WWYD ticket question

[musika]

My brain is struggling to figure out the best options. Here's our scenario. We are a family of 4, all ages 10+. We will be at Universal from Fri 26-Sep 30, flying out on Oct 1 (so 5 potential days of park time).

- Our purpose for this trip is a conference at the doubletree which 2/4 family members need to attend Fri Sep 26. The other 2/4 could have park time all day. In the evening, 3/4 could go to the parks.
- Technically our event goes Sep 27/28, but we're potentially bailing on most of it in favour of park time.
- 4/4 will go to the parks all day on Sep 29/30
- We're booked under an APH rate starting Sep 28 at RPR when we swap hotels, so will have Express pass for IOA/USO Sun, Mon,Tues. Therefore, at least one of us has to get an AP (thinking the lowest Seasonal).
- We're potentially planning a return trip next August for DS's birthday so in theory could use APs again (not a blackout period on this year's calendar). That said, this trip would likely have a definite Epic focus which of course is not currently included in APs.
- We originally were planning on skipping Epic this trip, but now you can no longer buy 2 park, park2park tickets. So if we buy multi day tickets, we're going to have the option of a day at Epic.
- We have no interest in HHN.

Soooooooo what would the experts do?
- purchase 1 Seasonal AP (required for hotel room) @ $424 + 5 day tickets for everyone else? (Is it worth it to buy a full day ticket for half day usage as noted above?)
- Followup question - if we have access to Epic, we're probably going to use the one day ticket for a "Taste of Epic" kind of visit. But that means buying a one day Epic ticket on top of AP for one person. What's the AP discount look like on that? Additionally, I think we'd plan this visit for Sat Sep 27 and bail on the conference activities since it's the only day we wouldn't have EP at the original parks.
- Buy everyone Seasonal APs. Cheaper than 5 day tickets ($533 for our dates), but no option to visit Epic this trip, and no information yet on how to add Epic on for next year.
-Option that I am not aware of???

 

[wdwrule]

But that means buying a one day Epic ticket on top of AP for one person. What's the AP discount look like on that?

APH rate per pass holder for single day Epic tickets…

 

[Minnie1222]

I would include Epic in your upcoming trip. August 2026 is a very long time to wait.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

If you buy everyone APs plus a 1 day ticket to Epic, the cost difference isn't that much higher than the 5 day tickets you're looking at. HOWEVER, those are 2 park APs - not Epic, even if they start selling Epic APs later. Thus in Aug 2026 your APs would not cover Epic. You would again have to buy separate Epic tickets. Or do some kind of upgrade to include Epic at that time, if offered (no guarantees).

In 2026, you will be able to get tickets that include multiple days at Epic. If you got APs, no epic days, and save $440 this trip - you could buy just multi-day Epic tickets next trip, and still have the AP for discounts and to pop into the other parks if you wanted. Effectively, you're paying full price for the Epic ticket to go NOW instead of waiting until 2026. So, I guess, the question is how much is an Epic day on this trip worth?

Unless you scrap the idea of going next year. But if you want to visit IoA/US at all next year too, the AP is the cheaper method. It's just the conundrum of Epic.

Right now, Saturday is also the slowest day at Epic so that might work well for your plans.

 

[Kit Jackson]

How much time would you have on your half day? You could use the half day for shows and some snacking, and/or maybe some rides with shorter wait times.

 

[angryduck71]

Another option... but, you'll have to do the math... do the Premier AP (especially if all coming back again) for all... and stay at DoubleTree whole trip. You get express after 4 pm. I have done that before.....