Express Pass Questions

[kenandteri]

Hope someone can help! Planning a trip to US/IOA July 7-8. Trying to decide between paying (much) more to stay on property to get the express pass features or just sucking it up and waiting in line. Thought I had decided to go ahead and pay more... until I read that
•Express Plus access is not available at Harry Potter and the Forbidden JourneyTM, Hollywood Rip Ride RockitSM, and Pteranodon Flyers®.

If this is true, are the lines for the other things (specifically in the Harry Potter section) long enough to warrant paying almost double (or more) to stay on property??????

 

[mesaboy2]

Those are the three attractions in all of Universal Orlando that don't accept Express, unless you count Ollivander's.

Forbidden Journey has a single-rider option though, as does HRRR at times. If you consider that there is much more to Universal than just WWoHP, then it's worth it to me--especially in July with excessive crowds and heat. Don't forget that early entry, convenience, and a pretty decent hotel are also part of the deal. Only you can determine if it's worth it to you.

 

[laura.anne]

From what I understand, you can purchase an express pass just on the Universal website without having to stay on property (http://www.universalorlando.com/Tickets/special_offers/UniversalExpress/expresspluspasses.aspx). I have been to Universal twice and I'm going again next fall, and I would say it's worth it to get express tickets, especially since they are only about $30 extra. I probably would have paid $30 just to get out of the 45 minute line at Spiderman each time I went lol, so to me the expense is well worth it.

 

[kenandteri]

for July, the price is $49.99 per person per day to by them without staying on property...
This is all so confusing..

 

[mesaboy2]

for July, the price is $49.99 per person per day to by them without staying on property...
This is all so confusing..

The difference between purchased Express passes and those you get with an onsite hotel stay is that hotel stay Express passes are unlimited (your room key is your Express pass). The purchased ones are good only once per attraction.

The purchased ones prices can change also at any time. The other gotcha with purchased Express is that if you buy them in advance, there is no possibility of refund and they can only be used for the date you select when you buy them. If your travel dates change, you are out of luck. Usual wisdom on here is to purchase them in the parks once you've seen the lines for yourself and decide if it is worth it to you. You never know when a little thunderstorm might reduce the lines for you. But again, be aware the purchased Express pass price can change at any time.

 

[AustinTink]

We stayed onsite this past week and used our express pass (hotel key) all day everyday. I would never do Universal without it, especially in the summertime.

 

[tink20]

If you just stayed onsite one night, you would get early entry into WWOHP for two days (day of check in and check out) This would help with riding FJ and doing Olivanders, also unilimited Express pass both days for both parks.

Example: we went first week of June. The Ripsaw Falls ride had a 90 min wait, we were on the ride in 10 min. The One Fish Two fish had a 35 min wait, we walked on. This was our first trip, but I think I will always stay onsite (at least one night)

 

[Metro West]

The difference between purchased Express passes and those you get with an onsite hotel stay is that hotel stay Express passes are unlimited (your room key is your Express pass). The purchased ones are good only once per attraction.

The purchased ones prices can change also at any time. The other gotcha with purchased Express is that if you buy them in advance, there is no possibility of refund and they can only be used for the date you select when you buy them. If your travel dates change, you are out of luck. Usual wisdom on here is to purchase them in the parks once you've seen the lines for yourself and decide if it is worth it to you. You never know when a little thunderstorm might reduce the lines for you. But again, be aware the purchased Express pass price can change at any time.

Good explanation.

 

[carmiedog]

We stayed onsite this past week and used our express pass (hotel key) all day everyday. I would never do Universal without it, especially in the summertime.

Ditto. LOVED staying on-site. We will wait until we can afford on-site again rather than going sooner and staying less expensively off-site.

(Although the first half of June, I'd say the wait times without express were rather reasonable. My home park is Cedar Point where there is no express, lines are in the sun and no themed in any way, and the waits are almost always L-O-N-G. )

 

[dancin'girl]

We stayed on-site and thought it was worth the money and would definitely do it again on our next trip. We were able to get on FJ before the line was too long (only waited 5 minutes) and loved being able to ride whatever we wanted, as many times as we wanted, with little to no wait. Seriously. The Express Pass was AWESOME!!!