Express Pass Needed for Moderate Crowd Prediction?

vital

<font color=darkorchid>Pirate-wench<br><font color
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Feb 9, 2006
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Sorry, another question from me, but I'm wondering if an express pass is necessary for a moderate crowd day? We've decided on going May 31 & June 1 as we wrap up our WDW trip. I don't think Diagon Alley will be open by then so crowds should stay as predicted, but I also don't want to be stuck in long lines all day if it is. Ugh!

I'm debating between staying at the Hilton Doubletree and getting park to park tickets without express passes vs buying an AP and staying at RPR for the hotel discount and unlimited express passes. I'd appreciate your comments and suggestions!

Thank you!
 
You should be OK without EPs since that's an historically slow period...right before school lets out and the summer vacations begin.
 
We took a last minute trip last summer July 4-8 and I was very nervous about crowds so I booked 2 nights onsite (for a ridiculous amount of money)specifically for the express passes. The crowds were not bad at all and we could have easily made due without the passes. The crowds did get busy between noon and 4:00 each day but if you get there at opening, you can easily ride all of the popular rides before the crowds come in. We actually left to swim during midday and came back around 4:00 to finish off the evenings. To give examples, The Forbidden Journey ride was less then 30 minutes except during the busy time frame listed above. The roller coasters were less then 15 minutes and the water rides at IoA were walk-ons for several hours in the morning.
Hopefully this was not a fluke because we are going back June 3-9 and staying at the new Cabana Bay Resort so we will not have express passes either.
 
You should be OK without EPs since that's an historically slow period...right before school lets out and the summer vacations begin.

Do you think we should stay at the Doubletree or Cabana? My main goal at this point is to be within walking distance to the parks.

Thank you for your help. You are a wealth of information to noobs like me!
 

We took a last minute trip last summer July 4-8 and I was very nervous about crowds so I booked 2 nights onsite (for a ridiculous amount of money)specifically for the express passes. The crowds were not bad at all and we could have easily made due without the passes. The crowds did get busy between noon and 4:00 each day but if you get there at opening, you can easily ride all of the popular rides before the crowds come in. We actually left to swim during midday and came back around 4:00 to finish off the evenings. To give examples, The Forbidden Journey ride was less then 30 minutes except during the busy time frame listed above. The roller coasters were less then 15 minutes and the water rides at IoA were walk-ons for several hours in the morning.
Hopefully this was not a fluke because we are going back June 3-9 and staying at the new Cabana Bay Resort so we will not have express passes either.

Thank you for sharing this! This is very encouraging! I'm really considering trying Cabana Bay. Is it within walking distance to the parks?
 
Do you think we should stay at the Doubletree or Cabana? My main goal at this point is to be within walking distance to the parks.

Thank you for your help. You are a wealth of information to noobs like me!
Either one really...Doubletree is across Kirkman Road from Universal and Cabana Bay is across Hollywood Way from Universal. I think you might more of a sense of staying onsite with Cabana Bay...I will have early entry but not unlimited Express if you stay there...but nothing with Doubletree. Both are walking distance from the parks and probably about the same distance. I've heard there is to be a shuttle for Cabana Bay but haven't heard anything recently.

Thank you for sharing this! This is very encouraging! I'm really considering trying Cabana Bay. Is it within walking distance to the parks?
::yes::
 
I would pick Cabana Bay also. They are offering great prices right now since the resort will not be complete until July 1. They are suites with kitchenettes, plus you get early admission to park and you can pool hop to the other resorts. The resort is just past Royal Pacific and looking at the map, the walking path is a little longer then Royal Pacific which had a nice walk to parks.
 
Thank you all so much! What did we do before the internet?:lmao:

So, if the pools are not ready at Cabana Bay we can use the other hotels? Honestly, that was one thing I was worried about since we like to take afternoon breaks at the pool. I think I'm going to book this afternoon:banana:
 
Thank you all so much! What did we do before the internet?:lmao:

So, if the pools are not ready at Cabana Bay we can use the other hotels? Honestly, that was one thing I was worried about since we like to take afternoon breaks at the pool. I think I'm going to book this afternoon:banana:

The pool will be open, just not the lazy river or pool area grill. But you can still pool hop to the other resorts. :)
 





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