Express Pass - What is the real deal?

[macraven]

continuing from the above post, if the room is #129 at rph + tax you are still around the $150 mark or under for the room.

if the epp is 15.99 plus tax per person you might be looking at 18 making it $72. you are stil paying a lot less for the room........$78 for the night.




just by adjusting a lower cost for the epp during a value season, a person still comes out ahead.

 

[ksdave]

continuing from the above post, if the room is #129 at rph + tax you are still around the $150 mark or under for the room.

if the epp is 15.99 plus tax per person you might be looking at 18 making it $72. you are stil paying a lot less for the room........$78 for the night.




just by adjusting a lower cost for the epp during a value season, a person still comes out ahead.

PLUS, you get to stay at a UO resort, which are all awesome!

(I've heard that the National Parks Service is looking to get rid of its Fastpass system too. Guess we'll have to boycott them )

 

[costanza]

No what I am saying is that the term "off-season" means there are low crowds. If the crowds are heavy in October and November then it isn't truly an "off-season" is it?

This week is an off season. I waited no time at all on any ride at Universal and IoA. I did wait at Disney. Most of the fastpass kiosk were covered at Disney so we had to wait in line. Disney quietly covers their fastpass kiosks and not a word is said on this board. Universal does and there are at least 5 threads about it, and one thread that has recently been closed.

Well, the charts I've seen show Oct. and early Nov. as traditionally "low crowd" times, which I would consider "off-season". That is why we went at those times. Since you seem to know so much, would you share the "off-season" dates for USF that people here could use to plan their vacation?
And would you PLEASE stop comparing USF and WDW wait times? I'm discussing my disappointment with USF's decision. I'll go to the WDW forum to voice my concerns with their policies, thank you very much

As far as rationalizing the high on-site room rates, we spend so little time in our rooms, it makes no sense to pay $100/night over what we normally pay at a clean hotel, such as the Comfort Inn at Lake Buena Vista that we usually patronize. We don't go on vacation in Orlando to hang out in a fancy hotel room or swim in a quasi-public pool.

 

[phamton]

Since you seem to know so much, would you share the "off-season" dates for USF that people here could use to plan their vacation?

Actually those who hangout here already know that I share that information quite freely.

And would you PLEASE stop comparing USF and WDW wait times?

I post what I am familiar with. Feel free to put me on "ignore."

 

[Donnask8pro]

You go Girl....

 

[lindalinda]

The most pertinent and reliable information posted comes from phamton. I am so glad I have checked this board out. I truly feel like i am prepared for just about anything now. Thanks phamtom, and everyone else that has been helpful!

 

[macraven]

Well, the charts I've seen show Oct. and early Nov. as traditionally "low crowd" times, which I would consider "off-season". That is why we went at those times. Since you seem to know so much, would you share the "off-season" dates for USF that people here could use to plan their vacation?

the 3 on site hotels have a value season. i know september is one of them.
during the value or low season the hotel rates are the lowest you will ever find them. the rates drop in order to entice people to book them.
you can get rooms for $129 in some of them.

when hotel bookings are down, you can be sure that the crowds will be low and limited at the 2 universal parks.

early october some years ago were an ideal time to go as less crowds.
as hhn has picked up in great popularity, the hotels for the first 2 weekends are totally booked for 2 of them. the crowds the first two weeks in october are low in the daytime until about 3:30 on the dates hhn happens. mid october has larger crowds on about 4-5 days a week as more dates are added to hhn. if you want crowd free times at universal in october, go on non hhn days or if you attend on hhn days, go early and leave around 3:30.

once november comes around and well before thanksgiving, crowds slack off.
what you need to do is go on line and check the on site hotels and check out their costs. when the costs drop, that is the time to go if you want a crowd free day.

therefore, you can find dates in oct and nov to please you without the high packed crowds.

universal has many events throughout the year and with those special events or hard ticket venues, it can be packed.

kelly m has a book out, is that the book you are using to find low crowd periods? he usually is good on those things. i last read one of his books some years ago as i rely on what i see and from people on the dis.

do you need more 411 on this?

just think of it as low crowds usually happen when the hotels are not at high occupancy.

 

[macraven]

As far as rationalizing the high on-site room rates, we spend so little time in our rooms, it makes no sense to pay $100/night over what we normally pay at a clean hotel, such as the Comfort Inn at Lake Buena Vista that we usually patronize. We don't go on vacation in Orlando to hang out in a fancy hotel room or swim in a quasi-public pool.

there are a lot of us here that only use the room to sleep in.

i have never used the pools at the hotels at disney or universal. swimming and water are just not my thing.

i don't eat in the on site hotels.
i spend my days and nights in the park and do eat what i find there. use the AAA for 10% discount on food, soda, water, merchandise.

for snacks in my room or to take with me to the parks, i bring my own in and my bottled water and coke.

for the last 3 trips, i don't rent a car so staying off site is not an option for me.

i don't pay the high price for the room as some do.
i use the discounts that are available and also use the promos that universal offers such as tickets. 5 day pass for $99.

years ago i used to stay off site with my kids and quality inn or days inn would run me $99/night depending on season. when i was able to get an on site room for $125/night, i took it.

what do you pay a night at comfort inn?

 

[macraven]

hey silly me...........sorry i got carried away, i thought the question was about low crowds here ...........then i looked at the top and saw the op was asking about the express passes........


here i am just trying to help out a newbie with the question of high/low crowds didn't mean to take the question away from the original poster.
sorry



to keep on track of the theme here, express passes free and the plus ones.
the only thing i know is that universal has stated it hasn't been pulled, other than that, no official word has come out yet.

if you want express passes and they are not available you can still see the park by starting early, do lunch early away from when the regular crowd does and go opposite of the main flow.

kind of a moot subject until universal puts the word out on the future of ep
none of us know what;s happening with it officially

 

[costanza]

Macraven, thanks SO much for not attacking/questioning everything I have to say. I LOVE your "I now alot, but don't flaunt it" attitude
Anyway, we usually pay about $50/night at the Comfort Inn at Lake Beuna Vista, after taxes, etc. I think they advertise it as $39/night. We have been spoiled by the very low room rates we got from various hotels through "Room saver" coupon books over the last 13 years or so. The MOST we ever paid was $80/night for a suite at the brand new (at that time) Amerisuite on Int'l Blvd. That room had a full kitchen, and separate bedroom. I think we paid a similar amount at a "nice" hotel on Hotel Plaza in Lake Buena Vista once as well. When we were young, we would actually not even book a room until we got there. We wouold spend an hour or so stopping at the various hotels in the coupon book until we found one that had a room and would accept the coupon.
There are a couple of charts I ran across doing a Google search for "low crowds disney" that shows crowds on a bargraph. That is what I used to decide on times to visit. Along with the ideas that crowds were high during summer-break, spring-break and holidays. We try to avoid all of these. My wife and I went one year in late Feb/early March and, believe it or not, nearly FROZE because it was so unseasonably cold in Orlando and we hadn't packed clothes for it!!!

 

[costanza]

Oh, and getting back to the topic of this thread, the way USF's website describes "Universal Express" as only applying to on-site guests and "Universal Express Plus" as an additional cost to any guest, I have a hard time believing they will make it FREE again
It really sucks too, because when it was free, if you ENJOY waiting in long lines, you could ignore the pass and wait in the normal line. Or if you had stong feelings against the express pass policy, as some here have shown, you could go on "low crowd" days, but if like me, you LOVED the passes, you could still enjoy them at no additional cost year-round. Isn't choice a wonderful thing?

 

[phamton]

Just as a privately owned board such as the DisBoard has the right to ban anyone (their rules, their board), a business such as universal has the right to discontinue the free express. Your choice is to take your business elsewhere or learn to tour the parks without express. Your choice in posting to a private board is to obey the rules and, if banned, not to re-register.

 

[pjfnme]

We're going the first two weeks of May. It is "considered" off season but, WDW is usually pretty crowded during that time. It is our first time to Universal/IOA and after reading the various guide books...including Unofficial...I am a bit concerned about the lines. Can someone who has gone recently during this time give me an idea about what we have to look forward to?? We are taking our soon to be 6 year old and I don't think she will tolerate the long lines. I am seriously thinking about purchasing the Express Plus Pass although I agree it is a ridiculous expenditure for 1 express per ride. We do not plan on riding the Dueling Dragons, Dr. Doom, or anything else that has height restriction of 52 inches or over....but, I'm sure we will ride everything else. My daughter loves thrill rides but, she is only 50 inches right now.

I have already purchased my stay & play tickets on line...what do you think..doees the express plus sound necessary for us?????

 

[Laurabearz]

IMO you will not need EPP for your trip in May. Arrive early, hit some of the bigger attractions in your height range, and then enjoy the rest of the day seeing everything else. You may have some 10=20 minute waits for a couple of attractions, but I doubt it.

The key.... arrive early. No later than 10am.

My theroy... most park goers are teens, and you cant get teens up early at home let alone on vacation. So hit the parks early and avoid the late afternoon teen crowd. (example... if you want a picture of an empty Main Street over at MK you need a 7 am Charater breakfast scheduled, but to take a picture of Hollywood Blvd with no one but your family in it, you have until 10ish.... or least that is how it was at US/IOA December 16th and 17th, a Saturday and Sunday.Peak time)

 

[pjfnme]

That's wonderful. You have taken a load off of my mind. I expected there to be a crowd but, I really wasnt looking forward to standing in line for hours at a time!!! We plan on getting there about 30 mins before the parks open. I love the touring plans in the Unoffiicial guide and plan to follow them for the rides that we will be riding..after that we will just wander!! Thanks again!

 

[disneyjunkie]

I don't think we'll ever get to US/IOA.

Since we only vacation during peak seasons (our next trip is during Easter) ,the onsite hotels are out for us.

I checked the price for the express pass for our date (April 18) and it's over $50.00 per person for both parks. That doesn't include the cost of park admission, round trip transportation from WDW, meals for the day...

I was hoping to purchase express passes for one park, and use the regular express pass for the other. Since that isn't an option now, it looks we'll just have to spend all our time at WDW.

 

[pjfnme]

I read on another site something about purchasing an express pass "book" ...is this the same as the express plus? Kind of like a coupon book or something? Also..what website did you go to to find out the price for the express plus on a particular day??

Thanks!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

First of all, who is "Dave"? Second, I realize I can CHOOSE to go or not. Third, I don't care what the general public does, as most of them at USF are probably first timers anyway and never enjoyed express pass. Lastly, it sounds as if for some odd reason you don't believe I go to the Orlando parks in the off-season. Not that it matters what you believe, but my wife and our daughters usually go to the Orlando parks in late Oct. - early Nov., and every year the "off-season crowds" get bigger and bigger, at least half of which seem European.

If you have only gone about 10 times in the last 15 years, then you really haven't used the express pass system much...it wasn't around that long. There is no reason to jump on anyone. Phantom was trying to help. Also, just to let you in on a secret... late Oct is no longer "off season" hasn't been for a few years now. Did you not realize that when you saw how each year you saw more crowds? True parks aren't as crowded as in the summer, but it is not considered off season anymore.... As far as not offering the express pass for free, I am not a big fan of it. I am a passholder & go more than 10 times in 1 year. I choose not to use them. If I am not staying onsite (which I do at least twice a year when funds allow it) I get there early. This past Dec 18 & 19th, we were the first into the parks. By 11 am we did everything we wanted to. When the parks get super crowded, we do single riders. So to me it is not big deal. And if you choose not to go anymore...that is one less person in front of me.. thank you.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I don't think we'll ever get to US/IOA.

Since we only vacation during peak seasons (our next trip is during Easter) ,the onsite hotels are out for us.

I checked the price for the express pass for our date (April 18) and it's over $50.00 per person for both parks. That doesn't include the cost of park admission, round trip transportation from WDW, meals for the day...

I was hoping to purchase express passes for one park, and use the regular express pass for the other. Since that isn't an option now, it looks we'll just have to spend all our time at WDW.

If you get there early enough you will be ok. I for one would never pay for the express pass anyway & $50 is just nuts I have gone over Easter break & not stayed onsite...we got there early & as I have said in other posts, we do single riders when it gets too crowded. To be very honest, this past Christmas break (12/17-23rd) we did Universal & Disney. I thought Disney was way too crowded & all the fast pass were out anyway. They do not have many rides with single rider options so we didn't get on much once the crowds came. We actually did more attractions at Universal. I plan on going to Universal over Easter this year. I am a seasonal passholder for Disney and annual for Universal. My pass is on a black out at Disney for that week, so Universal here I come.. maybe will run into you?? If you decide to brave it

 

[lindalinda]

We went at easter 2 years ago, disney and universal. While we were standing in line for about an hour for peter pan, both kids said....can we please go back to Universal? We had to buy more tickets as we had already done our 2 days, but we went back for a third and enjoyed it immensely (did I spell that right?), its still less crowded than disney, with or without express passes.