Is it worth staying onsite for express pass / early entry?

[StitchIsOurHero]

You should be checking out the main Universal boards too. They are more about the planning and less about the hotels.

Thank you! I definitely will!!

 

[damo]

So front of the line access is more like fast-pass shall we say, and early entry into the park, is a perk for guest's at one of the three major hotel plus there good neighbor type hotels? Is this close to being right

Close but not quite. Early entry is for onsite hotels and those who book a package through Universal at the good neighbour hotels. Those people who are simply staying at the good neighbour hotels without a special package booked through Universal do not get early entry.

Front of the line access really doesn't exist at all. It is called unlimited express pass if you are staying onsite and is exactly that. You can go to any ride at anytime (except for Forbidden JOurney, Rip Ride Rockit and Pteranadon Flyers) and ride that ride. You can get in that line whenever you want and there is no limit to the number of times you get in that line. It does not put you right to the front of the line but instead puts you in a special queue with the other express pass people.

 

[nytimez]

So front of the line access is more like fast-pass shall we say, and early entry into the park, is a perk for guest's at one of the three major hotel plus there good neighbor type hotels? Is this close to being right

Close but not quite. Early entry is for onsite hotels and those who book a package through Universal at the good neighbour hotels. Those people who are simply staying at the good neighbour hotels without a special package booked through Universal do not get early entry.

Front of the line access really doesn't exist at all. It is called unlimited express pass if you are staying onsite and is exactly that. You can go to any ride at anytime (except for Forbidden JOurney, Rip Ride Rockit and Pteranadon Flyers) and ride that ride. You can get in that line whenever you want and there is no limit to the number of times you get in that line. It does not put you right to the front of the line but instead puts you in a special queue with the other express pass people.

Nothing to add to what damo said except that Universal's Express Pass ("front of the line" as you referred to it) is WAAAAAAY better than Fastpass.

 

[danalee]

ok I think I got!! yeah me!

I could see with only 3 hotels how the front of the line would be better and worth it.
As nice as they are... for one night I'm sure our group of 9 will book a good neighbor place with Universal and at least get in early

thanks so much for the info

 

[damo]

ok I think I got!! yeah me!

I could see with only 3 hotels how the front of the line would be better and worth it.
As nice as they are... for one night I'm sure our group of 9 will book a good neighbor place with Universal and at least get in early

thanks so much for the info

No problem. Here is the link to booking the package if you want to bookmark it for future reference

http://www.universalorlando.com/Flo...ay.aspx?ComponentId=6651&SourcePageId=21151#8

 

[rie'smom]

Should be low crowds and not entirely necessary... but personally, I always find that it's worth it anyway. Even if there's only a 10 or 20 minute wait for a ride, that's 10 or 20 minutes I don't have to wait.

RPR only had 2 room types for that weekend. The other onsites had rooms. Heads up on the next weekend though-everything is booked.

Another newbie here. I am in the beginning stages of planning another trip to Orlando. We are wanting to go to IoA & US and I am planning on staying onsite for the pass, early entrance & convince. My question is if we check in that morning, use the pass and check out the next day, will the pass still be good for that full check out date or do I need to plan to stay two nights? I am trying to keep this part of our trip cheap.

The pass is good for both days. We always book 2 nights though because we don't like rushing. The parks are so well themed and there's a lot to see.

So front of the line access is more like fast-pass shall we say, and early entry into the park, is a perk for guest's at one of the three major hotel plus there good neighbor type hotels? Is this close to being right

Onsite express is better than a fast pass because you can show your room key over and over and you don't have to get different fps for each ride.

There is an express pass non onsite guests can purchase but it is only good for use once on each attraction.

 

[MScott1851]

I say, yes, yes, a thousand times yes... We always go in September when there are NO crowds at all, and it's still wonderful to be able to hop right through the line. It really makes touring the park a lot easier, and you get to see more and do more in a shorter amount of time. In fact, it has absolutely ruined me, and now I'm like an impatient child who can't stand to wait more than 30 minutes for anything. We went to Cedar Point a few years ago and I thought I was going to die, having to actually stand in line for a roller coaster, hahaha!

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

this is such good information....exactly what we planned to do!! BUT I thought I'd have to stay 2 nights to get the "front of the line" access....but since reading here I realized we can sleep one night, check out, and still use the "front of the line" access for the next day when we tour the park.

thanks so much!!!

 

[debbs0723]

Should be low crowds and not entirely necessary... but personally, I always find that it's worth it anyway. Even if there's only a 10 or 20 minute wait for a ride, that's 10 or 20 minutes I don't have to wait.

My DH and I were just having this discussion last night. I've gotten a lot of advice for and against needing to stay onsite during January or whether to buy the passes. He said exactly the same thing as you. It is worth it to him if he doesn't even have to wait 20 min. His first question to me was if there is only a 10 min wait do we get to walk straight on or do they not really use the express line if there are short waits?

Debbbie

 

[bumbershoot]

My DH and I were just having this discussion last night. I've gotten a lot of advice for and against needing to stay onsite during January or whether to buy the passes. He said exactly the same thing as you. It is worth it to him if he doesn't even have to wait 20 min. His first question to me was if there is only a 10 min wait do we get to walk straight on or do they not really use the express line if there are short waits?

Debbbie

We went in middish December. One early morning DS and I went on Flight of the Hippogriff. There were times that the normal line was 4 minutes long, and Express was 2. Sometimes both were lower, sometimes a bit higher. DS and I went on 14 times in a row, sometimes using one line, sometimes the other.

So yes, in our experience, they have them both open, though you're talking mere seconds or minutes difference, and it's simply because there are fewer onsite guests there than overall guests.

 

[debbs0723]

We went in middish December. One early morning DS and I went on Flight of the Hippogriff. There were times that the normal line was 4 minutes long, and Express was 2. Sometimes both were lower, sometimes a bit higher. DS and I went on 14 times in a row, sometimes using one line, sometimes the other.

So yes, in our experience, they have them both open, though you're talking mere seconds or minutes difference, and it's simply because there are fewer onsite guests there than overall guests.

Hilarious. The difference between 2-4 minutes, huh? I had read that last January was a nightmare all the way through but maybe that was a fluke and maybe it was Brazilian Tour groups. We have found that even in Disney when it should be slow we have seen huge crowds end of January because of the tour groups. We already have a condo that we are renting for all 9 days we are there so I'm thinking I'll just see what crowd levels have been like on the boards around that time and go from there as to whether we keep the hotel room or not.

Debbie

 

[AnjieNet]

I understand, with onsite hotels staying one night, you get two days of Express Pass. Do you also get two days of Early Admission to WWoHP?

 

[macraven]

I understand, with onsite hotels staying one night, you get two days of Express Pass. Do you also get two days of Early Admission to WWoHP?

onsite hotel guests do get to use the express lines.

on your check out day from the hotel, you still are allowed that perk until the park closes that day.

same with early entry.
do that in the morning early, come back and check out then.

 

[damo]

Hilarious. The difference between 2-4 minutes, huh? I had read that last January was a nightmare all the way through but maybe that was a fluke and maybe it was Brazilian Tour groups. We have found that even in Disney when it should be slow we have seen huge crowds end of January because of the tour groups. We already have a condo that we are renting for all 9 days we are there so I'm thinking I'll just see what crowd levels have been like on the boards around that time and go from there as to whether we keep the hotel room or not.

Debbie

The first two weeks of January were crazy last year but the last two weeks were fine. Everyone here expected the second week to be fine and we were telling people there would be no problem. When the info started coming in about how crazy busy it was, we were very surprised.

 

[patrickpiteo]

You just can't beat staying in site... Well worth it.. Summer when its crowded it rules..

 

[debbs0723]

You just can't beat staying in site... Well worth it.. Summer when its crowded it rules..

Is it worth it in late January during a lower crowd season?

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Is it worth it in late January during a lower crowd season?

My question exactly

 

[Bluer101]

My question exactly

To us it's always worth it, even if it's slow season. We just like the atmosphere and relaxation of staying onsite. If we can't afford onsite, we don't go.

 

[macraven]

it is worth it to me to stay on site whenever i go.
even if it would be a low crowd time period, i stay onsite.


i prefer being on site for some of the obvious reasons.
i truly enjoy the atmosphere of RPH. very relaxing and great staff.

i like to get up and have my coffee in the room.
i can take my time getting dressed and off to the park.

i have no down time in having to organize my items for the total day before i leave for the park.
i only need my lanyard with my hotel room key, cc, AP and cell phone.
i don't need to carry more than $5 on me as i charge back to the hotel for anything i buy.
i can also have merch i buy sent directly to my hotel room.


if i was off site, i would have to become a more organized person........ and have all that taken care of the night before.

i don't have to catch a bus or shuttle to get to the park when i am at rph.
i can leave the hotel and be in the park in about 10 minutes.

if i need to return to the hotel for a break or to sit by the pool, i can get there quickly.

i like the food places at the hotel.

i have more "i likes" than "don't likes" by staying onsite.


i don't feel like the red headed step child when i stay onsite.
i'm included in everything at the hotel........


i have stayed offsite in the first few years i went to UO.
it did work out but it was only the studios at that time.

(now we have city walk and ioa.)


it wasn't easy getting 3 young boys up at the break of dawn, get breakfast, get the car (or shuttle if i didn't drive that trip), fight the traffic getting into the parking garage and leaving the garage when the park closed, then driving around trying to remember which road to take to return to the hotel..


once there, had to figure out food and getting the boys to hit the shower so we could have some quiet time before bed.

staying on site with my boys made it a lot easier for me.
it was well worth the money/


Mr Mac hates florida.
he never came with on our adventures to the motherland or darkside.

 

[Minnie]

We are staying at WDW for a week starting next Saturday

DS's 18th b-day is Aug 16th and we are surprising him with a day at IOA to see the WWoHP

After reading about that the crowd levels still seem to be high tonight I checked the Universal website and RPR had a std room available at a reasonable price so I booked

Question is does this make sense? We have a late flight into ORL on Sat, check in at the Dolphin and then on Monday we'd go over to RPR and then go to IOA on Tuesday morning for early entry. Mom won't be going into IOA with us so she'd have some time at the resort Tues morning.

Does this seem okay or should we give up early entry and just drive over from WDW early Tues morning?

Thanks for any help