I haven’t figured out Universal’s pricing, though. I’m going in June with DS13. We have always stayed deluxe in the past to take advantage of unlimited Express pass at IOA and USF. I priced that and it was going to be over $5k for the hotel. Then, if I wanted to add Epic Express Pass, it was over $200 per person per day. We have 5-day 4 park passes. If I wanted two days of Express Pass for Epic, it was about $900.
BUT. . .
If I stay at Aventura, my hotel is about $2500 and I can buy 3 park, single use Express pass for FIVE DAYS for about $500 per person. That is what I opted to do. I’m saving a few thousand dollars and getting Express pass for 5 days for all three parks, and really only giving up the unlimited Express at IOA and USF, but I plan to spend more time at Epic anyways since we have done those parks before.
What I don’t understand is why Universal doesn’t offer a multi-day Epic only express pass for those people staying at a deluxe property. The 3-park single use express pass wasn’t an option when selecting RPR or Hard Rock or Portofino. I really like staying there to walk to the original two parks and probably would have paid the premium price for the hotel. But I wasn’t willing to pay that much for the Epic express pass per day like that.
If it helps, I am here right now and staying at Aventura. Cut across to Sapphire Falls which is right next door and then use the walking path to the original parks. About a 15 minute walk (I walk briskly though…)
I agree the premier hotel situation is a blind spot in the pricing. Same thing with APs. It’s still priced as if Epic doesn’t exist. Hopefully they will align that at some point. For now it doesn’t make sense financially to stay premier.
I hope to visit Epic some time in the next year or two. If it was up to me I’d splurge for the Express Passes, but paying an upcharge for any type of skip the line product is always an uphill battle with my husband. He can be a skinflint at times.
I just realized that when I said “Other” I didn’t say to which question. If it wasn’t clear, I was responding other to the SECOND question. The first question, I have been to Epic (2 days), and we did NOT use Express Pass. Third question…I don’t understand it whatsoever, so I just clicked Other.
Haven’t listened to it but we go for the 2nd time late August. Not staying in the Deluxe’s for the first time and no plans to purchase the EPs standalone - hoping it’s quiet enough not to. Their pricing is all over the place isn’t it? We’re staying at Stella 2 nights for Epic then over to SSR at WDW. Will probably Uber back to cover the other Universal parks for a few days. Lowes wouldn’t give Universal the same deal which is why EPIC is excluded. With EPIC being quieter at weekends because there’s no APs or residents passes yet, it may be busy for us. We arrive in the week but I may pop back to see what difference a weekend day makes. Cannot justify the prices for Express or Premier. Only doing LLMP for DHS this time too. For me those passes are for people who are cash rich and time poor. Makes sense then. As does going cheaper on the hotel and spending the saved budget elsewhere. I do this at DLP. It’s about trade-offs unless one id fortunate enough to not have to worry about such things.
