Last week in April (express pass needed?)

[FLmomof2]

We are planning on going April 28-30. On some sites it says its a slow time. I'm just curious what people thoughts were on the express pass during slow times. I know it must be great to skip all the lines, but is it needed?

Has anyone gone during a predicted slow time and just winged it?

Thanks!

 

[mhake01]

We just hope we find a good deal during that time. As everyone knows crowd calendars help but are not always correct. So what we try to do is find a good deal through Travelocity for one of the deluxe resorts, which for our trip at the end of the month we did. Got 20% off promo code it made sense to go deluxe and get free unlimited express for 2 days. And that would save us around $100 total for a party of 2 rather than going to Cabana Bay and having it be super crowded and buying unlimited express for a day. Doing it that way ends up being very expensive. And for us we do not get to come dow all that often so the last thing I want to happen is have everything be 2 hour waits and have no express.

So basically if a little extra money is not an issue I would just advise going Deluxe and getting the express pass for 2 days and just be safe. Plus the deluxe resorts are so nice and very close to the main gates and city walk.

 

[FLmomof2]

I was going to book the hotel but we are Disney Vacation club members and have the week booked there. I don't want to lose those points or waste them, so I was figuring we would just drive back and forth.

I'm so torn!

 

[macraven]

your dates for the end of april should be good with no headaches of crowds.

but, saturday can be crowded if it is great weather.
many locals hit the parks in good weather.

 

[Darcy03231]

That's our school vacation week and we've been to both WDW and US/IOA many times over the years during that week.

Overall, we've found the crowds to be light to moderate, with it being busier on the weekends. Lines in the early morning tend to be short (5-15 min) and increase as the day progresses. We have seen lines for the more popular rides get to be an hour as the day progresses. We stay on-site so have always been able to use the express line and have never waited for any length of time.

 

[FLmomof2]

That's our school vacation week and we've been to both WDW and US/IOA many times over the years during that week.

Overall, we've found the crowds to be light to moderate, with it being busier on the weekends. Lines in the early morning tend to be short (5-15 min) and increase as the day progresses. We have seen lines for the more popular rides get to be an hour as the day progresses. We stay on-site so have always been able to use the express line and have never waited for any length of time.

Its our vacation week too (NH)! So in your opinion is it worth getting the express passes or we would be fine without them?

 

[macraven]

Its our vacation week too (NH)! So in your opinion is it worth getting the express passes or we would be fine without them?

since you have a short stay, the express pass would be benificial.

if you stayed onsite, unlimited usage of the express lines would be a free perk.

 

[Darcy03231]

Its our vacation week too (NH)! So in your opinion is it worth getting the express passes or we would be fine without them?

If you don't mind getting up early and hitting the parks at opening I would go without them. When we went and stayed off-site (pre-express pass and pre-Harry Potter days) we found that if we got the parks by opening we were done by 2 pm.

I took my mom to see Harry Potter in August 2012 as she's a big fan(1st week, busy time). We had two days and I didn't buy the express passes. By being at the park for opening the two days we were there (we stayed off-site) we were able to see/do everything in both US/IOA those two days. We skipped Hulk, Dueling Dragons, Dr. Doom, the teacup type thing next to Dr. Doom and RRR. Other than that, we saw and did everything. Even rode FJ multiple times using the single rider line. Gringotts and Transformers weren't open then.

If, however, you like to sleep in when on vacation and go later in the day, I would get them.

 

[FLmomof2]

We are usually rope drop people so would definitely be there early morning. I think we have decided to just wing it and save the money. Hopefully we will have minimal wait times!

Thanks everyone!

 

[Danadanes]

We are usually rope drop people so would definitely be there early morning. I think we have decided to just wing it and save the money. Hopefully we will have minimal wait times!

Thanks everyone!

Be sure to factor in time to get in and walk through the garage, bag check, and city walk to gates. Even at pre-opening, this is a 15 minute ordeal at least. Ticket purchase also can take some time (will call is quite easy though - is auto kiosks).