Questions about Universal Express

[j&t'sdad]

My wife and I are trying to figure out the best way to add a couple Universal days onto our existing Disney Vacation for next summer.

We'll be arriving on a Friday evening. Our plan was, to spend Friday and Saturday at one of the UNiversal Resorts, and spend Saturday and Sunday at Universal. However, for 2 nights at the least expensive Universal Resort and 3 park tickets, the price was just under $1,000. We're doing 14 nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge, so I'd rather not drop that much at another resort.

Since we're going in July, the whole reason for staying at a Universal Resort was the Express Plus. But now I'm thinking, it would make a lot more sense to just make 2 day trips over to Universal and buy the express-plus option, which I know is only good for 1 ride each day. Or so I thought. Then I read this on Universal's home page:

Make the most of your 2-Park Ticket with a 2-Park Universal Express Plus VIP pass. You’ll be able to skip the lines at rides and attractions in BOTH Universal Studios® AND Islands of Adventure for one day per person, per pass.

One (1) day admission to BOTH Universal Studios Florida AND Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park.

Allows you to bypass the regular lines as many times as you'd like by providing Express Access to most attractions at BOTH Universal Studios Florida AND Universal's Islands of Adventure theme parks for the validity dates of the theme park admission portion of the ticket.

The price is listed at $149.99. Does that include your admission to the parks?

Also, if we opt for the regular express pass valid for 1 entry for each ticket, if my wife and son decide to skip Revenge of the Mummy, could I use their pass to skip the lines?

 

[damo]

It is the same. It is just very pricey.

 

[j&t'sdad]

It is the same. It is just very pricey.

Yeah, it seems it. Looks like it's $149 per day, per person. So, for 2 days for 3 of us, that would run about $900.

I think I'll just opt for 3 2-day passes ($300) and purchase regular express plus. Even at $150 total for the 3 of us per day, over 2 days, it's still about $300 less than staying at a Universal Resort.

 

[Purseval]

I would hold off on the Express passes until you get into the parks and see what the lines are like. If you get there about 8am so you're there the minute the park opens you can make it through the major rides before the lines back up. If you like to sleep in until 10-11am and wander over the passes make more sense but in Orlando the early bird catches the rides.

 

[goofy!]

Yeah, it seems it. Looks like it's $149 per day, per person. So, for 2 days for 3 of us, that would run about $900.

I think I'll just opt for 3 2-day passes ($300) and purchase regular express plus. Even at $150 total for the 3 of us per day, over 2 days, it's still about $300 less than staying at a Universal Resort.

Another option to look at is to stay only one night at the Universal resort. When you stay one night, you still get two days of FOTL.

Friday night, stay offsite at an inexpensive hotel.

Saturday morning, check in to the RPR early, around 7:30. Your room probably won't be ready, but you will get your room keys to take to the parks as your FOTL pass.

Stow your luggage with the bellhop and head over to Universal. RPR will call you when your room is ready. You won't have to go back to the front desk, the keys you have will be activated for your room.

On Sunday, check out, give your luggage again to the bellhop, but keep your room keys. Your room keys are good as FOTL passes until park closing. When you are ready to head over to Animal Kingdom, just go collect your luggage and head over there.

So, for the price of one night's lodging, you get the 2 days of unlimited express for up to 5 people registered in the room (or 3 in a king room).

 

[Tink_Kel]

Another option to look at is to stay only one night at the Universal resort. When you stay one night, you still get two days of FOTL.

Friday night, stay offsite at an inexpensive hotel.

Saturday morning, check in to the RPR early, around 7:30. Your room probably won't be ready, but you will get your room keys to take to the parks as your FOTL pass.

Ditto!!

Or better yet, do it at the END of your Disney trip...check out early enough to check into a US resort & get your keys, and then hit the parks when they open....still get 2 days worth US/IOA. Also, the lines are more tolerable at Disney, if you do US/IOA last. If you do US/IOA first, you spend all your time at Disney wishing you didn't have those long lines to wait in!

 

[minniejack]

Don't forget you are probably looking at rack rate. Check for supersaver rates and AAA rates which some posts say are already posted. Will considerably drop the rate of your hotel stay.

 

[Metro West]

I would hold off on the Express passes until you get into the parks and see what the lines are like. If you get there about 8am so you're there the minute the park opens you can make it through the major rides before the lines back up. If you like to sleep in until 10-11am and wander over the passes make more sense but in Orlando the early bird catches the rides.

 

[stephaniebatesjones]

Don't forget you are probably looking at rack rate. Check for supersaver rates and AAA rates which some posts say are already posted. Will considerably drop the rate of your hotel stay.

How do you check for the AAA rates and the Super Saver rates? I tried to go to the AAA web site and could not find it. Do I call the hotel, do I call universal adventures, do I call AAA? PLEASE HELP....I'M SO CONFUSED.
How can I find out if the rates are out for july 2009?

 

[Metro West]

How do you check for the AAA rates and the Super Saver rates? I tried to go to the AAA web site and could not find it. Do I call the hotel, do I call universal adventures, do I call AAA? PLEASE HELP....I'M SO CONFUSED.
How can I find out if the rates are out for july 2009?

You might want to call the hotel directly and ask them. That's a good starting point.

 

[pixeegrl]

You can book at regular rate now and then keep checking and change your reservation as needed. I started out in March for this December with a Super Saver rate of $259. In May AAA rate dropped to $226-went with it and just recently APH(annual passholder) went down to $144 a night. That's a significant difference from my original price! I only needed to upgrade one of my tickets to an APH to get the discount. Just keep checking.

 

[SD20450]

So they will let you upgrade already purchased gate passes (purchased on-line from universal)? That would be a great option. Nancy

 

[re121258]

So they will let you upgrade already purchased gate passes (purchased on-line from universal)? That would be a great option. Nancy

Yes. I was able to do this. I had purchased two 2park unlimited tickets online and then called and converted one to a preferred annual pass so I could take advantage of a APH room rate. I called the online ticket number and they were able to credit me for my 1 original ticket and re-charged me for the AP.

 

[SD20450]

Thank you- we can now afford to get a room on-site. I am so thrilled. nancy

 

[Metro West]

Thank you- we can now afford to get a room on-site. I am so thrilled. nancy

 

[pixeegrl]

when I did it they didn't refund me anything but charged an additional $85 to upgrade my ticket.