Express Pass in Nov 2021

[FinnsMom7]

My husband and I booked a trip for this Nov to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. I booked us at Sapphire Falls (that pool looks amazing) and we will be getting an AP so I am planning to check for AP rates end of summer in case I can get a discount - although current rate for a lagoon view King was cheaper than a STD at Pop
What I wonder is for Nov 10-17 would we need Express pass? we arrive dinnertime 10th (depending on park hours may or may not head over for a little) will spend Th-Mon there then one day at Epcot. I know weekends will be busier - but we want to get some pool time in anyway - with 3 full weekday days, plus a weekend I feel like we should get tons done. I am toying with moving to RPR if an AP rate is decent but the $100+ a night would be good to put towards dinners and the 1 day Epcot ticket.

We were there in Feb 2020 (first trip ever) and spent 3 days there, moderate crowds, and felt like we did so much and we didn't have express pass.

Thoughts and input super appreciated!

 

[DisneyMom93]

FinnsMom7
DIS Veteran
Joined Mar 22, 2017

Happy DisBoards Anniversary!

 

[Gatrcruzer]

Typically you wouldn't see big crowds on weekdays in mid-November; that said, everything in our world has been so screwy, who knows what will be going on next November! I do know that there's a week at the beginning of November when New Jersey schools (and maybe others in the northeast) get off so it tends to get a bit busy then, but I think it is the week prior. I would say, wait and see what you think as the time gets closer. Saphhire is great - if you can get a discount super, and if there is a great AP rate available at RP, HR or PB and you can decide then if you want to stay there instead.

 

[DisneyMom93]

I do know that there's a week at the beginning of November when New Jersey schools (and maybe others in the northeast) get off so it tends to get a bit busy then, but I think it is the week prior.

It's always the first full week of November. This year it is Nov 1-5.

 

[cfoxga]

With 5 full days, it seems like you'd be fine without EPs. You still have EE if things get really busy, but it seems like you should be fine crowd-wise.

 

[FinnsMom7]

Typically you wouldn't see big crowds on weekdays in mid-November; that said, everything in our world has been so screwy, who knows what will be going on next November! I do know that there's a week at the beginning of November when New Jersey schools (and maybe others in the northeast) get off so it tends to get a bit busy then, but I think it is the week prior. I would say, wait and see what you think as the time gets closer. Saphhire is great - if you can get a discount super, and if there is a great AP rate available at RP, HR or PB and you can decide then if you want to stay there instead.

Yes I am in NJ so avoiding those dates for sure as it is the first weekend of Nov. I booked at Sapphire super happy with the current rate so anything lower will just be a bonus. I know there is no telling in this current situation and will just be happy to be away having fun in the sun.

 

[FinnsMom7]

FinnsMom7
DIS Veteran
Joined Mar 22, 2017

Happy DisBoards Anniversary!

So funny I created a post today not knowing when I even joined DIS LOL

 

[shawthorne44]

I wouldn't bother. I've read that crowds of 8+ you really want EP's. 7 if you really have a low tolerance for lines.

Now there is a chance that revenge travel will kick in and the crowds will be bonkers then. One idea would be to also book a premier for one night and keep your existing one as is. Then closer to the time decide whether or not to keep the premier night.

We did Feb 2020 too! Did you do Single Rider line when the lines were long

 

[FinnsMom7]

I wouldn't bother. I've read that crowds of 8+ you really want EP's. 7 if you really have a low tolerance for lines.

Now there is a chance that revenge travel will kick in and the crowds will be bonkers then. One idea would be to also book a premier for one night and keep your existing one as is. Then closer to the time decide whether or not to keep the premier night.

We did Feb 2020 too! Did you do Single Rider line when the lines were long

I was thinking of that too booking premier for the last 2 nights and even doing a split stay - but repacking to unpack is never fun.

the only line we truly waited for was hagrid's - 2+ hrs otherwise nothing was more than 30 minutes and being we were new to the park and queues we didn't mind the waits. I feel like knowing how to navigate plus having so many days this trip we will easily get it all in. There are really only a handful of rides I would do over and over same day - majority I would be ok with doing 1 or 2 times the entire trip.

 

[shawthorne44]

I was thinking of that too booking premier for the last 2 nights and even doing a split stay - but repacking to unpack is never fun.

the only line we truly waited for was hagrid's - 2+ hrs otherwise nothing was more than 30 minutes and being we were new to the park and queues we didn't mind the waits. I feel like knowing how to navigate plus having so many days this trip we will easily get it all in. There are really only a handful of rides I would do over and over same day - majority I would be ok with doing 1 or 2 times the entire trip.

It isn't so bad if your packing ahead of time has that in mind. That way you can only unpack what you need for that hotel. We have one container for everyone's hygiene stuff, another for everyone's electronics. Packing cubes can be the containers.

 

[FinnsMom7]

It isn't so bad if your packing ahead of time has that in mind. That way you can only unpack what you need for that hotel. We have one container for everyone's hygiene stuff, another for everyone's electronics. Packing cubes can be the containers.

Yes I got packing cubes a few years back and it helps a bunch. I typically pack with each day set in my mind what I will wear, my husband always packs shorts and shirts and basically grabs whatever he wants that day. Every time I try to pack organized he messes it up by deciding 3 days in he really wants that one shirt that was set aside for another day LOL when we cruise we normally do a weekend in FL before getting on the ship and no matter how hard I try we end up repacking 75% of stuff - it isn't that hard but if I can avoid it this trip I will since that last 3 or 4 trips included split stays - I will say just adding a night at the end won't be as bad since I like to try repacking what we used halfway thru to keep the mess in the room minimal.

 

[JakeAZ]

I'd keep an eye on the prices of the EP for your days, as your trip gets closer. That will tell you if Universal expects the parks to be crowded.

Spring Break prices are above $300pp per day! I'm sure it won't be anything like that for your dates, but look where they are today and see if they start to climb.