First visit questions

[bookwormde]

First time thinking about going to Universal. And have a couple of questions for the experts.

I have checked the threads and have seen mention of non-expiring tickets (like WDW). Are they still sold; I looked on the Universal site and could not find them. If they are, does any one have a link? (We do a Florida vacation very 2 years and would be one or two days of universal each time).

Second I am thinking about a 1 night at Royal Pacific. We would want to do Universal on the day of check in and leave for home the morning of check out. The posts I have read say that the fast past benefit is for the day after check in. Is this an unchangeable policy or can the fast pass day be the day of check in (by pre-checking in when arriving in the morning, even though room will not be available until later).

Here is our timeline to help it make sense.

Saturday (Early morning) drive from home (16hrs)
Saturday night off site (or along the way if we get tired)
Sunday-Thursday night DVC (just bought my points)
Friday-Sunday night Sanibel (leave early, 6am for universal)
Monday night Royal Pacific (Monday at Universal)
Leave 9am Tuesday morning for home

If we cannot get fast pass benefit we will probably skip universal and stop part way (maybe WDW HH) on Monday night.

Bookwormde

 

[Cadillac_Dreamgirl]

The "fastpass" benefit is automatic with staying at royal pacific. Actually you can use the Front of the line passes on the day you check in and the day you check out . The passes are your hotel keys

maybe someone can explain it better here since i have never tried it myself.. but i know u can use it both days

 

[bell.of.the.ball]

First time thinking about going to Universal. And have a couple of questions for the experts.

I have checked the threads and have seen mention of non-expiring tickets (like WDW). Are they still sold; I looked on the Universal site and could not find them. If they are, does any one have a link? (We do a Florida vacation very 2 years and would be one or two days of universal each time).

Second I am thinking about a 1 night at Royal Pacific. We would want to do Universal on the day of check in and leave for home the morning of check out. The posts I have read say that the fast past benefit is for the day after check in. Is this an unchangeable policy or can the fast pass day be the day of check in (by pre-checking in when arriving in the morning, even though room will not be available until later).

Here is our timeline to help it make sense.

Saturday (Early morning) drive from home (16hrs)
Saturday night off site (or along the way if we get tired)
Sunday-Thursday night DVC (just bought my points)
Friday-Sunday night Sanibel (leave early, 6am for universal)
Monday night Royal Pacific (Monday at Universal)
Leave 9am Tuesday morning for home

If we cannot get fast pass benefit we will probably skip universal and stop part way (maybe WDW HH) on Monday night.

Bookwormde

we have a similar plan, Disney, Universal, Sanibel. Where are you staying in Sanibel?

 

[bookwormde]

I have not made a reservation yet. I am waiting for settlement on my DVC purchase and to make those reservations first since I will need to be flexible at the 60+ day mark. From low to high, I am thinking about Sea shells, Point Santo or Casybel but am flexable. I went down with a friend’s family who had a beach front (huge) house back in the 70’s (middle and high school) with usually 10-20 of us. I have not been back since so it will be quite a comparison.

bookwormde

 

[Srantin]

ok you asked for help? here it is! The hotel room keys act as express for every ride and its unlimited, a room key will be assigned to EVERYBODY in your family including kids *except for very small kids aka babies* the key will actually show the dates you are staying and thats the thing you wanna show the greeters outside of the attraction. The day on the left is the day you started your vacation, the one on the right was your last day. So lets say your staying one night and that night starts lets say 4/28 and you leave 4/29 your hotel room key will look like this.




4/28/08-4/29/08
(Name of Room Key Holder)

The express will be good on both the 28th, and even the 29th after you've checked out!

 

[Bell30012]

We have been to Disney (POP) the last three years. After all I've read I'm considering making this year's trip to Universal Orlando instead. It's just me and my daughter (6-yr-old). My thoughts are that the Universal trip will work better with her at this age than older since a good deal of the attractions are aimed at the younger age group.

What age is US/IOA a better trip than WDW?

 

[goofy!]

Second I am thinking about a 1 night at Royal Pacific. We would want to do Universal on the day of check in and leave for home the morning of check out. The posts I have read say that the fast past benefit is for the day after check in. Is this an unchangeable policy or can the fast pass day be the day of check in (by pre-checking in when arriving in the morning, even though room will not be available until later).

As mentioned, your hotel key is good the minute you check-in till park closing of the day you check-out.

This board recommends you get to your hotel to check-in as early as you can so you can reap the most benefit of your hotel keys (aka express passes.)

Check-in, leave your luggage with the bell-hop and head over to the parks. If you have a cell-phone, the front desk will call you when the room is ready. No need to stop at the desk again, the keys will now be activated for your room. When you are done at the parks, just head to the room. When you get there, call down to the bell hop and they will bring your luggage up for you.

It is a wonderful, wonderful perk of staying onsite.