onsite vs off site

[rachel3]

here's my choices .............

doubletree within walking distance

or

onsite for $500 more


is staying onsite worth $500???

 

[Darcy03231]

When are you going? If you're traveling during peak season, yes it is. The FOTL access is wonderful. During peak season its common to see lines 1.5 - 2 hours long for some of the bigger rides (DD and DS waiting for 1.5 hours to ride Hulk once) and over an hour long for the others.

If you're traveling during a slower time of year you should be able to do/see everything without FOTL. Just get there for when the park opens. We found that lines really didn't start forming until around 11 am.

 

[ky07]

I agree if you are going during peak season which I have and stay at the Doubletree more than likely you will have to one either stand in lines that can be 60 to 90 min wait times but if you stay onsite you will get FOTL and then your wait times will be 10 to 20 mins
So its well worth the extra $500

 

[goofy370]

We are going 8/28-8/30. would you consider that peak??

Thanks
Tracie

 

[Darcy03231]

We were there the week before that in August 2007 and it was still pretty busy. Also, you're going over a weekend which tends to be busier than during the week. As I recall the parks started shutting down earlier during this time too (around 7 pm).

You can purchase an Express pass if you stay off-site that allows you one time FOTL per ride. For your dates its $25.99 for 1 park per day or $30.99 for 2 parks per day. If it were me I'd stay on-site rather than buy the express pass.

Another option would be to buy the 7 day unlimited ticket w/unlimited express pass offered on-line only for $259.99/pp. I don't know how many are in your party, but that might be a less expensive option for you.

 

[rachel3]

if we go, it would be 4/6 - 4/9. this is right before easter, so i'm not sure how busy it will be. anyone know if this is a busy time?

and thanks for all the info!

 

[Darcy03231]

if we go, it would be 4/6 - 4/9. this is right before easter, so i'm not sure how busy it will be. anyone know if this is a busy time?

and thanks for all the info!

The parks are open until 9 pm each night you're there so that's a good indication that you're traveling during peak time. I know a lot of schools are on break right around Easter (either the week before or the week after). Another indicator that it will be busy is the Express Pass for 1 park is $35.99-$45.99 (depending on the day) and for the 2 park is $40.99-50.99. If it were me I would stay on-site.

 

[DJBoyAG]

I am going to Universal from 3/15-3/21. Does anyone have any idea what the wait times will be? It is spring break for a lot of colleges. We will be staying at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott off site which has free transportation to/from all the parks. Any suggestions on how to go about the transportation thing?

 

[Darcy03231]

I am going to Universal from 3/15-3/21. Does anyone have any idea what the wait times will be? It is spring break for a lot of colleges. We will be staying at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott off site which has free transportation to/from all the parks. Any suggestions on how to go about the transportation thing?

From looking at the park hours and the prices of the Express Pass tickets it looks like you'll have moderate crowds. I would plan to be at the turnstiles for when the park opens. You can get a lot done between 9 am-11 am when the lines start to form.

We found that the hotel shuttles really weren't that great. Ours ran a couple of times in the morning and a couple of times in the late afternoon/early evening. It was also shared with a couple of other hotels. We were staying right on I-Drive and ended up taking a taxi a couple of times ($8 each way) just for convenience.

 

[Metro West]

From looking at the park hours and the prices of the Express Pass tickets it looks like you'll have moderate crowds. I would plan to be at the turnstiles for when the park opens. You can get a lot done between 9 am-11 am when the lines start to form.

Very good advice. Try to get there early and you should miss some of the crowds.