Universal/IOA Express Pass

[Julie L]

We have just purchased our Universal tickets from the offer on this site - Both parks valid 7days - $86 - a bargain!!
We will be visiting between 5-15 March 2008 - just before the Easter holidays. Would you recommend purchasing the Express Pass tickets or do you think the crowds will be managable at this time of year???
We intend to do one day in each park then perhaps one more day hopping between the two.

 

[Metro West]

We have just purchased our Universal tickets from the offer on this site - Both parks valid 7days - $86 - a bargain!!
We will be visiting between 5-15 March 2008 - just before the Easter holidays. Would you recommend purchasing the Express Pass tickets or do you think the crowds will be managable at this time of year???
We intend to do one day in each park then perhaps one more day hopping between the two.

I think you'd be alright with the crowds before Easter but if it looks out of control, you can always purchase the EP at most stores at either park.

 

[Mainebound]

We have just purchased our Universal tickets from the offer on this site - Both parks valid 7days - $86 - a bargain!!
We will be visiting between 5-15 March 2008 - just before the Easter holidays. Would you recommend purchasing the Express Pass tickets or do you think the crowds will be managable at this time of year???
We intend to do one day in each park then perhaps one more day hopping between the two.

Hi,

We have visited the Universal parks in March for the last 4 years. The first year we had onsite express privileges. The second year, single ride Express passes were offered free, like fast passes. But the past 2 years, we bought the Express Pass booklets. They were $15 or $20 per person per day, so that really adds to what started as a cheap (compared to WDW) park ticket.

The price of Express Passes varies depending on how busy Universal thinks the parks will be. You can check online for your dates. A rule of thumb many use is that the cheaper the Express Passes ($15 last year for the cheapest), the less you will need them.

My advice -- agreeing with Metro West -- would be to wait until you get there to see what the crowds are like. There are kiosks all over from which you can purchase the Express Pass. Our experience in March has been that arrival at park opening gives you a good 1.5 to 2 hours with no lines.

But you should post on the Universal board to get a variety of opinions.

 

[luke]

We have just purchased our Universal tickets from the offer on this site - Both parks valid 7days - $86 - a bargain!!
.

It may be a bargain, but Universal charging for their fast pass (equivalent) was one of the let downs of the holiday for me - and people say Disney are rip offs!

 

[Julie L]

I agree Luke.....a bit of a rip off really. We havent been to Universal now for about 5 years so when i found out they were now charging for their fast passes i was surprised!!
I'm just hoping that we will not need to purchase them - we always arrive at the parks at opening and if we hit all the big rides first hopefully we will be ok!! I'll just have to wait and see

Thanks for all your comments and advise!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

yes, they do charge but at least you don't have to run around chasing FP machines or worry about timing or windows, etc. Personally, I wouldn't buy them, I'd just stay onsite and use my room key.