Staying at Universal Orlando Resort

[foxylady]

Sorry if I have posted this question in the wrong place , and sorry if there is already a thread regarding this

We are currently considering whether to stay at one of the Universal Orlando Resort Hotels for one night during our holidays in July-August. However, there are a few questions I would like to ask:

1) Which hotel would anyone recommend?

2) Is the price of park entry included in the hotel room price, or do you have to have separate park entry?

3) Am I right in assuming that even though we are only staying for 1 night, that you are eligible for front of the line passes for all rides, for each day either side, ie, 2 days?

Any assistance gratefully received.

 

[Hilary]

1) Which hotel would anyone recommend?

We've tried HRH and RPR and enjoyed them both Personally, I'd opt to stay in RPR but to make sure you pay a visit to HRH. RPR is the cheapest of the USF resorts, and absolutely beautiful. HRH is fun and a great place for the atmosphere.

2) Is the price of park entry included in the hotel room price, or do you have to have separate park entry?

No, it's not included

3) Am I right in assuming that even though we are only staying for 1 night, that you are eligible for front of the line passes for all rides, for each day either side, ie, 2 days?

Any assistance gratefully received.

Yes, you're right - and that's the big incentive to stay onsite, especially at busy times. It's a fantastic perk! However, there's a little niggle at the back of my mind that says I've heard somewhere USF have limited the number of times you can use each FOL when it's really, really busy - I may have dreamt that, but hopefully someone else can confirm or otherwise?

 

[UKDEB]

We've stayed twice at all 3 Universal resorts and enjoyed them all. PBH is the most expensive and the furthest away (walkable occasionally as a 'nice to do', but you really need to make use of the water taxi and that can be a bind - they don't run during thunder storms). HRH is the closest to the parks and CityWalk, but RPR is still an easy walk. When we stayed there in January, we often walked whilst my brother and s-i-l took the water taxi and we beat them every time. Walking from HRH to CityWalk will bring you out at Universal Studios; walking from RPR to CityWalk brings you out alongside Margaritaville (close to the IoA entrance). As Hilary says, RPR is the cheapest which is a huge plus, because it's not inferior. Will you and your party prefer hip and cool rock star chic, or laid back Polynesian chillin'?

In the past there have certainly been limits on how often you can take advantage of FOTL (i.e. you can't necessarily keep riding the same ride over and over). I don't know if that is currently the case, but I'm happy if I can do FOTL once per attraction. Universal has removed Express Pass privileges from all but onsite guests and those who pay for the Express booklets. That's got to improve the access for onsite guests.

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi foxylady and welcome to the Dis

I asked this very question ages ago and got some great responses right here!

Hope that helps a little

We ended up booking HRH for 4 nights in the end, for this August

 

[foxylady]

Thanks for all the info so far. Thinking the RPR may be the one to go for as just looked on the web and got a price of £139. Is this good?

This may seem like another silly question, but can we buy the 4-park flex ticket (as we want to go to Sea World as well and this seems to be the most cost effective). There isn't a rule anywhere is there that says it has to be specific Universal ticket?



Thanks

 

[Miffy2003]

Thanks for all the info so far. Thinking the RPR may be the one to go for as just looked on the web and got a price of £139. Is this good?

I got a price of $165 for RPR at the end of August with an AA(A) discount which would be cheaper - but earlier in August it was a bit more (and so would July be I guess) so your price might be good

I can't see a reason for you to not be able to use a 4 park flex ticket.

 

[SimonY]

You get your FOTL access by showing your room key card not your park ticket so the flex ticket will be fine - the people on the rides won't know how you got in.

We stayed in RPR a couple of years ago and loved it. Being able to walk to the parks (or get a boat ride) and to City Walk was great. You also get 'next available table' at any City Walk restaurant.

Finally worth looking at Loews First:

http://www.loews-first.com/Loewsfirst.asp

You get a free room upgrade on arrival if one is available (so to a pool view for example), free bottle of wine or fruit etc. Have heard that they're more restrictive now about applying the benefits but it doesn't cost anything so worth a try.