Staying DVC & Visiting Universal

[FreeTime]

Do you stay at your DVC home and visit Universal? I am debating whether or not it is important to stay onsite at US/IOA to get front of the line access. How long does it take you to get to the parks? Would you prefer to stay onsite instead of DVC?
Thanks

 

[HookdonWDW]

We've been spoiled by FOTL access, so we always stay onsite at US/IOA for a couple of days. To me, it follows the same logic as staying onsite at WDW... I like to be immersed in the experience. We do eat offsite much more at US/IOA.

 

[Muushka]

We have an AP for Universal and have visited the parks both ways; staying on site at Univ, and driving over from DVC. It was a 20 or so minute drive over to Univ (not including parking and getting into the park). Not a bad drive at all. If we choose not to stay on site, it is usually when park attendance is down (like for our early Dec visit for example). If we visit during the spring we try to stay on site for the FOTL benefit. We also really enjoy their hotels, they are great.

 

[VMS]

Our last two trips we have added Universal (kids are getting older and one son is a HUGE Spiderman fan). We stay there first, and over weekend days to save on points. The FOTL really makes a difference. We go at the end of August, not a really busy time, but still FOTL is really worthwhile. We have always been able to get good rates there, and have stayed at all three Universal properties.

 

[StormalongKay]

Muushka,

What's your favorite of the US/IOA hotels & why?

 

[TammyAlphabet]

We went to universal for five days last june and the FOTL access was wonderful!!! Worth the cost of the room! And if you do decide to use weekend nights, it will probably make it more beneficial to have FOTL access. Have fun!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We usually make Universal part of every trip and instead of spending two weekends at DVC we usually spend the first weekend at the Hard Rock to take advantage of the front of line access and then spend the next seven nights at DVC.

We love US but as others have said before, the front of line access has really spoiled us.

BTW, the Hard Rock is a great hotel. It is super cool and is close enough to walk to both US and IOA. The cool factor is very high.

HBC

 

[mkrober]

The fam and I just got back from WDW and US. We spent the first two nights at Hard Rock, which is a really cool hotel. The walk to the parks and Citywalk is really short. The pool is as cool as any at DVC ( better IMO than BWV--where we went to after our stint at Universal). The restaurant in the hotel is really nice, even for my young family. Apparently, a New Kid on the Block, or NSyncer was there at the same time, but I wouldn't have recognized him if he introduced himself personally. (Led Zepplin or U2 would have been a different story.)

The FOTL treatment while we were there was nice, although the crowds were small. We bought APs to US, which are not much more than a multi- day pass. We made up for the difference from the AP hotel rate, plus we can go back next year before they expire.

Don't think about it, just do it. You will be glad you did.

 

[Muushka]

Originally posted by StormalongKay
Muushka,

What's your favorite of the US/IOA hotels & why?

Our favorite is Hard Rock Hotel. We enjoy it's proximity to the parks, the decor and we really enjoy the music that they pump throughout the hotel. The rooms are large and they give you a CD for your in-room CD player when you check in. Kind of a nice souvenir. Oh yes, and on Fri nights they have the dive-in movie.

Thanks for asking .

 

[chrisd596]

How much does Hard Rock run a night $.

Thanks
chris

 

[spiceycat]

I like Royal Pacific - it is cheaper and its walking path lets you off at IOA.

there is a special on now - go look on the Universal board for $149 you need a code - go find it on Universal hotel forum.

 

[FreeTime]

Thanks! We are currently planning on checking into DVC on Saturday, but now it seems like we might be changing to a Universal Stay Sat-Mon, then moving over to DVC Tue-Sat. This might be the best as this will be the week before Memorial Day so I am guessing that it will be somewhat crowded. I just hate having to move hotels in the middle of the trip, but the benefit of the FOTL sounds like it is worth it.

 

[Muushka]

Originally posted by chrisd596
How much does Hard Rock run a night $.

Thanks
chris

The highest we have paid is about $140 a night and as low as $99, but I think those days may be gone. We used an Entertainment rate (for 1/2 price) and an AP rate (not quite as good, but not bad either). There is also a Fan Club rate.

We would usually stay there for 2 to 3 nights at that rate, but now that it appears to be a bit higher we will probably cut it back to 1 or 2 nights. I am thinking I saw the rates at about $169 with the discount. If I find out otherwise, I will post.

When the parks are busy, it is so worth it.

 

[SSRex]

Yes, we did just that on our first DVC points trip this past July. We got the 5 days for the price of 2 passes off the internet. It was not a bad drive from BCV to Universal. We even left early one afternoon and went back later that same evening for the a few more rides and the fireworks. If you are willing to get up early and get there before the parks open, you can do most all of the rides using Express Pass instead of the FOTL from the hotels.

If we had stayed over a weekend, I could see moving to a hotel there to save points, but I could not see spending the money on another hotel during our 5 nights in Orlando when we have DVC.

I see us doing something similar sometime in the future with Sea World or Bush Gardens also. DVC will always be our "home" base.

 

[vernon]

I've stayed at DVC and drove to Universal ( no problem at all) and I've checked out of DVC ( for the weekend) and stayed at a Universal hotel in order to make use of the FOTL access as well as saving those precious DVC points. For a busy time of year, then it's VERY worthwhile checking out of DVC and into a Universal hotel. I thought great themeing at their hotels ( we stayed at the Portifino bay) and the FOTL is REALLY useful in allowing you to get through the rides quickly and give you the option of checking out their pool areas.

At a quieter time I think it's much more debatable the benefit of FOTL, to the minus of having to check out of your DVC rooms. But if points are a bit of an issue and you'd rather spend $$ for a room anyway( and probably check out of your DVC) , IMHO you might as well spend the money at Universal and take advantage of the FOTL if you'd visit their parks anyway. The time saved in not driving there and back twice is probably not much different to the time you'd need to pack up.