Settle an argument please - Early Oct crowd levels + front line passes

[StarWarsJez]

My wife and I are having a "disagreement". I have a sneaking suspicion I'm going to have to give in on this one, buuuut.....

What are the crowds like at the beginning of October, and do you really need to stay in one of the Premium hotels (Hard Rock, Pacific, Portofino) so you get the unlimited front of line passes.

Either way I know I'm going to 'lose' but would still like to know the facts...

Thank you!

 

[macraven]

you lose.

book rpr and you won't be spending nights in the doghouse

 

[macraven]

back to explain....


the hotels fill up due to hhn.
in early october, the event is held every thur, fri, sat and sunday.
on the 12th, wednesday is added to the hhn line up dates.

the event brings in large numbers to the hotel and parks.
and most do the parks in the daytime.

i booked my rpr stay 11.5 months out from arrival.
i check in on oct 2nd.

looking at the booking site, the cheaper rooms are not listed for that hotel.


weekends book quick but there are some dates during the week where you could book a 2 night stay.

 

[StarWarsJez]

you lose.

book rpr and you won't be spending nights in the doghouse

Haha,I'm sure that's the correct answer!!!

Thanks for the info. I kind of expected to be wrong (one way or another!)

 

[macraven]

now you can get rooms at cbay and sf but they only offer early entry and no express pass

the deluxe has the hotel perk of the photo id express pass for unlimited usage for rides and shows each day.


if you stay on site at the value/moderate hotels or stay offsite, you can buy the ep.
cheaper one is for one use only per ride/show
the other is unlimited usage for above.

they are date and park related for the purchased ones.
small discount to buy the combo ep which includes both parks for the same day.

 

[dja14]

We are recently back and we stayed offsite (needed for family space), except for one night at Hard Rock. So 2 days of express. My 'thrifty' husband wasn't crazy about Hard Rock but he was about Express, to the point where he said if he went back he would never go without express again. Even when the line was short the express was faster, it was just so much nicer not be in a line just standing still. Some rides had short waits (5 minutes posted for Bilge Rats was a walk on for us for example, but Kong was 90-120 minutes I think but a short (15 min maybe) for us, we missed the line there but we never would have waited that long)

We weren't as impressed with early entry though. I think the only stuff open was the Harry Potter section so everyone went there. And then everyone got into line for Forbidden Journey. By the time we got off that 45 minutes of early entry had passed. It was okay and nice to have a shorter line for FJ but the real value of onsite was the unlimited express.

I am person who always recommends offsite for Disney if you have a car. For universal I would say Always onsite with express if you at all can, it is just that much nicer

 

[StarWarsJez]

Booked - thanks for all the great comments and advice

 

[macraven]

And the op will now be a hero and won't have any nights living in the dog house


I love happy endings....

 

[phillymummer]

you lose.

book rpr and you won't be spending nights in the doghouse

Best response of the day!

 

[GaryDis]

If it's just the two of you, definitely compare the price of staying in one of the deluxe hotels versus the price of buying the express passes directly, especially if you're looking at a two or three night stay.

 

[Mrsjvb]

back to explain....


the hotels fill up due to hhn.
in early october, the event is held every thur, fri, sat and sunday.
on the 12th, wednesday is added to the hhn line up dates.

the event brings in large numbers to the hotel and parks.
and most do the parks in the daytime.

i booked my rpr stay 11.5 months out from arrival.
i check in on oct 2nd.

looking at the booking site, the cheaper rooms are not listed for that hotel.


weekends book quick but there are some dates during the week where you could book a 2 night stay.

what is HHN? we are at Portofino on the 2nd through the 8th

 

[macraven]

Hard ticket event
Halloween Horror Nights


The studios closes at 5:00 pm
On dates Hhn is open

 

[Mrsjvb]

ahh. well I am usually done in by then anyway so hopefully it will not negatively impact my visit. I suppose I need to start thinking about dinner reservations, huh?

 

[macraven]

Some plan on it before trip while others plan a few days out or once they are there