Is it worth it???

[megs1313]

My Dh wants to go to Universal this trip. We have nixed that because it's so expensive, but I'm considering giving him and our son tickets for christmas. We only have 1 day available, so I'm looking at PTP 1 day tickets in value season and I'm planning to add the unlimited express pass so they can get everything in in that one day. My pre-tax total is $564.98. That's more than our 7 day park tickets for the two of them at WDW. I know single days are always a rip-off, but this is insane. Is Universal really worth $600 for a single day????

 

[sherlockmiles]

My Dh wants to go to Universal this trip. We have nixed that because it's so expensive, but I'm considering giving him and our son tickets for christmas. We only have 1 day available, so I'm looking at PTP 1 day tickets in value season and I'm planning to add the unlimited express pass so they can get everything in in that one day. My pre-tax total is $564.98. That's more than our 7 day park tickets for the two of them at WDW. I know single days are always a rip-off, but this is insane. Is Universal really worth $600 for a single day????

Personally I don't think so. Like disney, when you are there several days, the price becomes reasonable.
If you just want a taste of universal to see if a fullup vacation there would be worth it, I would get a one day, non hopper pass, no express pass, and pick one of the parks. That approach will keep you relaxed, knowing you will be back if you have fun, and if you don't then you didn't drop a ton.

If you will really never be able to return ever, then - yes, its worth it.

 

[JaxDad]

My Dh wants to go to Universal this trip. We have nixed that because it's so expensive, but I'm considering giving him and our son tickets for christmas. We only have 1 day available, so I'm looking at PTP 1 day tickets in value season and I'm planning to add the unlimited express pass so they can get everything in in that one day. My pre-tax total is $564.98. That's more than our 7 day park tickets for the two of them at WDW. I know single days are always a rip-off, but this is insane. Is Universal really worth $600 for a single day????

Nobody can tell you whether it is worth it to you and your family but you. However, I would recommend you go some other time when you can enjoy Universal for at least a couple days.

 

[ForMyBoys]

The price is so high because of hopper and express pass. Only $264 for two for one park with no express. That is def worth it. We love universal. If it just you son and hubby they can take advantage of single rider lines.

 

[2forMe]

When are you going? May not need express pass. Would you pay that much to go to 2 Disney parks?

 

[bchbetha]

I’m sure you’ll dismiss this idea because you already have a hotel but if they spent a night at one of the 3 deluxe Universal hotels, they’d get somewhere to sleep, early entry and Express Passes for 2 days. Even if they could only have one park day, they could leave Disney and chill at the pool at their Universal digs and find a great spot to eat then hit the park the next day. No rushing back and forth to Disney. They could do Universal well and you’d spend the same but maybe less (the Express Pass perk generally kicks over with 3+ people but sometimes the room is cheaper than buying directly with only 2 guests).
ETA- that overnight, 1 Park day is how we do Cedar Point every year. It’s so awesome. Something about waking up at the park and strolling over is just so nice. Since you nixed your dh’s idea of a Universal Trip, maybe this would be a nice compromise.

 

[megs1313]

When are you going? May not need express pass. Would you pay that much to go to 2 Disney parks?

January 6th. It's a saturday. If they don't need express pass, that would be ideal.

We've been to universal before, my DH wants to go back because he wants to do the new HP stuff (we went the year HP opened) and see more of the parks than we did the time we went before (where we only saw HP and Seuss.) My son is the only other one of us that likes Universal, which is why I'm planning to send the two of them.

I thought of getting them a room on property for the night of the 5th, but there wasn't anything available in a reasonable price range!

 

[bchbetha]

What about at Sapphire Falls or Cabana Bay? They get the early entry and they can single rider vs Express Pass if lines are miserable.

 

[SteveMP]

We recently went one day. Same things went through my head. But the kids LOVE Harry Potter. They won't be kids forever. And i'm not sure if/when we'll be back. Is it "worth" it? Absolutely not. But its something we did regardless of cost, which is why/how Universal(and Disney) stays open.

 

[macraven]

My Dh wants to go to Universal this trip. We have nixed that because it's so expensive, but I'm considering giving him and our son tickets for christmas. We only have 1 day available, so I'm looking at PTP 1 day tickets in value season and I'm planning to add the unlimited express pass so they can get everything in in that one day. My pre-tax total is $564.98. That's more than our 7 day park tickets for the two of them at WDW. I know single days are always a rip-off, but this is insane. Is Universal really worth $600 for a single day????

Your talking to the choir here...
Yes it is worth it!

 

[maverik85]

I'd say look at it without Express passes. If you're going uring a downtime, which i'm guessing if it's a value period, then Express passes might not be necsarry so coudl knock off a lot. They oculd probably get through most of the parks in the one day without. If there is a long line they coudl use single rider and it will often cut downt he wait a lot.
Went the summer that Hogsmeade area opened and it was packed but we walked onto most rides with single rider. For isntance Forbidden Journey was around 3 hours but single rider wait was less than 10 minutes, Spider-Man was close to 2 hours and we waited jsut a couple minutes.

 

[wookiebeck]

Once IOA opened at Universal, and then added the HP expansion, it became a true destination vacation. We no longer did the 'add a day' during the WDW trip. We switched to doing Orlando vacations by visiting WDW one year, then Uni the next. Spreading the cost of those multiday tickets over the length of stay gets you value. If visiting WDW every year, maybe look into doing a Uni only trip next year.

 

[danielocha30]

the Express pass isn’t worth it, they are better off using single riders lines for free, they just need to be there early, it is a park worth to visit

 

[maverik85]

Agree, especailly with Volcano Bay open now. having two full parks and a water park, plus all the activities around City Walk and the resorts, you can fill up a week pretty well. Still fee there is much mroe to do at Diseny overall but Universal has truly became a full destination itself and not a palce to fit everything in in just a day or two.

 

[macraven]

I went to UO this month and stayed onsite at a deluxe hotel

Since I went solo, I used the SRL when opened

Did find Spider-Man did not open the srl until noon on a few weekdays I was there

Was not an issue as I had the ep
But for those counting on using srl, you might find it not open at some times

 

[aggiedog]

See my thread on "$165...?" Lots of the same discussion there. I think it will not be worth it for us, but primarily because we will be back there next year for the HS band trip and will most likely hit Universal then. If were going to be years before we could do Harry Potter, I'd rethink that, as my kids are getting older also.

 

[klo1335]

We done UO twice and both time without express pass. First time was a 1 day park to park just for Harry Potter. Second time was a 4 day trip. I planned in advance and we had no issues with lines.

 

[Cynt]

No. I just spent 2 days 2 parks for $150 on a discount ticket. It was well worth the $150. But $300 no not going to happen. Harry Potter is INCREDIBLE and this is coming from a Disney fanatic. MUST SEE! MUST SEE! I would strategize and purchase the one day two park ticket. Drop them off at rope drop. Since your son loves HP. Concentrate on that first and foremost. Let your son know, the other US/IA rides you don't get to, you'll do it next time. He will be able to enjoy HP at his own pace. After he spends 4, 5 or 6 hours in HP world then go and see everything else. If you're giving it as a Christmas gift center it around a Day with HP. In his mind, he's thinking he's spending the day with HP and everything else is extra.

 

[noreen99]

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