Epic Universe Poll

[PolyRob]

You have to understand the benefit is not at all the same set up as what you see at Disney.

Universal partnered with Loews Hotels for the 4 hotels (Royal Pacific, Portofino and Sapphire Falls and Hard Rock). The Express Pass inclusion was an agreement with the specific hotels an agreement that has not been thus extended to any other hotels but the 3 (Royal Pacific, Portofino and Hard Rock). Monetarily speaking it is not advantageous for the hotel company to include it especially as the agreement thus far has been you get Unlimited EP check in through check out date so 1 night nets you 2 days of Unlimited EP.

I don't know how the agreement was set up so I don't know if there's an expiration date or an ability by Loews to retract it but it helps Universal by having it so I'm not sure that they would want it to go away at least for the foreseeable future.

This is understandable. I will admit I am not up to date on all the Uni resort tiers. I last visited in 2017 and was considering Hard Rock or Portofino for the perks so I assumed Helios would fit in with them. It's just mind boggling to me that Helios charges what it charges for a room much smaller than something like Portofino which is still walkable to two parks with free Express Pass. You also have no balconies with theme park view rooms and no actual sit down "signature restaurant," just the lounge upstairs with the views (not considering the Tavern in the same category). I guess I am looking at this more as a WDW visitor that occasionally visits Uni so I am probably not the target demo. I don't know how the thing fills daily.

I just really want to see Super Nintendo World

 

[AstroBlasters]

Inj

This is understandable. I will admit I am not up to date on all the Uni resort tiers. I last visited in 2017 and was considering Hard Rock or Portofino for the perks so I assumed Helios would fit in with them. It's just mind boggling to me that Helios charges what it charges for a room much smaller than something like Portofino which is still walkable to two parks with free Express Pass. You also have no balconies with theme park view rooms and no actual sit down "signature restaurant," just the lounge upstairs with the views (not considering the Tavern in the same category). I guess I am looking at this more as a WDW visitor that occasionally visits Uni so I am probably not the target demo. I don't know how the thing fills daily.

I just really want to see Super Nintendo World

I just did a quick price check…. Actually, Universal…. I have been to a theme park that I’m practically staying in…. It’s called Disney’s California Adventure and the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa….

 

[PolyRob]

Inj

I just did a quick price check…. Actually, Universal…. I have been to a theme park that I’m practically staying in…. It’s called Disney’s California Adventure and the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa….

Exactly! Plus the balcony, private entrance, and early entry like the other resorts (RIP).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

This is understandable. I will admit I am not up to date on all the Uni resort tiers. I last visited in 2017 and was considering Hard Rock or Portofino for the perks so I assumed Helios would fit in with them. It's just mind boggling to me that Helios charges what it charges for a room much smaller than something like Portofino which is still walkable to two parks with free Express Pass. You also have no balconies with theme park view rooms and no actual sit down "signature restaurant," just the lounge upstairs with the views (not considering the Tavern in the same category). I guess I am looking at this more as a WDW visitor that occasionally visits Uni so I am probably not the target demo. I don't know how the thing fills daily.

I just really want to see Super Nintendo World

I was (oh heck I still am lol) really really really interested in staying in Helios (and Robo's post on the Universal side where they stayed there sure makes you want to) but dang is the price tag sky high (even for people used to DVC I think the price tag would be eye brows raising at least at certain nights). But I do think it's good that Universal has the Stella Nova and Terra Luna resorts right nearby to offer a much more modest in price place to stay but proximity to Epic.

I suspect when the dust settles a bit on Epic something will have to give on Helios but if the hotel bookings support the model they've got now I guess not

 

[PolyRob]

Inj

I just did a quick price check…. Actually, Universal…. I have been to a theme park that I’m practically staying in…. It’s called Disney’s California Adventure and the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa….

Stella Nova and Terra Luna are less than 1/4 quarter the price of Helios, but they're a hike compared to Helios. I would maybe consider one of them if I was only planning on sleeping and walking over early, but I am pretty sure you're going to the main entrance with everyone else. Helios has it's own separate entrance on the other side.

 

[PolyRob]

I was (oh heck I still am lol) really really really interested in staying in Helios (and Robo's post on the Universal side where they stayed there sure makes you want to) but dang is the price tag sky high (even for people used to DVC I think the price tag would be eye brows raising at least at certain nights). But I do think it's good that Universal has the Stella Nova and Terra Luna resorts right nearby to offer a much more modest in price place to stay but proximity to Epic.

I suspect when the dust settles a bit on Epic something will have to give on Helios but if the hotel bookings support the model they've got now I guess not

Yes! The location is great for Epic. I would love to take a break and just leisurely stroll back to my room. I am honestly hoping I can book it through a portal on credit card or airline loyalty points by the time I am seriously considering it. I know Portofino shows up with Amex under the Fine Hotels + Resorts credit so that would be my plan to subsidize it

 

[NVDISFamily]

Hopefully by our 2027 WDW trip cycle there will be some more integration with the premier resort perks and the express pass at epic. With that said the two existing parks are awesome with it and as long as you don’t mind missing out or are strategic with your approach to ministry, epic doesn’t potentially need it. Perhaps my view was spoiled when we hit the ap preview days a few days before park open, but Epic isn’t a huge park and by the late afternoon there were a lot of short lines. Unless things go south between now and our 2028/2027 cycle, we will likely rotate back to a combo of WDW DVC passes and universal Orlando ap and make at least two long trips in the cycle.

 

[Swaggerwagon]

We are going to go in January. Spending 3 nights at Universal Dockside before moving to Wilderness Lodge for the rest of our trip. My little boy is excited to see Mario world!

 

[MattB2G]

That's reassuring! I guess if I wanted an entire Uni trip I would be forced to split stay.

I would honestly just visit Epic and overlap a night without losing my DVC room. Sleep at Helio, wake up and head to Epic, then go back to sleep that night at WDW

We have done this with a 10 day DVC stay, with 2 nights at Uni.

 

[vakamalua]

After a 14 day cruise (not DCL) in February, we will be 6 days at OKW (DVC members). Won't do any Disney parks. Plan to go over to Epic for one day. Just 2 adults, may add express pass but actually more interested in seeing the theming, especially Dark Universe than most of the rides. Universal theming far outpaces anything Disney has done!

 

[PolyRob]

We have done this with a 10 day DVC stay, with 2 nights at Uni.

I like that plan! It seems the least disruptive.

 

[tx911]

I have one day at Universal planned during our October WDW visit. I feel a bit of regret taking the time away from WDW. It feels like I'm being unfaithful, lol. Coming back to a room at BWV that night will ease the guilt.

 

[PlutoNotPlanet]

It feels like I'm being unfaithful,

I will be unfaithful once Epcot festivals end

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Next year we plan on doing a only Universal trip but staying at akv. Might buy one night at the deluxe Universal hotel to get express pass for the orginal parks and we will not sleep there... but can use it as a rest place. Maybe vip group tour for epic.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Naw… no chance you’re gonna see me in ANY Universal park… Disney totally hits different in a way that Universal simply can’t compare to…

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Naw… no chance you’re gonna see me in ANY Universal park… Disney totally hits different in a way that Universal simply can’t compare to…

I would agree 10 years ago... but Universal has been hiring disney engineers while disney fires them... u can tell that Epic was built with disney trained people... with all the little details and story behind everything. Good news with Epic being soo amazing this will push disney not to go cheap on their new builds like they have been... soo we all win

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I would agree 10 years ago... but Universal has been hiring disney engineers while disney fires them... u can tell that Epic was built with disney trained people... with all the little details and story behind everything. Good news with Epic being soo amazing this will push disney not to go cheap on their new builds like they have been... soo we all win

It's with Harry Potter franchise at Universal that showcases storytelling and ability to really world build. It would be remiss of people to think about Universal as Epic being their first step onto the podium here when 15 years ago they were on it already. Harry Potter lands in both parks and Hogwarts Express are a phenomenal example of how detailed you can get with a level of immersion that blew people away. Epic just furthers this along in a different era and expanded IP.