FOTL really necessary in January??

[Skywalker]

Hi

I am another newbie to Universal and I hope someone can answer this question for me (forgive me in advance if this is one of those asked a lot).

We will going the second week of January. I know you have to stay onsite to get the Front of Line access, which is a great perk, but are the parks busy enough in January to justify the extra expense of staying onsite. I just don't want to convince my husband to spring for one of these hotels, only to find that the waits are only like five minutes anyway!!

Thanks for any experiences you can share.

 

[soupy11]

We went in February this year and spent 4 days at universal. We never waited longer than 10 minutes to get on anything. Most things were walk ons. It was amazing.

 

[Skywalker]

Hmmmm....good to know! Thanks Soupy.

 

[bjakmom]

Skywalker - we were there over MLK weekend - we were definitely bypassing lines with FOTL - lines for the more popular rides were usually 30 mins or more in the afternoon - Zero minutes with FOTL !! Don't know if your trip includes that holiday weekend or not, but if it does - FOTL was well worth staying onsite for.

 

[Teris]

Our first trip was the third week in jan,, and it was wonderful! We did stay onsite, and while there were not really a huge crowd to warrant FOTL, it was a great convience to be onsite, and not to have to worry about driving anywhere. We never left the resort area. For that time of the year, the rooms are very reasonable in cost, so it's really more what you prefer to do. There won't be huge crowds,, except for the usual rides,, and I would assume for The Mummy. I wish my next trip was in jan, rather than August

 

[Skywalker]

Thank you for your perspectives Teris and bjakmom!

I guess I am still torn now!

It sounds like it just may be worth it to stay on onsite anyway, even if lines are not that bad. Especially if the hotel rates are pretty good in January.

Oh boy, decisions...I guess it seems like I won't regret FOTL anyway, right?

 

[highlander447]

You definetely wouldn't regret staying onsite if your budget allows it as u can a much more laid back approach to your trip and its so easy to go from park to resort although not too sure of weather and whether u would get use pool perhaps someone whos went in January can give idea on that

 

[Skywalker]

Thanks Highlander!

Yes, good question about the pools. I sure hope if we are paying for the onsite hotels we will be able to enjoy the facilities.

It is just so darn tempting because it seems like there are a number of "cheap" hotels so close by.

However, since I am an impatient person when it comes to lines, and this will be vacation, and I don't know when we'll get back to Universal again....I am 99% ready to take the plunge. It's really beginning to seem like we can't go wrong. I wouldn't want to save money and then be left standing in line. Every person that walked by with FOTL would be like a dagger to the heart! LOL.

 

[highlander447]

To be honest I would like to know for self as well as we are booked there from 8th Jan for 2 weeks and I am hoping for some pool time as well

 

[Skywalker]

January 8th???? Cool, I'll be on the lookout for someone in a kilt. LOL. Seriously, that is when we will be there also. Small world!

 

[Teris]

When we went in Jan, some days were cool, and some days were much warmer, and I wore shorts and a t-shirt. All days we were there the pool was open, and there were people in it, as it was heated. The hot tubs were definately available for use. This was at the RPR, and I didn't check other pools,, but I can't imagine they would not be open if the RPR was. Remember that the parks are not open as long as for summer hours in the winter tho. This is another reason it's good to stay on site at that time of the year.

 

[bjakmom]

Well, we checked into HRH this past Jan on Fri the 16th - temp in mid 70s - warm enough to put on our suits and lay in the sun from about 2 - 5 PM - none of us swam in the pool, but plenty of other people did. On Sat temp again to mid 70s, sunny all day - we had a lot of family/friends gathered and had a cabana for the day - some of our gang spent the whole day at the pool (didn't do the parks) and the rest of us came and went - I only used the hot tub, but all of the kids swam- beautiful day! Sunday was rainy in the morning, but cleared up/warmed up in the afternoon - spent the afternoon at the pool - ate a late dinner outside at the Kitchen - people were still swimming after dark. On Mon we rented a cabana to hang in until our flight left - it was a cool and rainy day (temps in 60s)- there were only a very few people at the pool that day - we just kept 3 sides closed on the cabana and enjoyed a late lunch by the pool before we left for the airport - hey, it was only 13 degrees when we left NJ, 70s felt like a heat wave to us !!!!

 

[damo]

We've gone towards the end of January and the beginning of December. Both are down times at the park. Although it is great with no crowds, Mythos was closed both times.

 

[Kerlynne]

Hmmm, We went early December, and Mythos was opened, so wonder if they just decide on the whim, determine how busy the crowds are?!

 

[highlander447]

Thanks for the feedback regarding the weather guys