1st Universal Trip. Best places to stay?

[calablovedisney]

I have found the disboards to be so helpful in planning my Disney vacations. and now we are hoping to plan Universal for next June. I don't know where to start. I am hoping for a little help with where to stay. Is a Universal resort best to get some perks? and which resorts are the ones that give perks and what are the perks? I think I heard you get a type of fastpass? Any recommendations as to where to stay and best ways to get discounts? thanks so much!

 

[Meetmeinmontauk]

I've never stayed at a Universal resort but I know you get to visit the WWoHP 1 hour earlier than the general public. I'm pretty sure you also get front of the line passes for the rides *excluding some.

 

[macraven]

until the hotels went up in 1999, i stayed off site.
it was time consuming to take any breaks from the park to return to the offsite hotel.

once the hotels were built, i only stay onsite.

it is so convinient to be able to walk from the hotel to the parks or city walk.

the hotel perks are well worth it.

you are allowed to the unlimited usage of the express lines for the rides and shows.
you have that perk for the day you check in and the entire day you check out until the park closes that night.

 

[damo]

To us, staying onsite is absolutely the best. Not only are the hotels beautiful and oh so convenient, they also give you early admission EVERY DAY to both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, and also unlimited express pass access to all rides except three. This is like having a magic fastpass that lets you go into every fastpass line whenever you want. It is a huge bonus and makes your vacation very sweet!

Two of the rides that don't allow you express pass access are available to you in the early admission time with the other onsite people. It is like having express for the first hour of the day.

And make sure you noticed what mac said, about these perks being available for two full days with every night's accommodations.

 

[Momw/aplan]

The three official onsite hotels are:

Loews Royal Pacific Resort- http://www.loewshotels.com/specials/Royal-Pacific-Resort

Hard Rock Hotel- http://www.hardrockhotelorlando.com/

Loews Portofino Bay- http://www.loewshotels.com/Portofino-Bay-Hotel

PB is typically the most expensive and RPR the least (though it is still a breathtaking beautiful luxury resort). None of the resorts are inexpensive exactly, but I feel they are well worth the money. Take a look at all three and see which best fits your taste and budget.

All three are within walking distance of Citiwalk and both parks. All three give you early entry to Wizarding World as well as unlimited Express Pass (vs. if you stay offsite and purchase Express Pass separately which only allows you express entry to each of the qualifying rides 1x per day. Onsite EP lets you in as many times as you want all day each day of your stay including the day you check out.) There are only 3 (maybe 4?) rides that don't accept EP-- Harry Potter's Forbidden Journey, Pteranadon Flyers (which you must have kid BELOW a certain height with you in order to ride), and Rip Ride Rocket at Universal Studios. (I'm not sure about the new Minion Mayhem at US. But I'm sure someone else here can tell you that.)

You typically get the best deal on the onsite resorts by booking directly through each hotel's website, rather than purchasing a package deal through Universal. If you have AAA, they typically offer discounts for that, PLUS you can get 10% off at most of the eating places & gift shops within the parks by showing your AAA card. There are also the Stay More Save More (SMSM) rates at the hotels which give you cheaper rates per day the longer you stay.

Offsite "partner" hotels do exist, and can be found through Universal's website. I have never stayed at one, but my understanding is while they do offer some perks like early entry, they do not give you Unlimited Express Pass. If you go during an off season you may not need Unlimited EP and you may find the "partner" prices more to your liking, but I personally cannot image staying anywhere but onsite. June is NOT off season, so EP, to me, would be priceless.

 

[glocon]

You know how a Disney vacation is different if you stay offsite vs on? Same with UO. It is just a very different vacation if you stay offsite. You feel bathed in luxury as well as feel so much less rushed when you stay onsite.
Hope you have a great time!

 

[rthib]

If you are going during peak time, staying onsite is worth it.
We have a timeshare and still spent one night onsite just for the perks (using AP discount).

The difference in time is immense.
Getting in to WWHP early vs waiting in line, in the sun for hours is worth the price.
Plus the Express Pass.

We bought an AP for my daughter and then used other discounts for rest of family,
One person with AP gets you hotel discount, food discount and free parking.
Makes the AP a good deal.

If Hotel is too expensive for entire trip, I still recommend one night.
You get two days early into park (You can get pass morning of check-in, even before official check-in time).

 

[bopper]

We just went in very late August (around Hurricane Isaac time) and truly we did not need the express pass. But if there is any type of crowds at all it is so delightful to whisk pass the minions in line!!

 

[JessicaR]

We just went in very late August (around Hurricane Isaac time) and truly we did not need the express pass. But if there is any type of crowds at all it is so delightful to whisk pass the minions in line!!

I enjoy the on-site hotels so much I would stay at them w/o express. I know some just stay at them for express. When we go off season and the lines are low we still use express to avoid walking through the queue. We'll be there in a couple of weeks wondering what the minion level will be.

 

[heidijanesmith]

Stay on site!!

We stayed PBH the first time and thought it was ok.

This time we stayed at HRH, much more to my teens liking. The pool was awesome, bands, movies and a "hipper" vibe. It was also very, very close to US, only about a 3min walk from the pool path.

Hour entry into WWoHP is totally worth it, unlimited express pass makes the onsite costs worth it for sure. Regular lines were 120min, express line 0-1min.

We will only stay onsite for US, the perks and proximity makes it worth every penny to us.

 

[Piglet99645]

You've all convinced me!