Notices
Theme Parks Florida Rides, Attractions, Genie+ Questions and Info.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 3 Aug 19, 08:48 PM  
Link to this Post
#1
GWRW1964
Surfing at Typhoon Lagoon
 
Join Date: Aug 19
Location: Ayr, Scotland
Mobile Universal Studios Express Passes

Hi everyone. First post so be gentle lol.

We (myself, wife and 2 girls - 8 and 6) are heading to Florida next spring (early/mid May). We have booked flights and accommodation (villa) but not got park tix yet. We've been to Disney on 3 occasions but never been to Universal.

We are looking to do Universal but the express pass system worries us a little as I'm not sure we fully understand it.

Am I right in saying these passes are in the £80 region per day, per park, per person? That seems a bit much given that the FP system at Disney is free. So, I have some questions...

1. Have I got that price more or less correct?

2. What are the crowds/queues like in May generally? Maybe we don't really need EPs at that time of year?

Thanks in advance,

G
GWRW1964 is offline Boy Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 3 Aug 19, 09:03 PM  
Link to this Post
#2
galaxyflorida
Apprentice Imagineer
 
galaxyflorida's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 17
Hi and welcome

As there are four of you you might find it cheaper to book a night at one of the universal deluxe hotels (Royal Pacific, Portofino Bay, Hard Rock). 1 night would get you 2 days worth of fast passes, you can go and check in at 7am and get your fast passes straight away which is your room key. Plus it is a really nice place to stay, easy to go back to your room if you want to get changed after the water rides etc.

In May I’d say it might be more than that as US schools start to break up then.

Better than Disney as you don’t have to conform to times, you just go to the ride express queue and walk up.
__________________


Orlando I-Drive April 2010, July 2017
New York and Washington October 2016
New York and Toronto July 2019
galaxyflorida is offline Boy Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 3 Aug 19, 09:07 PM  
Link to this Post
#3
lizzie145
Imagineer
 
lizzie145's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 07
Location: Devon
They will vary at peak times and whether you want it for 1 or 2 parks.

There are some which allow just once per ride and others that give unlimited rides.

It may work out cheaper to do 1 night at one ipod the premier hotels as this includes Express passes for 2 days

May can be busy
__________________
June 2006, August 2007, September 2018, January 2019, September 2019, February 2020, December 2021, February 2022, December 2022
lizzie145 is online now Girl Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 3 Aug 19, 10:38 PM  
Link to this Post
#4
mattyped
slightly serious Dibber
 
Join Date: Aug 15
Mobile

We were there in june during their school holidays got portofino room for 1 night for 5 people for $411.
mattyped is offline Boy Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 4 Aug 19, 12:19 AM  
Link to this Post
#5
fredflintstone
Imagineer
 
Join Date: Apr 05

fredflintstone's Reviews
Hotel Reviews: 2
Restaurant Reviews: 1
Originally Posted by GWRW1964 View Post
Hi everyone. First post so be gentle lol.

We (myself, wife and 2 girls - 8 and 6) are heading to Florida next spring (early/mid May). We have booked flights and accommodation (villa) but not got park tix yet. We've been to Disney on 3 occasions but never been to Universal.

We are looking to do Universal but the express pass system worries us a little as I'm not sure we fully understand it.

Am I right in saying these passes are in the £80 region per day, per park, per person? That seems a bit much given that the FP system at Disney is free. So, I have some questions...

1. Have I got that price more or less correct?

2. What are the crowds/queues like in May generally? Maybe we don't really need EPs at that time of year?

Thanks in advance,

G
Universal have a virtual queue system on the later additions that allow you to get the equivalent to a fast pass on the day. This seems to be the way they are going. Jummy Fallon and Fast and furious use this, but to be honest these rides have short queues anyway (are they that bad or does the virtual queue work? ).

IMHO the queues at Univeral are not as bad as Disney. If you go early in the morning for Disney the queues always still seem long, but in Universal you can often get on lots of rides with short waits, which makes it more enjoyable (Minnions always seems to have long waits. even this has improved this year).
So if no express pass get inside for park opening. Obviously express passes are very nice, but without you can get a lot more done in a day than a Disney Park IMHO.
fredflintstone is offline Boy Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 4 Aug 19, 08:03 AM  
Link to this Post
#6
GWRW1964
Thread Starter
Surfing at Typhoon Lagoon
 
Join Date: Aug 19
Location: Ayr, Scotland
Thanks everyone. This is really useful. Sounds like we go for a combination of booking a night at one of the Universal hotels and getting in early on days we don't have EPs.

Thanks again,

G x
GWRW1964 is offline Boy Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 4 Aug 19, 08:45 AM  
Link to this Post
#7
Guest
Guest
 
I have been twice in May and would definitely want express passes, they are very expensive to buy as you have found, so we always stay at an onsite hotel.
Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 4 Aug 19, 10:01 AM  
Link to this Post
#8
diamondgal
VIP Dibber
 
diamondgal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 09
Sorry to jump on this post but...
If you booked an overnight stay is there a particular day of the week you recommend for lower crowds. I was going to avoid the weekend, but was thinking of booking a Monday or Tuesday night stay. What are your thoughts?

Thank you 😊
diamondgal is offline Girl Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 4 Aug 19, 10:06 AM  
Link to this Post
#9
Juliemack
waiting impatiently...!
 
Juliemack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 09
Location: The moving walkway

Juliemack's Reviews
Hotel Reviews: 5
Originally Posted by diamondgal View Post
Sorry to jump on this post but...
If you booked an overnight stay is there a particular day of the week you recommend for lower crowds. I was going to avoid the weekend, but was thinking of booking a Monday or Tuesday night stay. What are your thoughts?

Thank you 😊
Have a look on the busy day guide, it is just guide mind so don't take it as gospel. Avoiding weekends is definitely a good start.
Juliemack is offline Girl Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Old 4 Aug 19, 10:17 AM  
Link to this Post
#10
Moorlandman
Imagineer
 
Moorlandman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 15
Location: Staffs Moorlands

Moorlandman's Reviews
DIBB Villa Reviews: 1
Mobile

I would definitely recommend Express passes for May. If you decide against this, then the quieter days are Sunday and Monday. Enjoy!
Moorlandman is offline Boy Mouse Click to view Members Trip Plans Add Member to Ignore List
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:33 AM.


Powered by vBulletin - Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
DIBB Savings
AttractionTickets.com

Get £10 off each Disney Ticket with the code ATDIBB10

Get up to £50 off per room at Disney or Universal with the code DIBBHOTELS


theDIBB Blog
One of the the five worlds found in Epic Universe, How to Train Your Dragon... Read More »
Disney announced that a new nighttime show, “Disney Dreams That Soar,” will run nightly at... Read More »
Walt Disney World Resort guests can get ready to have a “glowing’’ good time when... Read More »


theDIBB Menu


Exchange Rates
US Dollar Rates
ASDA  $1.2354
CaxtonFX  $1.2308
Covent Garden FX  $1.2544
FAIRFX  $1.2350
John Lewis  $1.2380
M&S  $1.2178
Sainsburys  $1.2354
TESCO  $1.2364
Travelex  $1.2353
Updated: 23:30 28/03/2024
Euro Rates
ASDA  €1.1447
CaxtonFX  €1.1406
Covent Garden FX  €1.1511
FAIRFX  €1.1432
John Lewis  €1.1457
M&S  €1.1263
Sainsburys  €1.1440
TESCO  €1.1445
Travelex  €1.1435
Updated: 23:30 28/03/2024

DIBB Premium Membership
Did you know you can help support theDIBB with Premium Membership?

Check out this link for more information and benefits, such as...

"No adverts on theDIBB Forums"

Upgrade Now



X