Choosing tickets + more dumb questions

[dmaxphil]

Hi folks,

It's been 14 years (I think) since I've been to IOA/Universal. Wife and I are taking a quick trip in May without kids. We scored a crazy good deal at Wyndam Bonnet Creek, so we're trying that out for the first time.

Technically we are staying 4 nights, but our flight's arriving at 10pm on a Saturday and leaving around 6am on Wednesday. So we really only have 3 park days. We are Disney AP holders and plan on spending some time in Disney parks. We will have a car.

Questions:

Choosing a 1 vs 2 day ticket... Having never been, DW is uncertain about spending the extra $$ on 2 days. She says she just wants to see HP, but she loves thrill rides. Is it possible to purchase a 1 day - 2 park ticket and upgrade to a 2 day - 2 park before the end of the day?

Also, It's $95 w/tax per person for unlimited express pass during our stay - $191 for the 2 of us for 1 day.

This has me debating booking RPR for 1 night if there is a good chance we might spend more than 1 day there.

WWYD

Also - Anyone been May 20-24? What type of crowds should I expect?

 

[HM]

My DD and I are going the days you are planning.
I don't think the crowds will be too bad. Most schools are still in session until the weekend. I saw one repor that had them 7/10 crowds those days.

I can't really help with the rest, as I personally don't mix my Universal and Disney vacations. It's so much less expensive to just do one or the other in a trip since daily tickets amounts get cheaper the more days you add. Last year we did WDW, this year Universal.

 

[kohlby]

We stayed at Wyndham Bonnet Creek for the first time this past October. We loved it! It's one of our favorite places now!

I'd plan on two Universal park days. You haven't been for 14 years AND you're without kids!! You can do a favorite thrill ride five times in a row if you want. You can kick back and relax and not worry about the kids. You can upgrade while there, so that is an option if she's not so sure.

RPR is a great hotel - we've stayed there many times. However, since you're without kids, it would be really easy to make use of single rider lines if you find crowds are higher than expected. You can't go wrong staying at RPR unless you're trying super hard to save money. Also, staying there gets you the early extra hour which is nice - both for crowds and the heat. The HP areas get crowded for walking around even on moderate crowd days. However, between crowds not being at summer levels quite yet and being able to do single rider line, I'd think it would be pretty easy to do it without express.

 

[Robo56]

Like Kohlby noted above. I would also do the 2 park days. This will a be more enjoyable experience.

We will be there during the time you are there. Every year we go about the same time in May for a extended stay. Every year for the last three years we have seen the increase in crowds during our time there. Last year was the busiest yet. Weekends are busier.

We always stay onsite at one of the deluxe hotels. We are spoiled with the early park entry as well as the Unlimited Express included in your stay.

As Kohlby said above RPR is beautiful. Might be worth having a stay there as you get Unlimited Express included on the day you check in day and check out day. Would cover your 2 days in the park if you decide to go that route.

Suggestion: Lunch at Mytho's in IOA

If you have anymore questions just ask. Someone will jump in and help.

Have a great trip

 

[dmaxphil]

Thanks for the help.. One question that remains is - if we purchase a 1 day ticket and decide another day is required, can we upgrade in the park during that day - or is it too late at that point?

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks for the help.. One question that remains is - if we purchase a 1 day ticket and decide another day is required, can we upgrade in the park during that day - or is it too late at that point?

Just like at Disney, you can upgrade if you're still in the park on that day.

 

[dmaxphil]

Just to follow up. Wife and I had an absolutely awesome trip. We spent 4 nights at WBC (late arrival and early morning departure) but spent 1 night in the middle at Portofino Bay. Ended up buying APs. Some thoughts.

We rode more rides with express pass in 1.5 days at Universal/IoA then we could've accomplished in our typical 9 day Disney trip. If we put together a top 5 list of favorite rides we experienced - they would all be at Universal/IoA.

We did a half day at MK, a half at Hollywood, a couple of hours at Epcot and 1.5 days at Universal. Universal's theming and cleanliness seemed at least on par with what we've come to expect from Disney. We were pleasantly surprised. Staff was absolutely awesome. Our only issues were rude/unpleasant teens - but you find them everywhere.

You would need at least a full day to experience all of HP, IMO. We didn't really get to explore that area as long as we would have liked.

The parking fee at Portofino is nuts, but I knew that going in. $55 to park for 1.5 days. We parked before checking in, so maybe I screwed up there. Maybe it would've just been one day had we parked using the room key. The fact that they'll validate for eating a meal but not for a hotel stay sort of had me scratching my head. Will just taxi/uber from airport next time.

I'm still not sure how I feel about the hotel itself. Very nice, but just maybe not what I was expecting. They completely shut the boats down due to rain one night, so the long walk on tired feet wasn't the best way to end things.

This was the perfect weekend type getaway for DW and I without the kids - and we plan on going back at least 2-3 more times before our passes expire. Thanks for all your help.

 

[macraven]

Hotel parking is $22+ tax per night
Makes it $23.xx total

Charges go in at midnight
If you leave the second day from the hotel you would have a one day charge

If you check out and leave after midnight then you would have a two parking fee

Contact the hotel if there was an overcharge

That happened to me
Noticed final charges showed an extra night

They did give me a credit back in my cc but did not get processed until
My second billing cycle

Aggravating policy on when water taxis shut down
When lightening is 5 miles out, boats stop running

Came back to say maybe it is 10? miles out ??

Dmaxphil sounds like it was a fun vacation for you at UO

Enjoy those AP's

 

[wookiebeck]

Sounds like a definite mistake on the parking fees. Try doing what mac said to get a refund.

At WDW resorts, parking is 'free', but that just means that the cost of parking is included in everyone's room rate. Uni's hotels cost less on the whole and you have to pay a little extra if you have your own car. No biggie if you know it is coming ahead of time and can include it in your budgeting.

 

[pcstang]

Hotel parking is $22+ tax per night
Makes it $23.xx total

Charges go in at midnight
If you leave the second day from the hotel you would have a one day charge

If you check out and leave after midnight then you would have a two parking fee

Contact the hotel if there was an overcharge

That happened to me
Noticed final charges showed an extra night

They did give me a credit back in my cc but did not get processed until
My second billing cycle

Aggravating policy on when water taxis shut down
When lightening is 5 miles out, boats stop running

Came back to say maybe it is 10? miles out ??

Dmaxphil sounds like it was a fun vacation for you at UO

Enjoy those AP's

you are correct, its 5 miles out. Dmaxphil, definitely call and get the parking charge corrected. It will be no problem at all.

 

[FlipHipster]

For parking I learned from valet that you can self park before checkin, get your parking ticket and throw it away. After checking in use your room key to get out of the parking lot. Worked for us at RPR and CB last week.

 

[dmaxphil]

For parking I learned from valet that you can self park before checkin, get your parking ticket and throw it away. After checking in use your room key to get out of the parking lot. Worked for us at RPR and CB last week.

That's what the guy behind the desk said when we arrived as we had already self parked. Swiping the room key did nothing, so we used the ticket and paid the $55 to raise the gate. Just noticed an additional 23.75 charged to us from the hotel which I'm guessing is from my swipe? I'll definitely call.

Thanks again guys. Parking issues aside, this was one of the better trip experiences we've ever had. This was actually our first trip without kids in 8 years - so it was needed.