Express Questions

[Albertan mom]

I am confused about the Express option.

So if we stay onsite, we get that free. We show our hotel key, and get to go to the front of the lines?

If we stay offsite-can we add that Express option? I see on the US site, it is an option, to add it for $15-$23 each.

So we could add it to our regular passes for $149, and stay offsite?

Then do we get a special ticket to show to go to the front of the line?

Any help would be great, thanks!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

You have it correct. Just one thing. Express doesn't let you walk to the head of the line. It is a separate line for those that have purchased express passes and those staying on site at the hotels. Usually except for peak park occupancy the express line is very quick to gain entrance to the ride/attraction. Rarely the wait can be longer (15 min is the # usually stated) but not nearly as long as the regular line.

The purchased express is a separate ticket.

 

[damo]

I am confused about the Express option.

So if we stay onsite, we get that free. We show our hotel key, and get to go to the front of the lines?

If we stay offsite-can we add that Express option? I see on the US site, it is an option, to add it for $15-$23 each.

So we could add it to our regular passes for $149, and stay offsite?

Then do we get a special ticket to show to go to the front of the line?

Any help would be great, thanks!

What is the $149 thing?

 

[Albertan mom]

What is the $149 thing?

If we add 4x $15.98 for Express for US, and 4x $21.30 for Express for IOA, it equals $149.12.

 

[damo]

If we add 4x $15.98 for Express for US, and 4x $21.30 for Express for IOA, it equals $149.12.

There is a two park express.

Don't order the passes ahead of time. You may not even need them. If you get to the park at opening and do all the main rides right away, you can spend the rest of the day visiting shows and the less visited attractions.

If you find that the lines are crazy, you can buy express almost anywhere inside the parks.

What is the price you are finding for the hotels? You should be able to get RPR for a very reasonable price using CAA.

 

[damo]

I checked the other thread where you posted a challenge and the price someone came up with was around $165 dollars/night. That makes about $330 dollars. If you subtract your $145 for express, that gives you $185 or about $90/night for your hotel.

So, unless you can get a hotel for less than $90 a night so would be better off staying onsite. You also get unlimited express if you stay onsite and with the purchased express you only get one ride on each ride. Remember, your time is also worth money and you will be saving a lot of time by staying onsite.

One other thing to remember is that it is very hot in August. If you stay onside, it is so much easier to go to the parks all morning, then head back to the hotel for the afternoon and swim all afternoon. Then go back to the parks around dinner time when it is starting to cool off again.

 

[Albertan mom]

I checked the other thread where you posted a challenge and the price someone came up with was around $165 dollars/night. That makes about $330 dollars. If you subtract your $145 for express, that gives you $185 or about $90/night for your hotel.

So, unless you can get a hotel for less than $90 a night so would be better off staying onsite. You also get unlimited express if you stay onsite and with the purchased express you only get one ride on each ride. Remember, your time is also worth money and you will be saving a lot of time by staying onsite.

One other thing to remember is that it is very hot in August. If you stay onside, it is so much easier to go to the parks all morning, then head back to the hotel for the afternoon and swim all afternoon. Then go back to the parks around dinner time when it is starting to cool off again.

Good points.
We are staying 3 nights though, so 495-145 for passes=350.
So that is $116 a night, which is still good.

Hmmmm. I am getting more convinced all the time!!

 

[damo]

Good points.
We are staying 3 nights though, so 495-145 for passes=350.
So that is $116 a night, which is still good.

Hmmmm. I am getting more convinced all the time!!

It is just so nice to be staying onsite. The hotel atmosphere itself adds so much to the universal vacation.

 

[Albertan mom]

Is Express good for every ride and show?

I am looking for a list, but I can't find one.

I would hate to buy it, and then have it only be available for half of the rides.
(Like Fastpasses)
But I can't find this info.

 

[damo]

Is Express good for every ride and show?

I am looking for a list, but I can't find one.

I would hate to buy it, and then have it only be available for half of the rides.
(Like Fastpasses)
But I can't find this info.

It is available for everything except Pteranadon Flyers. Do not buy it in advance. Wait until you are actually in the parks and have checked out the lines before you purchase anything.

The problem with the pass that you purchase is that if your kids really, really like something, you are only allowed the express pass once. With the express pass from the hotels, you are allowed unlimited access to the express line.

 

[Albertan mom]

I think we will stay onsite as opposed to buying the Express pass seperately.

I have been stewing over this for weeks, and told myself I was making a decision today! Yet, it has been 3 hours of stewing this morning already!!

So, just not the Flyers hey. Wonder why?
Is Express good for all the shows?

 

[damo]

I think we will stay onsite as opposed to buying the Express pass seperately.

I have been stewing over this for weeks, and told myself I was making a decision today! Yet, it has been 3 hours of stewing this morning already!!

So, just not the Flyers hey. Wonder why?
Is Express good for all the shows?

The Flyer loads very, very slowly since only two people fit in the vehicle and they only load every few minutes. They have a height restriction on it and you must ride with a child. To keep the lines manageable for the kids, they don't allow express. Otherwise, there would never be a regular line but only an express line. It is fair.


I think once you just call and make your reservations you will feel very good about your decision. Remember that if the rate changes, you can call them and get them to adjust your rate. Also remember to ask about any obscured views as you can often get a good deal with those. And ask for the CAA rate.


I know exactly what you are going through. We are going to Disneyland in August and I debated back and forth about staying at one of their three onsite hotels or staying offsite. Since my kids are 21 and 18 we needed two rooms or a suite so it was getting so expensive. It drove me nuts. Finally, I just called and they gave me a good rate for a suite with the AAA rate. I just felt so much better after I booked onsite. I didn't want to be waiting for shuttles or not wanting to go on the water rides because I didn't want to walk around with wet clothes. This way, everything was close and we would have no worries. Hopefully, it was the right decision!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I think we will stay onsite as opposed to buying the Express pass seperately.

I have been stewing over this for weeks, and told myself I was making a decision today! Yet, it has been 3 hours of stewing this morning already!!

So, just not the Flyers hey. Wonder why?
Is Express good for all the shows?

Express is good for all the shows and if you get there early enough prior to each show gets you front row seating. Pteranadon Flyers has a small loading capacity so no Express and usually no adults unless you go on with a kid. Or, show up first thing at opening.

Stop stewing and book it already! Promise you wont regret it. damo did the math!

 

[damo]

Express is good for all the shows and if you get there early enough prior to each show gets you front row seating. Pteranadon Flyers has a small loading capacity so no Express and usually no adults unless you go on with a kid. Or, show up first thing at opening.

Stop stewing and book it already! Promise you wont regret it. damo did the math!

We rode the flyers when we were there two weeks ago. We are OLD with no little ones so we headed there first thing at opening and got to ride. It is a great little ride and I recommend it highly. However, I wouldn't want to wait in line for an hour for it.

 

[Albertan mom]

I am trying so hard to not be cheap.

Here is the deal:

Royal Pacific with passes=$1067.00
Fairfield Inn, with passes=$652.00


So that is a $415 difference. If I did buy the express passes, take off $149, which leaves $266.

So it would be $266.00 more total.

Is staying on site, and having Hotel Express worth $133 a day to me?

Still stewing......now must walk away from the computer and think for a few hours and go get groceries. Before I drive myself totally nuts!!!
(and you all with me!)

 

[damo]

Just a sec. If you get the room for $167.20/night x3 and then add in $85(4) for passes, that is $841 (or are you going in Can$ ?).

My CAA site lists RPH as $167.20/night US for your three nights.

 

[Albertan mom]

Just a sec. If you get the room for $167.20/night x3 and then add in $85(4) for passes, that is $841 (or are you going in Can$ ?).

My CAA site lists RPH as $167.20/night US for your three nights.

I was going off the US site:

But ya, that is showing $1067 for the 3 nights with passes, $705 for the hotel, which puts me at $235 a night. Hmmmmmmm...... so confused!!
Maybe that includes all taxes?

 

[damo]

I was going off the US site:

But ya, that is showing $1067 for the 3 nights with passes, $705 for the hotel, which puts me at $235 a night. Hmmmmmmm...... so confused!!
Maybe that includes all taxes?

I'm not sure what site you are looking at. Don't buy the rooms with the passes included, it is a ripoff. The passes cost $85/person. The room with the CAA discount is $167.20. That works out to way less than $1067/night.

Here is the link to the rooms through the CAA website: http://ww2.aaa.com/scripts/WebObjec...e=hotelCriteria&sessionRedirect=1178651339010

Here is the link to the rooms using loews: https://universalhotels.ibe.netbooker.com/web/FrontController.nb4

Here is the link to the tickets: http://secure.universalstudios.com/...sCategoryGroup=UOMain&SalesCategory=UOTPTLive

You are best to just call Loews and get them to give you the AAA rate and then go on the universalorlando website and order your passes.

 

[Albertan mom]

AHhhhhhh!

I just called AAA. This is what I was quoted:

$983.00 for 3 nights

I said--huh??! That is not $167 a night. That is $327 a night! She says, 'well, that is including taxes."

$160 a night for taxes????!! What?? I told her that didn't seem right. She said that is what she is getting. I said, no way, not a good deal!

So I am going to call Loews and see what they can get me!

 

[Albertan mom]

I did it!!
I booked!!!

I called Loews directly, and got the AAA rate of $167 a night.

With taxes, the total was $564.00!!! (so total of $188per night)

So I am excited!

Thanks for all your work and help!

Now to get tickets bought online!

Should be $340 for tix, plus the $564= $904.00