Express Passes in early February?

[rowan555]

We had our first Universal adventure in August, and we stayed on site in order to take advantage of the express passes. It looks like the first half of February is pretty slow, and my daughter said she'd really rather stay at a smaller hotel off site and just drive to the parks. Will we regret not having express passes after being "spoiled" on our other trip, or will it not make much difference in early February? We're not wanting to do Harry Potter, and we can do without Transformers if the lines are too long. She's mainly wanting to re-ride all the coasters. I'm thinking of also getting a 4 day pass so we can do partial days, which might make it a bit better (go at opening, leave at lunch time, or go in the evening, etc).

Thoughts? Should we spend the extra $100 or so to stay onsite one night, or is it not worth the expense and the hassle of switching hotels right in the middle of our stay (and again the next day)?

 

[macraven]

We had our first Universal adventure in August, and we stayed on site in order to take advantage of the express passes. It looks like the first half of February is pretty slow, and my daughter said she'd really rather stay at a smaller hotel off site and just drive to the parks. Will we regret not having express passes after being "spoiled" on our other trip, or will it not make much difference in early February? We're not wanting to do Harry Potter, and we can do without Transformers if the lines are too long. She's mainly wanting to re-ride all the coasters. I'm thinking of also getting a 4 day pass so we can do partial days, which might make it a bit better (go at opening, leave at lunch time, or go in the evening, etc).

Thoughts? Should we spend the extra $100 or so to stay onsite one night, or is it not worth the expense and the hassle of switching hotels right in the middle of our stay (and again the next day)?

since you visited the darkside about 4 months back and did everything in the park, staying off site might work out for the next trip.

if you only want to do the coasters, you could do that quite well in the 4 days you will be visiting the darkside.

early feb hasn't been a bad crowd period in the past.

 

[rowan555]

Thanks. My daughter really didn't like the Royal Pacific, and while I don't mind spending the extra $120 it looks like it would cost to do one night on site, there's no point doing it if she doesn't like the hotel AND it's not going to save us a tremendous amount of time. I just remember how LONG the lines for Hulk and Spiderman, in particular, were for the regular lines in August, and I shudder at the thought of ending up in lines like that and wishing I'd just gotten the on site hotel. Second-guessing myself is my worst flaw, and it's working overtime right now!

 

[Canooknic]

If its anything like last February (which I hope it is because we are there at the start if Feb too!) then you'll have no problems.
The longest we waited was 15 minutes for anything - unless you're planning on doing the Pterodactyl Flyers, then you'll wait hours!!

Have a great time!!

 

[macraven]

rowan if you have a car, check out using Drury Inn.
it is about 2 miles or so from the parks.
(i don't remember if they have the free shuttle but their site would list it if they do.)

they offer a lot so check out their website.
i'm originally from the st louis area and quite familar with the Drury Inn there.
it is a chain hotel and i think they do care for all their guests.

and they have free food.......

they discount for AAA.
check their site for other discounts they allow.

the only time i would think feb would be busy is when they have mardi gras on the weekend.
other than that, i haven't seen any last year threads on issues with crowds.

 

[rowan555]

Thanks for the suggestion! We're driving, and we don't need a shuttle as I have an AP so we can park for free. I was checking the major hotel sites, and that one didn't come up. I noticed that rates are higher than they were in August just about everywhere (except the on site hotels which have a great AP rate for one night during our stay, which is the one thing tempting me to just stay onsite that one night!). I'm going to look at Drury Inn right now.

At this point, the only thing making me consider putting this off until May is this COLD weather. I have severe joint pain when it's cold, and the unusually cold weather in New Orleans the past few weeks has me not wanting to leave the house! My daughter really want to go NOW, though, not wait until May, and I also remind myself that if we go in May, she'll drag me to a water park...and that might be the one thing more painful than walking around in cold weather all day

 

[Floridagram]

Thanks for the suggestion! We're driving, and we don't need a shuttle as I have an AP so we can park for free. I was checking the major hotel sites, and that one didn't come up. I noticed that rates are higher than they were in August just about everywhere (except the on site hotels which have a great AP rate for one night during our stay, which is the one thing tempting me to just stay onsite that one night!). I'm going to look at Drury Inn right now.

At this point, the only thing making me consider putting this off until May is this COLD weather. I have severe joint pain when it's cold, and the unusually cold weather in New Orleans the past few weeks has me not wanting to leave the house! My daughter really want to go NOW, though, not wait until May, and I also remind myself that if we go in May, she'll drag me to a water park...and that might be the one thing more painful than walking around in cold weather all day

You can never tell about the weather here in Feb. This week on Mon and Tues I wore short sleeves and capris, then yesterday it was so cold I had to start out the morning in layers, shirt, sweatshirt and jacket for an all day outdoor event. By 11 it was time for the jacket to come off and by 1 the sweatshirt was off. Feb is so much better than May unless you love the heat.