Express pass questions

[mya1k9]

If I would go to Universal Studios/IOA in early March, how necessary are the express passes? What about over the memorial day weekend? I've got my husband to agree to pull the kids from school for a few days to save money and was hoping to just stay at a cheap motel to make it even more appealing to him, but then we wouldn't get express passes. I don't want to be waiting in lines constantly. Are 2 days enough to tour the parks without the passes? Thank you and stay safe these next few days if your there now!!!

 

[Darcy03231]

We've gone several times, stayed off-site and not gotten the express passes. This was during both spring break and summer. The trick is to get there early and be in line before the park gates open. We found the lines really didn't start to form until around 11 am and they didn't get too long until around 12-1 pm. We also found they got shorter around 5-6 pm. You can always buy the passes when you get there if you think the lines are getting too long. Keep in mind that there are no express passes for a lot of Harry Potter.

 

[Kivara]

We've not gone in March, but we almost always go around Memorial day. Some years, it's not too bad, other years have been BUSY! Not "summer busy", but definitely "SO glad we have Express Passes-busy."
Also, we don't rush as we usually stay 6-8 days.

JMO, we always stay onsite. For the benefit of the Express passes, closeness, amenities...it's worth it in my book. For us, it's a good fit...we use a car service, so no parking/driving costs; and we book early. I think this year, our room was about $220/night at RP.

Hopefully someone else can give you more info about March!

 

[Patch'sD]

I am a firm Believer in the Annual Pass Option. Since you are looking at Multi-day tickets and the March trip will not be during a blackout period, the Seasonal pass will get you a 30% discount on an On-Site Hotel. I was able to book the PBR Garden View for $239 for One night with the AP Discount. That allowed 2 days of express usage for up to five people. You will also get 15% off Multi Day tickets if purchased at the gate. Do the math and see if that works for you.

 

[ELSA711]

I am a firm Believer in the Annual Pass Option. Since you are looking at Multi-day tickets and the March trip will not be during a blackout period, the Seasonal pass will get you a 30% discount on an On-Site Hotel. I was able to book the PBR Garden View for $239 for One night with the AP Discount. That allowed 2 days of express usage for up to five people. You will also get 15% off Multi Day tickets if purchased at the gate. Do the math and see if that works for you.

Following this thread and curious about this option. If I'm planning 3 days at Universal for my family of 5 in the summer. Is it worth it for me to get the AP only or DH as well.

 

[Mom3girls]

Only one of you needs an annual pass to get the discount on the room. Unless you KNOW for sure you will be back within the year. You can decide before you leave the park on your last day and upgrade his/kids tickets at that time. But you have to do it before you leave the park

 

[Patch'sD]

Following this thread and curious about this option. If I'm planning 3 days at Universal for my family of 5 in the summer. Is it worth it for me to get the AP only or DH as well.

If you are going during the summer you have to pay attention to the two annual passes that have black-out dates. There are four flavors of Annual Passes. The seasonal and power pass have black-out dates. The Preferred and Premier Pass don't have park admission blackout dates. Seasonal Pass is $285, Power Pass is $345.00, Preferred Pass is $385.00 and the Premier pass is $540.00. I believe the Preferred Pass is what you would be looking for. No Black-out Dates except for early entry and you do get a 15% discount on most shops and restaurants at Universal.

Following this thread and curious about this option. If I'm planning 3 days at Universal for my family of 5 in the summer. Is it worth it for me to get the AP only or DH as well.

 

[ELSA711]

If you are going during the summer you have to pay attention to the two annual passes that have black-out dates. There are four flavors of Annual Passes. The seasonal and power pass have black-out dates. The Preferred and Premier Pass don't have park admission blackout dates. Seasonal Pass is $285, Power Pass is $345.00, Preferred Pass is $385.00 and the Premier pass is $540.00. I believe the Preferred Pass is what you would be looking for. No Black-out Dates except for early entry and you do get a 15% discount on most shops and restaurants at Universal.

Thanks $385.00 sounds like a lot for 3 days at Universal Parks. I am just trying to figure out how families afford Universal. Family of 5 plus tickets, plus express pass, plus 3 night accommodations = almost what I pay at WDW for 10+ days.
I must be doing something wrong

 

[Mom3girls]

How old are your children? Trying to help you figure this out. So two adults and how old are the children? Do you think you will be going in March? If so do you have dates picked yet? Just realized you aren't the original posted and stated you wanna go during summer not March...oops!

 

[Patch'sD]

Thanks $385.00 sounds like a lot for 3 days at Universal Parks. I am just trying to figure out how families afford Universal. Family of 5 plus tickets, plus express pass, plus 3 night accommodations = almost what I pay at WDW for 10+ days.
I must be doing something wrong

I don't see your point. But as I have not been to Disney for 16 years, I am in the dark when it comes to that. The AP is to get you a room at the Hard Rock or Portofino which can accommodate five in a room. The AP discount than gets you 30% discount on the hotel. Since you are staying at the hotel you don't need express pass your room key is your express pass. Three day tickets with AP Discount would cost about $220.00 I am sure that there are options where you can get the two day + two day bonuses if you look for them. The room with AP Discount should be about $320 per night during the summer season. Food for a family of five should run about $ 150 per day and the AP Pass will reduce that to about $130 per day. So lets see Hotel and Tickets should run you about $2300 for the three days. Remember you won't spend much time waiting on line.

 

[nkereina]

@Patch'sD - sorry to hijack, but any idea when the pass blackout dates are? March had some this past year I believe, I assume due to Mardis Gras. We will be there 3/30/17-4/2/17 and are considering a pass for the resort discount. So far, RPR is showing full price which makes me nervous that its a busy time, which might mean blackout dates.

 

[ELSA711]

I don't see your point. But as I have not been to Disney for 16 years, I am in the dark when it comes to that. The AP is to get you a room at the Hard Rock or Portofino which can accommodate five in a room. The AP discount than gets you 30% discount on the hotel. Since you are staying at the hotel you don't need express pass your room key is your express pass. Three day tickets with AP Discount would cost about $220.00 I am sure that there are options where you can get the two day + two day bonuses if you look for them. The room with AP Discount should be about $320 per night during the summer season. Food for a family of five should run about $ 150 per day and the AP Pass will reduce that to about $130 per day. So lets see Hotel and Tickets should run you about $2300 for the three days. Remember you won't spend much time waiting on line.

Thanks, I wasn't really making a point, just thinking out loud about the cost. It just seems so expensive compared to what I'm used to but we really want to get the kids to Universal next summer.

 

[Patch'sD]

@Patch'sD - sorry to hijack, but any idea when the pass blackout dates are? March had some this past year I believe, I assume due to Mardis Gras. We will be there 3/30/17-4/2/17 and are considering a pass for the resort discount. So far, RPR is showing full price which makes me nervous that its a busy time, which might mean blackout dates.

Take a look at the Universal Ticket Web site. They provide blackout dates for 2016 and 2017.

 

[Patch'sD]

Thanks, I wasn't really making a point, just thinking out loud about the cost. It just seems so expensive compared to what I'm used to but we really want to get the kids to Universal next summer.

Understood, I see that Disney tickets decline steeply in price as you go from 4 to 10 days. But the Hotel and Food rates will kill you

 

[ELSA711]

Understood, I see that Disney tickets decline steeply in price as you go from 4 to 10 days. But the Hotel and Food rates will kill you

Yeah, we are considering off site for 2+ weeks next June so WDW hotels won't kill us and we do pretty good for food. But with Universal, the ticket prices with express pass is just so unreal to me.
Trying to figure out the best options, lots of spreadsheets with different scenarios going on! But I do enjoy the planning

 

[Patch'sD]

Yeah, we are considering off site for 2+ weeks next June so WDW hotels won't kill us and we do pretty good for food. But with Universal, the ticket prices with express pass is just so unreal to me.
Trying to figure out the best options, lots of spreadsheets with different scenarios going on! But I do enjoy the planning

Good luck, But I highly recommend the Portofino as I have never had a bad stay there. The create your own Pasta dish at the restaurant which name escapes me right now, Gelato's at the Ice Cream Shop. and the boat rides to and from the park.

 

[Mom3girls]

Even if you stay offsite I highly recommend booking one night at one of the three hotels that give you EP for free for two whole days for your entire family. Get one AP so you get the great room discount. The ease of being able to walk back from the parks in the heat to swim for a few hours at the awesome pool and being able to change and cool off in the AC before heading back out for a few hours at the parks is priceless. Not to mention being able to ride the boat back to the hotel at the end of the night when you are exhausted and not driving back to your offsite hotel. The EP is sooooo worth it when going during a busy/ HOT time of year!! Royal Pacific is our new home

 

[bumbershoot]

the Seasonal pass will get you a 30% discount on an On-Site Hotel.

It *can* get you a deal. It doesn't always.

Thanks $385.00 sounds like a lot for 3 days at Universal Parks. I am just trying to figure out how families afford Universal. Family of 5 plus tickets, plus express pass, plus 3 night accommodations = almost what I pay at WDW for 10+ days.
I must be doing something wrong

Are you looking at packages? Stop and go to uo.loewshotels.com and price it room-only.

If you book at RPR, HRH, or PBH you do NOT look at the tickets with EP.

If you're not buying tickets with EP then you can look at places like undercovertourist and maple leaf tickets for discount tickets.

But with Universal, the ticket prices with express pass is just so unreal to me.

Write down the prices you're seeing for hotel and for tickets with EP. Then go price out an onsite resort that includes EP. See how that goes. (Right now March is going to be high cost for hotels but that's probably across the board)

Staying at the three hotels I previously mentioned you get early entrance to Wizarding world every day of your stay (you do have to have tickets to enter the park of course) and unlimited express pass from the moment you check in until park close the day you check out.

 

[Mom3girls]

If you purchase EP for five people for two days that alone costs more than the price of staying onsite for one night. We just went in Aug with an AP price of $169/night staying at RPR!!! Their Pool, restaurants/bars and beds are the BOMB!!!!!!

 

[ELSA711]

If you purchase EP for five people for two days that alone costs more than the price of staying onsite for one night. We just went in Aug with an AP price of $169/night staying at RPR!!! Their Pool, restaurants/bars and beds are the BOMB!!!!!!

Hmm, that is not a bad price. I think I am doing something wrong for sure. What is RPR again?