Should I buy the EXPRESS PASS for Pres. Day?

[MamaKate]

We are going to be at Universal on Presidents Day and want to do both parks. To buy the Express Pass for the 2-parks is $37/per person including tax.

Will we need them??

I was going to buy them ahead of time, but I figure I should wait until we arrive. Will the Express Pass sell out on this day??

There only open until 7pm so I'm figuring it may not be a busy day for them .

Any help is appreciated!
,
Katie

 

[disneymore2]

I was there the several days (27th-31st) between XMAS and New Years. This is the time the park are the busiest and the Express Passes did not sell out till after noon. So you can wait, and see how busy the parks are, of course if you don't mind paying you might as well get the passes early to get full use of them.

During the time we went, the $50 a person seemed high, and we had planned on not buying any passes. But based on the wait time my wife and I bought fast passes 2 of the days we were there and it ended up being worth every penny. The parks are so much more enjoyable when you are not sitting through 80 minute lines.

P.S. There is an advantage of buying the express passes on line, but some people may flame me, so pm if you are intrested.

 

[MamaKate]

I was there the several days (27th-31st) between XMAS and New Years. This is the time the park are the busiest and the Express Passes did not sell out till after noon. So you can wait, and see how busy the parks are, of course if you don't mind paying you might as well get the passes early to get full use of them.

During the time we went, the $50 a person seemed high, and we had planned on not buying any passes. But based on the wait time my wife and I bought fast passes 2 of the days we were there and it ended up being worth every penny. The parks are so much more enjoyable when you are not sitting through 80 minute lines.

P.S. There is an advantage of buying the express passes on line, but some people may flame me, so pm if you are intrested.

Thanks! I'll see how the crowds are when we arrive to see if we need them.

 

[robvia]

It all depends on when you show up. On peak days, the parks open at 08:30am, but they don't tell anyone this. If you are at the gate of IOA before they open, you can take a lap in 2-3 hours. Then you eat lunch and head over to USF. You won't see everything in each park because you'll run out of time. But you can use single rider line at USF for The Mummy, MIB, and then wait for ET, and Jaws.

 

[MamaKate]

It all depends on when you show up. On peak days, the parks open at 08:30am, but they don't tell anyone this. If you are at the gate of IOA before they open, you can take a lap in 2-3 hours. Then you eat lunch and head over to USF. You won't see everything in each park because you'll run out of time. But you can use single rider line at USF for The Mummy, MIB, and then wait for ET, and Jaws.

We are planning on being at the gate around 8:30am and going to IOA first.

We were only planning on doing our favorites and then if we had time, do anything else that sounds good at the time.

I'm just worried that by the time we get to Universal it will be so packed, we won't be able to do anything . I know it's a holiday, but it looks like Universal doesn't think it's going to be too crowded because they are only open until 7pm.

If it it really crowded when we arrive at Universal Studios, I'll use your tip and do the single rider for Mummy. On MIB we all like to ride together .

 

[damo]

If you buy an express pass online, does it have the date marked on it or some colour code, or can it be used at any time? I know there are different prices for different times, so I was wondering how they enforce it.

 

[MamaKate]

If you buy an express pass online, does it have the date marked on it or some colour code, or can it be used at any time? I know there are different prices for different times, so I was wondering how they enforce it.

I haven't actually bought one before, because I always stay on-site (except for this trip ), but I know they ask a specific date, so I assume it will have the date on it.

 

[phamton]

The express pass is dated. I always recommend that you wait until you get to the park to see if you actually need it as the express pass is non-refundable.

The only time I buy ahead oif time is if it is a peak night on HHN or any day that I suspect they may sell out ahead of time (like News Years Eve, etc.)

 

[phamton]

There is an advantage of buying the express passes on line, but some people may flame me, so pm if you are intrested.

I cannot imagine what that advantage would be. If you're man enough to do something that you think might be shady, be man enough to own up to it.

We've never killed anyone with flames. We may have wanted to but couldn't find a place to bury the body.