DVC Members going to Universal???

[DisneyStarWisher]

I know, I know, how dare I think of such a concept! But I am thinking about it... My question is is it worth it to save your weekend points so you can stay on-site at Universal (about $259/night) to get their version of FastPass? I'm thinking about staying at Disney and going to Disney, but at the end of my trip, staying at Universal so I can go there for a couple of days, too. Any opinions?

 

[amandaC]

We do it all the time. The Universal front of the line is awesome!
Amanda

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I would say definately do it if you are going to Universal anyway as it is a great way to save points and extend your vacations. Using this strategy allows us to make multiple trips annual by saving on weekend points. We usually stay at HRH but have stayed at all their resorts which are all very nice and well themed but HRH is our favorite. I will be doing this again 2 weeks from now and am staying at HRH Club level 7/19-7/22 (got a great deal) after staying at BWV for 6 nights.

The FOTL access is an incredible feature and allows you to tour the parks at your convenience. You don't need to commando the parks as you will always have a fast pass so to speak by showing your room key.

 

[cruisinalong]

Last year we stayed at the Portofino Bay Hotel for a couple of nights before the Disney stay. It was very nice - the singing in the courtyard at night was great. We were there in the off season so lines were not much of a problem. There was only one ride with a huge line the Pteranodon Flyer. We were told that no one could use the pass on that ride because it was so busy.

Also found that you could buy the same get ahead in the line benefit you received for staying on site at Universal for $10.

 

[edk35]

I would say definately do it if you are going to Universal anyway as it is a great way to save points and extend your vacations. Using this strategy allows us to make multiple trips annual by saving on weekend points. We usually stay at HRH but have stayed at all their resorts which are all very nice and well themed but HRH is our favorite. I will be doing this again 2 weeks from now and am staying at HRH Club level 7/19-7/22 (got a great deal) after staying at BWV for 6 nights.

The FOTL access is an incredible feature and allows you to tour the parks at your convenience. You don't need to commando the parks as you will always have a fast pass so to speak by showing your room key.

Can you use that fast pass type thingie to ride the same ride twice? I heard it was once per ride? Is that right?

 

[Laurabearz]

Can you use that fast pass type thingie to ride the same ride twice? I heard it was once per ride? Is that right?

Universal offers Three "fast pass TYPE things" First is Universal Express, which you pay for, and allows you express entry to every ride ONCE.

Then there is the Front of the Line Perk for being an onsite guest. Which is unlimited park open to park close.

The third is their Preimium Annual Pass, which offers unlimited FOTL after 4 pm.

 

[loribell]

Staying onsite at Universal is the only way to go. We do it all the time.

Can you use that fast pass type thingie to ride the same ride twice? I heard it was once per ride? Is that right?

There may be times every once in a while if crowds are horrendous that you are limited to once per ride before 3 or 4 in the afternoon, after that point it would be unlimited. However I have never been when they have been limiting the pass and we are normally there for the peak summer crowds.

 

[edk35]

Universal offers Three "fast pass TYPE things" First is Universal Express, which you pay for, and allows you express entry to every ride ONCE.

Then there is the Front of the Line Perk for being an onsite guest. Which is unlimited park open to park close.

The third is their Preimium Annual Pass, which offers unlimited FOTL after 4 pm.

Very cool....so I am assuming they are like Disney fast passes in that you still wait but not as long??

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

Can you use that fast pass type thingie to ride the same ride twice? I heard it was once per ride? Is that right?

If you purchase FOTL access upgrades ($20/person/day) at the park then you are limited to once per ride per day and are given a card which gets marked when you entr the line. If you are staying on-site and using your key as the FOTL access there is no limit to the amount of times you can use FOTL access per ride.

 

[saratogagirl]

we will be doing this at Christmas, Friday and Saturday night at The Royal Pacific, it will be our first time staying at a Universal Hotel. We paid £228, so about $460 for the two nights, very excited

 

[LOLA2]

Very cool....so I am assuming they are like Disney fast passes in that you still wait but not as long??

If you stay on site, you use your room key to get front of the line. No need
to run around collecting passes and coming back at certain times like at Disney. Just go anytime you want to the Express line for the attraction , show them your room key and on you go as many times as you want in a row. (you must re-enter line though). I don't think the lines for the express are anything like Disney fastfasses. Universal is much shorter. 0-10 minute longest wait.

We always stay two nights, friday and Saturday (since those are the most points at Disney). Definately do last so you are not spoiled by express, hard to do Disney lines after that. We have done all three hotels and found royal Carribean to be the nicest, most tropical feel to it. If you have teenagers Hard Rock would be great. Portofino is also nice but not as good for kids.

Remember your room key is good for express pass the entire day of check in and the entire day of check out. So even if your room is not ready at 10:00a.m. go check in and get your room keys and head to the park.

Another great thing about Universal is no buses - water taxis from all three hotels plis Royal Pacific is 5 minute walk along lovely shaded trail.

 

[Laurabearz]

If you purchase FOTL access upgrades ($20/person/day) at the park then you are limited to once per ride per day and are given a card which gets marked when you entr the line. If you are staying on-site and using your key as the FOTL access there is no limit to the amount of times you can use FOTL access per ride.

The Express pass can be MORE than $20 per person per day and the cost of it changes daily (weekends being more than weekdays)

Our normal vacation we start off the weekend at Hard Rock Hotel, then switch over to DVC... but with the new booking system we will be starting our trip at DVC and ending at HRH lol

 

[loribell]

If you purchase FOTL access upgrades ($20/person/day) at the park then you are limited to once per ride per day and are given a card which gets marked when you entr the line. If you are staying on-site and using your key as the FOTL access there is no limit to the amount of times you can use FOTL access per ride.

Just to clarify; the Express Pass you buy can be anywhere from $15/day or so up to $50+/day. It is priced based on what they think the attendance at the parks is going to be on any given day.

I would say probably 95% of the time your room key is unlimited all day but there is a slight chance they will limit it. As I said before it has never happened when I was there but there were reports that it happened last week.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I would say probably 95% of the time your room key is unlimited all day but there is a slight chance they will limit it. As I said before it has never happened when I was there but there were reports that it happened last week.

They are certainly not going to mark your room key so I am curious what method they would use to identify who has and hasnt used their single use on that day or not from their room key. Anyone know?

 

[isyt]

They are certainly not going to mark your room key so I am curious what method they would use to identify who has and hasnt used their single use on that day or not from their room key. Anyone know?

Last year or the year before they were swiping room keys in a scanner thing and mentioned that we could only ride once with in 1hour (?), or something like that. Usually we don't any problems with the room access card. I am staying at Hard Rock club level in August and I am very excited because I have stayed at RPR and Portofino many times.

 

[snowbunny]

Then there is the Front of the Line Perk for being an onsite guest. Which is unlimited park open to park close.

When Harry Potter opens we will stay onsite so that we can go to the front of the line to tour Hogwarts.

 

[La2kw]

Last year or the year before they were swiping room keys in a scanner thing and mentioned that we could only ride once with in 1hour (?), or something like that. Usually we don't any problems with the room access card. I am staying at Hard Rock club level in August and I am very excited because I have stayed at RPR and Portofino many times.

During certain peak times, you can only ride once before 3pm. After 3pm, you can ride as much as you want.

We often do Universal as a break from Disney. The resorts are operated by Loews and are run much better than the Disney resorts. We also enjoy being able to sleep in- since with FOTL, you can get on almost any ride any time you want to.