staying onsite express pass question

[chrismartinique]

will have 2 partial days at US and 1 full day at IOA during busy summer season. Just wondering if the benefit of staying onsite (express pass and early entry) indeed makes a difference. From what I am reading a family can really get through the attractions in a timely manner with the express pass even during busy season..... is this exaggerated or true? At WDW (tho I LOVE it) its like a secret formula to get those FP in a certain order by a certain time and hey, don't stop to smell the roses... lol

 

[damo]

Early entry into Wizarding World is a huge bonus. The area is hoarded once the park opens to regular guests.

Onsite express is unlimited. So rides that are a big hit can be ridden over and over and over. This is wonderful when you have a youngster who gets attached to a ride. This also really shortens your lines and allows you to take time off in the middle of the day to go back to the hotel and rest or swim or shop, ... It is a wonderful perk.

If you can afford it, it is the best way to do the parks in the summer.

 

[Badge]

This is my first time attempting to post on my cell phone, so excuse any typos. Yes, it is well worth the cost of the hotel. The express passes are an amazing perk you get and a lot better than fastpasses. Simply show you room key at most rides and you will be the ride in about five minutes. You can ride the ride as many times as you want each day and is valid all days including the day you check out.

 

[chrismartinique]

I am not wondering if its worth it to stay at the hotel. We are staying at the hotel regardless. I really want to know if it really saves A LOT of time or if we will be waiting a lot anyway..... and trying to determine if it is less rocket science as the Disney FP gathering that I mentioned earlier. I understand yes, HP first thing at early entry. Thank you for that tip

 

[Bluer101]

It saves lots of time. Instead of standing in long lines you get to ride a few times and enjoy the park itself. I will never visit Universal without staying onsite.

 

[rwdavis2]

The on-site Express Pass will save you a lot of time. The first time we had them we finished both parks much sooner than expected which was great since we then got to do things over. We usually ride Mummy 2-3 times in a row. Remember Forbidden Journey and Rip, Ride, Rocket, at this time, do not take the EP.

 

[mesaboy2]

The on-site Express Pass will save you a lot of time. The first time we had them we finished both parks much sooner than expected which was great since we then got to do things over. We usually ride Mummy 2-3 times in a row. Remember Forbidden Journey and Rip, Ride, Rocket, at this time, do not take the EP.

Pteranadon Flyers is the third and last ride that does not accept Express.

 

[mesaboy2]

I am not wondering if its worth it to stay at the hotel. We are staying at the hotel regardless. I really want to know if it really saves A LOT of time or if we will be waiting a lot anyway..... and trying to determine if it is less rocket science as the Disney FP gathering that I mentioned earlier. I understand yes, HP first thing at early entry. Thank you for that tip

Express is really easy compared to FP. No need to wait an hour or two for your next one, etc. Just show your room key at the Express entrances to the attractions and off you go, as many times as you like.

 

[Karpkg]

I am not wondering if its worth it to stay at the hotel. We are staying at the hotel regardless. I really want to know if it really saves A LOT of time or if we will be waiting a lot anyway..... and trying to determine if it is less rocket science as the Disney FP gathering that I mentioned earlier. I understand yes, HP first thing at early entry. Thank you for that tip

97% you're in front of the line. Don't have to "work" for it like Disney. I'm used to having to go to RD, then have a strategy of which fast pass to get first, check the times and find out when and where to get the next one, etc etc for the rest until I've collected a sizeable amt. And sometimes I don't get to those I've collected (ex. ride's down, last ride of the day). With onsite unlimited express pass there is no strategy needed of doing the parks. No fast pass runner needed! Show up any time, show your pass and you're in a separate queue all the way to the front. If you want to do it again, just show your pass again and sometimes the people haven't moved much in the regular lines.

 

[Karpkg]

You're asking about time?

We went Memorial week. Standby times for Spiderman were 60 min. I looked at my watch while the TM was scanning our cards and looked again when we were boarding the ride. 6 minutes!

The Jaws ride, US. 50 minutes standby, 8 minutes later we were loading the boat.

If it's a crowded day; yes, it'll save you LOTS of time. and the opportunity to ride over and over again.

 

[n2mm]

While we go to US/IOA several times a year, often we don't really need the EP if we are going mid-week in January/early May/mid-October, but whenever we go in the summer (this year mid-August) we would not be visiting US/IOA unless we are staying onsite. They have the best EP perk and it's a must for summer time trips. This year we got 2 rooms a Portofino at almost 50% off with an AP discount!! Well worth it indeed.

 

[damo]

One of the things that perhaps you don't realize is that there are no times printed on your express passes. You go to any ride at any time you want. You just show your room key and you get in the express line. There are no restrictions. So you can just hop from ride to ride without worrying if it is your allotted time or not.

 

[Metro West]

One of the things that perhaps you don't realize is that there are no times printed on your express passes. You go to any ride at any time you want. You just show your room key and you get in the express line. There are no restrictions. So you can just hop from ride to ride without worrying if it is your allotted time or not.

 

[tinydancer09]

One of the things that perhaps you don't realize is that there are no times printed on your express passes. You go to any ride at any time you want. You just show your room key and you get in the express line. There are no restrictions. So you can just hop from ride to ride without worrying if it is your allotted time or not.

 

[Travel Mum]

Even with an express pass, would it still be wise to get there at RD and do the rides first that do not have Express pass? Then take the rest of the day leisurely?

 

[Metro West]

Even with an express pass, would it still be wise to get there at RD and do the rides first that do not have Express pass? Then take the rest of the day leisurely?

If you're going to do HP then you should definitely be there at opening...Rope Drop is a Disney thing.

Once you've seen and done everything you want to do at WWoHP, then you can take the rest of the day at your leisure. The only attraction at IOA that does not take Express (other than FJ) is The Pteranodon Flyers in Jurassic Park. This ride is for children and adults must a have a child with them to ride. Since this is a slow loading attraction, the lines will get long very quickly and stay long throughout the peak times of the day.

 

[Bethpremier]

My husband and I are going to do the 1 day park to park because it was free tickets given to us. We are thinking of staying on Universal property so we wont have any line waiting. We will be there during the Rock the Universe event (we do not have tickets for this). Would it be wise to continue with our plans and stay on property so we can see and do as much as possible? I read on another website that property guests didnt have unlimited wait until 3pm every afternoon. I could have just read it wrong but wanted to clear it up on the boards.

 

[mesaboy2]

My husband and I are going to do the 1 day park to park because it was free tickets given to us. We are thinking of staying on Universal property so we wont have any line waiting. We will be there during the Rock the Universe event (we do not have tickets for this). Would it be wise to continue with our plans and stay on property so we can see and do as much as possible? I read on another website that property guests didnt have unlimited wait until 3pm every afternoon. I could have just read it wrong but wanted to clear it up on the boards.

If you're trying to do both parks in a single day and can swing it, then yes I recommend staying onsite. If you do decide to stay onsite you would indeed have unlimited Express privileges the entire day (two days if you had tickets for two days)--there is no time of day where it cuts off or kicks in.

 

[masterslacker]

I have a similar question. What if you stay 1 night at a on-site hotel, do you get the benefits of this express and early entry the day you check-out? For example, we arrive in Orlando Thursday evening so if we stayed a hotel on Thursday night and then checked out early Friday morning, would we still be able to take advantage of this stuff for our Friday day at the parks? The rest of our stay we would stay with friends.

Just curious...thx.

 

[damo]

I have a similar question. What if you stay 1 night at a on-site hotel, do you get the benefits of this express and early entry the day you check-out? For example, we arrive in Orlando Thursday evening so if we stayed a hotel on Thursday night and then checked out early Friday morning, would we still be able to take advantage of this stuff for our Friday day at the parks? The rest of our stay we would stay with friends.

Just curious...thx.

Yes...early entry and express for two full days with one night's stay.