In serious need of advice/guidance.

[Dimples1973ca]

We are in the midst of planning a huge celebration vacation and I would love to spend a night at an on site universal hotel and take advantage of the perks included. What I can't seem to figure out is..... When I purchase a hotel night, the fotl stuff is included but I still have to buy the actual park tickets. I am so confused and the universal Orlando site is not the most user friendly.

I guess what I need is to figure out the cost of one night on site with tickets. HELP

Thanks,
Lori

 

[Metro West]

Park admission is NOT included with the hotel rates on the website. Park tickets are purchased separately...unless you're booking a package of course.

Onsite guests receive unlimited Express access and early admission to HP.

 

[damo]

The hotels at Universal are not run by Universal. That is why things are kept separate. Purchase your tickets at www.universalorlando.com or at www.undercovertourist.com and book your hotel at http://www.loewshotels.com/en/booking/uo?hotel=UEPBH,UEHRH,UERPR


It really is no different than purchasing a hotel only reservation at www.disneyworld.disney.go.com and then purchasing tickets at www.undercovertourist.com

Staying onsite for one night at Universal hotel will get you two days of early admission and two days of unlimited express.

 

[Dimples1973ca]

Ahhhh. Ok now that makes some sense. So essentially, I can get my Universal studios tickets pretty much any where and still get to use the room key to receive the front of the line stuff.

 

[damo]

Ahhhh. Ok now that makes some sense. So essentially, I can get my Universal studios tickets pretty much any where and still get to use the room key to receive the front of the line stuff.

Yup. The perks at the hotels have nothing to do with the park tickets. Anyone who stays at the hotels get the perks.

When you check in you will be given a room key for everyone. You take this room key to a special kiosk in the hotel and it will take your picture and put it on your express access card. You show that card at every ride that accepts it.

 

[Metro West]

Ahhhh. Ok now that makes some sense. So essentially, I can get my Universal studios tickets pretty much any where and still get to use the room key to receive the front of the line stuff.

The hotel Express pass is longer attached to your room key. There is a separate pass that is issued with your picture on it. You will get that at the hotel.

 

[cbonewjersey]

It's not worth it unless you want to stay there period. We are going to be 6 people. I tried - that has to be 2 rooms. Cheapest rate for 1 night came out to just under $600 for the two rooms. Divided by 6/day, is just under $50. that's the cost of the Express passes for the 2 days we want to go. I am staying on DVC at Disney for the week. So it's a wash. no savings. Last year, in August, crowds were light, but the passes absolutely helped. Spiderman alone, it saved us almost an hour. The question I have is that you can buy the EPs in the park after you get in - and I wonder if the price that day is less or more than if you pre-reserve them. Anyone????

 

[Metro West]

The question I have is that you can buy the EPs in the park after you get in - and I wonder if the price that day is less or more than if you pre-reserve them. Anyone????

Well...prices can change at any time but the EP prices are based on the anticipated crowds for that day. The higher the crowd, the more expensive the EP is. I wouldn't advise buying them ahead of time though. They are park/date specific and non-refundable. Wait until you arrive and see what the lines are like before spending the money.

 

[cbonewjersey]

Thank you. I think you're right. we are going late August and they want $49 per day. That's $19 more than same time last year.

 

[heidi8]

The Hotel Guest Express Pass gets you onto each EP ride an unlimited number of times, though, whereas the regular one that you can buy gets you onto everything once. For us, since my kids are thrilled to go on Storm and Hippogryff and Woody Woodpecker 10+ times each and have no interest in, say, Hulk, the hotel stay is a bigger benefit for us, especially at AAA or FLO or APH rates.

 

[funkbucket007]

Thread was making me nervous. I booked a "package" and 2-day base tickets with a 3rd day for free, City Walk passes, early admission to IOA and Unlimited Express Pass were included. I was about to be livid if the price I paid was only for a room at Royal Pacific.

 

[damo]

Thread was making me nervous. I booked a "package" and 2-day base tickets with a 3rd day for free, City Walk passes, early admission to IOA and Unlimited Express Pass were included. I was about to be livid if the price I paid was only for a room at Royal Pacific.

They make it sound like you are getting extras by booking a package. You aren't. The Citywalk passes are included with any multi-day ticket. The early admission and unlimited express are included with any onsite stay. The 2 day ticket with get one free is available anywhere tickets are sold.



On the Universal website they have let "Universal Vacations" --- a travel agency --- sell packages. There aren't any special deals or anything. They just get their tickets from Universal Orlando and book their rooms through Loews. They just charge you fees if you want them to make any changes and they make you pay for entire amount a certain time in advance. As long as you have read the fine print and are okay with their restrictions it is all good.

 

[ky07]

They make it sound like you are getting extras by booking a package. You aren't. The Citywalk passes are included with any multi-day ticket. The early admission and unlimited express are included with any onsite stay. The 2 day ticket with get one free is available anywhere tickets are sold.

On the Universal website they have let "Universal Vacations" --- a travel agency --- sell packages. There aren't any special deals or anything. They just get their tickets from Universal Orlando and book their rooms through Loews. They just charge you fees if you want them to make any changes and they make you pay for entire amount a certain time in advance. As long as you have read the fine print and are okay with their restrictions it is all good.

That's the reason I like booking things on my own instead of packages cause when you stay onsite you can get all the same benefits that you get booking that package and most times you can book the room and get the tickets cheaper than the package cause I saved quite a bit over the packages they offered and on our tight budget was able to stay onsite this year when I thought we was going to have to stay offsite this year

 

[funkbucket007]

That's the reason I like booking things on my own instead of packages cause when you stay onsite you can get all the same benefits that you get booking that package and most times you can book the room and get the tickets cheaper than the package cause I saved quite a bit over the packages they offered and on our tight budget was able to stay onsite this year when I thought we was going to have to stay offsite this year

Ours was actually $8.63 cheaper to get the "package," as opposed to getting the room directly from Loews and the tickets directly from Universal. I know that's not much but I certainly didn't get taken advantage of by getting it all from Universal's site.

Best I can advise is to check it both ways and do whichever is cheapest. The implication that you're getting screwed by getting a Vacation Package simply isn't true.

 

[damo]

Ours was actually $8.63 cheaper to get the "package," as opposed to getting the room directly from Loews and the tickets directly from Universal. I know that's not much but I certainly didn't get taken advantage of by getting it all from Universal's site.

Best I can advise is to check it both ways and do whichever is cheapest. The implication that you're getting screwed by getting a Vacation Package simply isn't true.

We generally recommend getting your tickets from Undercover Tourist. That's where you start getting the better deals.

For example:

A four day park hopper at the universal website: $172.54

A four day park hopper at undercovertourist.com: $159.95

For a family of 4, that is a $50.36 savings.


We often get complaints from people who have purchased the package and then tried to make changes that they've gotten dinged with fees. That is one of the main reasons we don't recommend packages.

 

[gordigor]

Remember, even express pass doesn't work for Rip Rocket or Forbidden Journey.

 

[damo]

Remember, even express pass doesn't work for Rip Rocket or Forbidden Journey.

That's why getting the early admission perk is very important.

Nothing will save you for HRRR, lol.

 

[jkc0325]

If you book one night, how can you get early admission if you haven't checked in yet? Is there a way to pre-check in so you get the early admission perk before you can really check in and go to your room?

 

[damo]

If you book one night, how can you get early admission if you haven't checked in yet? Is there a way to pre-check in so you get the early admission perk before you can really check in and go to your room?

You have to physically check in. You can do that very early in the morning (before 7 am even). If your room is ready, you can store your stuff otherwise you can store your stuff with bell services and come back later to get your room number. They will even take your cell number and call you with your room number if you like.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ours was actually $8.63 cheaper to get the "package," as opposed to getting the room directly from Loews and the tickets directly from Universal. I know that's not much but I certainly didn't get taken advantage of by getting it all from Universal's site.

Best I can advise is to check it both ways and do whichever is cheapest. The implication that you're getting screwed by getting a Vacation Package simply isn't true.

With all the vacations to uni that I have priced out that is the first I have ever heard of the package coming in lower. But I'm using UCT or mapleleaf for tix, not uni, or I have the AP rate and therefore the AP.