First timer- do we really need EP??

[Kebby]

I am a seasoned WDW vet, but have not been to US since I was a small child. Hubby and I are heading to orlando at the end of April and could use some help.

We will be staying for 2 nights at universal before moving to our DVC hotel. We will be going mid week, and when I look at the crowd calendar it says " slow". I don't like roller coasters very much, but I will do all the harry potter rides et.

We are debating between the Royal Pacific, and the Cabana Bay resort. I understand we get EP with the RP- do we need it? will it cut off that much time dying a slow period? In order to get a decent rate on the RP, I would plan on getting a universal AP, which is only 20.00 more than the ticket price but gives me a good deal on the hotel. Alternately, I could book on last minute travel club for cabana bay without AP and without express pass.

Any advise would be much appreciated!

 

[okw2012]

I am a seasoned WDW vet, but have not been to US since I was a small child. Hubby and I are heading to orlando at the end of April and could use some help.

We will be staying for 2 nights at universal before moving to our DVC hotel. We will be going mid week, and when I look at the crowd calendar it says " slow". I don't like roller coasters very much, but I will do all the harry potter rides et.

We are debating between the Royal Pacific, and the Cabana Bay resort. I understand we get EP with the RP- do we need it? will it cut off that much time dying a slow period? In order to get a decent rate on the RP, I would plan on getting a universal AP, which is only 20.00 more than the ticket price but gives me a good deal on the hotel. Alternately, I could book on last minute travel club for cabana bay without AP and without express pass.

Any advise would be much appreciated!

I would say you don't need EP, especially if you plan to visit for more than one day (three days would be enough) and don't mind starting your day early. Start with the most popular rides. If you're mainly going for HP, hit Gringott's first then take the train to the castle. You can shop later. I would be surprised if you wait more than 30 min. You can add EP anytime during the day anyway if that does not work out. Don't forget that by skipping part of the line, you also skip part of the castle's interior, hence part of the fun. In slow times I have actually found some of the lines to be too short in order to enjoy all of the details in the castle. Same thing at Gringott's, although there I think you won't skip as much. The lines are also great at MiB, Krustyland, and the Mummy, and interesting at Spiderman and Transformers. At all these places, you won't mind waiting 30 min if you are riding for the first time.

 

[bumbershoot]

It's not just coasters that EP works on. It's everything but Gringotts, Forbidden Journey, Ollivanders show (will you be attending that?), pteranodon flyers (adult trip means you can't go n that) and Kang and Kong (twirly ride in Simpsons area). Everything else participates.

We go onsite deluxe no matter what. If it shaves off two minutes from a small standby line, that's two minutes for something else.

We started like that on our first visit and can't imagine doing it another way.

 

[chabs]

I agree with Bumbershoot. We would never stay any other way either-been staying onsite since day 1 too. The Despicable Me ride seems to be an hour long no matter what time of year we visit. Even if it's low crowds you will appreciate not having to stand in the lines and can see so much more of the parks.

 

[goofy!]

I would say you don't need EP, especially if you plan to visit for more than one day (three days would be enough) and don't mind starting your day early. Start with the most popular rides. If you're mainly going for HP, hit Gringott's first then take the train to the castle. You can shop later. I would be surprised if you wait more than 30 min. You can add EP anytime during the day anyway if that does not work out. Don't forget that by skipping part of the line, you also skip part of the castle's interior, hence part of the fun. In slow times I have actually found some of the lines to be too short in order to enjoy all of the details in the castle. Same thing at Gringott's, although there I think you won't skip as much. The lines are also great at MiB, Krustyland, and the Mummy, and interesting at Spiderman and Transformers. At all these places, you won't mind waiting 30 min if you are riding for the first time.

You don't miss anything with FJ or Gringotts as they don't take Express Pass.

When are you going? For our family, we will never go without Express Pass, during a slow time. On slow days, even a 10 minute wait is annoying when you know you could have ridden twice during that same time with the Express Pass

We love the EP just because you can do everything you want and then head back to the hotel to enjoy the wonderful pools.

 

[festus105]

We just returned from Universal, stayed onsite, and utilized EP every morning. At this time of the year EP is only offered at IOA. So every morning we arrived at the gate by 7:30am and was always one of the first 20 people there. The gates opened between 7:45 and 7:50am each morning. The only thing open at this time was the HP area... We were able to do everything in this area (usually more than once) by 9am - because of EP. I really didn't notice the crowds building (and wait times) until 12noon. Then the wait times were always between 30 and 45 minutes... and this was considered a "slow" time of the year.

One morning we caught the first trip over to UO on the Hogwarts Express... arrived in "London" at about 8:45 / 8:50am... seemed to me that we beat most folks entering UO at the main gate. I could be wrong...

We used our EP at every opportunity... even if there was only a 5 minute wait... one reason is because usually the EP line is a shorter walk to the loading area - which I didn't mind at all.

I so prefer EP over Disney's Fastpass (although I haven't tried the new system). At this time of the year we could always almost walk on every ride that utilized it... we didn't have to wait for our "window" or send someone to collect a pass on the other side of the park, etc... We could do what we wanted, when we wanted - and not have to wait in line.

 

[CPanther95]

If you are doing Universal then heading to Disney, definitely skip the front of the line access. It'll spoil you and ruin your Disney experience.

 

[LoveMickey]

We are going for the first time in May - we are experienced WDW folks, first timers at Universal.

We are staying at RPR and will do the EP. We are staying for 3 nights, getting there around noon on the first day.

Listening to the Dis Universal Show podcast this week, looks like IO will be the only one doing early opening.

My question: If the parks open at 9, what time can you get in with early opening? I think I read that people are getting to the gates at 7:30 and get in just before 8.

My other question: On day 2, first full day, should we do early opening and do the HP rides at IO and then take the train to UO and do the HP rides next? What time is the first train?

Thanks a bunch.

 

[macraven]

We are going for the first time in May - we are experienced WDW folks, first timers at Universal.

We are staying at RPR and will do the EP. We are staying for 3 nights, getting there around noon on the first day.

Listening to the Dis Universal Show podcast this week, looks like IO will be the only one doing early opening.

My question: If the parks open at 9, what time can you get in with early opening? I think I read that people are getting to the gates at 7:30 and get in just before 8.

My other question: On day 2, first full day, should we do early opening and do the HP rides at IO and then take the train to UO and do the HP rides next? What time is the first train?

Thanks a bunch.

ee is one hour prior to the official park opening.
in the above situation, the park will open at 8:00.
some hotel guests want to be up front in the line to hit parry hotter immediately, so they get in line early (7:30)

if the TM's allow the hotel guests in some minutes before 8, that is a bonus.
sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't.
at IOA, you can do FJ, Hippografg early, look around the stores, check out the complete area, do dd, then head to HE.
HE should be open and loading timed to start moving to the studios by 9:00.

 

[trayecejay]

We just returned from Universal. Early Entry was only available to IO. We went to the Hogwarts Express at around 8:30 and boarded walked right on. Then, upon arrival at US, we were able to walk on Gringotts (after storing belongings in a locker) with about a five minute wait.

 

[Bluer101]

We only stay onsite not just because of EP but the whole experience.

 

[mellyf]

After staying on property at Universal, I can't see ever staying off site. We were there just last weekend, so it wasn't a busy time, but lines could still get long by late morning/early afternoon. During the first couple of hours, most of the lines were short, but late morning the popular ones were getting into the 20-30 min range. We LOVED express pass. And I'm already ready to go back.

 

[macraven]

After staying on property at Universal, I can't see ever staying off site. We were there just last weekend, so it wasn't a busy time, but lines could still get long by late morning/early afternoon. During the first couple of hours, most of the lines were short, but late morning the popular ones were getting into the 20-30 min range. We LOVED express pass. And I'm already ready to go back.

every time i read posts like this i want to go back now, if only for a weekend...

 

[marchingstar]

At this time of the year EP is only offered at IOA.

Can I clarify that festus105 is talking about the early entry here? If we're visiting soon there may only be the early hour at IOA, but the express pass will work everywhere it normally does, right?

 

[macraven]

if the ride/show has an express line, you can use it.
show your express card to enter that line.

the EE is a perk for the 3 onsite hotel resorts.

 

[kbelle8995]

It depends on when you are visiting. At HP the EP is not accepted. Also if you go in the middle of the week at a quiet time you don't really need it. Say for instance late September or Late January. If you are going to be there during the Summer or a heavy tourist time, I would suggest you get it or stay in one of the resorts that offers it.