Cabana Bay and Express Pass

[disny_luvr]

We are in the very early stages of planning a short, three night trip to Universal next June. Since it’s a short trip and summer, I think getting the Express Pass would be best. I see if we stay at a premium hotel the Express Pass is included, but we love the look of Cabana Bay and we’d like to stay there. Does it make financial sense to stay at Cabana Bay and buy Express Pass or should we just stay at a premium hotel where it’s included? I priced out our dates last night and it looks like we’d be paying around $800 (I can’t remember the exact amount) for three nights, but the premium hotels were much, much more, so unless I’m not understanding something it would be cheaper to stay at Cabana Bay and pay separately for Express Pass.

Thanks for any help!

 

[emonade8]

It depends on many factors. How many in your travel party? Would you want express pass for all 3 days? Do you want unlimited express or are you ok with using it once per ride? There's really no way to know if it's cheaper except to price out the express pass for your dates.

 

[Mle8308]

We are in the very early stages of planning a short, three night trip to Universal next June. Since it’s a short trip and summer, I think getting the Express Pass would be best. I see if we stay at a premium hotel the Express Pass is included, but we love the look of Cabana Bay and we’d like to stay there. Does it make financial sense to stay at Cabana Bay and buy Express Pass or should we just stay at a premium hotel where it’s included? I priced out our dates last night and it looks like we’d be paying around $800 (I can’t remember the exact amount) for three nights, but the premium hotels were much, much more, so unless I’m not understanding something it would be cheaper to stay at Cabana Bay and pay separately for Express Pass.

Thanks for any help!

How much are they charging for express pass for your dates? That should help your decision. Or stay at a deluxe for one night, you will get the express pass for both your check in and check out day. Move to CB after.

 

[AJA]

The Express Pass could be $80ish per person up to over $200 each person per day. It depends on crowds and supply/demand.

If you only want to purchase Express one day if really needed then Cabana Bay would probably be cheaper. If you would like to have it all three days, then the Deluxe resorts would be better.

If you really need Express in June would depend on how early you know your family is going to get into the parks. Even on vacation we are all early birds (up at 5am) and everyone in our family is ok using single rider lines if available.

Three days is plenty of time to do everything at Universal without Express but you will need to plan and be willing to be there at rope drop.

 

[macraven]

Stay at the premier hotel first night and you will get free EP on your check in and check out days

show your room key to get that benefit in the parks when you relocate to one of the cheaper hotels on day 2

move to the lower end hotels on day 2

keep your prior hotel room key as it will allow you unlimited EP access day you check in to the lower cost hotel

You get two days of free ep
Your 3rd day in the park it will be back to line waits in the regular lines

 

[DizKids2]

When deciding for our family I looked up how much express pass would be for our dates - there are 4 of us and it was still less expensive to pay for a premiere resort. If you have a smaller party, it may calculate out differently.
I also prefer the premier resorts, so for us it was an easy decision. Our next trip we are doing a value resort for our first two nights (late arrival night one) and then a couple nights at a premier for the express pass.

 

[isabellea]

We booked 2 nights at RPR to get 3 days of EP and then we will move to CB for our last night. I'm sure my youngest will be thrilled to spend some time there since I expect her to be done with rides by day 3. We are also leaving early the next morning to drive back home so we won't need the EP.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I can make reservations up to 10/30 but not beyond for holiday Trip ?

Has anybody had success for December?

 

[isabellea]

I booked RPR and Cabana Bay for first week of January 2023.

 

[DL1WDW2]

Good to know .
What was the rate for Cabana Bay and room type ?
Imthinking about just calling .

 

[Sue M]

If there are 4 of you my guess staying at one of the Top 3 resorts that include express will be cheapest. But you’d have to do the math for your dates.
Another benefit of the deluxe is boat service where you go thru security rather than bussing from the value resorts and having to go thru the main security at city walk with all the off site people. And larger rooms. I have stayed at CB for a night when airline changed my flight and I liked it, but not if there was 4 people in the room! And rooms are pretty basic.

 

[disny_luvr]

OP here. Thank you everyone! I have to run the numbers, but thanks for suggesting to stay at a premium hotel to get EP and then moving over to Cabana Bay for our last night. Lots to think about.

 

[UOAP-Naples]

OP here. Thank you everyone! I have to run the numbers, but thanks for suggesting to stay at a premium hotel to get EP and then moving over to Cabana Bay for our last night. Lots to think about.

The express passes in June will probably be around $200 per person per day.

 

[disny_luvr]

The express passes in June will probably be around $200 per person per day.

Good to know. If that’s the case, we’ll probably go with a premiere hotel our first two nights. Which premiere hotel does everyone like the most? Is transferring luggage from one Universal hotel to another pretty easy and similar to Disney? We won’t have a car. TIA!