Is Universal Express Needed??

[BippityBoppity]

DH and I are contemplating a trip to Universal in December. We have never been there before, we have only been to WDW. I called today to get pricing information and the agent I spoke with put a courtesy hold on it while we decided for sure. We are looking at the December 6-10. We decided to go on week days and avoid weekend crowds. I have several questions:

1. Would we actually need the Universal Express for this period of time?
2. What type of crowd should we expect this time of the year?

We put the hold on Sapphire Falls Resort. I wanted to be able to use the water taxi. We also get a $150 credit toward their restaurant. Plus, the price for a king room with a lagoon view is not much higher than a room from Cabana Bay for the time frame we are there and CB has no water taxi. So, what are your thoughts on UE????

Thank you

 

[kohlby]

I would think you would be fine without express pass during those dates. I didn't look up the crowd calendars, but I'd guess it would be low to moderate. We were there the first week of December this past year and it was very low crowds.

 

[BippityBoppity]

I would think you would be fine without express pass during those dates. I didn't look up the crowd calendars, but I'd guess it would be low to moderate. We were there the first week of December this past year and it was very low crowds.

Where would I find the crowd calendar?

 

[kohlby]

Where would I find the crowd calendar?

Do a search on google and some will come up. Orlando Informer is one that I use.

 

[macraven]

early december is a decent time period to visit the darkside with ok crowd levels.
first week of that month you could get by without the ep.

 

[tinydancer09]

I've gone during that time of the year three times and crowds have been minimal. I don't think we bought express the two time we were staying at Disney(So no hotel and didn't buy express) and was on site for the third. I don't think we needed it the third time, but I never turn it down! I had a GREAT deal on hotel last year so make sure you sign up for their e-mail specials and such. I say it's a very good time to try out a hotel with out Express!

 

[CarltonChip]

The express pass is a tricky thing. The problem with them is that the Harry Potter rides do NOT have Express access so that's a bit frustrating. There express pass included resorts are quite nice so I recommend them too.

 

[schumigirl]

The express pass is a tricky thing. The problem with them is that the Harry Potter rides do NOT have Express access so that's a bit frustrating. There express pass included resorts are quite nice so I recommend them too.

Just to note it's only the 2 newest rides in Potter that don't have EP.....Gringotts and Forbidden Journey for now don't.....rumour is FJ may have it soon.

Dragon Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff DO have EP lines.......

 

[SA mom]

Touring Plans shows a crowd level of 3 December 6-9 and a 4 on December 10. There is no EP for Hogwarts Express, either.