Uni EP vs good touring plan in low season?

[CarrieR]

Hi all! Hoping for some advice.

Friend and I are looking to go to Universal in the fall - we have two days left on Costco passes from a while back, and they expire soon. We are going from W the 12th of Nov to T the 18th - theme park days will be Th the 13th through a partial day on the 18th. I am flexible which days we go to Universal (the other days will be Disney,) but I need to start locking things in due to dining reservations etc.

Original plan was to stay at Pop Century all week, and just drive to Universal those days - leaning towards Sat/Sun to alternate two Disney days, two USO, 1.5 WDW but no hard and fast need for it to be that way.

Looking at a revised plan now, and I was thinking of spending Weds night at a cheap airport hotel, before getting up very early Thursday morning to move over to USO. We would do Th/F at USO, with Th night spent on-site (probably RPR,) which if I understand correctly would give us two days of early entry & unlimited express pass. Cheapie airport hotel + RPR is going to be a little more expensive than two nights at Pop, plus obviously the hassle of moving around, but IMO a reasonable compromise for having express two days.

The question I have is, in low season, is EP *that* much more advantageous than a good touring plan? We went a few years ago in early Dec and it was dead - like, re-ride Dragon Challenge without disembarking dead - but I am presuming that was a fluke and we won't be so lucky mid-Nov! We are tour early, mid-day break, stay late type people (which honestly means that Friday might consist of just the morning at Universal, with the mid-day being the move to Pop and our evening being at MK. It looks like closings at US & IOA are pretty early that time of year.)

We only want to ride about 50% of what Universal offers, if that makes a difference. I am mildly interested in Potter but my friend will not ride it; my heart won't break if it doesn't happen. No Minions, Mummy or Simpsons. Water rides only if it is hot. Etc!

Advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[glocon]

It sounds as if though you are just trying to maybe use up the tickets you have, and don't really mind if you ride a whole lot? If that were the case for me, I would not spend a lot of extra money or time resort hopping. If there were a lot of rides you wanted to do, or a resort you really wanted to try, that would be something else.

My opinion is for you to just stay at POP and use up the rest of your tickets as it fits into your schedule. Especially if big crowds are not predicted.

 

[CarrieR]

The things we want to ride (including coasters, MiB, Spiderman) we might ride a few times, and we really do enjoy. But yes, primarily we're just trying to use up tix.

The biggest thing for me is that I hate (hate) waiting in line. At WDW, we have it down to a science. So if we can avoid them with a good touring plan, I'd be game for that... otherwise I think the EP is well worth it. Since the only other time I've been it was totally dead I'm trying to figure out how well TP work at USO

Since it's just two adults (and we travel a lot,) hotel hopping is not a big deal. Unpacking & settling is great - of course! - but switching hotels is not a huge deal.

Thanks for your input! I feel like I'm at a disadvantage not knowing the Universal crowd patterns by heart lol

 

[Metro West]

I doubt you will need EPs during early January but you can purchase EPs at either park once you see what the wait times are.

 

[CarrieR]

Thanks! It's mid-November we're going, does that change your opinion? We would not pay for the EPs, we'd stay on site, which is why I am fussing about the decision now.

 

[Metro West]

Thanks! It's mid-November we're going, does that change your opinion? We would not pay for the EPs, we'd stay on site, which is why I am fussing about the decision now.

Oh sorry...I don't know why I thought it was January. Anyway...it doesn't change my opinion. You should be good w/o EPs.