When purchasing our day pass to Islands of Adventure, I looked into the option of adding the Express Pass to our ticket.  Universal's Express is similar to Disney's FastPass+ in that it allows you to enter a different, shorter line for most attractions.  However, rather than having specific return times, Express allows you to enter the queue at anytime.  Express is complimentary for guests staying at Universal's three deluxe resorts (Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, and Royal Pacifica).  However, for all other guests, Express is available at an additional cost, depending on the time of your visit and how many rides you purchase.  For the Sunday we were visiting, an Express Pass redeemable for three rides was $60 per person, and it only went up from there.

Perhaps it's because I'm used to Disney's FastPass+ which allows all guests at least three FastPasses per day included in regular park admission that I thought $60 for three Express Passes was a little steep.  The reasoning behind the price makes sense, though.  Disney's system allows guests to reserve a specific time to ride an attraction... all guests are limited to a one hour window (plus a 5 minute early, 15 minute late cushion) during which they can ride the select attraction.  The FastPass+ system also allows only a certain number of FP+ reservations in an hour per attraction, so there is a limited number of FastPass+ that can be distributed per day.  Rather than limiting the number of Express Passes distributed per attraction, Universal limits the number sold with its pricing.  If the Express Pass was priced too low, then more guests would buy it, the Express line would be longer, and the Express Pass would no longer be of value.

A piece of advice I read in the 2014 Edition of Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World was to not purchase Express in advance, but wait until the day of.  Depending on the crowds that day, we may or may not want to purchase the Express Pass.

Our plan was to get to Islands of Adventure before park opening that morning so that we would be able to ride all of the biggest attractions without a very long wait.

On our way to the parking garage that morning, Natalie spotted a sign for valet parking.  I couldn't remember how much Valet cost, but I remembered thinking it was reasonable.  To save us a little time and hassle, Natalie decided to opt for valet.  The signs read 0-2 hours $15, Over 2 Hours $35.... The way the sign was written, we were thinking this was an hourly rate and were going to drive back to the parking garage.  But the valet attendant approached us, so Natalie asked, and he told us $15 for the day.  That's less than daily parking at Walt Disney World - we'll take it! (spoiler: he was wrong)


Turnstiles - how antiquated!  We had printed our tickets out at home, and my ticket was not scanning.  The Team Member had to type in the number to allow me into the park.

I love Walt Disney World and will squeeze in a vacation whenever I can.  My boyfriend, Max, worked his last co-op rotation over the summer and hadn't been on a vacation since our Disney Fantasy Western Caribbean Cruise.  He finished work on Friday, August 15 and returned to school on Wednesday, August 20.  Four days?  Just enough time for a short trip to Disney!



Max, however, had other ideas.  He had been trying to convince me to take a trip to Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure for years.  "It's better.  The rides are better.  It's so much better than Disney."  Better than Disney?  I think not.  But I had visited Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure a few times when I was younger, most recently in 2007, and remembered having a good time.  So perhaps it was time we returned...

So we looked into making this a completely Universal vacation.... but the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Frozen Summer Fun were enough to convince Max that we should fit in some Disney time.  Initially, we planned two days at Universal and two days at Disney, but after pricing tickets, it was a better deal to take advantage of the "more you play, the less you pay" deal and purchase a one-day pass to Islands of Adventure and three-day park hopper passes to Walt Disney World (multi-day tickets cost less per day the more days you add).  And being a Disney World annual passholder, my wallet was very happy to be spending more time at the World.

Our traveling party included Max's family friend, Natalie, and her sister, Rachel, who flew all the way from Houston, Texas to join us on our 8-hour car ride to Orlando!

We stayed at the Hilton in Downtown Disney.  Natalie and Max's mother both have a lot of Hilton HHonor points and so generously used them on this trip.  I was excited to stay at this hotel because it's in a great location and has the added benefit of Disney Extra Magic Hours (on scheduled days, a specific park will open one hour early or two hours later).  The Hilton Downtown Disney is the only off-property hotel that offers Extra Magic Hours to its guests.

You're invited to join us on our hot, Hot, HOT Orlando adventure... but fortunately with the added comfort of your air-conditioning! Go ahead and bookmark this page, as it will serve as an index for the Trip Report. The links below will become active as each post is published!

[Day 1] Magic Kingdom - Mad rush to the Mine Train and visit to First Aid
[Day 2] A Visit to the Dark Side... aka Universal's Islands of Adventure
[Day 3] Epcot + DHS - Breakfast with Donald and Drinking Around World Showcase
[Day 4] DHS - Attempting the Kitchen Sink and finding the Greatest Souvenir EVER

Also, be sure to check out my review of our lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table.

Thanks for following along!  Have you ever ventured to the "Dark Side"?  Let me know why and how you liked it in the comments below!