Universal Help

[Katiegrose]

Ok, I have not been to Universal in at least 10 years (no hogwarts express and Twister was still around….). This will be a longer trip, centered around a company party. Right now we are planning parks 9/14-9/18 (the tickets were the same as 2 days…). I am considering a Saturday night stay at a premier for the express pass Sat/Sun (didn’t realize HHN was going on originally when I committed). Do I need it with 5 days (plus the hopefully lower crowds at IOA on 9/16 for the company event to prioritize VC and Hagrids)? I am still wanting to squeeze in a Halloween trip to Disneyland this fall, so any savings I can get will help for sure! We should also have the Disability Pass, which I have read up on some. I haven’t done Express passes ever, except Disneys version. I just can’t believe how limited Florida Park hours are compared to Disneyland which is usually open till 10 or later!

 

[titojackson84]

As a solo traveler who has gone for 4.5 days, I didn’t think express pass was necessary, though I never went on a weekend. I also had more than enough time. It allowed me to reride anything and also go at a more leisurely pace.

I would price out the premier hotel and then a cheaper hotel with express passes. You can also get an express pass later if it ends up being busy. The premier hotels don’t have food court type food. From what I found, it seems to be either tas service or basically convenient store type of stuff. Table service can start to add up. I did Surfside last year and on a budget, I would definitely stay there again. There’s a Walgreens across the street which was a lot better for buying things like milk.

 

[Katiegrose]

As a solo traveler who has gone for 4.5 days, I didn’t think express pass was necessary, though I never went on a weekend. I also had more than enough time. It allowed me to reride anything and also go at a more leisurely pace.

I would price out the premier hotel and then a cheaper hotel with express passes. You can also get an express pass later if it ends up being busy. The premier hotels don’t have food court type food. From what I found, it seems to be either tas service or basically convenient store type of stuff. Table service can start to add up. I did Surfside last year and on a budget, I would definitely stay there again. There’s a Walgreens across the street which was a lot better for buying things like milk.

there will be two of us, but we can and will split up and do single rider once I have done the rides once to make sure my bro could evacuate if needed…. we are Disney pros (currently been Magic Key holders at Land since 2021 and World from 14-20 before COVID). I would only stay in the Premier the one night (saturday) and I would just do standby during the week as repeat for anything we really liked. I have found a late enough flight that we don’t need a hotel our last park day, so I feel like it is OK to splurge, but just didn’t know what mid Sep weekend crowds look like at Universal. We went so long ago and it was spring break, so I am imagining that….. but if I get away with a $100 hotel vs premier and just do regular standby lines, I am putting $450 towards a DL halloween trip haha. ugh decisions

 

[Dakota731]

Ok, I have not been to Universal in at least 10 years (no hogwarts express and Twister was still around….). This will be a longer trip, centered around a company party. Right now we are planning parks 9/14-9/18 (the tickets were the same as 2 days…). I am considering a Saturday night stay at a premier for the express pass Sat/Sun (didn’t realize HHN was going on originally when I committed). Do I need it with 5 days (plus the hopefully lower crowds at IOA on 9/16 for the company event to prioritize VC and Hagrids)? I am still wanting to squeeze in a Halloween trip to Disneyland this fall, so any savings I can get will help for sure! We should also have the Disability Pass, which I have read up on some. I haven’t done Express passes ever, except Disneys version. I just can’t believe how limited Florida Park hours are compared to Disneyland which is usually open till 10 or later!

Bummer I didn’t even know the Twister ride was gone! They should reinvent for the new movie!!

 

[Keladry84]

With 4.5 days you should be fine without express, especially if you do get the disability pass (and also probably most likely even without). As long as you are flexible in when you ride (ie. waiting for a wait time to go down), you should be able to access most/everything you want at least once within that timeframe in the parks.

Do note that sometimes the express lines can also still be difficult even with the accommodations depending on what your needs are with the lines -expect in general about 1/2 of the posted standby. I've found that sometimes single rider actually ends up being a better accommodation for specific rides, and some rides I can't do at all due to the queue design.

 

[Katiegrose]

With 4.5 days you should be fine without express, especially if you do get the disability pass (and also probably most likely even without). As long as you are flexible in when you ride (ie. waiting for a wait time to go down), you should be able to access most/everything you want at least once within that timeframe in the parks.

Do note that sometimes the express lines can also still be difficult even with the accommodations depending on what your needs are with the lines -expect in general about 1/2 of the posted standby. I've found that sometimes single rider actually ends up being a better accommodation for specific rides, and some rides I can't do at all due to the queue design.

Thank you! The cost of the value resort spiked (I should have just booked it), so for now we are doing the one night (Saturday) at Royal Pacific. We are pretty flexible, and don't mind splitting up/single rider, the big this is I like to at least be on the same vehicle as my brother in case there is an evac. We have had a few at Disneyland so he is getting better at understanding this reasoning. I know it can't be guaranteed, so I will have to just kind of ride the rides once to get a gauge of this (at least the new ones). We are pretty flexible and now they expanded our Company Party to both parks, so I am hoping we can get some good time in there. Thanks so much for this insight!

 

[Keladry84]

Thank you! The cost of the value resort spiked (I should have just booked it), so for now we are doing the one night (Saturday) at Royal Pacific. We are pretty flexible, and don't mind splitting up/single rider, the big this is I like to at least be on the same vehicle as my brother in case there is an evac. We have had a few at Disneyland so he is getting better at understanding this reasoning. I know it can't be guaranteed, so I will have to just kind of ride the rides once to get a gauge of this (at least the new ones). We are pretty flexible and now they expanded our Company Party to both parks, so I am hoping we can get some good time in there. Thanks so much for this insight!

With the unlimited, it'll be easier to stay together because you'll be able to leave and return later if a line is problematic without waiting for a new return time. Hopefully you'll also be able to tell pretty quickly if a problematic part of the line needs bypassed completely with single rider. For me, there are 2 rides in the park that I always need single rider, and a handful where it is helpful if the line is longer, but I can do express if the wait is short. Hagrid's doesn't have express, so the AAP will help there if you are interested in riding. I've also never got stuck on a ride, but maybe I've just been fortunate so far!

Awesome that you'll be able to experience both parks! It'll be lots of fun!