DVC and Universal

[bumbershoot]

Silly double post.

 

[DisBuckMan]

I don't do emh at wdw.

If I have access to early hours at Disneyland I use those. If I'm up early at Uni I uses theirs. But I avoid emh parks at wdw. So that's not even a tiny bit of a perk to me!

We all pay to park. We all pay for dme. We all pay for the monorails and buses. We just don't know how much.

I'd rather pay if I have a car and not pay if I don't.

I get that, but that doesn't make it a benefit just because you don't choose to take advantage of it. I quit trying to use EE at Universal, because only 2-3 rides are open during that time, and wait times are oftentimes greater than they are during normal hours. Doesn't mean it's not a benefit.

*ALL* perks are paid for by all guests, not just the ones that use them...at both parks. We all pay for the boats/buses to run at Universal, whether onsite or not. We all pay for the EE payrolls, power, water, etc.

 

[Carey_B]

We stay at Disney and do Universal, we hire a car for the first few days to do all of the non-Disney stuff and Universal is only about 20 minutes away

 

[buzzrelly]

We did a split stay in 2015 between RPR and BLT. We stayed for 3 nights at RPR and then moved over to BLT to start our WDW portion of the trip. We are going back next April and doing the same thing, but staying at HRH this time. We liked staying on-site at UO for the early am EE and the unlimited EP. Plus, we never rent a car so being able to walk back to our resort for some pool time in the middle of the day is important to us.

The link to my 2015 trip report is in my signature.

 

[ppjluvsdvc]

I have been trying to figure out if we can do a split stay. I am not sure that I can bring my self to pay so much for the hotel just to get the extra hour. Does that hour make a huge difference? We would be going the first weekend in March.

 

[buzzrelly]

I have been trying to figure out if we can do a split stay. I am not sure that I can bring my self to pay so much for the hotel just to get the extra hour. Does that hour make a huge difference? We would be going the first weekend in March.

It's not just the extra hour…we need the Express Pass that you get for staying at RPR, HRH or Portofino.

 

[ppjluvsdvc]

Yes but if I am just paying for it, it is still cheaper for me to buy it than to stay at the hotel. I know I could always rent out my DVC points to have some extra $$ to pay for it. I have wanted to try something new so we will have to see.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Yes but if I am just paying for it, it is still cheaper for me to buy it than to stay at the hotel. I know I could always rent out my DVC points to have some extra $$ to pay for it. I have wanted to try something new so we will have to see.

Depends on how many people you've got with you. Looks like getting the express pass during the 1st week in March is $85/per person per day...on top of the price of your ticket. If you're visiting the park for 2 days, you're practically at the break even point with only two people. If you have more people than that, the onsite hotel that offers express pass is far and away the better choice.

 

[DisneyKeepsUsYoung]

We have stayed at SSR and done Universal. I would definitely do it again. The drive was easy. The walk in from the garage is 100 times better than the open parking lot sun at MK. With young kids we find moving hotels very annoying. Once the kids are old enough to enjoy most of the Express pass rides and if they have the desire to ride them, we may consider staying onsite at Universal for that perk. The HP rides have really awesome queues so waiting in those lines isn't bothersome to us if those are your main priorities.
However I can't justify their cash price for a room with a separate sleeping area for the kids when I have DVC. DVC has spoiled me and it's not the same vacation to me if I have to go to sleep at the same times as my kids.

 

[bumbershoot]

I get that, but that doesn't make it a benefit just because you don't choose to take advantage of it

I simply forgot about it. That's all.

I quit trying to use EE at Universal, because only 2-3 rides are open during that time, and wait times are oftentimes greater than they are during normal hours

Well it's Wizarding World. Should be more than 3 rides in Hogsmeade. Sadly just Gringotts and ollivanders in Diagon, because that's all they've got unless EE is im both parks and the train is open both ways. No doubt that's why they have despicable me open!

I've never encountered long waits. First experience with EE involved riding Hippogriff 14 times in a row. With more of the hour left.

Yes but if I am just paying for it, it is still cheaper for me to buy it than to stay at the hotel.

Not always true. One night onsite deluxe gives each guest unlimited express pass for the days of checkin and checkout. Two days of unlimited for each allowed guest. That's hard to beat unless it's a last minute booking at a crazy busy time!

If the price works out you COULD even just book and stop in for room keys and EPs, but not stay.

Oh and as of a day or two ago, express pass works at ALL Wizarding World attractions now.

 

[ppjluvsdvc]

I was quoted a package for 3 people staying at RPR for one night at $1,419 - I think I would rather stay at Portofino but not sure $1,504. If I just buy the tickets it was $815 (I put it in the Universal Ticket website with the correct dates). I know there is always a chance at a discount but my luck doesn't usually work that way. Most discounts that I have seen are also for more than one night. So if I rent out my points for one night 74 points - as we are planning on staying at VGF 2 bedroom I could maybe get $1000. That at least wouldn't make it hurt too bad but we certainly would not be getting a 2 bedroom room for those prices either.

 

[bumbershoot]

I was quoted a package for 3 people staying at RPR for one night at $1,419 - I think I would rather stay at Portofino but not sure $1,504. If I just buy the tickets it was $815 (I put it in the Universal Ticket website with the correct dates). I know there is always a chance at a discount but my luck doesn't usually work that way.

What are your dates? Did you check 3rd party ticket sales like undercovertourist or mapleleaftickets? Though if you're just doing a one day ticket they won't have a discount on those... (I'm not doing the math on that 815 to figure out if it's one or two)

 

[ppjluvsdvc]

Thanks bumbershoot. I have not checked them I will see what I can do. Our dates would be March 3-4, 2018. Two days at the parks.

 

[vbmom40]

My sister and I did universal (RP club level 1 night) and Disney 3 nights. We flew the red eye got to universal at 730am checked into the hotel got our room keys and express passes. We packed our clothes for the day in our back packs so we could go into the public bathroom and change since our room was not ready. We checked our luggage with the Bell services and went up to the club level lounge and had breakfast. Then headed to the parks we were able to do everything several times in 2 days. The next day we did early morning opening, had lunch at Mythos and headed to the Poly at 4pm. We did go back to the club level lounge for all their offerings during the day.

 

[quandrea]

My sister and I did universal (RP club level 1 night) and Disney 3 nights. We flew the red eye got to universal at 730am checked into the hotel got our room keys and express passes. We packed our clothes for the day in our back packs so we could go into the public bathroom and change since our room was not ready. We checked our luggage with the Bell services and went up to the club level lounge and had breakfast. Then headed to the parks we were able to do everything several times in 2 days. The next day we did early morning opening, had lunch at Mythos and headed to the Poly at 4pm. We did go back to the club level lounge for all their offerings during the day.

We are doing this very thing in January. Still hoping for an AP discount.

 

[kniquy]

Should we spend a couple of nights at a Universal hotel or just stay where we own and enjoy?

We are doing a similar trip in April with 7 days at AKV and 3 UO. I toyed with many situations -- stay the whole time at Disney and then uber back and forth to UO, or bouncing to UO for 3 days then back to Disney for the remainder of our trip, and ultimately decided on first part Disney -- intense planning needed for this portion then move over to royal pacific for a 3 nights - with the benefit of the express pass it sold me on staying on property at UO and putting it at the end of our trip makes for a more relaxing end of the trip -- there is little to no planning needed for UO when you have the express pass.

A co-worker recently went for one day - actually paid admission and then added on buying the express pass - for her and 2 kids was about $800 - crazy to pay that, but she thought the unlimited express pass was worth it to skip the lines on a busy day.

When you stay at one of the resorts that offers the express pass you not only get the early admission you also can ride the express pass rides an unlimited amount of times (doesn't include the harry potter rides). So worth it to stay on property at UO especially if you are going to be staying at a busy time.

you could consider renting out your DVC points to help pay for the cost of the UO room