Express Pass necessary in June?

[siugoalie78]

My family had never been to Universal , but have been to Disney several times. We are looking to do 4 nights at Universal starting June 10. We are trying to do it on the cheap - is an Express Pass 100% necessary, or should we be ok without it?

 

[Robo56]

Yes, having Express Pass will make your experience a lot better. June and July are busy times.

Have you looked into staying at one of the deluxe resorts that have Unlimited Express included in your stay?

Those resorts are Royal Pacific, HardRock and Portofino Bay.

Everyone in your family will receive Unlimited Express. The Unlimited Express Pass will be good the day you check in. Even if you show up at 8 in the morning and your room is not ready you can stow your luggage with the luggage department at the Resort and hit the parks right away. You will receive a text when your room is ready.

Having the Unlimited Express during the duration of your stay will make it easier to enjoy the parks.

On the day you check out your Unlimited Express is good until the parks close.

 

[Beer Me]

Yes, having Express Pass will make your experience a lot better. June and July are busy times.

I agree but OP did say they’re doing it on the cheap. Deluxe is the way to go if it’s in the budget but there are other approaches.

Cabana bay, sapphire falls and Aventura are more reasonable. No express pass but they allow you to enter the parks an hour early. Take advantage of this and you can knock out two or three major attractions before the parks get super busy.

Some off site hotels may also offer the early entry perk but I’m not 100% sure.

 

[skylock]

If you have 4 days, I think you can get it done with EP.

However, I do admit having EP is just so nice at any time of the year, but particularly when the parks are busy.

 

[nkereina]

If you have lodging elsewhere, consider booking a "throwaway" room at one of the deluxe resorts for the sole purpose of getting express pass. Depending on how many in your party and the rate you can get, the room at the resort can be cheaper than purchasing unlimited express pass for each person in your party. Plus it gives you a place to relax for a bit if you're doing full park days.

Another option is to book one night at one of the deluxe resorts (to stay at or just as a throwaway room), which would give you unlimited express pass all day on your check-in day AND your check-out day. Two full days of unlimited express pass for the cost of one night at a deluxe resort. You could focus on the headliners during your express pass days, and do everything else on your days without it.

I personally never go without express pass, no matter the time of year. I agree that June is a busy time which makes it even more worthwhile.

 

[siugoalie78]

If you have lodging elsewhere, consider booking a "throwaway" room at one of the deluxe resorts for the sole purpose of getting express pass. Depending on how many in your party and the rate you can get, the room at the resort can be cheaper than purchasing unlimited express pass for each person in your party. Plus it gives you a place to relax for a bit if you're doing full park days.

Another option is to book one night at one of the deluxe resorts (to stay at or just as a throwaway room), which would give you unlimited express pass all day on your check-in day AND your check-out day. Two full days of unlimited express pass for the cost of one night at a deluxe resort. You could focus on the headliners during your express pass days, and do everything else on your days without it.

I personally never go without express pass, no matter the time of year. I agree that June is a busy time which makes it even more worthwhile.

 

[siugoalie78]

Thanks, everyone. I think we are leaning toward maybe one night in a hotel that includes Express Pass, then moving to Cabana Bay for the following nights.

Do Non Park-hopper tickets let us exit and enter the same park during the same day?

We are thinking we would check in, do a park the first day with Express Pass, hit the other park the next morning, then mid-day the next day move to Cabana Bay. Would we be able to get back into the park that second afternoon? Would our Express Pass still be valid?

I know for day 3-4 we would not have Express Pass, and I think we are ok with that, after having had them for the first two days. May even hit Lego Land instead on one of those days.

 

[Disxuni]

We are thinking we would check in, do a park the first day with Express Pass, hit the other park the next morning, then mid-day the next day move to Cabana Bay. Would we be able to get back into the park that second afternoon? Would our Express Pass still be valid?

The day you check in and the day you check out are both EP valid days, so yes, just make sure to keep those EP tickets you received at the original hotel.

 

[siugoalie78]

The day you check in and the day you check out are both EP valid days, so yes, just make sure to keep those EP tickets you received at the original hotel.

Ah ok. So the EP is a hard ticket? Just wanted to make sure it wasn't like a magic band or something that got re-programmed after leaving one hotel and going to the other.

 

[Disxuni]

Ah ok. So the EP is a hard ticket? Just wanted to make sure it wasn't like a magic band or something that got re-programmed after leaving one hotel and going to the other.

Yes, while at the resort they have kiosks in which you get your EP ticket. A long time ago you would show your resort key, but now it's a physical ticket.

 

[schumigirl]

Yes, while at the resort they have kiosks in which you get your EP ticket. A long time ago you would show your resort key, but now it's a physical ticket.

Not correct. Not sure when you last went, but it’s been back to room keys for EP for a long time now.

They stopped the separate EP with picture in 2017.

Your room key IS your EP.



siugoalie78...........Keep a hold of your room key as you can use it till the end of the day you checked out of one of the hotels that offer the EP.......even checking in to a new hotel, it’s still valid for that day.

 

[schumigirl]

Ah ok. So the EP is a hard ticket? Just wanted to make sure it wasn't like a magic band or something that got re-programmed after leaving one hotel and going to the other.

No, other poster was incorrect.......your room key is your EP, not a separate ticket......

Your room key has your name and date of stay on it, so valid for check in and check out day if you have a one night stay........

 

[Disxuni]

No, other poster was incorrect.......your room key is your EP, not a separate ticket......

Your room key has your name and date of stay on it, so valid for check in and check out day if you have a one night stay........

Thanks for the correction, it saves money. I wonder why they went to paper in the first place, because I do remember that's how it was in the past as well. The only thing I can think of is for identification with the photo, but even then, it was a horrible photo quality.

 

[nkereina]

Do Non Park-hopper tickets let us exit and enter the same park during the same day?

Yes.

We are thinking we would check in, do a park the first day with Express Pass, hit the other park the next morning, then mid-day the next day move to Cabana Bay. Would we be able to get back into the park that second afternoon? Would our Express Pass still be valid?

Yes and yes. Your EP will be valid until park closing on your check-out day.

 

[fireflymedic]

If your express pass is your room key does this mean you can't get it till 4pm room check in time? Lets say you get to hotel in morning can you get a card for express pass in morning or do you have to wait for check in?

 

[schumigirl]

If your express pass is your room key does this mean you can't get it till 4pm room check in time? Lets say you get to hotel in morning can you get a card for express pass in morning or do you have to wait for check in?

You can check in as early as 6am and you’ll be given room keys to use as EP, even if your room isn’t physically ready.......

So, you’ll still have EP for the full day, and check out day too of course .......

 

[Peppeperoni]

Thanks for the correction, it saves money. I wonder why they went to paper in the first place, because I do remember that's how it was in the past as well. The only thing I can think of is for identification with the photo, but even then, it was a horrible photo quality.

Yeah I still have mine from a 2015 trip and it’s horrible quality.

 

[nkereina]

If your express pass is your room key does this mean you can't get it till 4pm room check in time? Lets say you get to hotel in morning can you get a card for express pass in morning or do you have to wait for check in?

As schumigirl mentions, you can check in as early as 6am and are given a key card to use for EP. But I will add that you will need to return to the front desk later to have your card keyed to your room and to find out your room number. I've received my room number via text before once its ready, but I almost always still need to return to the desk to have my card keyed to my room. Also, I've never been able to use room charging privileges until after my room is ready.