Caribe Royale or Portofino Bay

[jbmgsdmom]

Please Help!!! We are celebrating our DD's 16th birthday with a cruise to the Bahamas July 15th - 19th and then spending her bday July 20th at Harry Potter World. We are flying in from CO so our budget is already getting pushed to it's limits. We are needing to find a place to stay July 19th - July 23rd and are not sure if the extra $1800 is worth it to stay at Portofino. We will have 6 people (2 adults and 4 kids). This is our very first visit to Universal and my daughter is a HUGE Harry Potter Fan. We know July will be crowded and HOT but I'm just not sure if we need the early entry and Fast Pass type ticket.

Can you please give me some guidance? With Caribe Royal, I can get a 2bd villa, rent a cabana for 2 days, and get some extras in our room for $1800 less but I miss out on the early entry and fast pass type ticket. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[RMulieri]

Thats a personal choice.it can be done without staying onsite ,people do it all the time.Keep in mind Summer break is very busy .Right now only IOA has early entry, but I wouldnt be suprised to see the Studios offer it as well once Transformers opens this summer.Personally I would stay onsite ( and Portofino is wonderful).I am all about relaxing on vacation and For us the resort is close enough to walk or a boatride away to go back to the resort and relax if the park or heat gets to us.The express pass perk is fantastic and cuts waits down to almost nothing and the early entry allows you to get wwohp done with minimal waits.Staying onsite means i don't have to plan as much.We use early entry and then go off and do what appeals to us.If you choose to stay offsite,thats fine but you will need to plan more to get the most out of your day.There is no free express pass (fastpass option) other than purchase for dayguests.For a party your size, it would probably be cheaper to just get a room for the resort guest perks.

 

[damo]

I would investigate a package through www.universalorlando.com staying at an off-site villa. At least that way, you would get early admission. I think both parks will be having early admission this summer and that extra hour will at least give you a head start.