On the fence...EP or extra day?

[DYOBL0305]

We are planning our visit for July and have been going back and forth on whether we should get the Express pass or just do an extra day at Universal Studios/IoA. Originally the plan was to do one day with an EP but when I checked to see how much it would be if we did away with the EP and just added an extra day instead, I found we'd saving money (a couple of hundred). I'm worried though that, without the EP, we'll spend both days stuck in long lines and not get to see a lot of the parks. It's been at least 11 years sine DH and I have been to either park (and our kids' first time), but we've been to DW many times so we can manage some long wait times but we've never done longer than 90 min so I am a little worried as to how my kids will do.

Any advice? I know the lines are going to be bad as it is summer, but how bad is "bad"? Just trying to get an idea of what we'll be facing if we skip the EP.

TIA!

 

[davper]

I have another option for you that could get you 2 days with EP for less than the cost of 1-day EP, depending on # of people.

Rent a room for one night at one of the premium hotels. Whether you stay in the room or not, you will get 2 days of Unlimited EP for all guests registered in that room.

 

[bchbetha]

Where are you planning to stay
How long are you planning to visit? eta- are you planning to add a 2nd day or are you talking adding a 4th to your 3 day visit? Adding a day to what.

 

[DYOBL0305]

Where are you planning to stay
How long are you planning to visit? eta- are you planning to add a 2nd day or are you talking adding a 4th to your 3 day visit? Adding a day to what.

We're staying offsite, looking at an AirBnB right now to accommodate two adults and our four kids. It's a 5 night stay, doing two days at MK and DHS and had only planned to do one day at US/IoA with a day to rest before leaving. We wouldn't be spending any extra money on adding another night as the second day at US/IoA would take place of our "rest day". My youngest little will only be 3.5 and although she usually does very well in lines, I'm a little nervous as to how she'll be if the lines are ridiculously long, which was why we had looked into the express passes. They're so pricey though, I feel like a second day at the parks just makes more sense...right? lol

I have another option for you that could get you 2 days with EP for less than the cost of 1-day EP, depending on # of people.

Rent a room for one night at one of the premium hotels. Whether you stay in the room or not, you will get 2 days of Unlimited EP for all guests registered in that room.

Thank you! I had looked into that but those rooms are so expensive and we'd have to get two in order to get passes for everyone in our party. Financially we just couldn't swing it, unfortunately.

 

[CourtneyKaro]

Since the little one is so little and likely not riding most of the rides you could do with 1 room with 4 EP and then parent swap so that the one person without EP can go back and ride right away without waiting. Meanwhile you and the little one could hang out in places she will find entertaining and engaging rather than waiting in lines

 

[DYOBL0305]

Since the little one is so little and likely not riding most of the rides you could do with 1 room with 4 EP and then parent swap so that the one person without EP can go back and ride right away without waiting. Meanwhile you and the little one could hang out in places she will find entertaining and engaging rather than waiting in lines

I hadn't even thought of that option! I'll have to look into that now, thank you!