FOTL vs. Express Plus

[deanie119]

hey guys!

I've seen lots of threads about this but nothing could really help me..

I'm new to this site and was wondering if there is any difference in the FOTL vs. the Express plus passes?
Im wanting to stay off-site to save money and was just curious what everyone thought!


Thanks!

 

[Future Guy]

Universal Express Plus: It's at an additional cost
Room key: Universal Express Plus comes with the key at no additional charge

Universal Express Plus: You can only use it once per attraction
Room key: You can use it multiple times per attractions (restrictions may apply during certain periods)

Universal Express Plus: No preferred seating at restaurants
Room key: Preferred seating at restaurants

 

[gschmerl]

Depending on how many people are in your party, it sometimes costs less to get an on site room for one night and enjoy two full days of FOTL. Being able to ride all day long with little or no wait is GREAT. As stated, buying the Express Plus just gives you ONE exprss entrance per attraction.

 

[Future Guy]

Let me share a story...

I visited Universal during the last week of December. I was in line for Guest Services and I was behind a group of five adults. They bought Universal Express Plus tickets for their group. The total for two days of Universal Express Plus tickets was around $500!

Compare the cost of their Universal Express Plus tickets to a Universal Orlando onsite hotel. The Royal Pacific Resort rate for that time period was around $299. I believe $299 is the rack rate for the Royal Pacific Resort. With the extra three adults, they would have been charged an additional $25. Their hotel stay for one night would have been $375 (not including tax or sundries costs). The hotel bill may be pricey, but consider that if you stay for one night at an onsite resort, you can use your room key for two days. You can check in as early as 7:00 am on your arrival date and use your room key up to midnight on your departure date.

Thus, if the five adults read the DISBoards and booked an onsite hotel, they could have checked in at 7:00 am, left their bags at the bellhop, and had fun with their room keys at the parks. If the group stayed onsite instead of buying the Universal Express Plus tickets, they could have actually saved $125! Their Universal Express Plus tickets did not include a hotel stay. The Motel 6 near Universal was running about $50 during that same time period.

Golly, I sound like a Universal Orlando onsite resort salesperson! Maybe I need to fax my resume to Human Resources!

 

[snjmorrison]

Do you get a room key for every person in your party like you do at Disney? We have a family of 5, and many hotel rooms only allow 4 guests. We will be staying in our travel trailer at Fort Wilderness the first week of August. I am considering booking one night at the Universal hotel because of the crowds.

 

[G's mommy]

I believe the universal on-site hotels allow 5 in a room, or it says max 5 on my ressie for HRH. You each will need a room card to use express line.

 

[tinatark]

We stayed on site - during spring break... at rack rate... in hindsight, we would have come out better to stay offsite and buy the express passes. We only rode a couple of rides more than once per day, anyway.

We didn't want to change hotels mid-stay, or we would have done a night or two onsite then changed.

We would have been happier in a nicer hotel offsite than the overrated HRH club level, IMO.

 

[gschmerl]

You can get up to five room keys per room. My nephew has a time share and sometimes just books a room at the RPR and doesn't sleep there. They use the room during the day for breaks and the pool and then they have two full days of FOTL.

 

[OhioTony]

We were able to get a great discount through AAA..We are staying at Royal Pacific 1 night..You can arive early and use the Front Of The Line pass and when u check out the next day tell them you are attending the parks and you will have "FOTL" use that day as well. The cost of the 1 night On-Site hotel = 2 days of purchased, "1 time per ride" passes! From what I hear, with "FOTL" you can FULLY enjoy both parks in 1 day..the rest is icing on the cake!