When it's busy I can see that express pass is a great way to avoid the lines. However I imagine some attractions have great themed queue lines that express pass users never get to experience.
What are the best lines that are 'missed' by using express pass, that may be worth actually using the regular line to see. (eg I have read MIB and Forbidden Journey have great queue lines that are worth seeing)
Also any pre-shows missed out using express pass? (eg Shrek 4D?)
FJ does have a great queue, however, there is NO express line for this ride, only a single rider line. If you go through the single rider line to save time, you can go back through on the "tour" line, which takes you through almost the whole queue and only misses a couple of small things (plus, then you can take a camera with you and get some photos). When you get to the end, they direct you back out the ride exit rather than getting on the ride. Most of the time I was there, the single rider line was no more than 10 minutes, while the regular line was 45-60 minutes. Not worth it if you can do single rider and then the tour. I walked through the regular line once, when there was no one there and it was walk-on.
I only did single rider lines for MIB, did not feel that I missed anything, but maybe that's because I got to go on the actual ride many more times than I would have had I gone through the whole thing - and I didn't know what was in the regular line. If you are with a group, it may be more fun if you all go together and can be in the same car - then you can compete for high scores.
I'm not sure about Shrek - there is a pre-show that is fun, but I was under the impression that the Express line people also had to watch it before entering the theater, they just got to go around the line and into the pre-show before everyone else. There didn't appear to be anyone in the theater when we went in after watching the pre-show. But it was a slow day, maybe there was no one in the Express line? I think Terminator 2 was the same thing - everyone watched the pre-show, the Express people just got to enter the room first and got a better view.
For Disaster, there was such a small crowd they actually put everyone through the Express line, and I don't think there was anything to miss. Everyone watched the pre-show.
It was fun watching the clips in the Simpons line, but if you already watch the show it is probably nothing you haven't seen before.
The ET line is cute, if you have small children, or are in the age range to have been a small child when the movie was released. But if it's long, I'd skip it and use Express.
