Universal California - Express pass

[karinothing]

Is the express pass worth it? We are only going for one day so I like the idea of not waiting in line.

[quesyrah]

Yes, especially if it works on the tram tour too. I would say it’s worth it. The last time we were there the line for the tram was 4 hours and the line for the Harry Potter ride was 2.5.

Every wait there was insane.

[karinothing]

Oct 6, 2022 15:11:40 GMT -5 quesyrah said:

Yes, especially if it works on the tram tour too. I would say it’s worth it. The last time we were there the line for the tram was 4 hours and the line for the Harry Potter ride was 2.5.

Every wait there was insane.

OH man! that is crazy. Do you mind telling me when you went?

We are going on a random Monday in Jan so I am hoping it won't be too horrible crowd wise (no holiday)

ETA: It says it gives you express access to each ride, attraction and seated show.

[quesyrah]

Oct 6, 2022 15:16:35 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Oct 6, 2022 15:11:40 GMT -5 quesyrah said:

Yes, especially if it works on the tram tour too. I would say it’s worth it. The last time we were there the line for the tram was 4 hours and the line for the Harry Potter ride was 2.5.

Every wait there was insane.

OH man! that is crazy. Do you mind telling me when you went?

We are going on a random Monday in Jan so I am hoping it won't be too horrible crowd wise (no holiday)

ETA: It says it gives you express access to each ride, attraction and seated show.

I’m trying to remember…it was definitely pre-Covid (IDK if that matters) and it was probably in the spring.

Hopefully January is off season enough not to be as busy. Word on the street is the new Nintendo area is opening early 2023. If it’s open in Jan, crowds will probably be pretty bad.

[Wines Not Whines]

It was worth it for us when we went last summer. Lines were long.

I don’t know if you’ve been to Universal Florida, but CA was much smaller. I liked the tram tour, which FL doesn’t have.

[dearprudence]

Definitely worth it. We just did the VIP tour last week which is like Express Pass on steroids (they walk you to the front of the Express line) and we had ridden every ride in the park by lunch, and then slid into great seats for the Waterworld show moments before it started. On a regular day, it's taken us a full day to ride every ride, and everyone is cranky from hour long waits on every ride.

[karinothing]

Oct 7, 2022 19:12:56 GMT -5 dearprudence said:

Definitely worth it. We just did the VIP tour last week which is like Express Pass on steroids (they walk you to the front of the Express line) and we had ridden every ride in the park by lunch, and then slid into great seats for the Waterworld show moments before it started. On a regular day, it's taken us a full day to ride every ride, and everyone is cranky from hour long waits on every ride.

Our planner is trying to get us to do the VIP but I don't think I can pull the cost trigger!

[dearprudence]

Oct 8, 2022 9:19:40 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Oct 7, 2022 19:12:56 GMT -5 dearprudence said:

Definitely worth it. We just did the VIP tour last week which is like Express Pass on steroids (they walk you to the front of the Express line) and we had ridden every ride in the park by lunch, and then slid into great seats for the Waterworld show moments before it started. On a regular day, it's taken us a full day to ride every ride, and everyone is cranky from hour long waits on every ride.

Our planner is trying to get us to do the VIP but I don't think I can pull the cost trigger!

I get that. My eldest had his birthday trip cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, so this year we tried to make up for it.

[nancybotwin]

FWIW we go often to Universal and have never done the Express pass. We try to go on random days as well and have never waited more than 30 min for a ride 🤷🏻‍♀️