Fast Passes

[NewmanFamily6]

If we don't pay for fast passes will the kids still have fun?

 

[subtchr]

No way to answer that without knowing when you are going.

Also, the way you worded the question, it depends on what your kids are like. Not having express passes means longer waits in lines. Will that mean your kids won't have as much fun? Only you can answer that.

 

[RMulieri]

Depends on WHEN you are visiting, ages of kids, personalities of kids etc..No express pass at busier times of year means LOTS of time in lines and less attractions done.
If you are going in Jan of 2015, it again depends on when. Crowds drop down after New year, but that is when the Large tour groups start to arrive and they are there throughout the month. That can make for longer queues if you happen to get in line at the same time as them . We found on our last Jan trip ( and we are going again in 3 weeks) that the express pass was worth it( we stay deluxe on site to get it as a perk) to avoid the tour groups entirely

 

[SnipsNSnails]

We were just there (22nd & 23rd) and it was fairly busy. I've seen worse (Disney Christmas week) but lots of people. We had the express passes and they really do help. For instance Flight of the Hippogriff was having a problem and only running one train, they were putting 4 from the regular line vs. 12 from the express line. MIB and ET had about 45 minute lines and we were on in about 5 minutes. We also walked past large lines for the coasters with 15 minute waits for us. It certainly makes things go quicker. We had everything we wanted to do and repeated a few and were back at the hotel swimming by mid-afternoon each day.

 

[johde]

I am going to agree with everyone else. It depends on when you go. What your children are like etc. I've never been with Express Passes but I usually travel solo so I can make solid use of the Single Rider Lines. But, without express, it is much more important to come into the parks with a game plans. Universal still follows traditional themepark timetables where everyone shows up about 11:00. If you can show up at Rope Drop and hit the major attractions in a proper order. You can stay ahead of the crowds most of the day. If the day turns out being less busy you probably don't need the plan but without express you probably want to err on the side of following a plan in the beginning then if the days goes smoothly you can start deviating from it later on.

Orlando Informer and Touring Plans have sample plans that can give you an idea on how to tackle the parks both with and without early entry. But basically you want to "power ride" in the morning then go back and do the high capacity attractions in the afternoon then finish up with some power riding if the parks are open late enough.