Attraction Assistance Pass

[Baggieflan]

Hi All,

Due to my son's special needs we used the Disney DAS on our last visit to Orlando and it worked brilliantly. We are returning this Easter and we intend to try Universal.

Do you think the AAP is enough or should we pay extra for the Express Passes? We are staying off-site but I don't mind paying for one night in a Universal Hotel to access the Express passes for two days (I know it will be super expensive but you can't put a cost on doing all you can to limit any anxiety and therefore him having a fab time! )

Any thoughts or past experience would be really appreciated

Thanks again

[Minniemagoo]

We found Universal AAP very good. If the wait time is less than half hour you go straight through, otherwise it's a return time. We were last there at Halloween 2017 and walked on most rides (the HP ones we had a return time).

Getting one was easy and tbh the whole experience was easier than Disney. The staff at the rides were much nicer and less strict on return times.

[chmurf]

OP it depends on when you go

if it's super busy, you'll probably need to get return times, but then it will work just like the DAS pass (wait outside the lines for an amount of time based off the posted standby time)
so if you want to speed things up, then express passes through a one night stay is a solution, even though an expensive one

but, if you're okay with it functionning like a DAS pass at disney's, then I wouldn't bother spending lots of money when you already have a disability pass that works almost like express passes.

If your situation makes it that you can only spend 3 or 4 hours at a time in the parks, then I would advise express passes, as it wouldn't require waiting "at all" (there will still be a wait though, as express lines you'll be using either with express or AAP can see some wait, just like FP lines at disney's)
but if you can do full days in the park, AAP will be sufficient in most occasions

[Baggieflan]

Excellent - thank you!

[JediMuM]

we always stay at HRH so get express and love it .. last trip to the west coast though you cant book a hotel with express in hollywood. eventually I persuaded my OH into getting the pass (he has Crohns and he cant go long without a needed toilet break or some days he is just completely wiped and cant do much at all) I found the express much better and I know he felt really uncomfortable asking about the pass even though he did really need it.
We have always just used fast passes and express whilst in Orlando as most of the time this is ok for him and I know he feels better. the assisiatance pass at Hollywood was good as it meant he could be free to use the facilities which was what we needed but didn't really cut any wait times like the express does (this is not the reason we got it mind) x