Value of the Express Pass on 4/10 crowd days?

[NewbieMouse]

Just mulling over onsite hotel choices (i.e. CB vs. one of the others) wondering people's thoughts on what the express pass is worth. We are scheduled to be there on days which are classified as a 4 on touring plans (a 5 on our arrival day, but time there that day will be minimal, maybe 3 hours in the evening). This is our first time at Universal so we don't expect to spend a lot of time in the room (we may use the pool but its not a huge priority).

Any thoughts on whether an extra $350 to stay at RPR (vs. CB) would be worth it primarily for the express pass? I hate waiting, but also hate spending $$ unnecessarily

 

[snoopboop]

I stand firmly on the EP side of the fence. No matter what time of year I go, I always make sure to stay onsite at one of the deluxes for the EP benefit. My time in the parks is WAY too valuable to be spent waiting in line. Even a 10-minute wait at each attraction means you'll easily be spending 1-2 hours of each day in line, and that's more time than I'm willing to give up.

That's just my opinion and I know others may disagree.... but I always make sure to have EP no matter what the crowd calendars say.

 

[macraven]

When I go to the darkside it is always a stay at one of the 3 deluxe hotels

Those hotel amenities are just as important for me as the ep for the parks

I do long stays and want the convenience of a short walk to city walk from rpr besides time in the parks

For me, the hotel cost is not an issue
As I budget way in advance to make staying at the deluxe hotels possible

 

[NewbieMouse]

I stand firmly on the EP side of the fence. No matter what time of year I go, I always make sure to stay onsite at one of the deluxes for the EP benefit. My time in the parks is WAY too valuable to be spent waiting in line. Even a 10-minute wait at each attraction means you'll easily be spending 1-2 hours of each day in line, and that's more time than I'm willing to give up.

That's just my opinion and I know others may disagree.... but I always make sure to have EP no matter what the crowd calendars say.

When I go to the darkside it is always a stay at one of the 3 deluxe hotels

Those hotel amenities are just as important for me as the ep for the parks

I do long stays and want the convenience of a short walk to city walk from rpr besides time in the parks

For me, the hotel cost is not an issue
As I budget way in advance to make staying at the deluxe hotels possible

Well, two votes for the EP!

From a distance to the parks standpoint is there a huge difference between RPR and HRH? On the map it is hard to tell as I can't really see the walking possibilities for RPR. The cost difference for my days is about $200 between the two, so I'm waffling.

 

[schumigirl]

Another for not doing the parks without EP........

RPR to IOA takes about 5 minutes to walk, maybe slightly more if you're slow walkers. Few minutes more on to Studios.

HRH is closer to Studios when you walk......but both are very close.

 

[macraven]

From rpr it is about a 6 minute walk to ioa
From hrh to the studios about 5/6 minutes

To walk from one park to the other would be less than a 4 minute walk

Adjust walking times on the pace you keep
You will get different times from other posters
Always add time to the walk if you have a larger group
Got to have those stops along the way to take pictures...

 

[NewbieMouse]

Another for not doing the parks without EP........

RPR to IOA takes about 5 minutes to walk, maybe slightly more if you're slow walkers. Few minutes more on to Studios.

HRH is closer to Studios when you walk......but both are very close.

From rpr it is about a 6 minute walk to ioa
From hrh to the studios about 5/6 minutes

To walk from one park to the other would be less than a 4 minute walk

Adjust walking times on the pace you keep
You will get different times from other posters
Always add time to the walk if you have a larger group
Got to have those stops along the way to take pictures...

But it can definitely be a walk, not a boat ride or shuttle from RPR, right? I'm OK with walking, I just couldn't tell from google maps if there were walking paths the whole way, but it sounds like that's not an issue. I'd rather do the short walk than wait - which means I probably would be impatient without the express pass! I just had visions of people w/o the express pass walking on at the same time as me and regretting that being a total waste of $$...

 

[pcstang]

Another vote for deluxe and EP. The walk is easy and very relaxing from RPR or HRH. We didn't love HRH, and since it's not part of you first, we don't stay there. We always boat from PBR though. I walk enough in the parks, not walking from PBR. If staying at RPR, we usually walk to IOA and boat to the studios.

 

[macraven]

Water taxis are at the 3 deluxe hotels

Can be used to get to city walk dock or to reach the other deluxe hotels

Very short walk from getting off the water taxis at cw and then walk to the park

 

[SuperTink]

We had a level "2" day that saw a 50 minute standby wait for Superman, so yes I say go for the Express Pass.

 

[schumigirl]

But it can definitely be a walk, not a boat ride or shuttle from RPR, right? I'm OK with walking, I just couldn't tell from google maps if there were walking paths the whole way, but it sounds like that's not an issue. I'd rather do the short walk than wait - which means I probably would be impatient without the express pass! I just had visions of people w/o the express pass walking on at the same time as me and regretting that being a total waste of $$...

It absolutely is a walkway.....very pretty walk path too.......along side the water and beautiful plants and foliage along the way........takes you right to where Margaritaville is.....then either turn left for IOA or right to Studios.....

If we were going to IOA we always walked......sometimes took the boat if we were going to Studios......if we had just missed one, there was usually not too long a wait for the next one......sometimes yes, you could walk in the time you waited........varied depending on time of day.........

 

[macraven]

We had a level "2" day that saw a 50 minute standby wait for Superman, so yes I say go for the Express Pass.

superman?

 

[dixonsontour]

We've done 2 October trips with 3/4 out of 10 crowds staying at Cabana bay with no express. We have never waited more than a few minutes for any ride.

Despicable me is always a long line but we do it on a universal early entry day. We tend to be there for early entry or park opening. We don't ride the biggest rides rip ride rockit/hulk.

We found evenings aswell as early entry were great for the harry potter areas.

We do have longer trips so if we don't dosomething one day can do another day.

 

[Squirlz]

We just got back from a week that was supposed to be 2 level but approached 5 at times with the tour groups. I love EP, it saved us lots of time. Even when there was only a 20 minute Standby, with EP we walk right on.

 

[SuperTink]

superman?

Spiderman. Obviously.

 

[kohlby]

We really didn't need EP on our last trip. We did a split stay and only had EP for part of our trip. I think the maximum is saved us was 20 minutes. Even Despicable Me was a walk-on when we first got there - about 9:15 am the Sunday after thanksgiving. We didn't have EP that day.

How many days are you doing IOA/US? Will you have kids with you too young to take advantage of single rider line?

 

[DiannaVM]

Not to hijack this thread, but since its about the Universal Express its perfect for what I need lol. We are planning a trip in November, and we were planning on setting aside one day to do both UO parks.However, after you add the park-to-park feature and the Universal Express Pass, the price is really pushing the limits of our budget. I just wanted to know if you guys think its worth getting it (or think we WILL NEED to get it in order to accomplish both parks in one day).

I should point out that 3/4 of our party are not thrill-ride riders, and our main focus is Harry Potter, so that cuts out several IOA rides really.

 

[cheerky]

We are here now. We've been to Universal many times. On our previous trips, we did NOT have Express Passes. We checked in to RPR today and spent the day using EP for the first time. Love, love, loved it! I don't think my family will ever want to visit without it ever again!!!

 

[kohlby]

Not to hijack this thread, but since its about the Universal Express its perfect for what I need lol. We are planning a trip in November, and we were planning on setting aside one day to do both UO parks.However, after you add the park-to-park feature and the Universal Express Pass, the price is really pushing the limits of our budget. I just wanted to know if you guys think its worth getting it (or think we WILL NEED to get it in order to accomplish both parks in one day).

I should point out that 3/4 of our party are not thrill-ride riders, and our main focus is Harry Potter, so that cuts out several IOA rides really.

It depends when it November you are considering. If it was the week after Thanksgiving and it was anything like this year or two years ago, it's not needed. If it's Thanksgiving week, then it would be tough.

 

[macraven]

Not to hijack this thread, but since its about the Universal Express its perfect for what I need lol. We are planning a trip in November, and we were planning on setting aside one day to do both UO parks.However, after you add the park-to-park feature and the Universal Express Pass, the price is really pushing the limits of our budget. I just wanted to know if you guys think its worth getting it (or think we WILL NEED to get it in order to accomplish both parks in one day).

I should point out that 3/4 of our party are not thrill-ride riders, and our main focus is Harry Potter, so that cuts out several IOA rides really.

if you are planning on one day only and going to hit both parks, i would say it is well worth it.
there will be some dates in november where crowds will be low and the ep won't be a necessary.
on the other hand, why take a chance of not hitting what you want to do and see because of long line waits.

the ep is valid for the live shows.
you enter the theater before the general line will.
pick your choice of seats early.....
(animal actor show, Horror Make Up show)

play with your numbers of costs.
if you have 5 people in your group, figure out the cheapest on site hotel room on the date you are going to the parks.
add up the cost of a one night room and compare it to the cost of the EP for five on the park to park chart.

if you find the room rate to be $225 for the one night and the total cost of the EP for all 5 of you to be $350, book a throw away room.

all registered guests in the onsite deluxe hotels will have the EP for the day they check in and the day they check out of the hotel.
you only say you are going for one day only but still, if the numbers are best for hotel guests, handle it that way.

you could always go to the hotel room to freshen up or relax a bit before you leave the Universal grounds that night.