I am Confused

[Plan Man]

We have gone to Disney amny many times but this time we want to try Universal.

We will stay on-site at Disney for about 8 days and want to do one or two days at Universal.

Here ae my questions:

1) If we just do one day what ticket should we buy and where?

2) Does this front of the line and Express plus option the only way to go. In other words are the single day pass buyers at a real disadvantage. I don't want to wait in long lines when for twnty dollars I could have hardly waited. can you give me some idea of the differenc in wait times. Yes we sould use the Express non plus option,

3) If we do two days or want to do two parks in one day - what is your advice?


thanks,

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Basically, you should allow 2 days if you do both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Many people skip the shows at Universal, because they don't have time to do that AND the rides. However, many people miss out on some quality entertainment...Universal has many great shows than cannot be missed. If you allow one day for Universal Studios alone, you can do the rides, and squeeze in a couple shows, if any entice you.

About Express, it all really depends what time of the year you go. During the summer, it can get quite busy, and you could use Express passes for the attractions. Especially for The Revenge of the Mummy ride at US, and Spiderman at IOA. Ideally, if you stay onsite, you get FOTL privileges with your room key, but if that's not possible, and you are going during a semi-busy time, I recommend Express Pass Plus, or just getting to the parks ASAP and trying to get a free Express Pass at the machines (similar to Disney's Fast Pass system...but Express runs out quickly for the newest/most popular attractions...so get those first).

 

[damo]

The lines are no worse than at Disney. Use the express pass machines and get there early, early, early!!! Do the most popular rides immediately and you should be fine.

 

[sweet maxine]

I too am wondering about the need for Express pass for this summer. We are trying for two days in the third week of June, and I am tentatively scheduling a night at RPR just for the ability to use the Express line at the rides. Is this a necessity, or would we do just as well staying offsite and using the passes from the machines? I will have 3 teenagers in tow for that part of the trip, in case that will be part of the deciding factor. Thanks for your help. We have not visited US in about 13 years.

 

[damo]

Staying one night at the RPR is an excellent idea. Your teens will be very grateful.

 

[msr709]

It is sOOOOO much easier to stay on-site even for 1 night, you get the day you check-in and the day you check-out until midnight so you will be able to so much. Specially with teenagers in tow, they will want to do rides multiple times and with the Express Pass Plus you can only do one ride per ticket, with FOTL you can do the same rides as many times as you want. Good luck and have a wonderful time!

 

[sweet maxine]

Thanks for the advice. I have reserved a room at RPR for the ENT rate of $164. I am wondering if I should move up to the PBH for the $202 rate for more space and the larger bathroom, though. It sounds really nice....

 

[Teris]

If I understand it right,, the two park/ two day ticket would be what you would want, if you are going to try to go to both parks,, even if on the same day. I think you can use the second day on a later visit, unlike the 5day/price of 2 ticket.

What they said above tho,, even if just for one night, it's worth it for the FOTL. You may find yourself longing for a return to Universal due to it

https://tickets.universalstudios.com/USRG/us_store_secure2.jsp

Sweetmaxine,, I am counting on that big bathroom this upcoming trip,, with two teenage girls and myself,, we are going to need it!

 

[sweet maxine]

Teris, thanks for your advice. I think I'm going to call and see if they still have that room at the Portofino for roughly $35 more and almost double the room space! That is starting to sound awfully nice!

 

[YCFAN]

We had two teenagers (my son and his friend) with us on our last trip. They rode Hulk 4 times in a row while the regular line had a 65 minute wait. They thought it was the best thing in the world. It was also great because my husband and I were sticking mostly with our 2 year old but when I wanted to go and ride something with the teenagers it wasn't a big chore to have to wait in line so long away from the others. A quick trip down the express line and right back to my DH and DS(2). We always save Universal for the end of the week now after Disney because we'd be too spoiled with FOTL to go to Disney afterward. The teenagers really like it too because they could get in so many rides and then head for the pool. Many times after the pool they'd hop back over and do a few more rides. It just never got old with hardly any standing in line.

 

[damo]

Sweet Maxine the Portofino is quite a walk from the parks. You can get a deluxe room at the Hard Rock that has two queen beds and a pull out couch. It is a nice large room. You can walk to the parks from HRH in about 5 minutes.

 

[sweet maxine]

Thanks for the responses. I have just kind of thrown this idea together at the last minute to add on to the end of our Disney trip. I am taking a 3 y/o with me also, so I think this FOTL thing will be great. This whole idea is really starting to grow on me, and I wish we could have planned more days for US. But I thought this might be a way to end the trip on a good note before we go back home to the real world. I am just cramming the cost of this into my already overblown budget, though we are cooking most of our meals while at Disney. That will save us quite a bit, and hopefully allow for this little US splurge.

damo, when I checked originally for the room, the HRH was sold out for the date I was looking for. I am getting ready to call and see if it will be available now. Thanks for the info.

Edited to add...I just called to check and the HRH only had a kid suite for $499 available. Oh well....

 

[msr709]

Sweet Maxine did you try the Royal Pacific, its just a 7 minute walk to the parks its on the opposite side of HRH but a lot closer than Portofino and a lot cheaper. Good luck, don't forget to ask for the Entertainment Card rate it may be cheaper.

 

[sweet maxine]

I actually have a room on hold at the Royal Pacific at the ENT rate of what I thought was $164. Yesterday when I called the rate was $168, so I'm not sure if my rate is creeping up. I was told by the operator that the $168 was my original quoted price, but I have everything written down that I was told. At the time of the original reservation I asked about the room rate with tax included and this is what I have written down. Yesterday I was given a totally different price. If this keeps up, I'm going to give up on this idea, as the lady in reservations was not very friendly. I have spoken to much nicer people on the Disney ressie line. I'm not sure what is going on at US.

 

[Plan Man]

Ok - A little more about my group. we are a family of six. dad, mom, 15 yo, 13 yo, 10 yo, and 8 yo. All like rides of all varieties and shows. We are camping at Fort Wilderness. So staying one night or even two would mean we have to move all of our stuff. Too much work. We will be back no doubt. We are actualy doing a big camping, beach, WDW, Universal vacation for a little over two weeks. Eight days at Fort Wilderness.

We might do two days at Universal. thinking one at IOA and one at Universal Studios. I know we will be back at some point in the next year or so. Usually two trips per year to disney is the norm.

Should we buy the three days for the price of two and forfiet the extra day. (Who knows we might find our way back on the third day in evening) (any evening shows that we should not miss) I am trying to have some flexibility in the plan - for the sake of my wife who will let me know if it is too much but also very much appreciates the plan.

It sounds like the express option will be fine - we always get there early and know the program of hitting the popular rides first and criss crossing the park to get the line passes etc.

can anyone break down the ticket options and why I might buy one versus another given the above very long post.

Thanks!!!!

 

[Teris]

It will be hard to cris cross IOA for tickets, because of the layout, similar to how EPCOT is with the world showcase, but without the friendship boats to take you across the water faster. After getting off rides like Siderman and Hulk,, that's when you want to grab another pass before you move from that area. Same thing with the more popular attractions at Universal, grab the next pass before leaving Shrek or ROTM. If someone with you isn't riding those rides, perhaps even have them get the new passes for you while you are queueing.

 

[swilshire]

What is the cheapest room one could get that would be listed to accomodate six? We will be in a timeshare, but I wonder if it would be worth renting a room for one night even if we didn't stay there, just to get the perks. Just a thought. Probably too expensive.

Sheila

 

[Plan Man]

I thought about it but figured I could buy the express pass plus for four of us - which would probably be enough. Thought this would be cheaper. I always have a few brave souls that lose their nerve at the end.

 

[msr709]

Sweet Maxine, I'm sorry you've had so much trouble with reservations. I've never heard of the Ent rates going up like you said they have. I would call back and ask for an email confirmation or a mail confirmation, when I made my reservations I gave them my email address and when I didn't get the email I called again and they had the wrong email address (they transposed two digits) but I got my email confirmation one day after that. I don't think its right for them to raise your rate and I don't really think its accurate. I would call until I get a friendlier operator and clear this up. Good luck and I hope everything works out.