Is express pass necessary?

[Minnie0107]

We are going to orlando May 5-9 and are staying on WDW property. On the 8th we plan on going to US/IOA since we have never been. We will be driving to the property from WDW. Do we need the express passes since we want to try to fit everything in? It will just be me and my husband (26) so we will be able to get around pretty quick, but we will also want to ride everything. Any advice on parking, traveling, or touring the parks would be great!
PS: Should we start with IOA or US in the moring?

 

[idlewoman1]

We were just at Universal for 5 days and were fortunate enough to stay on property, so your room key is your express pass. We found the express line to be an extreme time saver as the regular lines for rides such as The Mummy, Spiderman, Shrek 4-D, and Men in Black were at least 20-30 min. long. The express pass allowed us to get on the rides in less than 5 minutes most times. Since we stayed on property we just walked to the parks so I don't know about the parking situation. While we were there the parks were only open from 9-7. If you like thrill rides The Hulk, Dueling Dragons, Mummy and the Drop ride (don't know the name as I didn't do it) are ones you will not want to miss. MIB and Spiderman are great and don't miss the Monster Make-up show, it's really funny.

 

[damo]

You do not need to purchase the express pass in advance. If you get there and find that the lines are longer than you like, simply go into just about any store and you can purchase them.

Get to the parks as early as possible. You will be very surprised at how much you can ride in the first few hours.

If you want to ride the Simpsons ride, I suggest you go to Universal first as lines will be long for it.

 

[Darcy03231]

Even with the express pass I don't think you'll be able to fit everything in at both US/IOA in one day. That would be like trying to fit everything at two WDW parks in in one day. If you only have a day I would decide which rides you really want to do and get those done first and then count anything else as an extra.

 

[GailT]

We are going to orlando May 5-9 and are staying on WDW property. On the 8th we plan on going to US/IOA since we have never been. We will be driving to the property from WDW. Do we need the express passes since we want to try to fit everything in? It will just be me and my husband (26) so we will be able to get around pretty quick, but we will also want to ride everything. Any advice on parking, traveling, or touring the parks would be great!
PS: Should we start with IOA or US in the moring?

Instead of driving from WDW, which isn't far I opted to stay on property at Portofino Bay hotel, I getthe fron of the line access and the room is no more then Disney then at night I can go to city walk and have the next day to go with my express pass then at 4 05 5 drive to DW and get mt room there. the fast passes to go to the front of the line aren't worth buying ,you have to pay admssion first then another ticket for fron of line, came out more costly

 

[livie1205]

when we stay onsite we find that we have PLENTY of time to do both parks....but then again we go during less busy times...I am going next weekend staying onsite and we have a 1 day 2 park ticket (what we get everytime) ....

 

[Metro West]

Even with the express pass I don't think you'll be able to fit everything in at both US/IOA in one day. That would be like trying to fit everything at two WDW parks in in one day. If you only have a day I would decide which rides you really want to do and get those done first and then count anything else as an extra.