How bad will April 2018 be with no Express Pass?

[buzzrelly]

Hi All! I was looking at hotel prices for next April 5-8th, and…YIKES! The problem really is that we are heading down with 5-7 older kids/adults and a toddler under 3, so we would need 2 rooms at one of the three deluxe resorts that qualify for EP. That's going to run us about $1000 per NIGHT at even the cheapest of the three

So it's looking more and more like we will have to stay at Cabana Bay and even if we have the 7 people and need the two bedroom suite, that's still HALF of what we'd pay at a deluxe. Assuming this is all true and then we didn't get the EP, how bad will the lines be? If we go early in the morning and hit up the big rides, then take a midday break and head back later in the day? Are we looking at HOURS spent in each line? Or is it more like 20-30 minutes?

Thanks!

 

[Metro West]

There's no way to tell this far in advance. However...if you are going during Spring Break next year, the lines will be outrageous a w/o the EP wait times will be well over 60 minutes.

 

[macraven]

if you stay at Cbay or Sfalls, take advantage of early entry to the parks.

all the onsite hotels are eligible for that.

potter sections of the parks will be open plus one other ride outside of that section.


can't say how crowded the parks would be if you left and returned later in the day.

you can judge that option once you are there.

 

[buzzrelly]

There's no way to tell this far in advance. However...if you are going during Spring Break next year, the lines will be outrageous a w/o the EP wait times will be well over 60 minutes.

if you stay at Cbay or Sfalls, take advantage of early entry to the parks.

all the onsite hotels are eligible for that.

potter sections of the parks will be open plus one other ride outside of that section.


can't say how crowded the parks would be if you left and returned later in the day.

you can judge that option once you are there.

Thank you both for your responses! It's rough having to travel during the busiest times, since they really price gouge you!

 

[kohlby]

Does Easter weekend fall during that week? If so, then yes, it's a very crowded time. (But - between Christmas and New Year's is often busier so not the absolutely worse time). Plan on using the extra hour. Yes, plan on being in the parks near closing. We were in the parks on the Sunday before President's day, which said very high crowds. We did Kong as walk-on and then FJ as a walk-on right before closing! Staying that late can be tough for a little one but is a great time for the older kids to go back out with an adult.

As long as you take the attitude that it is what it is, you'll do okay. Prioritize what you want to do so you can make full use of the morning and evening times.

 

[buzzrelly]

Does Easter weekend fall during that week? If so, then yes, it's a very crowded time. (But - between Christmas and New Year's is often busier so not the absolutely worse time). Plan on using the extra hour. Yes, plan on being in the parks near closing. We were in the parks on the Sunday before President's day, which said very high crowds. We did Kong as walk-on and then FJ as a walk-on right before closing! Staying that late can be tough for a little one but is a great time for the older kids to go back out with an adult.

As long as you take the attitude that it is what it is, you'll do okay. Prioritize what you want to do so you can make full use of the morning and evening times.

Yes, Easter is April 1, 2018 so I'm sure it'll be us and the rest of the world there on Spring Break. I think I'd be ok with not getting on a ton of rides as I didn't LOVE most of them last time we were there. I'm kind of wondering if UO is like WDW in that if we are there early for rope drop we can get a bunch done, then take a break during the day and head back later, possibly with just the older kids? I may actually get the EP for just my teens since they like to do the big roller coasters and I think they'd get more use out of them.

We would also really want to go to the new Volcano Bay and it sounds like they won't really be utilizing the EP there? If I read it right, it sounds like tapu tapu will be available for everyone? I guess we'll know more about that in a couple months

 

[kohlby]

Yes- you will get a lot more done first thing in the morning compared with later on. The HP areas will be horribly crowded by afternoon - making it hard to walk around and enjoy the areas. That's where CB's early extra hour will help you out quite a bit. Do be ready for your early hour early. We went during moderate crowds and got there right at the start one day - and Gringotts wait was longer than we wanted by the time we walked right there! We went 15 minutes earlier the next day and Gringotts was a walk-on for us. That's moderate crowds though - so plan being there more than 15 minutes early. Think like a Disney person and you'll likely be there in plenty of time!

From what I've heard, Tapu Tapu seems like it will be for everyone. There will be some neat interactive features that will use that band as well - so not having it would make people miss out on more than just the ride system so it wouldn't make sense to not have it. As with anything, I'd expect them to be working out some kinks at the start though - even with them testing out the system beforehand.