First time planner

[coinkc]

Hi! We are in the beginning stages of planning a trip to Universal. I have a couple of questions I'm hoping someone can help with.

1. The FOTL passes I have read about...are they for every ride? Is there a limit as to the number of times you can use it at each ride?

2. How many days will we need to get the "gist" of both parks? It will be myself and my 12 year old daughter. We will more than likely skip the thrill rides as she isn't big on rides and hates roller coasters.

3. Is one hotel preferred over another? Do you get the same perks at both hotels?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[Metro West]

Hi! We are in the beginning stages of planning a trip to Universal. I have a couple of questions I'm hoping someone can help with.

1. The FOTL passes I have read about...are they for every ride? Is there a limit as to the number of times you can use it at each ride?

2. How many days will we need to get the "gist" of both parks? It will be myself and my 12 year old daughter. We will more than likely skip the thrill rides as she isn't big on rides and hates roller coasters.

3. Is one hotel preferred over another? Do you get the same perks at both hotels?

Thanks for all your help!

1. The Express passes you purchase are good ONCE for every ride except the Pteranondon Flyers at IOA. If you stay onsite, you get unlimited Express access.

2. You should plan on one full day for each park...so you won't miss anything.

3. I can't help you with the hotels since I've never stayed onsite. Someone else will know though.

 

[kellymonaghan]

I rank the hotels, in descending order of luxe/price as follows: Portofino, Hard Rock, Royal Pacific.

Hard Rock is very popular with kids. Portofino is farthest from the parks and the quietest. I also think Portofino has the best pools, although the underwater soundtrack at HRH is great fun.

Hope this helps.

 

[donaldduck352]

Stayed at all three.RPR gives you more for your money!My opinion o/c

 

[macraven]

Hi! We are in the beginning stages of planning a trip to Universal. I have a couple of questions I'm hoping someone can help with.

1. The FOTL passes I have read about...are they for every ride? Is there a limit as to the number of times you can use it at each ride?

2. How many days will we need to get the "gist" of both parks? It will be myself and my 12 year old daughter. We will more than likely skip the thrill rides as she isn't big on rides and hates roller coasters.

3. Is one hotel preferred over another? Do you get the same perks at both hotels?

Thanks for all your help!

hi ! we meet before at MFL.......betcha don't remember me.....

the FOTL is valid for all rides, attractions, shows. there is no limit on how many times you use it.

heck, i went on men in black 11 times in a row with the fotl.........

for shows like horror make up show, animal planet, beetlejuice review, etc, you have a separate entrance for using the room key as FOTL.
do know that guests in the park can buy the express pass for the day and use the express lane also. the express pass is only valid for each ride/attraction once! the room key/fotl has no limits

for the shows, the express line offers all the guests in that lane to be seated first, thus giving you the best choice of seats before others are allowed in.


you can still do the coasters. use the child swap area. since your daughter is 12 it would be a good place for her to wait while you do the coaster rides.

it is secure, very secure and safe for her to wait there for you while you are on a ride.



i stay onsite and still get to the gates at 8:15 in the morning.
when the line is growing, the tms usually let the guests in before 9.
i have entered at 8:30 in october before.

not all rides will be open at 8:30.
a few rides such as MIB and jaws had a later start time.

i usually do IOA first if i plan on doing coasters.
no crowds first thing in the morning and my choice of front row seats.

i leave IOA around 11ish and then go to the studio side.

i switch back and forth during the day at least once.
i pick up the guide book and plan it based on the show time for horror make up show and sinbad.
it's just personal choice.

all 3 hotels have the same perks.
i have stayed at all 3 of them.

the rates for RPH are usually the cheapest.
they are the smallest room size, next would be hrh then pbh.

for the 2 of you, any of the hotels would be great for just 2 people.

i prefer the HRH as it is closest to the park and i am lazy........

i have been known to take the water taxi from the hotel to the park.
i probably walk more just to the boat dock and then from city walk to the park in what time it would take me to walk the path to the
studios.....

all 3 have on site resturants, water taxi, bus service, etc.

it is encouraged to pool hop at all three hotels.

each hotel has a different style of pool and all have something unique about them. the food/beverage service for the pools area is fab.

the themes are different for the 3 hotels.
check out the universal website and go to the pull down tab for hotels.

check all of them out to see what they have to offer you.

all 3 have a concierge desk for the guests in their lobby.
they can secure transportation, ressies at city walk, sell you tickets, print out your plane boarding pass, etc ....

what have i overlooked that you would like to know?
i can help

 

[macraven]

I rank the hotels, in descending order of luxe/price as follows: Portofino, Hard Rock, Royal Pacific.

Hard Rock is very popular with kids. Portofino is farthest from the parks and the quietest. I also think Portofino has the best pools, although the underwater soundtrack at HRH is great fun.

Hope this helps.

hey homie, i go solo and definitely not in the kid category.
i see more and more adult families at the HRH each year.

i can say last year i saw more families with littles staying there.

one thing that does a good draw is the friendliness of the valet staff.
the Palms does draw a lot from the hotel guests besides the locals on the weekends.

 

[coinkc]

Thank you everyone! Now I at least have a place to start...I'm sure I will have more questions but am going to read up some on the meal plans to see what all I can learn before I ask. Thanks again!