Do I really need FOTL

[hollieplus2]

We are going July 26-27, I'm trying to save money and not stay at a universal hotel and not buy the extra passes. Will I really need them? If so I might splurge but I need to know if they are a must for this time of year.

 

[ky07]

We are going July 26-27, I'm trying to save money and not stay at a universal hotel and not buy the extra passes. Will I really need them? If so I might splurge but I need to know if they are a must for this time of year.

The only way not to need it is to be there as soon as they open the gates and try to get in as many rides as you can before it gets busy because that time of year gets very busy and the parks will be packed

 

[rpbert1]

usually still at Universal at thet time every year, and as KY07 said, they are still very busy, getting there early will help, but personally i would pay for the night, as it makes doing the parks more relaxing.

 

[sditty]

We went at that time last year and there is no way I would go without. The lines were really long like 50-90 minutes and it was so hot that especially if you have kids they would be worn out by the time you get through 1-2 rides. Just my two cents.

 

[denisegold]

We will be in Orlando June 16-18, so here is my compromise (because we will only be in Universal/IOA 2 days)- we are staying at a $55 Holiday Inn express the first night (free breakfast), then in the morning driving to RPR, checking in just to get our keys cards (hopefully by 8:30am) and straight to the parks. So RPR was $211 plus tax (AAA rate- had to ask for it). Then the next morning, the key cards are still good all day for the FOTL, but we check out of RPR. I did the math, and 3 express passes and one average hotel was about the same as one night at RPR (at least for our time of the year). I know there is a chance we can see/do everything in 2 days without the FOTL passes, but I just wanted to be sure. HTH!

ps- it will be pretty darn hot when you are there- you really don't want to stand in long lines in that heat!

 

[damo]

We will be in Orlando June 16-18, so here is my compromise (because we will only be in Universal/IOA 2 days)- we are staying at a $55 Holiday Inn express the first night (free breakfast), then in the morning driving to RPR, checking in just to get our keys cards (hopefully by 8:30am) and straight to the parks. So RPR was $211 plus tax (AAA rate- had to ask for it). Then the next morning, the key cards are still good all day for the FOTL, but we check out of RPR. I did the math, and 3 express passes and one average hotel was about the same as one night at RPR (at least for our time of the year). I know there is a chance we can see/do everything in 2 days without the FOTL passes, but I just wanted to be sure. HTH!

ps- it will be pretty darn hot when you are there- you really don't want to stand in long lines in that heat!

Here would be another option. APH rate for RPR for your dates is $149. The aph costs $221 with renewals of $110. You only need one per room. In the long run, you would save quite a bit of money if you intend to come every year.

 

[gatorchinsky]

We just came back from a 2 day trip to US/IOA and did not have FOTL passes. We were there both days at 8:30 a.m. and they opened the parks at 8:45 a.m. We (myself and DS5) did everything we wanted with no waits (but we did not have to do any of the roller coasters). By noon the wait times were around 20-30 minutes, but they were actually less (except for Disaster). This time of year is not as busy as July and I have never gone in July, but I told my husband (who was not at the parks with us) that I would only go again if we stayed on-site.

It will be very hot and humid in July. In fact it was pretty darn hot with high humidity yesterday and I saw lots of kids in line for Disaster (the one ride that took forever) start having meltdowns because they were so hot and this was at 11:00 a.m.

Have a great trip. We had a lot of fun.

 

[shoney]

We aren't budget travelers, but for our trip 2 weeks ago, I was considering not upgrading because I was trying to do this trip for less money (I love to travel so any money saved goes to another trip!). I was over-ruled by the family and we went with the VIP passes. The best thing we ever did, for our family. My kids are very impatient. If they see long wait times, they don't want to ride. When they do like a ride, they ride it over and over...I mean 10 times in a row!

The passes were the best thing. For us, even in shorter wait times. Jaws posted a 15 minute wait time, not so bad. We just walked onto the ride with the VIP passes. We had the 7 day VIP, but only used it 4 days. It was an extra 160 per person, so 40 a day extra. Not that much if you look at it like that.

If you get to the parks early to do the major attractions and do not mind waiting for the others, than you are okay with the traditional passes. If you like to ride the rides multiple times, you may want to consider the upgrade.

We prefer to hit the rides multiple times and then take a long table service lunch.

It is all about preference and how you want to do the parks.

We personally would only stay onsite or upgrade to VIP. The express pass that they sell only gets you on the ride once so that wouldn't do it for us.

Have fun!!!

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Here would be another option. APH rate for RPR for your dates is $149. The aph costs $221 with renewals of $110. You only need one per room. In the long run, you would save quite a bit of money if you intend to come every year.

Do you have to have one APH per room? I was hoping to get one for me, and use it for both our rooms, since we have 5 kids and need the 2nd room.

 

[damo]

Do you have to have one APH per room? I was hoping to get one for me, and use it for both our rooms, since we have 5 kids and need the 2nd room.

I think if there are kids in the other room, you only need one. Please call reservations to make sure.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Thank you, Damo, I'll call and check on that.

 

[damo]

Thank you, Damo, I'll call and check on that.

Other people have talked about it as well as getting more than 2 adults in a suite without paying extra for the adult. When you call be insistent that other people had this deal and have them ask their manager.