Park to park or daily tickets?

[mommymanda]

So sorry, I am sure this is out there somewhere, but multiple searches with various wording brought me no luck.


I am trying to decide on whether I should purchase a the three day 3 park to park tickets or four daily tickets.

Information

First Universal trip after three Disney vacations

Family of five. Two will be planning all thrill rides, three hanging out at lighter or non rides.

Trip planned late (last week) August. Five night stay.

Cabana Bay

Not rope drop people. We like to sleep in on holiday. Usually arriving at park between 9-10am

We are Harry Potter fans, but the only thing I see that the park to park offers is the Howarts Express, which we'd enjoy but is it worth the extra $240

In general is the park to park option worth the $240? At this point we are planning one day at each park, and possibly not even using the 4th ticket as kids are hoping for an off site day.

I know they are two different places, but we've had park hoppers for all Disney trips, but only actually used them once and that was to get to a dinner reservation.

Thanks.

 

[Metro West]

Hogwarts Express is a fun attraction but I agree it is probably not worth the extra money. I think you would be fine with the daily tickets to save some money.

 

[gotomu212]

Hopping from park to park is very different at Universal so we've always thought they were worth it. The entrances are a 5 minute leisurely stroll from each other (or the Hogwarts Express) so we pop back and forth several times a day and treat it more like one big park. It's nice to have the flexibility when one area gets more crowded or when someone really wants to ride a certain ride one more time. If you're adding volcano Bay I've read that most people like to clear out early afternoon when lines get ridiculous and then go to another park (I haven't been to VB yet so can't speak from experience there).

If it doesn't blow the budget I would do it.

 

[bchbetha]

Hopping from park to park is very different at Universal so we've always thought they were worth it. The entrances are a 5 minute leisurely stroll from each other (or the Hogwarts Express) so we pop back and forth several times a day and treat it more like one big park. It's nice to have the flexibility when one area gets more crowded or when someone really wants to ride a certain ride one more time. If you're adding volcano Bay I've read that most people like to clear out early afternoon when lines get ridiculous and then go to another park (I haven't been to VB yet so can't speak from experience there).

If it doesn't blow the budget I would do it.

Totally agree. Park to parks are great for all the reasons listed. Plus, it sure is nice to be able to re-ride favorites.

 

[mjhtvchick]

I wouldn't bother with Park Hopper at Disney but would find it very hard to go without park-to-park tickets at Universal at this point. The Hogwarts Express is really a "must-do" but it is so much more than that...the flexibility of hopping back and forth really can't be beat.

 

[flortlebap]

Mmm I'm torn on this. For me, HE is worth it even as a non HP fan, the technology is just brilliant.

But if you look at it as just getting one/two extra rides, it does seem a lot of money.

We like to hop though.

 

[jsebsirois]

We were wondering about the same thing for our first visit and the way I see it, it looks a bit like park hopper at Disneyland, CA : parks are so close that it's worth it to add park-to-park option.

 

[yaya74]

We just spent 4 full days at UO and we are glad we had Park-to-park hopper pass. We went to WDW last summer and bought 4 single day park passes for WDW and we didn't see the need for hopper pass since all parks are so far away. But we don't think our experience at Universal would be as fun and flexible without the park hopper pass. To us US and IOA is one big park with two different entries. The Hogwart Express completes the whole HArry Potter experience. The train along with the 9 3/4 station is an unique ride itself.

Hope it helps.