Is it worth getting the Express pass for IOA on 2/6/08

[allyk]

As you can see we go in a couple of days, and I was wondering if it is worth getting the express pass for one of the days we are at IOA.

I have scheduled the 2nd of June which will be a Monday for IOA, and there will be 5 of us going so will be a total of about $150 plus tax, but will it be busy enough to make the passes worthwhile?

[Clarks]

Would it be worthwhile just casually asking the staff on the gates if they think its going to be a busy day? We've been twice in October - the first time it was busy and we should have got a FP, the second time we bought one (going on the previous years experience only) and we needn't have bothered.

I know when we asked a waitress in DHS what time to start queuing for Fantasmic (as the guidebook said be prepared to start queuing an hour before the gates opened!) she said it wasn't a busy day (it looked busy to us!) and so just 15 mins beforehand would be fine. She was totally correct.

I also said something similar to a security guard at one of the other parks (can't remember which!) and he told me what to expect in terms of crowds and he was dead right too.

[RobertWestwood]

see here (http://www.venesstravelmedia.com/id74.html)for the busy day guide. They are suggesting that IOA will be quiet that day so it would be best to wait until you are there to see if its worthwhile getting the passes.

You can buy the passes inside the park (from memory they are sold in the shop opposite Spiderman) so you don't need to buy them at the gates.

[Reading1800]

Alternatively book a room at RPR for about $250 fincluding two days fol pass - could do IOA and U plus bonus of a night in the hotel?

[_tinkerbell_]

Hi

In early June i wouldn't imagine the park would be overly busy.

We havnt bought any passes yet except for HHN, and we have never needed them.

We arrive at park for opening and then head straight to Hulk then Spiderman and then head to around the rest of the park to the bigger rides.

We manage to get them all done and then we go around the park again a little slower :grin:

If you have younger children then this could be a little more difficult.

[pinkypominnie]

We visited the first 2 weeks of June last year, and purchased Express passes for Universal and IOA and were so glad we did! The park wasn't "heaving" but we definintely needed them! xx

[Earthbound]

Hi, if you're talking about the Universal express passes for FOTL access then I'd wait until you get to the Park, then you will be able to see how busy it is. In June & on a Monday I'd think it is reasonably quiet & if you get to the Park early then you can do some of the large rides before the Park "busies up". I have done IoA in a morning before when the crowds were at a reasonable level. Remember that the UE pass must be shown at the entrance to each ride & gets scanned, dependant upon staff at the entrance, if it is scanned then it's possible that you will not be able to return to that ride & use it again for FOTL! Personally, wait & see & maybe save yourself that $150!

[hvasey]

If you get there early there should be no need for passes, we got there at 9ish and had done the whole of IOA (execpt for the wet rides as they didn't open till 10) by 11am including Poseiden, even doing Jurassic park twice - we went back around to Spiderman and hulk and rode them again and had photos with all the characters. We had lunch in croissant moon then went to Universal and did the mummy and the simpsons - it said 40 mins for simpsons, but when it's a walk on it took 15 minutes to walk around the enormous holding area!
You don't have to decide on a pass on entry, see what it's like first. If you don't need them, treat yourselves to Hard rock or somewhere.

[Nomy]

Just checking out last years itinerary, and our first days at IOA/US were 3rd and 4th June. We were booked into RPR so had the FOTL passes. Boy were we glad! It was very busy!

We went back on the 12th and brought the Express Passes, again we were glad. The US schools all start to break up from the end of May and it shows.

I would also recommend an overnight in the RPR though. Unlimited FOTL for two days is well worth it. When we used the purchased Express Passes, they always stamped them, so we only ever got one go per ride.

[Anna]

You may need it because Florida school and most of the southern U.S. schools are out. I'd still recommend waiting until you get there so you don't waste your money if it isn't busy. You can purchase it at various stores all through the park.

[cherry pie]

that is the last week of the shchool term so you should be OK without it. im going to universal the week after you which is the first week of the summer holidays so we have bought it.

[Anna]

that is the last week of the shchool term so you should be OK without it. im going to universal the week after you which is the first week of the summer holidays so we have bought it.

Orlando schools are out starting on the 4th. Texas and most of the other southern states are already out of school by then also.

[Nomy]

that is the last week of the shchool term so you should be OK without it. im going to universal the week after you which is the first week of the summer holidays so we have bought it.

It's the US schools holidays though and that does make a big difference :( We fell foul of that last year.

[folkie]

You can purchase it at various stores all through the park.

I didn't realise that - so you don't have to buy it before you go in? You can buy it once you're inside and see what the queues are like?