Recent Express Pass experience?

[mrd7896]

Ugh--for columbus day we may bite the bullet and purchase express--but it's VERY expensive and hard to justify to my travel companion.
i mean it minimally cuts down the wait in half? right?
my travel companion is saying 'well if gringotts is 80 but express is 40, did we really just pay $300 to save 40 minutes?" which is valid, because we won't want to have those high waits even for express, but 40 minutes here + 20 minutes for another attraction + 30 for another is how i'm going to convince the purchase.

I wish we could see what express is in the app vs. the posted standby

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

We were there the week after New Years which was pretty busy this year. We didn’t wait more than 20 mins for EP.

 

[jsmla]

If you’re willing to split up on the actual ride the Single Rider lines work well on most attractions.

 

[raidermatt]

We were there in early August, I don't think we waited 20 minute for anything with EP. Most were under 10 minutes.

my travel companion is saying 'well if gringotts is 80 but express is 40, did we really just pay $300 to save 40 minutes?" which is valid, because we won't want to have those high waits even for express, but 40 minutes here + 20 minutes for another attraction + 30 for another is how i'm going to convince the purchase.

I don't understand your companion's logic. Is he assuming you will only ride one attraction? Because even with the numbers you used, that's the only way you would be paying $300 for 40 minutes.

That aside, we went in early August and 15 minutes was the longest we waited with EP. Most were 5-10 min. As long as you go on more than one attraction, it will save you much more than 40 minutes.

 

[ruthies12]

It's not always going to be half, sometimes there will be no wait with EP and sometimes will be up to half the posted wait but most of the time is going to fall somewhere in between. It all depends on how many people get in that particular express line at that moment.

I've been on Columbus day weekend before covid and it was absolutely crazy. The three broomsticks ran out of rotisserie chickens. Every single switchback in King's Cross was full with the line out to the street. I would do the express personally.

The only line I feel like express isn't a great value on is the hogwarts express on the universal side. The way kings cross station is set up you merge with the regular line really early and the wait can still be very long if they have the switchbacks on the train platform full. I would highly recommend if you are wanting to ride the train to do so early in the day, like before 10 am. On the hogsmeade side you go straight to loading, but kings cross you will wait a long time and it may be faster to walk if you are wanting to go from US to IOA in the afternoon.

 

[maverik85]

Ugh--for columbus day we may bite the bullet and purchase express--but it's VERY expensive and hard to justify to my travel companion.
i mean it minimally cuts down the wait in half? right?
my travel companion is saying 'well if gringotts is 80 but express is 40, did we really just pay $300 to save 40 minutes?" which is valid, because we won't want to have those high waits even for express, but 40 minutes here + 20 minutes for another attraction + 30 for another is how i'm going to convince the purchase.

I wish we could see what express is in the app vs. the posted standby

As others mentioned Express lines are rarely that long, even when busy. Have heard of rare occasions that they did take 30+ but usually standby would be 2 hours.
You could also justify the expense as well with them by viewing it not just by the time saved per attraction, but the number of attractions you get to. If line are 60+ minutes for an attraction on average standby and 30 minutes for so you are only able to do maybe 10 attractions then, allowing time to walk between and stops for food. This means you will likely miss stuff in the park. So if you want to see it all you would have to buy a ticket for a second day, look at that cost versus express along with a more enjoyable day then.

 

[nlenguyen]

Is the express pass when you go through a premier hotel good for both parks? I see that there is an extra charge if you want both parks on the same day?

 

[ghtx]

Is the express pass when you go through a premier hotel good for both parks? I see that there is an extra charge if you want both parks on the same day?

Yes it is good for both parks, if you are staying at one of the three on-site premier hotels. I don't know anything about an extra charge for both parks (hope they haven't changed the rule!)

 

[nlenguyen]

Yes it is good for both parks, if you are staying at one of the three on-site premier hotels. I don't know anything about an extra charge for both parks (hope they haven't changed the rule!)

On the website if you were to purchase just the express pass, it is $10 pp more to get access in both parks on the same day, I am just thinking that getting a room at the hotel is worth the one night charge. We are staying at Disney, but can save a little money if we purchase the room rather than the individual passes

 

[CAPSLOCK]

On the website if you were to purchase just the express pass, it is $10 pp more to get access in both parks on the same day, I am just thinking that getting a room at the hotel is worth the one night charge. We are staying at Disney, but can save a little money if we purchase the room rather than the individual passes

The EP included with the room is unlimited and good for both parks. Lots of people get the room for the EP, and either just take a break in the room, or never even go to the room. You can also bring an overnight bag & leave most of your stuff at the Disney hotel, if you want to go the 2nd day. Saves driving back & forth twice. I'm too cheap to pay for 2 hotels at once, so I just move hotels if I'm doing a one-night-EP-room.

 

[vinotinto]

The only time where we felt the waits were longish with EP during Columbus Day weekend were towards the end of the day. For Kong, they told us 45 minutes for express at closing (regular line said 90 minutes). It was about 25-30, which is long for Kong and that EP line is very boring (long hallway), but it wasn’t 45-minutes. But all the other EPS were much shorter. Just know that the 2 best rides are NOT included - Velocicoaster and Hagrid’s. Hagrid’s had a very long line during early hours - more than an hour.

 

[thor369]

As others mentioned Express lines are rarely that long, even when busy. Have heard of rare occasions that they did take 30+ but usually standby would be 2 hours.
You could also justify the expense as well with them by viewing it not just by the time saved per attraction, but the number of attractions you get to. If line are 60+ minutes for an attraction on average standby and 30 minutes for so you are only able to do maybe 10 attractions then, allowing time to walk between and stops for food. This means you will likely miss stuff in the park. So if you want to see it all you would have to buy a ticket for a second day, look at that cost versus express along with a more enjoyable day then.

would this be true even or day after Christmas? some folks have scared us that it gets really crowded and even with express pass the wait times are like 60min plus.