FOTL question?

[akdeputydog]

We are going in very late April midweek....is the FOTL really going to be a big advantage? While Universal hotels look great we can save about $300 staying "nice enough" elsewhere for 3 days. What are your thoughts? Thanks.

 

[patster734]

I prefer spending the exta money to stay on-site. Not only do you receive the FOTL perk, but also the Universal transportation. No hassles with either waiting for your hotel bus (if there is one) or driving through traffic to return to your hotel.

 

[damo]

If you are anywhere around Spring Break, I suggest you spend those $300 and stay onsite.

 

[Bluer101]

If you are anywhere around Spring Break, I suggest you spend those $300 and stay onsite.

I was thinking the same thing. But if its not and in the middle of the week I would stay offsite also.

 

[minniejack]

Before you save $300 elsewhere, do you have the best rate. i.e. Supersaver rate or AAA?

By staying onsite, IMO, you immerse yourself in the experience--kinda feels like you are in another country completely when you are staying on site at RPR or PBH.

It is really nice to be able to walk back to room mid-day and relax for a bit.

 

[patster734]

Before you save $300 elsewhere, do you have the best rate. i.e. Supersaver rate or AAA?

By staying onsite, IMO, you immerse yourself in the experience--kinda feels like you are in another country completely when you are staying on site at RPR or PBH.

It is really nice to be able to walk back to room mid-day and relax for a bit.

 

[d4est]

Before you save $300 elsewhere, do you have the best rate. i.e. Supersaver rate or AAA?

By staying onsite, IMO, you immerse yourself in the experience--kinda feels like you are in another country completely when you are staying on site at RPR or PBH.

It is really nice to be able to walk back to room mid-day and relax for a bit.

I probably shouldn't speak for the OP, but I'm certain they don't have the "best rate" as no discounts are out for that time period yet.

Maybe the Op is going on past rates for that time frame? Or maybe just on rack rate?

 

[akdeputydog]

I'm the OP -
We are not going during spring break but several weeks after it.

The rack rate for the Pacific is around/close to $300/nt. I realize there are discounts but I'm not counting on less than $200 per night when I ask the question and we can find perfectly adequate places to stay for 3 nts for $100-120.

Believe me if I can find a rate for $150/nt on-site we will stay on site.

I realize there are many other advantages to staying on-site but my question was if mid-week, not a holiday or special event time, whether spending $300 more for 3 nts to stay on-site was worth it just for the FOTL.

We will be going to Disney and spending 8nts on-site in deluxe and mods so we'll have plenty of being "immersed" in themes.

I appreciate the input but really just need to know if the FOTL is worth such an expense.

 

[Metro West]

I appreciate the input but really just need to know if the FOTL is worth such an expense.

If you aren't going at spring break, the crowds usually calm down at bit so the lines shouldn't be too bad. FOTL is definately worth it during a busy time but you could get away with not having it during a slower period. It would be up to you to decide if you want the convenience of staying right beside the parks. If you don't stay onsite, you wouldn't be able to take a dip in the pool or have a nap during the day and then going back over to the parks.

 

[damo]

I just think you get a much, much better experience when you stay onsite at Universal. Since the hotels are within walking distance of everything, it just makes for a wonderfully relaxed vacation.

 

[Melanie230]

I'm the OP -
We are not going during spring break but several weeks after it.

The rack rate for the Pacific is around/close to $300/nt. I realize there are discounts but I'm not counting on less than $200 per night when I ask the question and we can find perfectly adequate places to stay for 3 nts for $100-120.

Believe me if I can find a rate for $150/nt on-site we will stay on site.

I realize there are many other advantages to staying on-site but my question was if mid-week, not a holiday or special event time, whether spending $300 more for 3 nts to stay on-site was worth it just for the FOTL.

We will be going to Disney and spending 8nts on-site in deluxe and mods so we'll have plenty of being "immersed" in themes.

I appreciate the input but really just need to know if the FOTL is worth such an expense.

It isn't just the FOTL...although I would say that FOTL is worth the expense by far.

It is not having to walk or drive over to the park.

It is enjoying the benefits of your room being very close and being able to go back to your room for whatever reason to relax.

It is the pool side movie night where the kiddos can play in the water while you relax in a lounge chair.

It is the onsite hotel character dinners where the kids can play with other children in their area of the restuarant while you enjoy your meal.

There is so much more to staying onsite than FOTL!

DH and I call it Mama and Daddy's vacation with rides for the kids!

 

[patster734]

I'm the OP -
We are not going during spring break but several weeks after it.

The rack rate for the Pacific is around/close to $300/nt. I realize there are discounts but I'm not counting on less than $200 per night when I ask the question and we can find perfectly adequate places to stay for 3 nts for $100-120.

Believe me if I can find a rate for $150/nt on-site we will stay on site.

I realize there are many other advantages to staying on-site but my question was if mid-week, not a holiday or special event time, whether spending $300 more for 3 nts to stay on-site was worth it just for the FOTL.

We will be going to Disney and spending 8nts on-site in deluxe and mods so we'll have plenty of being "immersed" in themes.

I appreciate the input but really just need to know if the FOTL is worth such an expense.

May I ask why you have decided to stay on-site in deluxe and moderates at Disney as there are also other, cheaper alternatives to that? May I ask what rates you expect to pay for the Disney hotels?

 

[akdeputydog]

Gosh - just wanted feedback on crowds and whether FOTL was a big advantage for the $$. The US hotels look great. In a perfect world we would for sure stay there. I want to stay there but we cannot do everything we want and I have to make choices so I was just trying to find the answer to my original question.

We are staying at the Animal kingdom Lodge at Disney. My DD loves animals as do I and I love Africa having been twice and wanting to have a bit of African atmosphere with travelling 15,000 milesto the continent.

We are booked also at the Coronado Springs because of the facilities but esp because of the pool area. Not 100% sure we'll end up staying there, just depends on what rates at various places are at the time. Also where we stay before AKL will also depend on how much we end up spending on a beach hotel in Sanibel the 3 nts before we hit Orlando. So this far out things are in flux rate wise. I know I want to stay at AKL. Period. And since Disney's AAA rates are out we reserved to at least lock in those.

We are only going to spend 1 day at US and 1 day at IOA while in Orlando and a day at SW. My daughter will be 5 and is completely in love with everything Princess. While we want to have fun and going to IOA is about us wanting big rollercoasters, this trip is really about magic and princesses for her.

I haven't ruled out US on-site and its advantages but if I had to choose between on-site at US or at Disney ( because of budget restraints - we're not made of money) I'd rather stay on-site at Disney given our trip and preferences. And the only hotel that really appeals to me at US is Pacific. So we'll watch the rates and see if we can also stay on-site at US.

 

[damo]

Sounds like you have a lot of decisions to make but it does sound like a great vacation. If you do stay onsite at Universal, I suggest you do it at the end of your vacation because it makes waiting in line anywhere else really, really difficult.

Once you stay onsite at Universal, it is tough to ever stay offsite.

 

[Bluer101]

Gosh - just wanted feedback on crowds and whether FOTL was a big advantage for the $$. The US hotels look great. In a perfect world we would for sure stay there. I want to stay there but we cannot do everything we want and I have to make choices so I was just trying to find the answer to my original question.

We are staying at the Animal kingdom Lodge at Disney. My DD loves animals as do I and I love Africa having been twice and wanting to have a bit of African atmosphere with travelling 15,000 milesto the continent.

We are booked also at the Coronado Springs because of the facilities but esp because of the pool area. Not 100% sure we'll end up staying there, just depends on what rates at various places are at the time. Also where we stay before AKL will also depend on how much we end up spending on a beach hotel in Sanibel the 3 nts before we hit Orlando. So this far out things are in flux rate wise. I know I want to stay at AKL. Period. And since Disney's AAA rates are out we reserved to at least lock in those.

We are only going to spend 1 day at US and 1 day at IOA while in Orlando and a day at SW. My daughter will be 5 and is completely in love with everything Princess. While we want to have fun and going to IOA is about us wanting big rollercoasters, this trip is really about magic and princesses for her.

I haven't ruled out US on-site and its advantages but if I had to choose between on-site at US or at Disney ( because of budget restraints - we're not made of money) I'd rather stay on-site at Disney given our trip and preferences. And the only hotel that really appeals to me at US is Pacific. So we'll watch the rates and see if we can also stay on-site at US.

Sounds to me like you are on the right track for your needs and hope you have the opportunity to stay at Royal Pacific at a later time. Its trully a nice hotel.
We have always stayed offsite until this past summer because of the crowds the FOTL pass it made it easier. Now thats we have stayed onsite its very hard not to book off site again.

 

[karatepamy]

IMO, if you're coming in April, it's definately worth it. Even if it's not your Spring Break, or even the surrounding Orlando area's Spring Break. April is still some of Florida's Spring Break times. It is busy all throughout April. I suggest it. Besides, you receive unlimited FOTL with your room keys. The express that is offered at the gate and online is only valid for one time per attraction. During April that price can raise all the way up to $55.99 plus tax per person per day if you want to do both parks in one day. Right now there is an unlimited Express being sold that is $70.99 plus tax per person per day, but you have no choice in the matter of it being for one park or two, it's automatically for two parks.

 

[APB513]

We just came back from our first onsite stay and we loved it for all of the reasons everyone has mentioned so far.

For me, staying onsite was worth it because I was able to book the RPR at an APH rate that was just a few dollars more than what it would have cost for us to buy the Express passes.

It will be hard to visit Universal and not stay on site.

I just want to make one additional point -

If you stay onsite for one night, your room key will give you FOTL access for two days - the day you check in and the day you check out. For ex - if you check in Tuesday morning, your room key would give you FOTL access up until midnight on Wednesday.

Having FOTL would be great because you would have a better chance of doing everything you want to do in each park. You would limit the amount of time you spend in line, thus giving you more time to enjoy all that both parks have to offer.

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a great trip

 

[francie57]

In the long run the decision is your. If it were me I would definitely stay on-site for even one night. The FOTL passes are good from the time you check-in until the end of the day you check out. There are probably going to be rides you want to do a few times and not standing in line each time is a definite plus. AAA gives good discounts since that is who we use each year and we actually buy our entrance tickets from them before we leave on our trip. Good luck with your decision.

 

[inkkognito]

Personally I think it's well worth it for FOTL. We live locally but if he didn't I would be staying onsite. As it is, we have Premier Passes just for that reason (we get FOTL after 4 p.m.). Look at it this way...whether or not it is crowded, you are buying peace of mind. No matter what, you know you're going to get on the rides with minimal wait. Think of it as a form of trip insurance.