Help with planning trip

[Jennasis]

My family is planning a trip to Disney/USF next year, mainly for my mom to see the WWOHP for her 60th b-day in LAte Sept/Early Oct of 2010. I have some questions, having not been to USF since 1999.

1. We want to purchase Express passes. Am i correct in thinking that it will entitle us to ONE FOTL experience per person per ride? Are there any rides that do not have express pass privileges? Do we need to buy a new pass for each day? What if we park hop? Do we need to purchase another pass for the other park?

2. We will probably be able to devote 1 1/2 days to US/IOA and I REALLY hope it's enough. Are there better days of the week to hit the place?

3. Would it be a good deal to buy our passes from Costco (the $89 passes)?

4. Can we hop between parks with that pass?

5. Any idea what the park hours will be roughly at the end of Sept/beginninf of Oct?

The last time I went to USF/IOA was the day before IOA officially opened. I had press credentials and was able to preview the park before opening. I loved it but haven't been back since. DH hasn't ever been to either park.

We'll be staying at Disney for sure.

 

[Metro West]

1.) Express Plus passes are good for one time through the EP line per person. You would need a new pass for each park and each day. The two passes are 1 day passes for either one or both parks and pricing depends on the anticipated crowd level for that day. The only attraction that does not include Express is Pteranodon Flyers at IOA. I wouldn't recommend purchasing them ahead of time during that time of year...you may not need them.

2.) If you can stay away from weekends especially during October you would much better off for it. The reason? Halloween Horror Nights takes over the Studios on weekends in October and the park closes early and the crowds are pretty bad expecially in the afternoon.

3.) The Costco tickets sound like a good deal.

4.) You would have to check the details of the tickets but most multi-day pass are good for hopping.

5.) The hours will be 9-6 or 9-7 for IOA during that time and 9-5 or 9-6 for the Studios. The reason the Studios closes early is to get ready for HHN that night.

 

[Jennasis]

Thanks! It sounds like we could do a full day at IOA and then go back to WDW to whichever park is open late or has EMH that night (or to MK if we have MNSSHP tix that night). Same for the Studio.

 

[Darcy03231]

If at all possible I would stay on-site for one night to get the 2 days of unlimited FOTL (day you check in and day you check out).

 

[momsrule27]

If at all possible I would stay on-site for one night to get the 2 days of unlimited FOTL (day you check in and day you check out).

I was think of doing that as well. We are staying at our time share the week of 8/14 - 8/21 but I was thinking of picking a night, using our AAA discount, and booking a night at HRH to use FOTL. How long do you think I can wait before I book a room? I would like to do it as close as possible so I can see what the weather holds in store for us. Does anyone know how to check to see how full the hotel is for that week? Any suggestions would be great!

 

[damo]

You can go to www.loewshotels.com to check occupancy. I noticed that there are no regular rooms left at Portofino for my dates in late August.

 

[momsrule27]

Yes, I know I can check availability. What I was wondering is if somehow I can get an idea how crowded the hotel was the week I was going so I could decided whether to book now or wait till last minute when I have a better idea of the weather situation.

Does anyone know if I book a room for three nights but decide to only go for one, is it possible to change that ressie - I only have to guarantee one night for deposit, correct? That way I can cover myself for four days then pick the day that looks best closer to the date. Just trying to figure out the best possible way to do this. I will probably just call them later today.

 

[torinsmom]

We did everything in US in one day without Express passes. This was the week of July 6th. We got there at opening and went back to our room for a few hours midday, then came back around 5. If you have 1 1/2 days for each park, I would think you would be fine without the Express passes. You can always purchase them there once you assess the crowds. I was amazed after doing Disney for several years; the crowds are nothing like WDW.

Marsha

 

[Jennasis]

No way are we going to book a room for one night. With our group we'd need three rooms and the cost at even Portofino is way outta our budget compared to Pop even with an extra $50 for two days worth of Express passes (If we even need them).

We have a car so transport isn't an issue. The AAA rate at Pop is around $62/night.

 

[macraven]

Yes, I know I can check availability. What I was wondering is if somehow I can get an idea how crowded the hotel was the week I was going so I could decided whether to book now or wait till last minute when I have a better idea of the weather situation.

Does anyone know if I book a room for three nights but decide to only go for one, is it possible to change that ressie - I only have to guarantee one night for deposit, correct? That way I can cover myself for four days then pick the day that looks best closer to the date. Just trying to figure out the best possible way to do this. I will probably just call them later today.

Check the hotel website for what rooms are available.
If all the cheaper rooms are gone, you can guess they are at least at 75% occupancy.

There is a policy of room cancellation.
This is from the hotel website:


Deposit Requirements
Equal to one night's room rate plus tax.
The credit card will be charged within 5 business days of the booking date.
Arrivals within 5 days of booking will have their credit card charged upon hotel check-in; full cancellation policies apply.

You are only charged for a one night stay in advance for your deposit.
If you cancel, do it 5 days prior of your arrival date.

 

[torinsmom]

No way are we going to book a room for one night. With our group we'd need three rooms and the cost at even Portofino is way outta our budget compared to Pop even with an extra $50 for two days worth of Express passes (If we even need them).

We have a car so transport isn't an issue. The AAA rate at Pop is around $62/night.

If you want to stay somewhere a little closer for the Universal part of your trip, there are several nice hotels in the Universal area that go for cheap on Priceline. We stayed at the Hyatt Place Universal right across the street for $30/night earlier this month. HUGE rooms with 2 doubles and a sleeper sofa as well as a large living area. Free wireless and free breakfast made it even better. They had a free shuttle to the parks or a cab was around $4 each way. You could also walk it in fifteen minutes.

Marsha

 

[momsrule27]

Check the hotel website for what rooms are available.
If all the cheaper rooms are gone, you can guess they are at least at 75% occupancy.

There is a policy of room cancellation.
This is from the hotel website:


Deposit Requirements
Equal to one night's room rate plus tax.
The credit card will be charged within 5 business days of the booking date.
Arrivals within 5 days of booking will have their credit card charged upon hotel check-in; full cancellation policies apply.

You are only charged for a one night stay in advance for your deposit.
If you cancel, do it 5 days prior of your arrival date.

Yeah I found the cancellation policy which is not good if we are trying to decide regarding the weather. Like I said, we already have a timeshare down there I was just going to stay on site one night for convenience and FOTL. Also, I just noticed that the park closes at 6 p.m. the week we are there! That's a couple of hours less to get rides in. Does anyone know if they keep them open later than it shows depending on crowds? I know WDW has done that in the past.

 

[torinsmom]

Yeah I found the cancellation policy which is not good if we are trying to decide regarding the weather. Like I said, we already have a timeshare down there I was just going to stay on site one night for convenience and FOTL. Also, I just noticed that the park closes at 6 p.m. the week we are there! That's a couple of hours less to get rides in. Does anyone know if they keep them open later than it shows depending on crowds? I know WDW has done that in the past.

If you are looking at October, they do the special Halloween night thing(don't remember the name) which you have to pay extra for.

Marsha

 

[Metro West]

If you are looking at October, they do the special Halloween night thing(don't remember the name) which you have to pay extra for.

Marsha

The hotel packages are called Gory Getaway packages.

http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando/gory_getaway.html

 

[macraven]

Yeah I found the cancellation policy which is not good if we are trying to decide regarding the weather. Like I said, we already have a timeshare down there I was just going to stay on site one night for convenience and FOTL. Also, I just noticed that the park closes at 6 p.m. the week we are there! That's a couple of hours less to get rides in. Does anyone know if they keep them open later than it shows depending on crowds? I know WDW has done that in the past.

the parks close early in september due to low crowds.
if you are in the park for early october, they close early just as metro stated previously. (hhn nights)

during the summer months and holiday times, (spring break/thanksgiving, christmas) UO has changed the closing hours depending on park crowds.

it is very doubtful for that to happen in late september/early october.
basically, there aren't crowds at that time period with the exception of a weekend.
but at that point, HHN is going on and the 5:00 closing time for the studios can't be changed.

about the hotel room cancellation policy, no way getting around that.
if you are concerned about rain, that time period does not get the rain that the summer months get.

of course, if there is a hurricane in the area, every place will have rain...


i do disney and universal every year during the late sept to columbus day weekend since 1992. i stay onsite at each resort.

disney is cutting hours again this year.
i have not experienced them extending hours during the dates i have gone there.

 

[peterandlisa]

No way are we going to book a room for one night. With our group we'd need three rooms and the cost at even Portofino is way outta our budget compared to Pop even with an extra $50 for two days worth of Express passes (If we even need them).

We have a car so transport isn't an issue. The AAA rate at Pop is around $62/night.

Do you realize the express pass would be $50 per person per day? So for example - for my family of 4 - we stay at Pop for our Disney days - but to add express passes for our universal days would be an extra $200 / day - taking the total price to $262 (express + Pop). Other things to consider here: for the $262 you could stay at a universal resort and enjoy the benefits of a nicer resort for a night or 2, plus you get UNLIMITED express - so you could go on a ride repeatedly with it as opposed to just the once per ride limit on the purchased express. (once you do MIB - or Spiderman ... you WILL want to do it again and again!!) As well - good for every visit to both parks .... as opposed to the purchased one good for only 1 park only.
If express is important to you ..... a Universal Hotel is the only way to go as far as I am concerned. If it is too pricey .... hit the parks at less busy times. We did purchase the express pass once - and were very dissapointed with it. Last trip we stayed at Universal ..... and would never do it another way again!

 

[Jennasis]

Understood, but my dad is footing the bill for the hotel and park tix to WDW and IOA/UDF, everyone else is paying for their own Express Pass (7 adults). Also, we need flexibility. We aren't sure which day of our stay will be at USF/IOA.

In a perfect world, we'd tack on the USF/IOA to either the beginning or the end of our WDW trip and stay one night or two at the onsite hotel. Unfortunately we can't do it that way this time.