Benfit To Staying at Uni Hotels

[bsiev1977]

EDIT: I mispelled "Benefit"

I'm planning a trip for December 2013, mostly for Disney, but want to have one day for Universal.
My question is about how the Express line access works for hotel guests. I'm thinking of staying the first night at a universal hotel, going to the parks the next morning, then switching over to Disney that night. Do you have to still be checked in at the hotel to get the Express privilage, or would I be able to check in Friday night, check out Saturday morning and go to the parks on Saturday. Also, I am aware that purchasing park admission is required.

 

[ParentsOf4]

The Universal Express Pass is good for the day you check-in and the entire day you check-out. This means if you stay only one night, then it's good for 2 entire days. Although your room might not be ready, it's possible to register and pick up your Express Pass at about 7:30 AM in the morning and use it that entire day. Similarly, on the day you check-out, it's good until park closing.

Express Pass does not work for Forbidden Journey or Rip, Ride, Rockit. However, it is good for one hour early admission to WWOHP. This will be when FB lines will be the shortest.

 

[bsiev1977]

The Universal Express Pass is good for the day you check-in and the entire day you check-out. This means if you stay only one night, then it's good for 2 entire days. Although your room might not be ready, it's possible to register and pick up your Express Pass at about 7:30 AM in the morning and use it that entire day. Similarly, on the day you check-out, it's good until park closing.

Express Pass does not work for Forbidden Journey or Rip, Ride, Rockit. However, it is good for one hour early admission to WWOHP. This will be when FB lines will be the shortest.

That would work for me. Plan right now is to fly in Friday afternoon/evening, stay overnight at Uni, then check out and hit the parks Saturday morning before moving over to Disney.

I was aware of the restrictions as far as Harry Potter and other rides. But like you said, one hour early admission would allow me to do the Harry Potter stuff before the crowds.

Are any of the hotel choices particularly good or bad? I'd just as soon go with the cheapest option otherwise.

 

[BenSmith]

All three are world class hotels, they will cost you a pretty penny. Hard Rock is probably the most expensive

 

[bsiev1977]

All three are world class hotels, they will cost you a pretty penny. Hard Rock is probably the most expensive

I just did a quick check at UO website, and these are the options I got:

Loews Portofino- $299 per night was the cheapest option.
Hard Rock- $264 per night cheapest option
Loews Royal Pacific - $244 cheapest option

Haven't chosen yet, early planning stages right now. So you say they're all pretty much the same as far as quality goes? Does any one of them have advantages/disadvantages over the others?

 

[ParentsOf4]

Are any of the hotel choices particularly good or bad? I'd just as soon go with the cheapest option otherwise.

All three onsite resorts at Universal are lovely, equivalent to WDW's Deluxe Resorts. Portofino Bay generally is considered the best but I prefer the Hard Rock or Royal Pacific since these are within walking distance to the theme parks. (Portofino Bay requires a boat ride.) The Royal Pacific is always the least expensive. Since you are using this as a place to sleep and get Express Pass, I suggest you go with the Royal Pacific unless someone in your party is a Hard Rock groupie.

 

[bsiev1977]

All three onsite resorts at Universal are lovely, equivalent to WDW's Deluxe Resorts. Portofino Bay generally is considered the best but I prefer the Hard Rock or Royal Pacific since these are within walking distance to the theme parks. (Portofino Bay requires a boat ride.) The Royal Pacific is always the least expensive. Since you are using this as a place to sleep and get Express Pass, I suggest you go with the Royal Pacific unless someone in your party is a Hard Rock groupie.

Yes, all i'm looking for is a bed and an Express pass. This is going to be a solo trip for me, something I've been wanting to do for a while. Disney during the holiday season on a lower attendance week, and a day at Universal with all the stuff that's new since my last visit. Harry Potter, Spiderman update, Rip Ride Rockit, Despicible Me. As well as the Transformers Ride, which I've read is scheduled to open sometime over the summer in 2013.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

If your #1 goal is to get early to HP and enjoy the shorter waits at IoA and USF, I'd say stay at RP since its the closest to IoA. I took the boat to Portafino Bay and it's a long walk to either park, especially IoA. RP is also a nice hotel.

 

[StageFrenzy]

For the cost of a Uni hotel would it be cheaper to stay offsite and just buy the express pass add-on. RP was nice but I love my Hilton Orlando and Peabody, plus they are usually cheaper. Knock that down to a chain hotel and the savings could bump you towards offsite. I will say although cost prohibitive it is fun to imbibe on city walk and walk back to your resort

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I wouldnt stay any where other than the HRH. Great hotel even with its high occupancy rates. It is however cheaper to drink in City Walk than at the hotel, which is nearly as expensive as WDW resort

 

[lilclerk]

I stayed at Hard Rock by myself in February for one night and it was so nice to be able to get into the WWoHP early. I spent the hour just taking photos of the Forbidden Journey queue when there was no one else in there with me. I went to a concert at the Hard Rock Cafe that night too. The walk back to the hotel was super easy, though a little creepy walking by dark Florida water by myself at night.

I did exactly what you're thinking of, by the way. I checked in one afternoon, went to IoA and the concert, checked out the next morning, went back to IoA early, then headed back to Disney in the evening. I still used my Express Pass that second day.