Quick query about Express...

[XAVIER]

Sorry been away for a while and must have missed this...
What has happened to Universal Express? I gather it is still available for on-site guests (which was us last year) but has disappeared for regular park visitors unless they buy a special pass? Is this forever or will it return in the peak months?

 

[damo]

I think it is gone forever. All those express passes were making the express not so express. I think the hotels are pretty much full now, and the express plus passes seem to be pulling in a nice little profit.

 

[XAVIER]

Thanks Damo. Presumably they would never take it away from on-site guests? I'd hate to book in advance only to lose the bonus of fotl when we got there!
All the on-site hotels are excellent but the price is still only justified when you get FOTL!

 

[damo]

Thanks Damo. Presumably they would never take it away from on-site guests? I'd hate to book in advance only to lose the bonus of fotl when we got there!
All the on-site hotels are excellent but the price is still only justified when you get FOTL!

Well, that's debatable!!! Disney charges a lot more for many of their hotels and you get nothing in return except for an extra hour here and there with a bazillion other on-site guests.

My Tampa airport hotel cost me more than the Royal Pacific and that hotel was certainly not special in any way.

But, you are right that there certainly are cheaper hotels in the vicinity of Universal Studios.

 

[macraven]

if you have 2 adults and 2 kids in your universal room, you are getting your moneys worth.

if you stayed off site and paid $ 70 a night plus tax and wanted to use the express pass system, you would have to pay for each person to use it.

if you go during the summer, say it's $35 a head X 4 = $140

$140 + $74 = $214 a day/night.......cost of shuttle service to and from park if needed would be another add on.


staying on site at rph could be cheaper when using AAA or AP.



it is not necessarily cheaper to stay off site in all cases.


that's my story and i am sticking with it.

 

[XAVIER]

The RPR definitely worth it, we stayed there last year and loved every minute (Apart from the dodgy weather!)
But when you are staying for a full two weeks the costs can certainly mount up!!!!
...but FOTL makes it all worth while!

 

[macraven]

xavier, you are so correct on that. if you stay 2 weeks, those prices add up to a lot. when you are there that long, going to the park is not something you do everyday.


the longest i have stayed on site, hrh, has been 6 days.
but that was when the ent rate was honored there.

the most i can swing now is 3 or 4 nights.