checking in early for express passes and confused about tickets

[renae3]

Hi....we are staying one nite onsite ar RPR to get the express passes. I am getting confused though about how to do everything. What time should we arrive at the hotel? We would check in....but what about tickets? We didn't get them, we booked room only through orbitz. Can we get them at the hotel and also get our express passes there too? I am a bit confused! Also, is the price higher getting them there? I assume we need them to get the express passes? Lastly, should we drive to the park or is there a shuttle? If we drive, do we pay for parking? Sorry for all the questions...I have Disney down, but not Universal! Thanks!

 

[Kivara]

You can buy tickets when you get there (there is a Guest Services outside of each park) but you might do better looking over the options and purchasing ahead of time.
The Express Passes are a perk of the hotels, and you print them at a kiosk in the room just past the front desk. You CAN print express passes w/o park tickets, but you will still need park tickets to enter the parks.
There are a lot of transportation options (none free): shutle, taxi, private car service, rental car, etc. If you drive yourself, the hotels do charge a daily parking fee (around $20,day? we use a privet car service)

How many people are in your group?

You can arrive at the hotel at any time, check in, print out Express passes. If your room is not ready, store your luggage with Bell Servies (near front desk) free of charge until it's ready. Then you are free to enjoy the pool, shops, parks, etc.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

When you check into the hotel, you will go over to a kiosk over to the side of check-in to take a picture and print your express passes. You can get EP, no matter where you buy tickets or whether you already have them at checking. If you are trying to make rope drop, I'd be at the hotel at least an hour ahead to give you time to check-in, get the EP, and travel to the park.

You can buy tickets through Universal's website, when you get there, or 3rd party sellers. I have been able to get good deals through Tickets@Work, accessed through my company. When I do that, I use a kiosk outside the park to pick up these tickets.

 

[georgina]

Hi....we are staying one nite onsite ar RPR to get the express passes. I am getting confused though about how to do everything. What time should we arrive at the hotel? We would check in....but what about tickets? We didn't get them, we booked room only through orbitz. Can we get them at the hotel and also get our express passes there too? I am a bit confused! Also, is the price higher getting them there? I assume we need them to get the express passes? Lastly, should we drive to the park or is there a shuttle? If we drive, do we pay for parking? Sorry for all the questions...I have Disney down, but not Universal! Thanks!

I am going to assume you mean should you drive to the parks once you check in at the RPR. No, you can either walk (takes us about 10 minutes) or take a boat ride to the parks. We always walk because we are too impatient to wait for the boat.

We buy our park tickets ahead of time through Undercover Tourist.