Another one of those Questions....

[avic77]

I know this is asked a thousand times on here and here I go asking it as well but I need the experts' advice.

We are going to Universal April 26th-May1st staying offsite. We are on a budget and have a family of 6 (which will not fit in one of the onsite rooms) so we are staying in a 2 room condo unit.

So we are going the week between the Grad night weekends but will not actually be there on the weekends (we will be in the parks mon-thurs). Should I book onsite for 1 night (most likely monday night) to have FOTL for 5of us for 2 days? This will add an extra $300 to our trip and if it isnt going to be really crowded then I would prefer NOT to have the added expense.

 

[macraven]

I know this is asked a thousand times on here and here I go asking it as well but I need the experts' advice.

We are going to Universal April 26th-May1st staying offsite. We are on a budget and have a family of 6 (which will not fit in one of the onsite rooms) so we are staying in a 2 room condo unit.

So we are going the week between the Grad night weekends but will not actually be there on the weekends (we will be in the parks mon-thurs). Should I book onsite for 1 night (most likely monday night) to have FOTL for 5of us for 2 days? This will add an extra $300 to our trip and if it isnt going to be really crowded then I would prefer NOT to have the added expense.

Vic, go look at the calendar and see what the price of the epp are listed as.
but do recheck that price a few times before you make a final decision.
there have been a few times that the prices of the epp have changed later.

If the epp is at $19.99, that is an indicator of a low crowd day.
when it is at $25, not large crowds.
when it rises to the higher numbers, it means universal believes it will have crowds in the parks.

the epp price is always the highest when there are crowds as people will pay that premium price.

if the price of the epp's are at $25 each on the day you want to go, times that by 5.
$125 for one day to go on each ride only once.

if you stay on site, just renting the room in your case, you get fotl free for 2 days. the day you rent the room and the day you check out of the room.

that would be $250 for 2 days of epp if buying separately.
anything over the $25 charge for the epp's would make the room cost offset the epp costs.

if the rooms are at $300 for your time period, that is high.
is that for the cheapest standard room at RPH?


if it were me, i would do the one night room rental.
you can use it to take a break during the day or late evening to rest before you drive back to your rented place off site.


it would be more fun for your group to do repeat rides without the long waits in line.

now, if you check the epp prices for your dates, check all the dates in the period that you could be there. choose the night on site to book based on the day that has the highest epp rate.


i hope this makes sense to you.
if it doesn't, let me know and i'll rephrase it.


came back to add, if you bought the epp for all in your group, times the base epp by 6. doing that, the room cost would offset the epp prices.

 

[Jonny_Duck]

I know this is asked a thousand times on here and here I go asking it as well but I need the experts' advice.

We are going to Universal April 26th-May1st staying offsite. We are on a budget and have a family of 6 (which will not fit in one of the onsite rooms) so we are staying in a 2 room condo unit.

So we are going the week between the Grad night weekends but will not actually be there on the weekends (we will be in the parks mon-thurs). Should I book onsite for 1 night (most likely monday night) to have FOTL for 5of us for 2 days? This will add an extra $300 to our trip and if it isnt going to be really crowded then I would prefer NOT to have the added expense.

Like mac said I would be checking the price of the ep to see if its worth it to you. $300 is a lot of money esp just for express but imo it is nice to have. I personally wouldnt do it the beginning of trip cuz then you have 2 days w/o it and will miss it.

I just punched in some dates. I would say and rpr only has club lvl for that first monday which was over $400. It was I believe $370 for the 30-1st. Hard Rock is $344 for that monday. I get $324 for RPR the 29-30th. $314 for first Monday with AP. $244 for a water view room on 30th-1st with AP. Do you have your tickets yet? Might be worth it for one person to get an AP and get that discount plus you get free parking from it if your driving to park from the condo.

With the time you have its a toss up rly imo which would be better off. I think with gettin there at park opening for the days you have I think you can finish off the parks nicely depending on if they keep doing these cutbacks or if they will be at full capacity when you go. Best budget way to do it probably would be to go for your 3-4 days and at that time you can judge if you want to pay $100 or so for the EP on your last day. Some in your group may of had the fill and not need it.

Hope it helps, Enjoy your trip!

 

[pixeegrl]

I just wanted to bring up the point that because the rooms are only allowed 5 people you will only have FOTL for 5. If that is not a problem then go for it if you see that crowd levels are expected to be high. I have read on here somewhere that someone onced asked for an extra key and it was given to them but that is way out of the norm....I wouldn't expect it. Whatever you decide...have fun.

 

[Gingernut]

Sorry to but in on this, but exactly where do I find the calendar with the epp prices?
Thanks

 

[ky07]

Sorry to but in on this, but exactly where do I find the calendar with the epp prices?
Thanks

You can go to Universalorlando.com and click on tickets and then scoll down and you will see express passes and when you click on that look at the calander for your dates and it will tell you how much they cost

 

[Darcy03231]

It may be crowded that week. Its a school vacation week here in the northeast. I know our schools are off that week.

 

[Gingernut]

Thanks kyo7 for the info

 

[ky07]

Thanks kyo7 for the info

Your very welcome and feel free to ask questions I love to help

 

[macraven]

https://secure.universalstudios.com...alID=UOMain&CategoryExternalID=UO2ParkUEPLive

that is the calendar site.

right now it shows April 26-30 $25.99 pp for the 2 park 1 day epp
may 1st is $30.99 for the 2 park, 1 day epp per person

plus tax to the above amounts.


If you have the AAA membership card, check to see what the cheapest rate would be for the onsite hotels.

in my area a one year membership costs $40.
the card does pay for itself.
you can use it to buy discounted tickets, get discounts on the rooms or any place along your way at a hotel that honors AAA, 10% discount in the parks and some of city walk for food and merch discounts.


i don't know what to tell you on crowd levels for those days.

if the epp was at the lowest costs, i would judge it better.

another poster stated that week is break from schools in her area.

i just don't know how to advise you on should you buy the epp in advance or wait until you are in the park to judge the line waits yourself.

and the issue of booking a room.
if you need epp for the family, room rental for one night would be to your advantage based on the costs of the epp for 2 parks on a day.

 

[macraven]

i did find a standard room at rph for $244/ $280.13 with tax for april 28 check in and check out for the 29th.


i know you won't be sleeping in the room but that amount is cheaper than buying 2 separate days of 2 park epps each day.


the epp would cost about $227. (est) each day you bought them.
if you bought 6 epp for both parks for 2 separate days, april 28 & 29, you would be paying about $454 for the epps

compare that to a one night room cost at $280.13, you would come out ahead.

If you had the ap or the aaa card, and if there are any discounts available, you could knock off some decent bucks on that above room cost quote. that cost i found was rack rate.

 

[Jonny_Duck]

i did find a standard room at rph for $244/ $280.13 with tax for april 28 check in and check out for the 29th.


i know you won't be sleeping in the room but that amount is cheaper than buying 2 separate days of 2 park epps each day.


the epp would cost about $227. (est) each day you bought them.
if you bought 6 epp for both parks for 2 separate days, april 28 & 29, you would be paying about $454 for the epps

compare that to a one night room cost at $280.13, you would come out ahead.

If you had the ap or the aaa card, and if there are any discounts available, you could knock off some decent bucks on that above room cost quote. that cost i found was rack rate.

Good deal there... Just curious did you type in 5 ppl I believe they charge ya 20 a person so would be more like 287 or so if ya didnt. But if you can get it for 227 that wouldnt be bad at all imo and definately better then bought EP.

 

[macraven]

Good deal there... Just curious did you type in 5 ppl I believe they charge ya 20 a person so would be more like 287 or so if ya didnt. But if you can get it for 227 that wouldnt be bad at all imo and definately better then bought EP.

i just put in the adults.
the family can list the kids names and bd when they check in.
since they have 4 kids, they can decide how they want to list the children.

no, the standard rooms are for 5 people.
fire code regulations determines that number.
if a person has a king suite, then only 3 allowed in the room for over night.


if a room is $245 a night, that covers all 5 people.
if a family has any child 18 or over, then there would be an additional $25 charge per night for an "additional adult" in the room.

the basic room charges that you see on the booking sites are for 2 adults and 3 kids.
whenever you have more than 2 adults in the room, there is that $25 per night charge.

it can add up if you have 4 adults in the room as you would be tagged with an additional $50 for the 2 extra adults.



you wouldn't believe how many parents have kids that are age 17 for 2 years straight.......hahahaha

 

[avic77]

Yea I got like $287. When I looked up the Epp it was the lowest rate (one park one day) if it truely will not be crowded I think we can handle NOT haveing the Epp. Im just concerned if it actually turns out crowded we might be stuck becuase I know DH will not buy the EPP at the park.

 

[Lukas87]

Personally, I do not think the lines at that time of year will be long enough to justify purchasing UEP or a hotel room. Just imo... Especially if you are staying multi-day and not in a huge rush.