Ok guys, thanks for the replies.
I will have a big bag with me, but I prefer bus over taxi and could use the saved baht for an extra ST, lol. It will be early in the day and it isn't worth to pay 800-1,000 Baht more to save 30-60 mins.
If my hotel (haven't booked yet) in Pattaya is close to normal bus station, I will get this (from Ekkamai), otherwise I will use the Bell bus.