midway Mania.

 

[MarcIsMe]

We went to Universal for the first time in years in December and have made subsequent trips in April and this month. After the April trip I would have not gone back if it was not for the EP. On busy days and getting Hagrid’s out of the way first thing, we were able to breeze through everything else. The Hogwarts Express was about the only exception.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

You might also consider Kong - jostling and some tilting, but no drops and no hard stops/starts.
Kang & Kodos is a Dumbo style ride, for when the other 2 are on the Simpsons ride.

 

[Kit Jackson]

I like dark rides, actually, but yeah, not a lot of motion. Spinning is okay (I do teacups) but really nothing with any drop. I had seen the trolley ride, and I may, but I'm almost certainly the only person who'd want it at all, and I can feel guilty about making my family wait while I ride kiddie rides. I hadn't realized how tame ET was, but it looks doable, and my husband probably would like it. I'm a little surprised they still have it, but that's okay. Cat in the Hat looks good, and I can probably talk the rest of the party into riding with me. Thanks!

How well do you do handle screens/motion simulators? That may add or subtract things you can ride. You may have already done the research, know your limits/comfort level, and have a list of what want to ride and what you want to skip.

 

[Bethany10]

I like dark rides, actually, but yeah, not a lot of motion. Spinning is okay (I do teacups) but really nothing with any drop. I had seen the trolley ride, and I may, but I'm almost certainly the only person who'd want it at all, and I can feel guilty about making my family wait while I ride kiddie rides. I hadn't realized how tame ET was, but it looks doable, and my husband probably would like it. I'm a little surprised they still have it, but that's okay. Cat in the Hat looks good, and I can probably talk the rest of the party into riding with me. Thanks!

I’m not a ride person either and we loved cat in the hat. It’s incredibly charming.
If spinning is ok men in black is spin and shoot- but the spinning can be intense.

 

[martikus]

Make sure to do ET. It’s like Peter Pan. I can’t imagine universal without express pass. I think worth it.

 

[persimmondeb]

You might also consider Kong - jostling and some tilting, but no drops and no hard stops/starts.
Kang & Kodos is a Dumbo style ride, for when the other 2 are on the Simpsons ride.

How well do you do handle screens/motion simulators? That may add or subtract things you can ride. You may have already done the research, know your limits/comfort level, and have a list of what want to ride and what you want to skip.

Kong is probably a little too much. Kang and Kodos looks great (I love Dumbo, and the Triceratops thing at AK). In theory a motion simulator should be fine, in practice they're usually too rough.

You can add in MiB then - no drops, some spinning (can be a lot of spinning). Think Toy Story Midway Mania.

MIB looks doable, depending on my mood.

Thanks so much, guys. That seems like quite a few things I CAN ride (other than the benches outside the exciting stuff).

 

[Kit Jackson]

@persimmondeb-I'm not sure what you mean by rough, but Minion Mayhem might be doable. It's less physical that Kong. If Minion Mayhem is doable, than Race Through New York will probably be okay too. Athough the seats moves a little, all of the drops are more simulated than anything else (it's like watching a 3D movie, if that helps you decide.)

You will want to skip the big Simpsons ride, Transformers, and Spiderman.

 

[persimmondeb]

@persimmondeb-I'm not sure what you mean by rough, but Minion Mayhem might be doable. It's less physical that Kong. If Minion Mayhem is doable, than Race Through New York will probably be okay too. Athough the seats moves a little, all of the drops are more simulated than anything else (it's like watching a 3D movie, if that helps you decide.)

You will want to skip the big Simpsons ride, Transformers, and Spiderman.

I'll take a look at Minion Mayhem (I love Minions), but most "simulated" drops are convincing enough to make me unhappy.

 

[CJK]

I'll take a look at Minion Mayhem (I love Minions), but most "simulated" drops are convincing enough to make me unhappy.

I just wanted to quickly mention that you can request to sit in the stationary seating at the very front of Minion Mayhem. That's the only way my dh can do that ride. Incidentally, Shrek also has stationary seating at the very front.

 

[Kit Jackson]

I'll take a look at Minion Mayhem (I love Minions), but most "simulated" drops are convincing enough to make me unhappy.

When you exit the ride, before the gift shop is a character meeting with the Minions. If that's something you are interested in doing, consider talkling to someone. Explain that you're not interested in the ride, but would love to meet a Minion. There may be other places to meet a Minion in the park, if that's something you want to do. Characters may not be your thing, which is totally fine. Some people think they are just for kids and that's a totally valid opinion/point of view.