Last minute “help-me-decide” question

[Freekncreekn]

So, my 3 kids and I have a last minute opportunity to make our first trip to Universal later this week during the peak of spring break. We are all big fans of Harry Potter and have wanted to do WWHP for quite some time. We have done WDW many times and every trip to WDW over the last few years I tell them that we will come back and do Universal the right way: by staying at a premium resort and getting the skip-the-lines benefit. Well, at this stage in the game, everything is booked at Universal resorts. And I mean everything. So I can get us a room at a regular hotel near Universal and we can spend 2ish days doing Universal without any early entry or skip-the-lines passes. Or should we wait later this spring and book a trip at Hard Rock or Portofino and do Universal the “right way”?

Should we go ahead and do Universal with park-to-park passes during the height of spring break without early entry or skip-the-lines? Or are we better off waiting for lighter crowds and staying at a premium resort and enjoying its benefits? I realize there is no right or wrong answer here, but would love to get some opinions from others out there.

 

[bchbetha]

I would wait. I don’t know what this last minute opportunity is though to see if it tips the scales at all.
If you could do both, sure. This visit could be a warm up act and you could enjoy shows and sightseeing, next time for rides.

 

[macraven]

My guess is the park will have crowds now thru about April 14

If it were my first time to do this park, I would go at a lower crowd period

 

[a1tinkfans]

Can someone clarify... I thought that the front of the line pass can be added at a cost to Anyone buying a ticket?
Is that correct?

 

[bobbie68]

Can someone clarify... I thought that the front of the line pass can be added at a cost to Anyone buying a ticket?
Is that correct?

Hi yes anybody can buy the express pass option to the tickets at the parks. The cost is per person per day.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Hi yes anybody can buy the express pass option to the tickets at the parks. The cost is per person per day.

Thx!!

 

[bobbie68]

Your're welcome!

 

[macraven]

Yes anyone can buy the ep

the ep is a separate ticket

 

[schumigirl]

We’ve just come back from 10 days at RP and last Friday and Saturday we really saw a big increase in crowds compared to previous 8 days..........it was busy!

I wouldn’t like to visit the parks without EP with those crowds. We saw large EP lines too, so can’t imagine waiting in the regular lines we saw.

EE was also busy.

In your situation I would choose to wait..........we were lucky with crowds and it wasn’t bad at all with EP for the first 8 days of our trip but crowds were noticeably larger by the end.

 

[Robo56]

In your situation I would choose to wait..........we were lucky with crowds and it wasn’t bad at all with EP for the first 8 days of our trip but crowds were noticeably larger by the end.

I second what Schumi suggested. I would wait and make your experience at Universal far more enjoyable once Spring break is over. I just returned from an overnight visit there yesterday and the Resorts were very busy.

Even with the purchase of Unlimited Express or Express Pass when parks are packed those lines can be long at times also.

 

[Kivara]

Another thing to think about, someone posted in my other Uni group, it was so crowded they quit selling Express Passes one day.
It probably doesn't happen often, but the parks have been more crowded lately.

 

[shanew21]

I would just wait to go with the Express Passes. It'll be a nicer hotel too which adds to the experience.

 

[schumigirl]

Another thing to think about, someone posted in my other Uni group, it was so crowded they quit selling Express Passes one day.
It probably doesn't happen often, but the parks have been more crowded lately.

Yep, we were surprised how busy the parks were towards the end of our 10 nights just gone.....

EE was crowded!!!!

Downside of Universal getting more and more popular..........it`s busier!! Although Mardi Gras always brings crowds........

 

[shanew21]

Yep, we were surprised how busy the parks were towards the end of our 10 nights just gone.....

EE was crowded!!!!

Downside of Universal getting more and more popular..........it`s busier!! Although Mardi Gras always brings crowds........

It seems this year is just a booming year for Orlando. I've read countless threads over in the Disney section where they were shocked by crowds during the low seasons this year. I think all the investment that both Disney and Universal are putting into the parks is really pushing a lot of people to the city.

 

[macraven]

The Darkside always has crowds during spring break.


Which is why I don't go during that time period anymore....

 

[Freekncreekn]

It sounds like it is a consensus. We will wait and do WWHP at a later date when we can stay at a premium resort and when crowds may not be as ridiculous. I think that is the wiser option. Thanks for the input, everyone!

 

[schumigirl]

It sounds like it is a consensus. We will wait and do WWHP at a later date when we can stay at a premium resort and when crowds may not be as ridiculous. I think that is the wiser option. Thanks for the input, everyone!

Glad we could help you make your mind up.........

I’m sure you’ll love it when you do go and having EP with lower crowds is fabulous!!!