Express Unlimited and HP early entry without a package?

[Brett Wyman]

You can book Portofino Bay rooms using Amex Platinum's Fine Hotels portal and save a considerable amount, be eligible for a free upgrade, and get free breakfast each day. My question is can you still get Express Unlimited and HP early entry as a perk of Portofino if you don't book through Universal? If so how does that work?

 

[macraven]

Yes

All registered guests staying at one of the 3 premier hotels show their room key to use the express lines during regular park hours

Each person on your reservation will be issued a hotel room key with their name on it

No express lines open during early entry period

 

[bumbershoot]

Free breakfast is likely just covered in the cost of the package.

Be sure to check loewshotels.com to be sure it’s a savings.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Free breakfast is likely just covered in the cost of the package.

Be sure to check loewshotels.com to be sure it’s a savings.

It’s about $14 more a night through Amex but you get 100 resort credit plus the free breakfast, which in my case would be 2 adults and 2 children, so it still sounds like the better deal. Where is the free breakfast in the Universal package? I never saw that option but I have to say their booking website isn’t the clearest. Also the rooms seem to be quite a bit more in the package than they are through Lowes or Amex. I don’t understand that either.

 

[georgina]

Most of us don't book packages. I think the suggestion was to price out room & tickets separately to see if it is a savings.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Most of us don't book packages. I think the suggestion was to price out room & tickets separately to see if it is a savings.

The package is 600-700 more which is what confused me and concerned me benefits would be lost. I haven’t been to Universal since the mid 2000s and never stayed onsite so I’m not familiar with how they offer packages.

 

[macraven]

Last time I ever booked a package with UO was in 1993
When questions about them here come up, I checked the website for the specifics

 

[Sue M]

Never booked a package. But no matter who you book hotel with you get Express Pass. It’s just a perk of staying at that hotel, nothing to do with who you booked with.

 

[Brett Wyman]

The bay view queen is $628.88 at night in the package and $291 a night on the Lowes site. I just don't get it and can just imagine the amount of people who over pay by booking a package.

And park tickets for 4 are $300 cheaper via Undercover Tourist.

The packages are the biggest rip off Ive ever seen.