can you help a Brit?

[scojos]

HELLO EVERYONE, IM NEW HERE....
But would really appreciate some help, we came to USF in 2004, so know a little and I guess what to expect, but am very confused about AP and power passes and FOTL, its very difficult for me
The question is, if I buy an annual pass can I then use it to buy the 99dollar kids come free passes, and will I get the discount?
Or should I book for one night in 1 universal hotel to get the FOTL passes, would we get those for the day we booked in and the day we booked out, or just when we had the room key which i suppose is midday to midday? Its going to cost us Lots of money to buy express plus passes for 2 adults and 3 kids, so i just wondered, do the kids need express pluses, or can we just drag them with us?
We are going the third week of August, so are american schools in or out at that time, I have so many questions I understand disney more, and the people on the disney bit have been really informative, so I hope that you lot can help me out too...

thanks tracy
xx
ps How do I organise a meal with cat in the hat as my daughter just loves him, and how far in advance can I book?

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Welcome! I will try to be helpful.

You cannot use the AP to get a discount on the $99 bonus tickets.

You can use the FOTL with your hotel key for the full day when you check in, and the full day when you check out. You can check in before your room is ready--I have checked in at 7:30 AM in the past. You get to keep your key when you check out and use it until the parks close.

If you buy the express passes everyone will need one--kids included. I would definately go with the hotel rather then the passes. With the room key you can ride multiple times, with the express passes, only once. I would also consider more than one night--especially if you do get the 5 day bonus tickets.

Third week of August--many of the Southern schools are likely to be back in session by then. Many Northern schools do not go back until after Labor Day (Early Sept.)

I think the Cat in the Hat is one of the characters that show up at the Confisco character breakfast at Islands of Adventure. That breakfast is Thurs-Sun mornings. I do not know hhow far in advance you can reserve for that.

 

[robvia]

Welcome aboard. You'll have plenty of time to figure it all out.

In the 3rd week of August, most kids are back in school. There will still be some crowds, but much better than July and the 1st week of August, which is the most busy time.

It's still a good idea to stay onsite and have FOTL since you are flying in from the UK. For the Americans, I tell them to rent a car and stay off site to save money. The RPR is the lowest priced resort. Check the hotel forum here for info about what rates people are getting.
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=75
Since you don't have an AP yet, you will probably have to pay full price or go with a package deal from the Universal web site. If you have an AAA card, that can save you some money.
You'll want to stay 2 nights so you can relax and take your time. Yes, the hotel costs a lot more money than staying off site, but it's worth it. You can walk to/from the parks in 7 minutes, and you'll "feel" like part of the action. Plus the pools are amazing.

 

[scojos]

I SHOULD SAY THAT WE ARE IN FLORIDA FOR THREE WEEKS AND HAVE BOOKED ANOTHER HOTEL ON 192, THE ONLY REASON WE ARE BOOKING IS TO GET FOTL...
Cant get the internet to accept my dates, as really am not good with computers, three kids of 8 6 3 could we all get in one room? What should the rates be for a one or two night stay august, probably nites of 18 and 19th? Would it be worth buying AP to get discount off room?
sorry for all these questions
tracy

 

[Sylvester McBean]

if you wait one more day until August 20th, the rates drop down to the 'value season' in the resorts.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

if you stayed at the royal pacific on the 21st, you can get a room that sleeps 5 for $179.00 with an annual pass.

 

[robvia]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. The rates drop the 4th week of August because everyone is back in school at that point.

If you are visiting for 3 weeks, you'll have plenty of time to drive up from the hotel on I-192 and visit. The key is to arrive the parking garage at 8am and be first to the gate. If you do this, you can take a lap around the park with very short waits. Around noon, you'll be hot, and the park will be more crowded. Go back to your hotel, and rest. Then come back at 4pm as the tired are leaving.

If you book 1 night at the RPR, then check in at 7am, your room may be ready. When that happens, you can unpack and get settled in. If not, you still get your magic keys (FOTL) and you visit a park until your room is ready. The next day, you check out, and your room key is still active for the entire day.

Either way, it's going to work out great. Just that you'll want to avoid the heat in the afternoon by going back to your hotel to rest.

 

[macraven]

you have 2 adults and 3 kids........
buy two adult get 2 free kid tickets for 99$ covers 5 park days.

make your room ressie with the ap discount.


go to guest services before you check into the hotel and upgrade one adult ticket to an annual pass. you already paid 99$ for the ticket and will have to pay about 80$ to upgrade it to the AP

then check into the hotel to get the discount.

or, check into the hotel with the ap discount. if the front desk tells you you must show the ap or pay rack rate, tell them you will be going to the guest servcies to upgrade to the annual pass. tell them you can return to show them the ap or show them when you return to the room later after spending time in the park.

i know you can buy tickets at the concierge desk in the lobby.
don't know if you can buy the upgrade to a pass there.
i know you can do that at guest services.

the ap gives you various discounts in the parks besides the hotel discount

 

[scojos]

Thankyou so much for your help, but where can I get the rates you are quoting, and dont I have to pay for the room when I reserve, ie how do I get the AP rate?
We leave on the 22nd so yes, rooms on site would make a Fab end to our stay, you are all such knowledgable people thank you for sharing with this dumb brit, Im really not worthy!
tracy
xx

 

[macraven]

call and book your room, tell them you need the ap discount rate.
if they ask for your ap # tell them you are in the process of obtaining it and will have it when you check in.

anyone can make a ressie with the aaa or ap rate. you don't have to have the card to do so. you need the card when you check in.

there was a thread previously asking posters if they had to show their card, aaa/ap when checking in at the hotel. more did not have to show it than did have to show it.

go to the website of universal/hotels or go to loews website to see what the rates are wtih no discount/rack rate, ap, aaa to get an idea of the difference of cost for your dates.