Is staying on site worth it?

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

I'm considering going to Orlando in early December and looked into staying on site at Universal in order to take advantage of the express access, but it would cost about half as much to stay at the HIFS and they have free breakfast. How important is it to have the express access if we're going to be there during the week? Is the extra money for the room worth the convenience?

 

[damo]

How much are you paying for HIFS?

 

[Aisling]

The extra money to stay onsite for FOTL access is so worth it, and also because it's walking distance to the parks. I've only been there is July when it's crowded, so these perks were like gold for me, but if you're going in early December, maybe it would be less crowded and therefore not such a great need for FOTL access?
I would never go to Universal if I couldn't stay onsite. I start saving for my trip 10 months ahead of time to make sure of it!

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

I got the stay one night/get one night free offer from HIFS and I'm paying $284 for 4 nights. The cheapest I could find for Universal was $589 (4 nights) for the Portofino on Expedia. The difference would be most of my food budget. This is a spur of the moment trip and was hoping to use up the 1 day left on our WDW hopper passes and possibly see MVMCP in addition to Universal. Any other help about how important express access is to have??

 

[Buschfan]

If you get to the parks early, you can quicky get on the rides the first couple of hours. I don't think the added expense is necessary. The first part of December is slow compared to around Christmas and the summer.

 

[NCRedding]

We were there 9/30-10/2 and found that FOTL was not necessary. In fact, at a couple of places the attendants were a little annoyed that we insisted on using our FOTL access. That said, however, I loved staying on site, and having the short walk to the parks was terrific. The walk is much shorter than the walk from the parking lots at Universal.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by NCRedding
at a couple of places the attendants were a little annoyed that we insisted on using our FOTL access

LOL! i know some attendants will tell you that the line either way (express or regular) will be almost the exact same during slow times

 

[Cindy B]

I've always stayed offsite.

We get to the park early, and we are fine.

WE went during August, not so crowded either.

We did use Express, so that worked out as well.

 

[Robinrs]

Like everyone said, it really depends on the time of year you go.

I'm going during the first week in January when the kids are still off from school so it is VERY necessary! Besides the proximity to the parks is excellent! On the other hand, my son reminds me daily how FAR the HIFS is from USF...

BTW I will be staying at the HIFS also first, then transferring over to the Royal Pacific. The buy one get one deal was too good to pass up, especially since it's for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! I got the Residential Suite for $189, which makes it about $95 a night which is a heck of a price for that time of year!

Did you check for Entertainment rates on your nights? My rate for January 2nd is only $110 a night. None were available for NYE and NYD, for obvious reasons. You might want to ask.

 

[Lewisc]

Really no question, since the difference is your food budget stay at HIFS. Vacation won't be much fun if you can't eat.
Breakfast on site isn't cheap (compared to free in HIFS).

I figure with FOTL you can do most of a park in about half a day. With normal to light lines (and an early start) you should be able to do the park in less than a day. FOTL is nice if you want to ride a popular ride more than once.

 

[4our4kids]

I've been following this thread closely as I am also considering staying off site. We will be going the last few days in January and hope the crowds will be minimal. I have ressies at the HRH but am really wondering since I had to book 2 rms for the 6 of us, if the FOTLA is nessassary for that time of yr?? I'd love more input from others. Thanks

 

[thefoyboy]

4our4,

The six in your party, is that 2 adults and 4 children or some combination with children? If so, you don't need to book two rooms at HRH.

We've gone the last 2 years with 6 in our party, 4 adults and 2 children, and booked the Deluxe room which has 2 queens and a queen sleeper sofa. Now the official line is only 5 in a room because of the local fire code, but unofficially from hotel staff and reservation agents is they'll never check and you'll have no problems and we never have. They even knew we had 6 but said nothing.

Save the money, book a deluxe, you'll have tons of room and save money for other things in the process.

 

[4our4kids]

thefoyboy,
The deluxe rm was considered but voted out. Dd's, 17 and 13, could share a bed. Dh and I in another. My ds, 16 could take the pull out, and dd 2.5 would barely take up any room at all. It was the single bathroom that was the deciding factor. Thanks for the idea though.

 

[thefoyboy]

I just thought I'd offer the possibility as a great money saver. If you have family members that are bathroom fiends, then yes sharing one bathroom may be an issue, but if its room space then you would have no problems in the Deluxe.

Good luck to you.

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by Tay N Evie's Mom
I got the stay one night/get one night free offer from HIFS and I'm paying $284 for 4 nights. The cheapest I could find for Universal was $589 (4 nights) for the Portofino on Expedia. The difference would be most of my food budget. This is a spur of the moment trip and was hoping to use up the 1 day left on our WDW hopper passes and possibly see MVMCP in addition to Universal. Any other help about how important express access is to have??

Just to put things in a different light.

Last December, we stayed (3 of us) in a rented house for 8 nights for $600 (total, including taxes). Now of course we had to rent a car and drive each day (plus parking) but it was still way cheaper than staying on site.

We have yet to stay on site because we just can't see the benefits. Even with FOTL or Early Entry at WDW it's still not worth it in my opinion.

We've been to WDW/US 4 times since 97 and have rented a house each time except one. In Dec 2000 we stayed at HIFS.
It was ok. The food was good but I really minded people walking above me and outside our door. I think we paid about $100 a night (not sure).

This December the whole family (10) is going and we're renting a 6 bedroom/4 bath home with a heated pool for $1400 (10 nights).

I think we will probably always stay off site and rent a house.

 

[thefoyboy]

Emmagata,

While I can understand your thoughts about staying onsite, I disagree with you. Our first time 3 years ago we stayed at the brand new Embassy Suites on the east side over by the airport because they had a great rate and figured spending more money staying onsite was foolhardy.

Now you have to understand that my wife is a real penny pincher. Well, the first year we had a good time but spent time on the road going to and coming that could have been spent relaxing before just walking over.

Well, when we heard about the HRH opening in early 2001 we decided to splurge when coming this year and decided stay there. Since that time, we would never consider staying offsite. Yes, it is more expensive but there is something to be said for being right at the parks, walking over and back at your convenience and just the atmosphere of being right there.

If you haven't tried it and don't get it, then you wouldn't understand and you need to give it a go just once.

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by thefoyboy
Emmagata,

While I can understand your thoughts about staying onsite, I disagree with you. Our first time 3 years ago we stayed at the brand new Embassy Suites on the east side over by the airport because they had a great rate and figured spending more money staying onsite was foolhardy.

Now you have to understand that my wife is a real penny pincher. Well, the first year we had a good time but spent time on the road going to and coming that could have been spent relaxing before just walking over.

Well, when we heard about the HRH opening in early 2001 we decided to splurge when coming this year and decided stay there. Since that time, we would never consider staying offsite. Yes, it is more expensive but there is something to be said for being right at the parks, walking over and back at your convenience and just the atmosphere of being right there.

If you haven't tried it and don't get it, then you wouldn't understand and you need to give it a go just once.

Staying over by the Airport (I assume you mean Orlando)
makes for quite a drive to US and even more to WDW.

The houses we rented were about 2-3 miles from the Disney property which meant about a 10-15 to the MK parking lot (it was the farthest) and less to the other parks except US/IOA

I figured it would cost us at least $1000 more to stay on site at WDW (at a moderate- I won't stay at All Star ???).

Plus we have TONs of elbow room, our own private screened (and heated if needed) pool, no noisy neighbors, a full kitchen, garage, etc..


We may try it one time just to see but I doubt that we will switch.

 

[thefoyboy]

Emmagata,

Yes, the first year we stayed way out there as I did not know of this board to get informed and second of all we had never been there before.

True, you may not think staying onsite is that big a deal, but that is what my wife thought before we did it. Now she won't even consider staying offsite at Universal even though it costs more.

Try it once and judge for yourself. You may be pleasantly surprised.