Fotl

[Poohbeck]

OK, so this will be our first time to Universal and IOA. We are staying offsite and only decided last week or so to include US and IOA. Now that I'm reading more on the boards, I'm concerned we are not staying onsite in order to use the FOTL. Changing our lodging plans is not an option.

Will we be OK? We will be there for our April break - 4/17 - 4/24.

I am not a huge rider and neither is my DS13, but DH and DS11 are thrill seekers. So, they should have a blast.

Thanks.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

If you find that the lines are too long, you can always purchase an Express Pass. However the difference between the Express Pass you buy and the FOTL perk you get when staying at an onsite hotel, is the Express Pass can only be used once per attraction per person.

 

[xApril]

April tends to be a busy month since pretty much every week there is someplace in the world that is on Spring Break.

 

[Poohbeck]

April tends to be a busy month since pretty much every week there is someplace in the world that is on Spring Break.

I figured there parks would be open later during April.

 

[Darcy03231]

We've been to US/IOA during peak summer season and stayed off-site. As long as you get the parks for park opening each day you should be able to get a lot done in the first couple of hours. Plan to be at the parking garage by no later than 8:15 am.

We went last April for our spring break (April 25 - May 1) and I found the crowds at that time to be moderate. We stayed on-site so we really didn't stand in any lines. Again, the crowds tended to be lighter in the early morning hours until about noon.

 

[Coach81]

If you find that the lines are too long, you can always purchase an Express Pass. However the difference between the Express Pass you buy and the FOTL perk you get when staying at an onsite hotel, is the Express Pass can only be used once per attraction per person.

 

[Purseval]

We would never even consider buying an express pass. It doesn't matter where you go, Universal, WDW or your local town fair. If you are there when the gates open and know where you want to go you will get to do what you want without having to pay extra for it.

 

[Poohbeck]

We would never even consider buying an express pass. It doesn't matter where you go, Universal, WDW or your local town fair. If you are there when the gates open and know where you want to go you will get to do what you want without having to pay extra for it.

Sounds good. We are a RD family, so, I'm thinking we can do it. I really DON'T want to spend extra moenty on a pass to get to the front of the line.

We'll go with the flow and see what happens.

Thanks.

 

[PAL_1]

We would never even consider buying an express pass. It doesn't matter where you go, Universal, WDW or your local town fair. If you are there when the gates open and know where you want to go you will get to do what you want without having to pay extra for it.

Would you say that applies to visiting BOTH parks on the same day? During the week leading up to Easter? We don't want to do everything, just the best things. LOL That's Hulk, Spiderman, JP, DD / DC, Cat in the Hat at IOA, and HRRnC, Mummy, Simpsons and Men in Black.

We have one fewer day in Orlando than I'd like or need to hit each park at opening. $200 for Express Passes is a huge bundle, but less than it would cost for that extra day I wish I had.

I'm ridiculously conflicted on this decision.

 

[Metro West]

Would you say that applies to visiting BOTH parks on the same day? During the week leading up to Easter? We don't want to do everything, just the best things. LOL That's Hulk, Spiderman, JP, DD / DC, Cat in the Hat at IOA, and HRRnC, Mummy, Simpsons and Men in Black.

We have one fewer day in Orlando than I'd like or need to hit each park at opening. $200 for Express Passes is a huge bundle, but less than it would cost for that extra day I wish I had.

I'm ridiculously conflicted on this decision.

You should never purchase Express Plus passes ahead of time. If you get to either park at opening, you should have no problems doing the bigger attractions that you want w/o Express passes.

If you're going to shoot for both parks in a single day, you might think about the one park pass after you see what the wait times are and go from there. It's possible you may need a Express pass for the second park you tour but again...wait until you arrive.

 

[PAL_1]

If you're going to shoot for both parks in a single day, you might think about the one park pass after you see what the wait times are and go from there. It's possible you may need a Express pass for the second park you tour but again...wait until you arrive.

Thanks for the advice. As far as 1 park vs 2 park Express Passes go, the difference is minimal, just $5 / ticket.

 

[dgr1973]

Ok totally confused here! We are planning to go the first week of Nov and have never been to US/IOA before. I was reading in a book that they have a similar express pass option much like Disney's in that you put in your park ticket and you get a ticket with a return time but you can't get another until the first one is used. Is this right? Do you pay extra for it or is it free like Disney's? The book did not mention a price for it but went on to talk about the Express Pass Plus that has a fee and explained the difference between the two. I really don't want to have to pay extra for an express pass and I'm hoping the time of the year that we will be there we won't need to. We went to Disney last year in Nov and even though the crowds were low we still used the fast passes alot, I don't think we had to but I love not waiting even 5 minutes for a ride (well doesn't everyone?) Thanks!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Ok totally confused here! We are planning to go the first week of Nov and have never been to US/IOA before. I was reading in a book that they have a similar express pass option much like Disney's in that you put in your park ticket and you get a ticket with a return time but you can't get another until the first one is used. Is this right? Do you pay extra for it or is it free like Disney's? The book did not mention a price for it but went on to talk about the Express Pass Plus that has a fee and explained the difference between the two. I really don't want to have to pay extra for an express pass and I'm hoping the time of the year that we will be there we won't need to. We went to Disney last year in Nov and even though the crowds were low we still used the fast passes alot, I don't think we had to but I love not waiting even 5 minutes for a ride (well doesn't everyone?) Thanks!

No, Universal and IOA do not have a fastpass option like Disney. For those guests staying on-site at a Universal hotel, they get front of the line access with their room key. For those not staying on-site at a Universal hotel, if you want to utilize the express pass entrance, you must purchase an express pass which is good for one entry into each participating attraction. There are two different express passes - a 2 park universal express pass which is good for both US and IOA, and a 1 park universal express pass which is good for either park but not both.

 

[mark2311]

That must be an old book. Think since about 2005 Express has been hotel guest or purchasing customers only

 

[Metro West]

That must be an old book. Think since about 2005 Express has been hotel guest or purchasing customers only

I think it was in 2005 or 2006...I can't remember which year...when the Express machines were all removed.

 

[dgr1973]

That must be an old book. Think since about 2005 Express has been hotel guest or purchasing customers only

Actually it's from Fodor's Florida 2010 that I got at the library today! It makes me wonder how acurate these guide books really are. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

 

[xApril]

Actually it's from Fodor's Florida 2010 that I got at the library today! It makes me wonder how acurate these guide books really are. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Very lucky you can find 2010 books. I'm in FL and all I can find is stuff prior to 2004.

 

[dgr1973]

Ok so here's another question, how are the crowds in early Nov and will we even need the express pass? And one more thing, I can't seem to find a price for it anywhere. Does it fluctuate?

 

[Metro West]

Ok so here's another question, how are the crowds in early Nov and will we even need the express pass? And one more thing, I can't seem to find a price for it anywhere. Does it fluctuate?

The price for the Express Plus passes vary depending on the anticipated crowd level for that day. Historically...early November is not busy so I doubt you would need it. Harry Potter will bring the crowds in so it shouldn't be as slow as the previous years but that remains to be seen.