The double tree is a nice hotel, but you lose the perks of staying on site and enjoying the night life and walking back to your hotel. It is more expensive to stay on site, but it is worth it. It is no different than Disney.
Staying onsite gives you unlimited express pass. That is like having fastpasses for every ride that you can use whenever you want and how many times you want.
The Doubletree was a good choice and me and my family love it and not the fanciest but the staff are great and always willing to help you and we are going to be there for 2 days in july before we stay onsite at Universal and don't forget the the sleve they give you to put your room key in cause it gives you a 10 % discount on food and merchendise at Universal
If you go to that Starbucks and order a cappacino try it before you leave cause mine was more water than anything and too early in the morning to argue with them about it