Just a few Q's

[IncredibleboysMom]

Hello, My family are long-time Disney visitors planning a trip to Universal this summer. I purchased the $99 tickets this morning (tickets at work $513 for 5) and am now thinking about other things and I have a few questions.

1. Is the only way to get express line access by staying onsite? No Fastpass type thing or a different way to purchase it?

2. Do we really need express access if we have the weeklong passes? We may rent a condo and just come and go over a week's time. We have 3 boys and I would really like to have more room than that, especially for the $$. Condo recommendations in the area with a good pool are appreciated.

3. Does Universal/IOA have anything similar to Disney's GAC card? Two of our kids are disabled and the GAC card at Disney allows us to use an alternate entrance. I will ask this on the Disabilites board as well.

Thanks!

 

[Darcy03231]

Hello, My family are long-time Disney visitors planning a trip to Universal this summer. I purchased the $99 tickets this morning (tickets at work $513 for 5) and am now thinking about other things and I have a few questions.

1. Is the only way to get express line access by staying onsite? No Fastpass type thing or a different way to purchase it?

2. Do we really need express access if we have the weeklong passes? We may rent a condo and just come and go over a week's time. We have 3 boys and I would really like to have more room than that, especially for the $$. Condo recommendations in the area with a good pool are appreciated.

3. Does Universal/IOA have anything similar to Disney's GAC card? Two of our kids are disabled and the GAC card at Disney allows us to use an alternate entrance. I will ask this on the Disabilites board as well.

Thanks!

1. You can buy an Express Pass and the cost varies per day. It allows one time through the express lane per ride.

2. A lot depends on the time of year you're going. If you're going during a slower time and plan to get there at park opening each day then you don't really need the express pass. If you're planning on going during a holiday or school vacation week and don't want to wander into the parks until about noon you'll either need the Express Pass or should plan to stand in line (a lot).

3. Sorry, can't help you with this one.


We went in August one year (2nd and 3rd week). I found that by getting there at park opening we were able to get a lot done in the first couple of hours without long lines. By noon the lines really started to form and by 1-2 pm the lines for the more popular rides were 1+ hours. I did get a room on-site for one night so we would have two days of Express Pass privileges (check in day and check out day). It was actually less expensive to do that than it would have been to buy the Express passes and we got two days instead of one and were able to make multiple trips per ride through the Express Pass line. You might want to look into it.

 

[Purseval]

Hello, My family are long-time Disney visitors planning a trip to Universal this summer. I purchased the $99 tickets this morning (tickets at work $513 for 5) and am now thinking about other things and I have a few questions.

1. Is the only way to get express line access by staying onsite? No Fastpass type thing or a different way to purchase it?

You can buy them in the park, price varies by day but it's anywhere from about $30-70/person. That is why some people get a hotel room just for the passes.

2. Do we really need express access if we have the weeklong passes? We may rent a condo and just come and go over a week's time. We have 3 boys and I would really like to have more room than that, especially for the $$. Condo recommendations in the area with a good pool are appreciated.

No, you really don't. Be there when the parks open and you will beat the lines. There are several sites that handle condo rentals, ask over in the Orland hotel forum. You won't have any problem finding housing.

3. Does Universal/IOA have anything similar to Disney's GAC card? Two of our kids are disabled and the GAC card at Disney allows us to use an alternate entrance. I will ask this on the Disabilites board as well.

Thanks!

Can't help you with that one.

 

[SueM in MN]

Follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread. There is one post in that thread about Universal. It includes information about their version of the Guest Assistance Card and also a link to Universal's Rider's Guide for Guests with Disabilities.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Hello, My family are long-time Disney visitors planning a trip to Universal this summer. I purchased the $99 tickets this morning (tickets at work $513 for 5) and am now thinking about other things and I have a few questions.

1. Is the only way to get express line access by staying onsite? No Fastpass type thing or a different way to purchase it?

There is an Express you can buy. The price varies per day, and everybody needs to have a pass. It can be less expensive to stay onsite depending on number of people & amount of days.

2. Do we really need express access if we have the weeklong passes? We may rent a condo and just come and go over a week's time. We have 3 boys and I would really like to have more room than that, especially for the $$. Condo recommendations in the area with a good pool are appreciated.

That's up to you. With a decent touring plan, you can go at your leisure. Expect long lines between 12-5 if you're going during the summer.

3. Does Universal/IOA have anything similar to Disney's GAC card? Two of our kids are disabled and the GAC card at Disney allows us to use an alternate entrance. I will ask this on the Disabilites board as well.

Thanks!

Yes. Go to Guest Services at the front of the park and speak to a rep.They will give you the appropriate pass.

 

[cieslack]

We have stayed offsite in the past and found that a vacation home was very convenient. We stayed in a 4 bedroom home in Davenport for 7 days for less than $700. It was a 20+ minute drive to the parks, but we were only a few minutes from I-4. Did I mention it had a garage, washer and dryer, and screened pool? Just my personal preference, but I'll take a house over a condo any day. There are countless houses available in the area. The particular one I described is titled "Vacation house near Mickey Mouse." You can probably Google it. I only mention it because it is the only one I have direct knowledge of. We are staying onsite this visit, but if I weren't I would be in a house in a quiet neighborhood.