Express Pass Mid-Jan?

steves1019

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jan 7, 2008
Messages
225
We'll be visiting Universal and IOA the Wed/Thur after running the Disney half marathon. I'm
Wondering if we'll "need" (or really want) Express Pass? I realize that it would reduce waits no matter what, but is it worth the money in mid-Jan? Or will the crowds be down enough we can have minimal waits without it? Just looking to save some $ if we can.
 
wait until you are in the park before you make the decision of buying the epp.


could be no crowds that day.

epp is park related, date related.
no refunds.


if lines are short for ioa (15 min waits), you should be able to do the entire park w/out epp.

mid to end of that month does not have large crowds.
 
macraven said:
wait until you are in the park before you make the decision of buying the epp.

could be no crowds that day.

epp is park related, date related.
no refunds.

if lines are short for ioa (15 min waits), you should be able to do the entire park w/out epp.

mid to end of that month does not have large crowds.

Thanks. I'm looking at maybe getting a Universal room to get early access to Harry Potter and unlimited Express Pass, trying to decide.
 
Remember that you get two full days of early park admission and unlimited express access with each night's stay.
 

damo said:
Remember that you get two full days of early park admission and unlimited express access with each night's stay.

That's what I'm thinking. It'll be cheaper IF I get the Express Pass. I just don't know if I NEED to spend that $. I guess it's just a crap shoot. I'll probably gamble on the side of a better day and book the room, though I already have a place to stay and likely won't even use the room. Lol
 
they only thing that could make mid january a crowded time period is if the tour groups are there.


i hear of others that book a one night stay onsite and never use that room.
they book it for the express pass perk.
 
We'll be visiting Universal and IOA the Wed/Thur after running the Disney half marathon. I'm
Wondering if we'll "need" (or really want) Express Pass? I realize that it would reduce waits no matter what, but is it worth the money in mid-Jan? Or will the crowds be down enough we can have minimal waits without it? Just looking to save some $ if we can.
I don't know...I would say pass on the EP and the room. I've never known this time of year to be busy enough to warrant spending the money on the EP. The EP cost in mid-January is only $35.99 per pass for BOTH parks. If you have to have the EPs, skip reserving a room unless the cost of the room is less than $144.00 for the night...which is the cost of the EP for two days.
 
Metro West said:
I don't know...I would say pass on the EP and the room. I've never known this time of year to be busy enough to warrant spending the money on the EP. The EP cost in mid-January is only $35.99 per pass for BOTH parks. If you have to have the EPs, skip reserving a room unless the cost of the room is less than $144.00 for the night...which is the cost of the EP for two days.

Metro, thanks for the info. I am mostly trying to see if I'd have a "need" for EP. From your pov seems I don't.

If I do decide to get it, I think the room option would be cheaper though. I have 6 in my party, though the room occupancy is only 5 so is only get 5 EP's, which isn't too much of an issue. Not at all for the rides because we'll likely have 1 or 2 sitting out per ride anyway. I'm also looking at the hour early entry to the Harry Potter area, I forget the name. You dont get this with the bought EP plus the bought EP is not unlimited. And this also causes an issue cause I have 6 people, someone will have to enter an hour later than the rest. With cost if it's $36 per day per ticket, multiply by 5 (cause that's what I'd get from the room) x's days it'd be $350. The room is $254 last time I called.

So I just need to decide if I want to shell out the extra $254 or hope the crowds are low enough we have a easy 2 days.
 
I didn't realize you were talking about a group of six people.
 
Metro West said:
I didn't realize you were talking about a group of six people.

I didn't note it :-)

Your thought that it probably isn't needed is really what I needed. I'm assuming that time of year will be low crowds but I despise lines, so I may be willing to pay out to ensure I get the shortest wait they have to offer.
 
Please keep in mind that Jan is a slower time, but it is also PRIME TIME for South American tour groups.Hoardes of them everywhere , including universal.They generally do not have express pass, so we found it was worth it ( we stayed onsite)simply for avoiding the throngs of them.If you don't want the pass, then try and go the opposite way of them.
 
RMulieri said:
Please keep in mind that Jan is a slower time, but it is also PRIME TIME for South American tour groups.Hoardes of them everywhere , including universal.They generally do not have express pass, so we found it was worth it ( we stayed onsite)simply for avoiding the throngs of them.If you don't want the pass, then try and go the opposite way of them.

Thanks! Because I'm worrying about it I'll probably just do it. Otherwise I'll worry and possibly regret. I think I'd rather just spend the $, lol
 
Unless you like to ride a ride once and move on and never come back to it, I think the express pass is always worthwhile.

We like to ride many rides a number of times and always make use of the express pass. They way I look at it, even if the wait is 15 minutes for a ride, if express gets me right on it, that's 15 minutes I save. Might not seem like much, but add it up over a couple of days and you save a number of hours.

When spending what we spend to get there, stay there..etc, a little extra to avoid any waits is worthwhile. I've mainly been in September, but have also been other times throughout the year and have never felt like the express wasn't worthwhile.
 
Maytrix said:
Unless you like to ride a ride once and move on and never come back to it, I think the express pass is always worthwhile.

We like to ride many rides a number of times and always make use of the express pass. They way I look at it, even if the wait is 15 minutes for a ride, if express gets me right on it, that's 15 minutes I save. Might not seem like much, but add it up over a couple of days and you save a number of hours.

When spending what we spend to get there, stay there..etc, a little extra to avoid any waits is worthwhile. I've mainly been in September, but have also been other times throughout the year and have never felt like the express wasn't worthwhile.

Thanks for your input! I'm thinking along these lines. And we have a pretty packed schedule so getting done all we want with minimal wait will allow us return runs or more relaxation time.

Just need to convince the wife now :-)
 
Thanks for your input! I'm thinking along these lines. And we have a pretty packed schedule so getting done all we want with minimal wait will allow us return runs or more relaxation time.

Just need to convince the wife now :-)

Glad to see you are thinking about the pass. I saw this thread a bit late; but, let me offer my advice to confirm your thoughts.

My wife and I visit Orlando every year during the last 2 weeks of January. Until WWoHP, we would visit Universal Resort 1 day out of our 9 in the area. We would always get the Express Pass even though the lines are short. The pass has always allowed us to hit every single attraction at least once in both parks and still have time for re-rides on our favorites.

Time is money, even when you are on vacation. You spend a lot of money to get to your vacation, so spend a little more to make the best use of the time. 15 minutes saved for one attraction is enough to ride another attraction. The way I look at it, is the Express Pass in January is a good way of at least doubling your capacity to get things done. Unfortunately, I think people get caught up on the concept of the Pass only being worthwhile when it saves 60 minutes or more during the peak seasons; but, you also need to factor in the shorter operating hours during the off season times. Again, time is money. The $30 Express Pass is a drop in the bucket compared to the value of my vacation time, the expense it takes to get to Orlando, etc.

Since WWoHP debuted, we have typically gone back to IoA for at least a partial day; but, this just because I go back with my DSLR and get photos.
 
Does anyone know if I can "check in" first thing in the morning the first day of my reservation to get the express pass? To take advantage of the extra hour of WWoHP both days of a one night stay?
 
RMulieri said:
Please keep in mind that Jan is a slower time, but it is also PRIME TIME for South American tour groups.Hoardes of them everywhere , including universal.They generally do not have express pass, so we found it was worth it ( we stayed onsite)simply for avoiding the throngs of them.If you don't want the pass, then try and go the opposite way of them.

You were exactly correct! Many your groups! We ended up getting the room and using the Express Pass. Loved having it
 
Does anyone know if I can "check in" first thing in the morning the first day of my reservation to get the express pass? To take advantage of the extra hour of WWoHP both days of a one night stay?

::yes:: Yep- you sure can!

Love that EP you get with staying onsite. Wouldn't do UO any other way. Hope you have a great time!
 





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