Royal Pacific but don't use the room (staying at Poly)?

[NYCANC]

We are going to Universal from Disney (in the middle of our trip) for 2 days (2nd week in January). We are going to get the 2 day park to park ticket. We are on the fence about the Express Pass. After running the numbers with my TA, if we got a room at Royal Pacific for 1 night- it would be $285 cheaper than buying the Express Pass on our own.
The issues we have is getting to the hotel early (using uber) to check in and get the Express Passes, walk or take the boat to get over to the entrance to use the 1 hour early entry. We have kids that will be 9 and 11 on this trip.
The other issue is we are staying Club Level at the Poly. If we had a regular room, we would stay at Royal Pacific for the night. But since Universal closes at 6pm our 1st night and 7pm our 2nd night (as of now)- we would rather head back to the Poly and enjoy the lounge and watch Wishes and then uber back in the morning.

So do we need the benefits of early entry and Express Pass for the 2 days? Do we need the Express Pass at all?
Would you stay the night at Royal Pacific? If so, where would be keep our backpack? I would rather not go back to the Royal Pacific at the end of the 2nd day. Are there lockers big enough for keeping a good size backpack all day?
The days we are looking at right now are a 4/10 and a 6/10.
Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

So do we need the benefits of early entry and Express Pass for the 2 days? Do we need the Express Pass at all?

Well, we don't know when you're going, BUT my family always feels that we need the express pass. And to get *unlimited* for 2 days is very very nice.

Yes you do have to get there early in order to check in, get the EPasses, and get to the park for early entry.

I can't answer about staying there; I would just stay there club level and not deal with Poly at all.

 

[Chelley00]

We do it all the time. We stay in a condo offsite for the space (sharing beds is a no go at our house) but book a room onsite for the perks. Sometimes we use the room for an afternoon break, sometimes check out the pool after park close for a change of scenery but always sleep at our condo.

 

[ConnecticutFlea]

We go mid way through our 8 day trip. We check in, leave luggage with Bell Hop, get Express pass, and head over for the early hour. We stay at RPR overnight and do the early hour again the next morning. We return to Disney sometime the next afternoon. Walking back to RPR to get our luggage is not a bid deal. It's probably about a 15 min walk (never timed it), but it doesn't take an hour like going anywhere in Disney.

But I have never gone in January so I can't speak to the need for Express Pass at that time. The early hour is helpful if you want to do Gringotts or FJ which were not included in Express pass when I was there.

Since we go for 8 days, an early night isn't a bad thing

 

[NYCANC]

Well, we don't know when you're going, BUT my family always feels that we need the express pass. And to get *unlimited* for 2 days is very very nice.

I can't answer about staying there; I would just stay there club level and not deal with Poly at all.

Not sure what you mean about not dealing with the Poly?
We are at Disney for 10 days.

We are going to Universal 1/12 and 1/13. So right before MLK weekend. Thanks!

 

[NYCANC]

We do it all the time. We stay in a condo offsite for the space (sharing beds is a no go at our house) but book a room onsite for the perks. Sometimes we use the room for an afternoon break, sometimes check out the pool after park close for a change of scenery but always sleep at our condo.

Thanks- how early do you feel you need to check-in that 1st morning in order to get in the hour before the park opens? thanks!

 

[NYCANC]

We go mid way through our 8 day trip. We check in, leave luggage with Bell Hop, get Express pass, and head over for the early hour. We stay at RPR overnight and do the early hour again the next morning. We return to Disney sometime the next afternoon. Walking back to RPR to get our luggage is not a bid deal. It's probably about a 15 min walk (never timed it), but it doesn't take an hour like going anywhere in Disney.

But I have never gone in January so I can't speak to the need for Express Pass at that time. The early hour is helpful if you want to do Gringotts or FJ which were not included in Express pass when I was there.

Since we go for 8 days, an early night isn't a bad thing

Thanks- we will be at Disney 10 days so we can miss a night. But, since we have CL (for the 1st time!), I kind of wanted to enjoy that. Every other night, we plan to be in Disney parks so was kind of looking forward to enjoying the lounge.
Glad we have time to think about what to do- because we are torn.

 

[keishashadow]

We are going to Universal from Disney (in the middle of our trip) for 2 days (2nd week in January). We are going to get the 2 day park to park ticket. We are on the fence about the Express Pass. After running the numbers with my TA, if we got a room at Royal Pacific for 1 night- it would be $285 cheaper than buying the Express Pass on our own.
The issues we have is getting to the hotel early (using uber) to check in and get the Express Passes, walk or take the boat to get over to the entrance to use the 1 hour early entry. We have kids that will be 9 and 11 on this trip.
The other issue is we are staying Club Level at the Poly. If we had a regular room, we would stay at Royal Pacific for the night. But since Universal closes at 6pm our 1st night and 7pm our 2nd night (as of now)- we would rather head back to the Poly and enjoy the lounge and watch Wishes and then uber back in the morning.

So do we need the benefits of early entry and Express Pass for the 2 days? Do we need the Express Pass at all?
Would you stay the night at Royal Pacific? If so, where would be keep our backpack? I would rather not go back to the Royal Pacific at the end of the 2nd day. Are there lockers big enough for keeping a good size backpack all day?
The days we are looking at right now are a 4/10 and a 6/10.
Thanks!

We precisely skip booking club level anywhere as we don't want to feel obligated to schedule our day around the 'free' food lol, to each their own. If you really feel the need for club, price it out onsite @ Universal.

You reference the earlyish closing times of the U parks, when you have FOTL perk you can zip thru touring and still have time to enjoy the resort/citiwalk/mini-golf, etc. You will not be bored.

The Royal Pacific is a deluxe hotel IMO, there are many who prefer it and it's theming over the Poly.

I'd lop off a night @ end of your trip and enjoy the FOTL perk. MLK weekend is very busy @ both parks. Don't do RP first or you will find yourself in line @ WDW wishing you had it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Not sure what you mean about not dealing with the Poly?
We are at Disney for 10 days.

We are going to Universal 1/12 and 1/13. So right before MLK weekend. Thanks!

Before I clarify, I want to mention that going back to FPs after unlimited express passes can be painful. We did that on our first trip and ugh. If we have a split stay we plunk uni at the end so we don't have to go back to FP.


I meant that I prefer universal resorts and I site perks to resorts and perks at WDW, and would just stay there the whole trip. That's why I was letting others tackle the idea of your stay.

We are definitely regretting owning dvc because it forces us to go to WDW and stay there. And we barely have interest in that at this point. Isn't it good I wasn't answering the other part of your question since I don't have the experience? (Though we did once get an aoa room the night before a half marathon so I didn't have to drive down 4 so early. So we did the opposite!)

 

[NYCANC]

We precisely skip booking club level anywhere as we don't want to feel obligated to schedule our day around the 'free' food lol, to each their own. If you really feel the need for club, price it out onsite @ Universal.





We booked a TPV at the Poly. Then with another promotion- we realized we could get CL for less money! So we aren't doing it for the "free food". We are doing it for the better deal and the better longhouse. We actually are rope drop to close family - so we won't even be there for the free food.

 

[NYCANC]

Before I clarify, I want to mention that going back to FPs after unlimited express passes can be painful. We did that on our first trip and ugh. If we have a split stay we plunk uni at the end so we don't have to go back to FP.


I meant that I prefer universal resorts and I site perks to resorts and perks at WDW, and would just stay there the whole trip. That's why I was letting others tackle the idea of your stay.

We are definitely regretting owning dvc because it forces us to go to WDW and stay there. And we barely have interest in that at this point. Isn't it good I wasn't answering the other part of your question since I don't have the experience? (Though we did once get an aoa room the night before a half marathon so I didn't have to drive down 4 so early. So we did the opposite!)

I am sorry you do not like Disney any longer but we love it. We are doing 2 days at Universal for my DD to do the HP stuff. The Club Level room at the Poly was a bonus and I am not looking for CL at Universal. Again, we might not even stay the night at Universal and just get the room to get the perks that come with it. That, is why I asked my questions for people who have done this before.

 

[keishashadow]

I am sorry you do not like Disney any longer but we love it. We are doing 2 days at Universal for my DD to do the HP stuff. The Club Level room at the Poly was a bonus and I am not looking for CL at Universal. Again, we might not even stay the night at Universal and just get the room to get the perks that come with it. That, is why I asked my questions for people who have done this before.

The mouse owns me! We own several DVC memberships, but truly enjoy split trips & staying onsite @ Universal. Works out well that way to = more trips per year by stretching our points.

Do as you will, if you post on U boards will receive encouragement to visit & we will offer positive suggestions. Enjoy your trip

 

[NYCANC]

Thanks for your suggestions but please re-read your comments. I am sorry if I read it incorrectly, but it sounds like you do not like Disney anymore.
And were you not judging me with your CL comments? Which I do not see anymore so I guessed you deleted (the judge much comment).

I am just looking for opinions from families that have done what I am questioning.

Thank you.

 

[macraven]

You will see crowds on your dates
When at the darkside

Where did you get the 4 level of crowds?

There is more to UO than just the parks

When parks are closed, many enjoy the activities at city walk or at the onsite hotels

I do both parks and stay onsite at both of them

But, I treat it as two separate trips

Start with the motherland resort stay then transfer to the darkside resort

It works for me

 

[wookiebeck]

NYCANC, yes, you can book a room as a throw away to get the Express Pass perks. Yes, you can can check in super-early to get full use of early entry as well as getting the EP's. Yes, you can return to the Poly at the end of the day. Sounds like a good plan.

The mornings will be your biggest choice to make. Getting from WDW to USO is at least 30 mins of driving and parking. Check-in at the hotel and getting passes 30 mins. Water taxi to City Walk, 15 mins. Walk to park gates and then you are ready to enter.

If the normal opening time is 9am, you are allowed to enter at 8am. There can be a good line at that time, so we try to get there at least 20 mins before even that.

For you, the best thing to possess is the EP. You will not need to be super-early-rope-droppers with that pass. You will still have a great time if you miss the early entry. Have fun!

 

[kip0992]

2nd week in January you probably don't need the EP's...especially if you do Universal on a weekday. If you've never been to Universal before there is some neat stuff to see in the queues too that you would miss in the EP line.

RPR is a great hotel and I'd stay the night if it were me... With 2 days at the parks with EP's you could skip the early entry on your first day and still see pretty much everything. Probably only one of the HP lands will be open for EE anyhow...

 

[cemeb4dk]

we now always do a night at universal mid trip during our Disney Vacations. This way we just pack 1 overnight bag and leave everything else at disney hotel. Grab an Uber and check in at Universal leave our bag with bell services, print our express passes and enjoy the day. I don't think Early morning is especially important, especially the first day. The after the park closes, explore city walk, play some mini golf, explore the resort. The next morning get up check out leave bag with bell services and go to park for the extra hour if you feel you need. Explore the parks once done, grab bag from bell services and Uber back to Poly. I will agree with the others, you will quickly get spoiled by Express pass and hate waiting in lines when back at Disney. Universal is such a care free no planning parks, it honestly is a great break from all the Disney planning involved to enjoy a Disney Vacation

 

[keishashadow]

Thanks for your suggestions but please re-read your comments. I am sorry if I read it incorrectly, but it sounds like you do not like Disney anymore.
And were you not judging me with your CL comments? Which I do not see anymore so I guessed you deleted (the judge much comment).

I am just looking for opinions from families that have done what I am questioning.

Thank you.

Actually, now that you mention it, I did think you were passing judgement upon somebody...just not sure if you were directing your comments to me or bumbershoot since your comment section is now empty where you originally quoted me Post #10. I decided to take the high road.

BTW, Bumbershoot is a straight-shooter and is a very good source of information. I may not always agree with her thoughts but I respect her right to voice an opinion, same as anybody else here.

Your interpretation is waaaay off! I spend an average of 4 or 5 weeks per year at Disney parks every year, enjoying every moment, & not just @WDW

 

[NYCANC]

You will see crowds on your dates
When at the darkside

Where did you get the 4 level of crowds?

There is more to UO than just the parks

When parks are closed, many enjoy the activities at city walk or at the onsite hotels

I do both parks and stay onsite at both of them

But, I treat it as two separate trips

Start with the motherland resort stay then transfer to the darkside resort

It works for me

Thanks! Level 4 is for that Thursday before the weekend crowds. It's currently showing that on Touring Plans.
We have done City Walk many times in Orlando and California.
This trip is pretty much for HP for my DD
Since its January, it may be too cold for the pools.
Thanks!

 

[NYCANC]

NYCANC, yes, you can book a room as a throw away to get the Express Pass perks. Yes, you can can check in super-early to get full use of early entry as well as getting the EP's. Yes, you can return to the Poly at the end of the day. Sounds like a good plan.

The mornings will be your biggest choice to make. Getting from WDW to USO is at least 30 mins of driving and parking. Check-in at the hotel and getting passes 30 mins. Water taxi to City Walk, 15 mins. Walk to park gates and then you are ready to enter.

If the normal opening time is 9am, you are allowed to enter at 8am. There can be a good line at that time, so we try to get there at least 20 mins before even that.

For you, the best thing to possess is the EP. You will not need to be super-early-rope-droppers with that pass. You will still have a great time if you miss the early entry. Have fun!

Thanks for the great info! That's what we were thinking- more important to have the EP even if we cannot get there for the early park entry. Thanks!