The Case For Epic Express Passes

Universal Orlando Resort
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This week’s episode of The Case For with Chris Cox covers Express Passes at Epic Universe!

A couple of polls to kick off the discussion:

Which of the following describes your experience with Epic Universe?

  • I have been to Epic and used Express Pass
  • I have been to Epic and did not use Express Pass
  • I have not been to Epic
  • Other
0 voters

Do you plan to use Express Pass on your next major trip to Epic Universe?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Other
0 voters

If you were given extra money to spend on a skip-the-line service at Epic Universe, and any leftover could only be spent at Epic for dining or merch, which of the following hypothetical options would you prefer?

  • VIP Tour ($$$)
  • Express Pass / Lightning Lane Premier Pass ($$)
  • Lightning Lane Multi / Single Pass ($)
  • Other
0 voters

Sound off below with your thoughts!

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The Case For with Chris Cox
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I voted Other, and I should have included this as an option in retrospect: I would choose a pay-per-ride system that is essentially LLSP but for every ride instead of only the two most popular rides.

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@Jeff_AZ can you explain that last question? I am confused by an Epic question with WDW options. Are you asking if we would like a system such as these WDW systems in Epic?

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Unfortunately, I can only ride two rides at Epic, but would have loved to skip the line for the M&G for toothless.

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I voted other…I haven’t listed to this episode yet, so I’m not sure I understand the question fully. But, if I had my druthers with extra Epic $$, I’d spend it on an after hours type event which just means shorter lines.

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I also don’t understand the question. Is it asking which type of skip the line I would like if I HAD TO skip the line?

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Same.

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Yes this. I’m essentially asking which type of skip-the-line system do you think is best, if you had the budget for it (but had the option of using that budget for something else). I want to get a sense of value-for-money but don’t want that to be the primary consideration.

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We definitely agree on this. I think mostly because my whole family doesn’t like the same rides. I don’t really need Multipass for DS7 but I buy it anyway because I want to do the lesser rides in all the same lines.

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Thanks! I voted VIP tour because if I had a bucket of money, that is what I would love to do.

I have not been to Epic YET, but I will be arriving at Stella Nova in 9 days. At first my plan was to get express passes just for Sunday. In early December when I bought them, they were $179.99 per person (about $30 less than the cheapest price Len found at taping). After watching what was happening in Epic, a month later I added express for Saturday too ($239.99). I am pretty sure I should have planned this better. (AP single day tickets)

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I have not listened to the episode yet and I have never used Express Pass and only been to Epic once. But what gets me about Express Pass (and obviously now Premier Pass) is that it is more than your day ticket! I think I would rather just have two days in a park with two options to rope drop and two “low wait” evenings to hit potentially the same amount of headliners for less money but also two days of experiences.

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For my dates in June, 1-day Epic Express Passes were $240/person in October when I bought them, and now they are going for $260. I ended up buying the 3-day, 3-park passes, which are also about $20 more per person now than they were. So I guess I saved myself $120 for 6 people by booking early. Nothing to sneeze at.

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My $179.99 pass is now $290. My $239.99 is now $300. I guess I saved $510?

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Wow that is quite the savings! :money_mouth_face:

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Other - I haven’t had an Epic visit

Other - I don’t anticipate an Epic visit

Other - Merch most likely, to give to someone else. I’m still trying to declutter

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I don’t listen to this show but could answer these questions because I have a UOR trip coming up in May. We have 4 day tickets and I bought EXP for all parks for 2 of those days. :grin:

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I said other for the last one. I have done WDW and DLR a few times now without any LMNOP passes, so I don’t even know the pros and cons of them. I would buy the cheapest thing I had to to meet the terms of the “extra money” question and then use the remaining funds for dining.

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I’ve never been and don’t technically have a trip planned, but I said “No” I don’t plan to use Express Pass on my next trip to Epic Universe. My logic is that we will be so engrossed in seeing the theming, Express Passes might be wasted if we are too busy looking and don’t use it much. However, I now can’t decide if maybe getting Express Passes would actually benefit us in this situation so we can spend time looking because of the hours we saved not waiting in line. :thinking:
I liked Chris’s idea in the episode that he would go in the park on arrival night to just look and take pictures. Then the next day you can rope drop without stopping to look. I definitely think this would be a strong strategy for my family who has never been to any Universal park!

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We got the one-use-three-park EP, I assume that counts?
For what to do with extra money I had to choose Other because I’d spend it on food. I quite liked the food at Epic. Also, I am weird in that I don’t want any more merch. I am drowning in stuff! If the gift shops were free I might get a jewelry-ish pin and nothing else. We already have the Nintendo bands and wands.

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Yep that counts! Hope you enjoy(ed?) your trip!