FYI: My Partner has done more than I have and I only have gone with them so the pathing for the years we've gone are
2023: Started Upper Lot -> Theater -> Tram -> Purge -> Lower Lot (No Express, did half the houses)
2024: Upper Lot -> Tram -> Theater -> Lower Lot -> Purge (Partner's usual routing)
2025: Upper Lot -> Tram -> Lower Lot -> Theater -> Purge (My funky routing)
Their opinion is that due to early access, distance needed to travel, and the fact that usually the best houses are in the lower lot; it makes more sense to them to just be able to bang out the Parisian and UBE houses right off the bat and then mosey our way down to lower lot + soundstages.
2025 was funky due the express lane still having 20 - 30 min wait times and trying not to wimp out of Terrifier
I agree with the takes above that w/o express, there are no promises that you get to everything
Former GA ticketgoer here, now I exclusively only do Express, but look, I rawdogged it for nearly 20 years and I got every maze done every time! Here's my recommendation to you and OP:
You can NOT do this event without Early Access or Express, and even though I have Express, I STILL do Early Access (because if I am paying that much, rest assured I am doing ALL the rides too, dammit! lol)
Do Early Access, hit the lower lot like everyone else but show up even EARLIER than everyone else, be one of the first to hit whatever the biggest maze is, then immediately line up for the second biggest maze (luckily they stagger the opening times). Finish the lower lot before the park officially opens, but if you don't, it's okay, just run back up and hit the Curious George parking lot mazes as the park officially opens. Finish that, hit UBE, Parisian, and Tram (these three in whichever is shortest first) then head back down to lower lot if you missed anything earlier.
General Tips:
- Lower lot is EMPTY the last hour or half hour of the night and if you are lucky, and this is NOT a guarantee, you can marathon everything down there. If you truly are behind and did upper lot first, this is the best time to hit it. Or get your repeats in.
- Do a fast dinner (30 minues or less) somewhere in the park with no line so you don't ruin your gameplan too much. Where do they have no line you ask? Three Broomsticks. It never fails. Always EMPTY with tons of seats. Super fast service. And honestly the best food in the park, it's just off the main strip so people don't think about it.
- It's obvious, but skip the rides, they will be there all year and the mazes won't. You may have someone in your group wanting to do them, but just let them know you can come back anytime to do those.