Need Universal Express Pass from March 6-10?

[tn disney gal]

Hello All! We are Disney experts but this would be our first trip to Universal. We are looking to go for an early Spring Break from March 6-10. We would stay on site but are trying to decide if it is worth it to upgrade hotels for the Unlimited Express Pass. Some of the posts and guidebooks say it is not necessary if you have early entry and follow a touring plan. However, we don't know what Universal crowds and lines are typically like. We always make good use of Fastpass as Disney to avoid lines. Please share your opinions - thanks!

 

[bchbetha]

Can you tolerate lines?

Touring Plans aren’t really needed. This isn’t Disney. The wait time app is handy though.

If you hate lines so much that some 30-60 waits would be unbearable then stay onsite and enjoy Express Passes (only a perk at Portofino, Hard Rock and Royal Pacific). But, with several days, you can enjoy some lines (most of the themes are really cool!) or hit shows and play areas during peak ride line time.

Cabana Bay and Sapphire Falls are quite nice and you might save $. Crunch the numbers. If you can get Royal Pacific for not much more, book that.

 

[Squirlz]

Crowd calendars show low/moderate attendance for those dates.

 

[StrawberryChan]

isn't mardi gras around that time? that might punch up attendance a little bit but it's more or less in between peak seasons (just after the holidays end, but before spring break) so it shouldn't be too bad. universal's express lines aren't as consistently short as disney's fastpass+ lines, but they're generally worth the price of admission even with middling crowds. if you decide not to get express, be sure to take advantage of early entry and single rider lines for the rides that have them (they're nearly always the shortest of the three lines)

 

[WhitneyMB]

The crowd calendars I see show "busy" to "very busy" for this time. You can see it here: https://orlandoinformer.com/universal/crowd-calendar/?month=mar&yr=2018#crowdCalendar

My family tends to not like to wait more than about 15-20 minutes per ride, so we feel that the Express Passes are essential and always choose to stay in a hotel with them. Other people have different vacation styles though.