How does early entry work for the partner hotels?

[fairyprincess88]

We are staying in a timeshare at Vistana, but we want to do early entry for WWoHP. My plan is to book a Universal vacation package at the cheapest partner hotel, as I am not going to actually stay at the hotel. If I book one night at the hotel and two days of tickets, will both days tickets be early entry? Do I actually even have to go to the hotel?

Any information on how this works would be great, especially from anyone who has done this before.
Thanks,
Michael

I've done the Harry Potter package at a partner hotel a few times. Your park tickets are picked up at the park(either at a ticket window or kiosk), those tickets have the early entry code printed on them. You do not get anything at the hotel that determines your early entry status. I have never done a one night booking but I'd assume that yes you'd get early entry for both days.

 

[Mjpierce5]

Sounds good! Does picking up the tickets on the way into the park eat into your early entry time, or can you pick them up well before early entry begins? I'd hate to miss half my early entry time waiting in a line to get the tickets.

Is it possible to pick them up a day before?

Thanks for all the advice, it is much appreciated!

Michael

 

[macraven]

We are staying in a timeshare at Vistana, but we want to do early entry for WWoHP. My plan is to book a Universal vacation package at the cheapest partner hotel, as I am not going to actually stay at the hotel. If I book one night at the hotel and two days of tickets, will both days tickets be early entry? Do I actually even have to go to the hotel?

Any information on how this works would be great, especially from anyone who has done this before.
Thanks,
Michael

if you book one of universal's packages for offsite hotel, and early entry is listed as one of the benefits, you are good to go.

contact the hotel and ask them if you have to check in for any reason.
let them know you are only booking the package for the tickets and EE.
since they have an affiliation with UO, they could give you that answer.

pick up your tickets at the kiosk.
you can do that anytime, the day before, the week before.
your choice.

 

[Metro West]

pick up your tickets at the kiosk. you can do that anytime, the day before, the week before. your choice.

Yes and this will save you time.

 

[Padstack]

We are staying in a timeshare at Vistana, but we want to do early entry for WWoHP. My plan is to book a Universal vacation package at the cheapest partner hotel, as I am not going to actually stay at the hotel. If I book one night at the hotel and two days of tickets, will both days tickets be early entry? Do I actually even have to go to the hotel?

Any information on how this works would be great, especially from anyone who has done this before.
Thanks,
Michael

Or, you could get your tickets here:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/universal/parkinfo/tickets.html#

Choose the ticket with transfer and you will get early entry. You still get your tcikets from the kiosk and do not need to take the transportation. Most likely, this is cheaper than getting a hotel room. We did used these tickets back in June and received early entry.

 

[damo]

Or, you could get your tickets here:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/universal/parkinfo/tickets.html#

Choose the ticket with transfer and you will get early entry. You still get your tcikets from the kiosk and do not need to take the transportation. Most likely, this is cheaper than getting a hotel room. We did used these tickets back in June and received early entry.

Not everyone has received early entry. When I called Universal about it, they said that the only way to get early entry if you aren't staying onsite, was to purchase a package. I think there was a glitch in ticketing at some point last summer.

Another company has also reported here that they also sell the transfer tickets with admission and that they most definitely do not include early admission.

 

[Padstack]

Not everyone has received early entry. When I called Universal about it, they said that the only way to get early entry if you aren't staying onsite, was to purchase a package. I think there was a glitch in ticketing at some point last summer.

Another company has also reported here that they also sell the transfer tickets with admission and that they most definitely do not include early admission.

I haven't seen reports of people not getting early entry with those tickets, but I havent really looked that hard. There is a report from just a month ago, in the locked Transportation Options thread at the top of the US/IoA forum, that someone got early entry with those tickets.

 

[damo]

I haven't seen reports of people not getting early entry with those tickets, but I havent really looked that hard. There is a report from just a month ago, in the locked Transportation Options thread at the top of the US/IoA forum, that someone got early entry with those tickets.

It is kinda weird that every now and then someone reports getting in. You'd think if this was supposed to happen, DU would be advertising it. I still think is a ticketing glitch and wouldn't count on it happening but just hope for the best...especially when Universal has been telling people (including companies that sell the ticket) that early admission isn't supposed to be included with the ticket.

The Transportation sticky isn't locked, btw.

 

[Padstack]

It is kinda weird that every now and then someone reports getting in. You'd think if this was supposed to happen, DU would be advertising it. I still think is a ticketing glitch and wouldn't count on it happening but just hope for the best...especially when Universal has been telling people (including companies that sell the ticket) that early admission isn't supposed to be included with the ticket.

The Transportation sticky isn't locked, btw.

We didn't count on getting in when we went, just hoped for the best. If there are reports of people not getting early entry, then it will be taking a chance by buying these.

I meant to say stickied, not locked, my bad.

 

[macraven]

i'm with damo on this one.

if you are excited about the vacation and spending early time with parry hotter, it's not worth the risk that you won't get in early.

that would be heartbreaking for the family to watch all the others get in early while you have to wait until the official opening time.

i've read where some don't get in early with the ticket and some have posted they have.

hit or miss.

 

[Padstack]

I do have a question about the Universal package tickets. If I decide to add more days when I get there, will I still get the early entry on the added days?

 

[damo]

I do have a question about the Universal package tickets. If I decide to add more days when I get there, will I still get the early entry on the added days?

I don't know if your new ticket will be marked with the code UPRV which is needed for the early entry. Nobody has brought that question up before.

 

[Fabinva]

Does staying at partner hotel also gives access to express line or just Early entry?
TIA

 

[damo]

Does staying at partner hotel also gives access to express line or just Early entry?
TIA

Booking an offsite package through Universal will get you early admission but not express line access.

 

[Padstack]

I don't know if your new ticket will be marked with the code UPRV which is needed for the early entry. Nobody has brought that question up before.

Just called Universal and the TM said that I would still be given Early Entry for the additional day.

 

[vleeth]

A few days ago I priced a package. Today I went to reserve it and the hotel no longer shows up as a choice. Does that mean the hotel is sold out and there is no way I can get it, or is there a chance it will be a choice later?

Thanks!

 

[damo]

A few days ago I priced a package. Today I went to reserve it and the hotel no longer shows up as a choice. Does that mean the hotel is sold out and there is no way I can get it, or is there a chance it will be a choice later?

Thanks!

I'd give them a call and see what they can do.

 

[vleeth]

The hotel or universal? Where can I find the number?

 

[damo]

The hotel or universal? Where can I find the number?

Call Universal. You can't book a package through the hotel.