Is anyone else a little irritated that Park Hopper is needed to see all the HP stuff

[Metro West]

You are required to purchase the park to park tickets in order to ride the Hogwarts Express because you are going to two different parks...not another section of the same park. Why would Universal allow people from either park to go to the other w/o having a ticket for entry?

 

[Planogirl]

It's funny because I never buy the hopper at WDW but always have at Universal. It is so cool to just stroll to the other park if the first one is too crowded. Disney parks are a bit more of a pain due to distance so maybe that is the difference to me.

 

[DOOM1001]

I think if you have a problem with paying for a hopper pass look into an AP,you'll end up wanting to come back anyways and if you want to renew you get a pretty decent discount.I just went on the Universal website to check out when my pass expires and it's July 3rd,it also showed I can renew for $159,that's for the Florida resident preferred pass which includes all the necessary options,free parking,discounts,full year round admission.This is exactly what I paid last year and somehow I thought I would end up paying more with Diagon Alley opening up.I also saw that's $100 less than what a same new pass purchase costs,that's a pretty good deal considering the Disney renewal discount is like $30.I've had this same pass for like 15 years when I first got it it was a buy one year get another one free offer and then renewals were like $99,pretty good but considering everything they've opened up a $60 increase in like 12-13 years is very fair.

 

[mjohnson96]

Worlds of Fun here in Kansas City changed their ticket last year to move away from the two park ticket and go a one ticket covers all charge. I wonder if US won't look at doing the same because of how this one areas covers two sides. (of course tickets will go up)

 

[ChrisFL]

You are required to purchase the park to park tickets in order to ride the Hogwarts Express because you are going to two different parks...not another section of the same park. Why would Universal allow people from either park to go to the other w/o having a ticket for entry?

Makes me wonder if these people ever hop on the monorail at Epcot and ride to MK/TTC, only to ride back to Epcot, never setting foot in the parks...

So if we are to equate this to Disney:

The Seas with Nemo and Friends AND Finding Nemo the Musical, you need to buy TWO parks tickets, because they're in different parks

Voyage of The Little Mermaid show and the new Little Mermaid ride, you need to buy TWO parks tickets, because they're in different parks

Pirates of the Caribbean ride and the Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow show, you need to buy TWO parks tickets, because they're in different parks


Shall I continue? It's the SAME situation.

 

[Bluer101]

Makes me wonder if these people ever hop on the monorail at Epcot and ride to MK/TTC, only to ride back to Epcot, never setting foot in the parks... So if we are to equate this to Disney: The Seas with Nemo and Friends AND Finding Nemo the Musical, you need to buy TWO parks tickets, because they're in different parks Voyage of The Little Mermaid show and the new Little Mermaid ride, you need to buy TWO parks tickets, because they're in different parks Pirates of the Caribbean ride and the Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow show, you need to buy TWO parks tickets, because they're in different parks Shall I continue? It's the SAME situation.

Disney is giving special passes to let you see those attraction if you ask nicely or play dumb.

 

[msupulski]

Makes me wonder if these people ever hop on the monorail at Epcot and ride to MK/TTC, only to ride back to Epcot, never setting foot in the parks...

So if we are to equate this to Disney:

The Seas with Nemo and Friends AND Finding Nemo the Musical, you need to buy TWO parks tickets, because they're in different parks

Voyage of The Little Mermaid show and the new Little Mermaid ride, you need to buy TWO parks tickets, because they're in different parks

Pirates of the Caribbean ride and the Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow show, you need to buy TWO parks tickets, because they're in different parks


Shall I continue? It's the SAME situation.

Eh, sort of, but not really. The difference is that visiting both of the attractions listed above is perfectly do-able with say, a 2-day ticket. You can go to MK one day and ride PotC and DHS the next day for LoJS. You don't have to shell out the extra money for a park hopper to experience either attraction, a 2-day ticket will suffice. With the Hogwarts Express, if you want to ride it you cannot simply purchase a 2-day ticket. You are forced into the park-hopper or else you cannot experience the attraction at all. I get it, it's a smart move for them, but also annoying.

I've done WDW with and without park hoppers. Personally, without has always been much more relaxing. There is more than enough to do at each park to fill a day, and even when I've gone to AK for the day I just relax by the pool at night or go to Downtown Disney that night. I think 4-5 day Disney trips are done easiest with a base ticket. One day at each park, plus an extra day to go back to your favorite. The only scenarios where I've really benefited from the park hopper are the extended trips, somewhere between 7-10 days.

I've been to Universal once--both parks. I did enjoy it and will definitely go back, but for me, one day at each park was plenty to do and see everything I wanted. I did not feel like I needed to go to US from IoA or vice versa. It just never seemed like shelling out the extra $50 or whatever it is was worth it for me?

 

[sonofanarchy]

Personally, no, since I'm an AP holder. But I suppose I can see why someone buying a 1 or 2 day ticket might be.

 

[huey duey & luey]

Makes me wonder if these people ever hop on the monorail at Epcot and ride to MK/TTC, only to ride back to Epcot, never setting foot in the parks...

So if we are to equate this to Disney:

The Seas with Nemo and Friends AND Finding Nemo the Musical, you need to buy TWO parks tickets, because they're in different parks

Voyage of The Little Mermaid show and the new Little Mermaid ride, you need to buy TWO parks tickets, because they're in different parks

Pirates of the Caribbean ride and the Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow show, you need to buy TWO parks tickets, because they're in different parks


Shall I continue? It's the SAME situation.

I really am not trying to make this a Disney vs Universal thing, bc the changes in Disney lately haven't been positive in my opinion, BUT it is not the same thing at all. You don't need a park hopper to experience anything at WDW. You can just visit one park a day. I order to experience a ride at Universal you MUST have a hopper. Like I stated before we usually don't get hoppers but will at Universal so for us the difference in price is specifically so we can ride just one ride, and for 5 people it adds up. From everything I have read here I am extremely excited about our Universal vacation. I have one HUGE Harry Potter fan and I suggested maybe skipping Hogwarts, you should have seen his face So needless to say we will be getting park to park passes.

 

[Bluer101]

There are plenty of things in life that don't come with other things. Do your homework to find out what works for you. Plain and simple. If I or anyone can't afford it or thinks it's out of line we simply don't do it.

 

[johde]

From a PR perspective, I'm surprised they didn't go the other way with the most recent price increase and get rid of the 2-4 day single park per day tickets. Leaving 1 day, 1 park and 1-4 day park to park tickets. Advertising it as park to park access in included in all multiday tickets.

I still think the best Disney comparison to the Hogwarts express is the Monorail. In Orlando, you can ride the monorail to you're hearts content with no ticket required. It's "FREE". In Anaheim, the exit to the monorail is in the middle of Tomorrowland. Before you board the monorail you need to present a valid ticket for the park the exit is located at (Disneyland). You are not allowed to board at DTD, ride all the way around back to DTD without a valid ticket.

Likewise at Universal. The exit to Hogwarts Express - Kings Cross Station is the the middle of Hogsmead at Islands of Adventure. You need a ticket with valid admission to IOA to board. Likewise, exit to Hogwarts Express - Hogsmead is in the middle of Universal Studios Florida. Since you've already been in the other themepark before you board, a Park to Park ticket is the only one that works.

 

[Bluer101]

From a PR perspective, I'm surprised they didn't go the other way with the most recent price increase and get rid of the 2-4 day single park per day tickets. Leaving 1 day, 1 park and 1-4 day park to park tickets. Advertising it as park to park access in included in all multiday tickets. I still think the best Disney comparison to the Hogwarts express is the Monorail. In Orlando, you can ride the monorail to you're hearts content with no ticket required. It's "FREE". In Anaheim, the exit to the monorail is in the middle of Tomorrowland. Before you board the monorail you need to present a valid ticket for the park the exit is located at (Disneyland). You are not allowed to board at DTD, ride all the way around back to DTD without a valid ticket. Likewise at Universal. The exit to Hogwarts Express - Kings Cross Station is the the middle of Hogsmead at Islands of Adventure. You need a ticket with valid admission to IOA to board. Likewise, exit to Hogwarts Express - Hogsmead is in the middle of Universal Studios Florida. Since you've already been in the other themepark before you board, a Park to Park ticket is the only one that works.

That's a good way to put it. If you want train transportation between parks you have to pay. No pay no train ride.

 

[sugarnspicex4]

What I do is buy myself an annual pass and then use that to buy discounted tickets for the 4 kids I bring along. I have the preferred pass and it's 15% off tickets and 10% food/merchandise. With 5 people the savings add up quick.

I know that won't work for everyone, but it's a good option, atleast for us.

Thank you for posting this! I was so discouraged about the hike in price from 2-day single park tix to 2-day P2P that I had pretty much decided against the P2P route. We are a family of 6 and when I did the math, it is actually less expensive for us to buy an annual pass + 5 tickets with the 15% discount than to buy the 2 day P2P. Granted, we have to buy the Preferred Pass to avoid black-out dates in July, but when you factor in getting free parking for the 2nd day we would save $43 going this route. If we go a third day, the difference is $71. Then of course there's the 10% discount off food.

 

[Metro West]

Thank you for posting this! I was so discouraged about the hike in price from 2-day single park tix to 2-day P2P that I had pretty much decided against the P2P route. We are a family of 6 and when I did the math, it is actually less expensive for us to buy an annual pass + 5 tickets with the 15% discount than to buy the 2 day P2P. Granted, we have to buy the Preferred Pass to avoid black-out dates in July, but when you factor in getting free parking for the 2nd day we would save $43 going this route. If we go a third day, the difference is $71. Then of course there's the 10% discount off food.

 

[damo]

Thank you for posting this! I was so discouraged about the hike in price from 2-day single park tix to 2-day P2P that I had pretty much decided against the P2P route. We are a family of 6 and when I did the math, it is actually less expensive for us to buy an annual pass + 5 tickets with the 15% discount than to buy the 2 day P2P. Granted, we have to buy the Preferred Pass to avoid black-out dates in July, but when you factor in getting free parking for the 2nd day we would save $43 going this route. If we go a third day, the difference is $71. Then of course there's the 10% discount off food.

Remember that the 15% off is off of gate prices, not online prices.

 

[saskdw]

I haven't read this whole thread, but this has no impact on us.

We would never not have park hoppers anyway. Our shortest stay at Universal was 6 nights. We usually just buy annual passes and be done with it. We come from to far away to get to Orlando to not thoroughly enjoy what we came to see over multiple days. No way we would be rushing through for one day. Universals annual passes are still a great value even for people like us who only go once a year.

At US or WDW we stay onsite and want access to everything when ever we feel like it.

 

[richmond282]

It doesn't bother me either. I would do P2P at US and IOA regardless. I have crunched the #s and I think for my family of 3 the Flex ticket is the best option for us since we want to go to Seaworld too. I priced it out with an AP ticket instead and the Flex still is the better deal for us. Of course, it would be a better savings if we had a larger family I'm sure.

 

[PoohJen]

OP, yes, I agree with you.

We went to Universal just to see HP when that opened; enjoyable but doesn't take more than half day. We had park hopper tix from Costco, so did go to both parks. One of my teenage sons said "This is nice, but how do they get people to come back?" We just weren't wowed by Uni.


I do want to go back just to see the HP expansion. I have no interest in the rest of the parks. So I agree with your post.

 

[n2mm]

Nope. I buy the annual pass for $199 and renew it for even less which is an absolute steal, so I can't complain. All park to park tickets are still cheaper than buying the same ticket at WDW or DL, so seems fair to me. Nobody is forcing anyone to ride the Hogwarts Express. It isn't like the one park per day ticket has been eliminated.

Yep being a passholder for years is a steal. We renew every year. I think I paid $179 this year to renew our APs. Getting that free parking is a great perk too. I just wish they would offer discounted tickets for friends and family like they use to. Just saying.....

 

[Winnie Pooh Fan]

See I am disappointed with this - we planned on doing a 2 day pass staying overnight in a Universal resort. With this we'd need to try to do all HP things on one day if we wanted to experience the train or miss out on the ride.

This is either brilliant or horrible marketing by Universal. They may end up loosing money on those like us that would have purchased 2 day passes and may now purchase a 1 day pass with the hopper option.