How long are lines with the EXPRESS pass?

[Jetta8300]

It is just my husband and I going for our first trip to Universal on Thursady May 5th! We are only going for 1 day mainly to see Harry Potter. But when we looked up ticket prices, they are SO EXPENSIVE and decided just to add on the 2 park Express passes and go all out since we were already spending so much money, and probably won't be back any time soon.

My question is, how long is an average wait time for a ride in the express line? Are we talking an hour? or 5 minutes? I'm curious as to how much we can get done in one day there. I'm used to Cedar Point lines which can be 3-4 hours long for one ride, and we don't get much done on a day there!

 

[Metro West]

My question is, how long is an average wait time for a ride in the express line? Are we talking an hour? or 5 minutes? I'm curious as to how much we can get done in one day there. I'm used to Cedar Point lines which can be 3-4 hours long for one ride, and we don't get much done on a day there!

On average...Express lines run about 15 minutes or less depending on the crowd level. Other than WWoHP, you should be able to do the rest of the park leisurely in a few hours.

 

[Bluer101]

On average...Express lines run about 15 minutes or less depending on the crowd level. Other than WWoHP, you should be able to do the rest of the park leisurely in a few hours.

If you get there early and the lines are short, wait to use the express for later to ride again with less of a wait.

 

[Jetta8300]

If you get there early and the lines are short, wait to use the express for later to ride again with less of a wait.

Thanks everyone! That is a great tip. We plan on getting there early, so maybe we will be able to ride some things twice and save the express for later. 15 minutes or less sounds good to me!

It also seems that resort guests can go in an hour early. Are non-resort guests able to get in the park early but NOT ride rides? Or or can we not enter at all until 9? I'm just confused because a lot of posters are saying "get there an hour early."

 

[Metro West]

It also seems that resort guests can go in an hour early. Are non-resort guests able to get in the park early but NOT ride rides? Or or can we not enter at all until 9? I'm just confused because a lot of posters are saying "get there an hour early."

Only onsite guests can enter the park early. People warn of getting there early mainly for HP since the line will grow very rapidly.

 

[eeudj]

Only onsite guests can enter the park early. People warn of getting there early mainly for HP since the line will grow very rapidly.

We purchased a package through universal to include tickets and staying at an off-site hotel. The package included early entry HP. You might want to look into it.. we found it very reasonable and the hotel is just across the street and has received decent reviews.

 

[norm&linda]

Those are good points -- the express pass does not work for Harry Potter, so any advantage you can get as far as getting in early is worth it. We were there last week staying onsite and got early admission. Even with that the Forbidden Journey line was about 20 minutes. As soon as the park opened for general admission and hour later the lines for forbidden journey were over an hour. However, with the express passes we had no wait at all on any of the other rides. We rode everything before noon and then returned to the hotel. (The express pass is also not valid for Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios.)

 

[Metro West]

We purchased a package through universal to include tickets and staying at an off-site hotel. The package included early entry HP. You might want to look into it.. we found it very reasonable and the hotel is just across the street and has received decent reviews.

Yes but you either have to stay onsite or have a package to get early entry. These packages that include what used to be onsite only benefits keep confusing me...I guess anything can happen now.

 

[mesaboy2]

Those are good points -- the express pass does not work for Harry Potter, so any advantage you can get as far as getting in early is worth it. We were there last week staying onsite and got early admission. Even with that the Forbidden Journey line was about 20 minutes. As soon as the park opened for general admission and hour later the lines for forbidden journey were over an hour. However, with the express passes we had no wait at all on any of the other rides. We rode everything before noon and then returned to the hotel. (The express pass is also not valid for Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios.)

Just for clarity, the three attractions at Universal that don't accept Express are Forbidden Journey and Pteranadon Flyers at IoA and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at the Studios. Express is accepted at two attractions within WWoHP, those being Dragon Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff.

 

[momabaarjo]

When we stayed on site last year, we were let in an hour early inside the gates and directed to one side of the ropes towards Suessville. Off site guests were also allowed inside at the same time, but directed towards Super Hero Island...the line for off site guests started on the Jurassic side of WWOHOP. It might be good to call ahead and see when they actually allow off site guests to line up...trust me you want to be there early! By the time we left WWOHOP (about 1 hour after they began allowing off site guests into the area) the line for off site guests the line was already backed up through Jurassic Park and well into Toon Island. This was in June.

My plan of attack would be to get into line for Forbidden Journey first...the line should be less than 1 hour wait this early in the morning. If you are wanting to Olivanders I would get in that line first...then head to forbidden Journey. After doing these 2 things, go through the gift shops (make sure you take the time to look in each window in Hogsmeade)...the later you wait the more crowded it will get. Then since you have Express Passes do Dragon Challenge and Hippogriff....

I am not sure when you plan to leave the end of the day...but come back to WWOHP after dark if you can and walk around. It looks like an entirely different place! You should be able to walk right back in through Lost Continent by this time...we came back after a thunderstorm one evening and WOW what a site Hogwarts Castle was!

 

[Jetta8300]

When we stayed on site last year, we were let in an hour early inside the gates and directed to one side of the ropes towards Suessville. Off site guests were also allowed inside at the same time, but directed towards Super Hero Island...the line for off site guests started on the Jurassic side of WWOHOP. It might be good to call ahead and see when they actually allow off site guests to line up...trust me you want to be there early! By the time we left WWOHOP (about 1 hour after they began allowing off site guests into the area) the line for off site guests the line was already backed up through Jurassic Park and well into Toon Island. This was in June.

My plan of attack would be to get into line for Forbidden Journey first...the line should be less than 1 hour wait this early in the morning. If you are wanting to Olivanders I would get in that line first...then head to forbidden Journey. After doing these 2 things, go through the gift shops (make sure you take the time to look in each window in Hogsmeade)...the later you wait the more crowded it will get. Then since you have Express Passes do Dragon Challenge and Hippogriff....

I am not sure when you plan to leave the end of the day...but come back to WWOHP after dark if you can and walk around. It looks like an entirely different place! You should be able to walk right back in through Lost Continent by this time...we came back after a thunderstorm one evening and WOW what a site Hogwarts Castle was!

WOW! Thanks for the great advice! We plan on staying all day, but the park is only open until 7:00. We only have one day, but have express passes to BOTH US and IOA. I know we will not be able to do nearly everything! I am going to call to see what time we can enter the park.

I will definitely take this advice and tour WWOHP this way, and take our time there. If we are running a bit late we may not do Olivanders. The rides at US looked a little more interesting to us than the ones at IOA. So we may head over to US after Harry Potter and then come back to IOA if we have time...I really want to do the Mummy and Men in Black ride!

 

[eeudj]

When we stayed on site last year, we were let in an hour early inside the gates and directed to one side of the ropes towards Suessville. Off site guests were also allowed inside at the same time, but directed towards Super Hero Island...the line for off site guests started on the Jurassic side of WWOHOP. It might be good to call ahead and see when they actually allow off site guests to line up

I just called universal and was told that if a partner hotel and tickets to parks are purchased through Universal you are let in at the same time onsite guests are. The perk for staying onsite is that an UNLIMITED express pass is included with your stay.

 

[Bluer101]

WOW! Thanks for the great advice! We plan on staying all day, but the park is only open until 7:00. We only have one day, but have express passes to BOTH US and IOA. I know we will not be able to do nearly everything! I am going to call to see what time we can enter the park.

I will definitely take this advice and tour WWOHP this way, and take our time there. If we are running a bit late we may not do Olivanders. The rides at US looked a little more interesting to us than the ones at IOA. So we may head over to US after Harry Potter and then come back to IOA if we have time...I really want to do the Mummy and Men in Black ride!

Since you have the express for both parks I think you can get pretty much all the rides in for both parks. You will have to hustle a little but it can be done. I think you can get WWOHP done by 11am-12pm and finish the rest of IOA by 2-3 pm. Then head over to US and start at the beginning ad work your way around.

We stay onsite and have been many times before WWOHP and been able to do both parks (headliners) in one day. Just need to hustle and adjust time accordingly.