Is Express Pass Necessary during February

[GCM]

I apologize if this is in the wrong thread, as I'm not sure if this belongs here or in the hotel threads. My family is considering a trip to US and IOA in February 2019. After doing some research, it looks like Express Pass might not be necessary during that time period. We are not roller coaster riders, but will ride most everything else. We plan to stay onsite to have the extra hour in the morning to do Harry Potter, but the need for EP will determine what hotel we choose to stay at. For those of you going or have been during this time period, what was your experience--EP needed or not?

Thank you all so much! This will be our first trip and we are a little bit intimidated!

 

[JaxDad]

We went last February without them and did fine. We were at Cabana Bay and used the early entry each day. My son did use the single rider lines for the coasters, so that helped.

However, be advised that there are some busy days in February, generally associated with Presidents' Day Weekend and concerts, so keep an eye on those, as well as the crowd calendars. You should be fine.

With all that being said, we are going next weekend, February 2nd, and will have EPs (got a good deal at RPR), and I'm happy to have them! We probably won't NEED them, but it is good to know we can get in multiple rides pretty quickly when we may want to do so.

 

[GCM]

We went last February without them and did fine. We were at Cabana Bay and used the early entry each day. My son did use the single rider lines for the coasters, so that helped.

However, be advised that there are some busy days in February, generally associated with Presidents' Day Weekend and concerts, so keep an eye on those, as well as the crowd calendars. You should be fine.

With all that being said, we are going next weekend, February 2nd, and will have EPs (got a good deal at RPR), and I'm happy to have them! We probably won't NEED them, but it is good to know we can get in multiple rides pretty quickly when we may want to do so.

Thank you for your quick reply and for all of the info! I will keep an eye out for events and activities before settling on a date. We are thinking about staying at Cabana Bay if EP isn't necessary. Otherwise, we will probably go RPR. It seems much more cost effective to stay at RPR than to buy EP out of pocket.

Have a great time!!!!!!

 

[hhoope01]

Is EP needed? No, but are EPs beneficial? Yes. I'm leaving out for a week stay next Tuesday for 8 nights (1st week of February.) We are staying at Cabana Bay for 7 nights due to being able to stay for less than $100/night. But I still really wanted to have EPs (just didn't want to spend the cash). So I used some airline miles (which I have a bunch of) to get 3 one night stays (every other night which gets me 6 total days of EPs). I like having the EPs even during potentially slower periods enough to spend some airline miles on it.

This is the problem with tasting the EP "fruit". You won't want to go without once you've had it.

 

[TommyJK]

Have been in Feb before and really the only heavier crowd dates are Presidents day weekend.

Otherwise it's quite manageable. Headline attractions rarely going above 30 min, and that's only during the meatier part of the afternoon (the 1:00 - 4:00ish timeframe) for which we typically went back to CB for a rest/swim.

 

[Liljo22]

There is no cost benefit to buying early and there are kiosks spread around the park so you can wait to see if its needed before deciding. It will save you time even in slower periods but at a minimum of $70 per person per day, it will be hard to swallow if you buy now and don't need it later.

 

[macraven]

I went to UO first week of February last year for opening weekend of Mardi Gras

Parks were not crowded
Saturday and Sunday had decent ride wait times

Prices can increase for the ep once you are there
The larger the crowds, the more demand for buying ep closer to your date

I think you should be fine without the ep for your dates

Single rider line can help if you do encounter a long line
But, not all rides have srl

 

[GCM]

There is no cost benefit to buying early and there are kiosks spread around the park so you can wait to see if its needed before deciding. It will save you time even in slower periods but at a minimum of $70 per person per day, it will be hard to swallow if you buy now and don't need it later.

Thanks for your info. This is exactly what I'm concerned about. I don't want to spend unnecessarily, but with 3 people in the room it would be more cost effective to stay at RPR and get EP included than to buy separately. Best I can figure, as we're planning for next year and I know prices will change by then, RPR is going to cost us about $300+ more for 2 nights, which if EP is needed is well worth it, but if EP ends up being unnecessary will be a waste of money. This being our first trip DH thinks we should splurge and stay RPR to get the EP, but I'm the money conscious one not to mention I love the theme of CB. Oh, decisions, decisions....

 

[Darcy03231]

The last two weeks of February are school vacation weeks in the Northeast and a lot of people travel to Florida to both US/IOA and WDW. If you're going during the first two weeks you probably won't need them. If it's during the last two, you might.

 

[fiasco32]

You never know with how the crowds have been lately.

I was thinking it would be a waste with Touring Plans predicting a 2/10 day. They had forecasted the longest wait on Gringotts would be 23 minutes. Turned out it was more like a 6/10 day and Gringotts at one point had a 60 minute wait and Hipogriff had over a 75 minute wait at one point!

The unpredictable nature of the crowds would make me spring for the Unlimited Express pass no question.

 

[macraven]

I just started to read some other sites and looks like there are more crowds than what was predicted a few weeks ago

I know there are some that came for the potter gala event and were planning to stay after that was over

And Mardi Gras starting up this Saturday might add to crowds I have read about

I have a friend staying onsite now and was told ran into crowds today at the park in the afternoon

Last year about this time (late January) I left Disney for universal and early February was ok crowd wise

I have found it to be a great time in the past but maybe it’s changing

I stay onsite and have the ep from the hotel stay
If i did not, I’d budget for buying the ep

If your stay is short, you don’t want to deal with excessive line waits

Sometimes the money is worth it

 

[Minniesgal]

Personally I would never do Universal without express pass it makes such a huge difference.

Late February anytime after valentines day can be very busy.

 

[nighttowll]

No idea about this year, but last February was dead. It’s the only trip I’ve ever taken when we pretty much could walk on everything all day long. I remember the line for Gringotts being around 10 minutes long. I had never seen the HP sections so empty before outside of early entry. All the really short lines stood out to me because I went with a friend who refused to ride anything. I about cried when I saw the Mummy was a 15 minutes wait mid day. I wanted to ride it over and over again but felt bad about leaving her alone, so I didn’t. The parade route for Mardi Gras was practically empty as well.

I went back in March and oh my gosh the difference. It was so crowded during spring break compared to just a few weeks before in Feb. I will say, when we went in Feb, there were no holidays or other special events taking place besides Mardi Gras, so I’m sure that helped.

We had EP in February, but honestly, I don’t think we ever used them. Almost everything had a 5 to 15 minute wait listed. A few headliners might have got to 30 or 45 minutes at the busiest time of the day, but even repeat rides on those could have been accomplished in the morning hours easily or with single rider.

Normally, I’d suggest getting a room for the EP, but in Feb, I think personally, based on last year, I’d wait and then just fork over the money for same day EP if we really needed them. Even if it ends up being twice as crowded, I can’t see it being ridiculous, unless you are talking about going during some kind of event or holiday.

 

[GCM]

Thanks for all the wonderful input!!!! I have spoken with my husband and since this is going to be our first trip to US/IOA, we have decided we will stay at a resort that gives us EP. We both want to accomplish all we can in only two days before heading to DW to finish out our vacation.

Now, I need to start learning all I can about this new venture.... We have done DW so many times that the planning is not as much fun as it used to be, but researching US parks and hotels is exciting....something new!

 

[fiasco32]

Thanks for all the wonderful input!!!! I have spoken with my husband and since this is going to be our first trip to US/IOA, we have decided we will stay at a resort that gives us EP. We both want to accomplish all we can in only two days before heading to DW to finish out our vacation.

Now, I need to start learning all I can about this new venture.... We have done DW so many times that the planning is not as much fun as it used to be, but researching US parks and hotels is exciting....something new!

Great idea. Let us know what questions you have. Our family has been twice now.

 

[GCM]

Great idea. Let us know what questions you have. Our family has been twice now.

Thank you!