On Site?

[DAlston4485]

Hi, I have been lurking on the boards for awhile trying to get all the information I can. Have been to Disney once (2011) and never to Universal. We are doing a mini vacation this year due to my husbands new job and only has so much vacation. Its Me, DH, DS 9, and DD 6. Doing 1 day at universal and 3 days at disney. Spending our first night over at universal. Our 1 day at Univeral will be Sunday September 16. I was originally going to book a package through universal at a partner hotel just to get the early entry. I know we are going at a slow time, but since we are only doing one day (and will obviously not see everything no matter what) do you recommend that we just stay onsite to get the FOTL access?
Thanks!

 

[mesaboy2]

Hi, I have been lurking on the boards for awhile trying to get all the information I can. Have been to Disney once (2011) and never to Universal. We are doing a mini vacation this year due to my husbands new job and only has so much vacation. Its Me, DH, DS 9, and DD 6. Doing 1 day at universal and 3 days at disney. Spending our first night over at universal. Our 1 day at Univeral will be Sunday September 16. I was originally going to book a package through universal at a partner hotel just to get the early entry. I know we are going at a slow time, but since we are only doing one day (and will obviously not see everything no matter what) do you recommend that we just stay onsite to get the FOTL access?Thanks!

This is obviously up to you, but mid-September typically sees fairly low crowds. My answer would be if you are attempting to do both parks in one day I would opt to stay onsite, but if you are only planning one of them you should be fine without.

 

[DAlston4485]

This is obviously up to you, but mid-September typically sees fairly low crowds. My answer would be if you are attempting to do both parks in one day I would opt to stay onsite, but if you are only planning one of them you should be fine without.

Thanks! We are gonna try to get some things done in both parks, mainly WWOHP, Dr. Seuss, and the main reason for doing both parks is bc the kids want to do Despicable Me. Probably should stay onsite then. Thanks again!

 

[mesaboy2]

Thanks! We are gonna try to get some things done in both parks, mainly WWOHP, Dr. Seuss, and the main reason for doing both parks is bc the kids want to do Despicable Me. Probably should stay onsite then. Thanks again!

That's what I would probably do. I'm just one voice, hopefully others will chime in.

 

[Koda]

We just got back from our 1st trip to Universal. We stayed at HRH, and loved the proximity to the parks. You can walk to US in less than 5 minutes, and a couple more minutes to IOA. On the way back if you are tired, you can always take the boat or hire one of the many bicycle rick-shaws that are around.

I thought the express pass was totally worth it. Of course, we were there in mid June with larger crowds, but we never waited more than 10 minutes for a ride.

I wouldn't hesitate to stay on-site again.

 

[uproar90]

Can't bring myself to stay offsite... Never tried it.

Stayed onsite the first time and I can't imagine having to shuttle over, drive over, stay in a resort that isn't Royal Pacific. It just wouldn't be the same.

And yes... The FOTL pass is a large portion of the reasoning.

... about 3 years ago, the wife & I thought about a 3 day trip to introduce USO to our 4 year old. He was already a huge super-hero fan, so we knew it was going to be a good addition to the WDW rotation.

We looked into a few options with alleged 3-star hotels near by, and we were trying to determine the easiest way to get to the parks, etc. without driving, and without having to rely on the shuttles (i.e. walking to and from). We also wanted the express pass, and were going to purchase until I learned that the room-key = FOTL pass. Then literally the next day, I received an offer via email to stay onsite and pay for 3, stay for 5 nights.

That sealed it. We may someday stay @ Portofino or Hard Rock, but for the time being we're Royal Pacific residents and we really coudln't imagine anything else.

 

[DAlston4485]

Thanks for the quick replies! We will def stay onsite!

 

[macraven]

slow time in the park or not, it is worth the convenience of staying on site.

you can walk to the parks, hotels, city walk, etc within minutes.



you don't have to rush to get the family up and fed and then travel to a park if you stay onsite.
it is easy to return to the park for a 30 minute break in the pool then return to the park.

very easy to switch from one park to another but take a quick lunch break at city walk.

if you had to return to an offsite hotel for a break, you waste time with that travel and then get the group ready to return to the parks.

if you buy a 2 day 2 park ticket, you can do the parks with early entry and unlimited express line usage the day you check out of the parks.

might be worth it and leave at noontime for the motherland portion of the vacation.

most disney resorts have a 4 pm check in.
the earliest i have been able to check in at disney resorts have been between 1:45 to 3:15.

 

[ChuckGA]

most disney resorts have a 4 pm check in.
the earliest i have been able to check in at disney resorts have been between 1:45 to 3:15.

You can check into a Disney resort as early as sometime around 6am. I have checked into Disney on our many trips sometime between 6:15am and 7am and made early entry each time. The room will likely not be ready but they will hold the luggage until it is.

Now it might still be worthwhile staying later at UO given the FOTL pass on the second day but not because of a check-in time at Disney.

 

[macraven]

You can check into a Disney resort as early as sometime around 6am. I have checked into Disney on our many trips sometime between 6:15am and 7am and made early entry each time. The room will likely not be ready but they will hold the luggage until it is.

Now it might still be worthwhile staying later at UO given the FOTL pass on the second day but not because of a check-in time at Disney.

i guess i wasn't clear about what i wrote.
yes, you can check in early to the motherland resorts but the room may not be ready until the listed time they give out.

same set up with the darkside hotels.

that is what i meant but didn't express it well enough.

might as well use the ex and ee for the darkside since they already have the perks to use until they move to another resort.

 

[Marquibiri]

Last year, I checked in at RPR before 7 am and to my surprise the room was ready!

Can't convince myself to save a few bucks and stay offsite anymore.

The perks and convenience is just great!
Cheers!

Marquibiri

 

[TinkGirl]

Yes! Stay on site. Thanks to everyone here who gave us that advice. Two weeks at we spent one night at the hard rock before heading over to dw. We had two days of express pass and it was way more relaxing than Disney for sure.

 

[chs27]

Your kids will love RPH! The pool is fantastic, as is the poolside food. Lots of activities for kids, like cannonball contest for smoothies, poolside movies, hula contest, torch lighting ceremony. You won't be sitting in the room looking at the tv in the evening.

 

[DAlston4485]

Your kids will love RPH! The pool is fantastic, as is the poolside food. Lots of activities for kids, like cannonball contest for smoothies, poolside movies, hula contest, torch lighting ceremony. You won't be sitting in the room looking at the tv in the evening.

This sounds great! Especially considering we only have one actual day in the parks at universal bc our plane doesn't come in until later in the day, we can actually enjoy some pool time that evening! Thanks!

 

[reelmom]

We just got back from our first stay onsite at Portofino Bay. We LOVED it! It was great to have early entry, express pass, and to be so close. I am a diehard Disney fan but I am plotting how I can get back to Universal soon. I think I may have crossed over to the darkside for good this time.

 

[hippieck12]

You can get your park tickets through Undercover Tourist, we're getting the 2 day no hopper ones for $127. Also, if you don't wish to stay, destinationsinflorda offers a 1 day 2 park with free shuttle, which will come right to your disney resort for $132 adult, $126 child 3-9, we have done that before, we have opted this time to stay one night onsite and get our tickets through Undercover Tourist

 

[Marquibiri]

We just got back from our first stay onsite at Portofino Bay. We LOVED it! It was great to have early entry, express pass, and to be so close. I am a diehard Disney fan but I am plotting how I can get back to Universal soon. I think I may have crossed over to the darkside for good this time.

Well done!

The Darkside is much more relaxing...

Cheers!

Marquibiri