Seeing the parks without Express Pass

[damo]

So UO could tell me the AAA rate and then I could book on the phone with them?

Yes.

 

[abooch]

Thanks for the info everyone. Just called them and got the AAA rate of 195 plus tax for RPR. Not bad. I'll be staying in an offsite hotel like a milie away Sep 12th-14th and RPR the 14th-15th.

Any chance the room could be ready before 4pm check in time?

 

[snoopboop]

Thanks for the info everyone. Just called them and got the AAA rate of 195 plus tax for RPR. Not bad. I'll be staying in an offsite hotel like a milie away Sep 12th-14th and RPR the 14th-15th.

Any chance the room could be ready before 4pm check in time?

Yay!

Oh, you're going to have such a great time!

Yes, when we arrived for our trip a few weeks ago, on a busy Friday in August, our room was ready at noon. I would be very surprised if your room WASN'T ready. (Remember, you can cart your luggage over in time for early entry the morning of the 14th, check in, and have them hold your luggage until you're ready to take a break from the parks during the day. Who knows, they might have a room ready and let you bring your bags there right away!)

 

[abooch]

Would I get early entry to Harry Potter at checkout day?

 

[schumigirl]

Thanks for the info everyone. Just called them and got the AAA rate of 195 plus tax for RPR. Not bad. I'll be staying in an offsite hotel like a milie away Sep 12th-14th and RPR the 14th-15th.

Any chance the room could be ready before 4pm check in time?

Glad you got a deal you`re happy with

We`ll be there same time, we arrive on the 12th....if you hear a family with a Scottish accent.......please say Hi

Have a great trip

 

[snoopboop]

Would I get early entry to Harry Potter at checkout day?

Yes!

 

[aubriee]

Thanks for the info everyone. Just called them and got the AAA rate of 195 plus tax for RPR. Not bad. I'll be staying in an offsite hotel like a milie away Sep 12th-14th and RPR the 14th-15th.

Any chance the room could be ready before 4pm check in time?

When we were there in May we had ten nights booked in a one bedroom condo at Wyndham Bonnet Creek and was originally planning on just driving over to Universal two or three days. After thinking about it, we decided we just were not willing to do Universal without Express Pass. Even though we had the condo at BC for ten nights and could not change our dates there without a penalty, we still decided to stay two nights at Universal and just let the condo set empty those two nights. Wanting to be sure we made park opening, the day we were going to check in at Universal we arrived over there like around 7:30am and were surprised when they said our room was already waiting. We had time to drop off our overnight bags in the room and still easily made the early entry that onsite guests get. I plan on doing the same thing for my solo Sept trip and also our Dec family trip. We have a one bedroom condo booked at Wyndham Bonnet Creek for both trips, but still plan to stay onsite at Universal for one night in Sept and two nights in Dec, just leaving the BC condo empty those nights. We like going to Universal in the middle of the week, when the parks are less crowded (rather than at the beginning or end of a WDW trip). We love early entry, unlimited Express Pass (since we like to ride some rides over and over and over without waiting), and having a place to go back to rest during the day if we choose, plus we like being able to just walk or boat back to our room without having to drive all the way back over to WDW. Plus we just love RPR and can usually get a good deal with our AP discount. Right now my one night at RPR in Sept is just $149.00. For what I get staying onsite, it just seems well worth it to me, even on a solo trip. In Dec my mom will be with us and there is no way she can hold out in the parks all day, so will have a place to go back to rest and relax, while my husband and I continue to enjoy the parks.

As far as the room being ready when you check in, we checked in very early like around 7:30am or 8:00am both this past Nov and again this past May. Both times our room was ready and we were able to drop off our overnight bags in the room and still make it over for early entry at IoA.

 

[Herbie]

Thanks for the info everyone. Just called them and got the AAA rate of 195 plus tax for RPR. Not bad. I'll be staying in an offsite hotel like a milie away Sep 12th-14th and RPR the 14th-15th.

Any chance the room could be ready before 4pm check in time?

I think you made a great choice...we will all be glad to hear your thoughts on how necessary the EP really was.

 

[abooch]

Will do. Even if the EP aren't really necessary, (I'm sure they will help somewhat no matter what the crowds are like) I like being within walking distance to the parks and having a nice pool etc.

 

[mzafrany]

Originally we did not plan to stay at a US on site hotel during our September trip.

Our trip plans changed and we needed to book a night somewhere.

Called AAA and got a rate of $179 ;-)

Booked immediately.

We have a USSSA two days tickets with two parks per day to use during our stay.

 

[phillymummer]

Is there a difference between the Express Pass that you get when you stay on-site and the express pass that you can buy?

I am asking because I did a price check and (unless I calculated wrong) it was cheaper to stay off-site (I used prices at the Hyatt) and buy the express pass option with your tickets than staying on-site.

If I did my math right, I wanted to suggest to the OP to look into just buying express pass with your tickets but I don't know if there is some kind of difference between the two express passes.

 

[damo]

Is there a difference between the Express Pass that you get when you stay on-site and the express pass that you can buy?

I am asking because I did a price check and (unless I calculated wrong) it was cheaper to stay off-site (I used prices at the Hyatt) and buy the express pass option with your tickets than staying on-site.

If I did my math right, I wanted to suggest to the OP to look into just buying express pass with your tickets but I don't know if there is some kind of difference between the two express passes.

There are different express passes you can get. The standard one (that is not bundled with your ticket) is used only once per ride. The one you get by staying onsite is unlimited. However, you can purchase unlimited express -- it is just a lot pricier and on the website it is priced bundled with your ticket.

If you go to the universal website, the one at the top of the page is one ride per ride (except for Forbidden JOurney and Pteranadon Flyers where it isn't accepted). The one at the bottom of the page is unlimited just like the onsite one.

 

[abooch]

Originally we did not plan to stay at a US on site hotel during our September trip.

Our trip plans changed and we needed to book a night somewhere.

Called AAA and got a rate of $179 ;-)

Booked immediately.

We have a USSSA two days tickets with two parks per day to use during our stay.

That's awesome! When did you book and when are you staying? I called and booked yesterday though universal with the AAA rate of $195 for Sep 14-15.

 

[abooch]

Also, does anyone know if you are allowed to bring your own beer or alcoholic beverage to the pool?

 

[mzafrany]

That's awesome! When did you book and when are you staying? I called and booked yesterday though universal with the AAA rate of $195 for Sep 14-15.

Booked yesterday for Sep 17-18.

Your booking is for a weekend, ours is midweek...

 

[phillymummer]

There are different express passes you can get. The standard one (that is not bundled with your ticket) is used only once per ride. The one you get by staying onsite is unlimited. However, you can purchase unlimited express -- it is just a lot pricier and on the website it is priced bundled with your ticket.

If you go to the universal website, the one at the top of the page is one ride per ride (except for Forbidden JOurney and Pteranadon Flyers where it isn't accepted). The one at the bottom of the page is unlimited just like the onsite one.

Thanks! I'll recheck my calculations bc I am not sure which express pass I chose with my tickets.

 

[Tinachichi]

Also, does anyone know if you are allowed to bring your own beer or alcoholic beverage to the pool?

Been Four times and always just make a drink in our room and take it down to the pool. Never had a problem. Really don't know if your supposed to but just did it. Don't know if this helps but that's what we've done.

 

[Bluer101]

Also, does anyone know if you are allowed to bring your own beer or alcoholic beverage to the pool?

Your not suppose to but people do. I have seen them tell people not to. I would not bring a bunch down. Maybe one per person so it looks like you arrived with it.