Is VIP pass worth it for our trip???

[shoney]

Hi!

My family and I (4 adults 2 kids) will be in Orlando 5/22 to 5/29. We want to go to
US, IOA, SW and Aquatica.

We have no set schedule for which park which days...so we are flexible.

I won 1 superbowl voucher...so it would be 5 x 100 = 500.00 additional to purchase the same 7 day passes for the rest of the bunch.

Now, after reading wait times we are scared!

All of us have been there before, so we are not new to most of the rides. I think Simpsons will be the only new one for us.

My husband and I (back in 02) left lil' kiddies home and celebrated my birthday at US and stayed at the portofino. It was also Memorial Day weekend. We don't remember the crowds because we had the front of line passes. After having that perk, it is hard to go back!

My husband thinks we should upgrade to the VIP pass at 259.00 per ticket. That would mean my superbowl ticket is useless.

The express pass that gives you 1 time isn't worth it either, because my kids like to ride things multiple times. I think we went on ET 12 times last time we were there. It was late August and empty!

It is a lot of extra money, but I can't help to think how miserable it would be waiting in line for the amount of time that is being posted now.

Staying onsite is not possible. My parents have traded their timeshare for the Hilton Grand Vacation Club on I-drive...so the hotel is free for us!

Ugh! What would you do?

 

[Bluer101]

If FOTL is very important to you then I would do this. Book 2 rooms at RPR for Saturday night the 23rd which will give your party 2 days of FOTL. It will cost $604 with taxes. Then buy the 5 $100 7 day passes for $525 with tax. Total is $1130 for both worlds. If you buy the VIP tickets it will be over $1500. Then you can relax onsite for 2 of the days.

 

[QT Pooh]

If FOTL is very important to you then I would do this. Book 2 rooms at RPR for Saturday night the 23rd which will give your party 2 days of FOTL. It will cost $604 with taxes. Then buy the 5 $100 7 day passes for $525 with tax. Total is $1130 for both worlds. If you buy the VIP tickets it will be over $1500. Then you can relax onsite for 2 of the days.

Hmmm...I was thinking about this as well - we're staying offsite for free with hotel points so won't have FOTL access. It might be worth it to pay for a night at RPR if we can get FOTL for 2 days! Can I get FOTL access/my key prior to actually checking in? Or would I have to try to check in at the hotel before the parks open? Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[shoney]

Now that is something to think about! Thanks!

 

[Bluer101]

Hmmm...I was thinking about this as well - we're staying offsite for free with hotel points so won't have FOTL access. It might be worth it to pay for a night at RPR if we can get FOTL for 2 days! Can I get FOTL access/my key prior to actually checking in? Or would I have to try to check in at the hotel before the parks open? Thanks for the suggestion!

I think you can check in as early as 6 am and get your keys. If the room is not ready head to the parks and they will call your cell with the room numbers when they are ready. No need to go back to the front desk. We do alot of Saturday and Sunday trips with one night stay, very benificial, but we also have AP passes. You might be able to get the room cheaper with AAA if you have it.

 

[macraven]

i know you can check in at 7 am as that is what i have done in past trips.

room won't be ready but your luggage can be held for you.


you will get the room keys and a phone call when your room is ready that day.

i checked the epp cost for your dates.

The 27 and 28 of may the epp are at their lowest costs.
the other days of your stay in orlando are the next level up on costs.

the lower the cost of the epp is an indicator of an anticipated low crowd day in the parks.

don't stay on site for the 2 days of free fotl perks on the lower cost days.
stay on site for the dates where it shows the medium crowd level.

 

[shoney]

i know you can check in at 7 am as that is what i have done in past trips.

room won't be ready but your luggage can be held for you.


you will get the room keys and a phone call when your room is ready that day.

i checked the epp cost for your dates.

The 27 and 28 of may the epp are at their lowest costs.
the other days of your stay in orlando are the next level up on costs.

the lower the cost of the epp is an indicator of an anticipated low crowd day in the parks.

don't stay on site for the 2 days of free fotl perks on the lower cost days.
stay on site for the dates where it shows the medium crowd level.

I really wanted to keep the cost of this trip down...My husband is stressing over the lines.

I think we will plan our 2 full days for the 27th and 28th...maybe will hit the parks in the mornings of the 23 and 24th, do the rides and then have lunch (mythos, finnegans, etc) and then if it is too bad we'll leave.

We can look to SW on 25th and Aquatica on the 26th.

After all of that, I'll need a vacation when we get home!!!!

 

[Notatourist]

Think about a five hour vip tour. You get the no line treatment for five whole hours then...you get a pass that acts as an express pass for the rest of the day.

120 per person.

That might help out line stressed hubby.

 

[inkkognito]

Think about a five hour vip tour. You get the no line treatment for five whole hours then...you get a pass that acts as an express pass for the rest of the day.

You forgot to mention "ride in the front of the coasters during the tour." That was one of my favorite perks when we used to do the tours.

 

[macraven]

Think about a five hour vip tour. You get the no line treatment for five whole hours then...you get a pass that acts as an express pass for the rest of the day.

120 per person.

That might help out line stressed hubby.

you know, this has to be the best solution for your family......

 

[Bluer101]

Think about a five hour vip tour. You get the no line treatment for five whole hours then...you get a pass that acts as an express pass for the rest of the day.

120 per person.

That might help out line stressed hubby.

I belive that that $120 plus theme park ticket price.

 

[Notatourist]

Still less than the VIP ticket upgrade

 

[NashvilleTrio]

Not sure if you've noticed, but Universal is offering a 7-day 2-Park Ticket with unlimited Express for $259/person. Would that be an option for your family?

 

[shoney]

Not sure if you've noticed, but Universal is offering a 7-day 2-Park Ticket with unlimited Express for $259/person. Would that be an option for your family?

Well I was out voted by my husband and parents last night. They insisted on buying this pass at 259 pp. I understand their thought process, however it is just alot of money. They wanted the 7 day option of the express pass and that it is unlimited. We did stay on site once many years ago (7 to be exact) and we had to show the hotel card. Is this similar? Do we just show the passes that we will pick up from the kiosk? Does this also include priority at the restaurants or is that only for hotel guests?

I know we will be very happy once we get down there. I was just being cheap!