Summer - is it worth going to Universal without Express Passes?

[marciemi]

I see this new deal for $85 for 7 days. We were debating spending possibly one day at Universal or IOA, but for the minimal difference could now do both. However with a family of 5 visiting in the summer (late July - early Aug), I'm betting the Express passes will be at least $35-50 times 5 people. I am not going to shell out $150-250 for one days worth, or $250 for a hotel room since we're staying at a rental house.

We'll be in Orlando for nearly 2 weeks and would have at least 2 mornings (and several evenings) that we could use to do the two Universal parks. Would we get to do enough (my kids are all older and would want to do all big rides) if we got there at opening? Or do the express and on-site people effectively make the standby line huge within the first hour or so? Do you feel completely second-class if you don't have one or the other?

Thanks - debating whether to jump on these tickets or not!

 

[kilbroney]

We are staying at rental home also june/july but deceided that it was worth staying one night onsite at universal to get the folp, the room for five of us is $191.25

 

[marciemi]

Did you just book that through their website? The cheapest I can find for when we're there (July 28-Aug 11) is 239 before tax so at least $250 total. Is there anywhere to get a discounted room rate? Thanks!

 

[Amity 3]

Did you just book that through their website? The cheapest I can find for when we're there (July 28-Aug 11) is 239 before tax so at least $250 total. Is there anywhere to get a discounted room rate? Thanks!

it's just that time of year. the best rate I see is the FLA resident rate at $215.00, the AP rate is $239.00.

 

[kilbroney]

I put in AAA which gave me the discount the full price of the room was $259.00, I did it direct throught their website

 

[robvia]

Of coarse it's worth visiting in the summer. Even with the huge crowds, there are a few advantages to it.
1. The parks open earlier than 9am. During the busy summer months from July 4th thru the first week of August, the park will open at 08:30am, but it's not written anywhere, just happens. Show up at the parking garage at 07:45am, be first to the gate, and you'll have a lap of walk on rides. The early morning advantage lasts until 11am. The IOA rides don't have long pre-shows like the Disney attractions. So you can move from ride to ride staying one step ahead of the crowd.
2. The park stays open until 10pm. Around 5pm the tired leave having wilted in the hot sun. Plus you get to see the fireworks show.

The best attack plan is to visit early and take your lap of walk on rides. Then go back to your hotel and rest from noon to 4pm. Then come back for an evening of shows and less crowded attractions, or you use single rider line.

 

[marciemi]

Thanks for the help! I was kind of feeling the same way - not everyone is going to get out of bed and be there at opening, and if we had 2 mornings to get there and a goal of 3-4 "must dos" per park, that hopefully we could stay ahead of the crowd. But pretty much all the advice I read on this and the TGM board and in books was that if you went in a crowded time, that you needed to stay onsite or get the express pass. Period. End of story. I just wondered if that meant that effectively even if you were there at opening you'd only get on one ride quickly then be held up as they let everyone else on every other ride ahead of you, or if like Disney (or any other theme park, ski resort, etc. I've been to), you could stay ahead of the crowds for at least 1.5-2 hours. We would probably follow your strategy and leave once it got packed and return later. I didn't know the parks opened early ever - thanks!

kilbroney - I did find that rate on the AAA website and it's definitely tempting! Do you know if that includes parking and can you walk to the parks from there or do they have useful shuttles (ie run regularly not randomly)? If I'd save another $20 in parking fees for the 2 days, plus FOTL, we'll have to discuss it! Are you actually staying at the hotel that night? Are the hotels nice/worth spending the night at even if you have another place to stay? Thanks for your insights too!

 

[kilbroney]

Hi no that does not include parking unfortunatley, I am statying the night at the Royal Pacific Resort the night of the 2nd June, as was said earlier we will have the FOLP from opening on the 2nd June till closing 3rd June, it is about a 5/10 minute walk to the parks or there is a water shuttle as well, not to sure about a bus. We might not stay in the hotel that night, but more than likely will as the other half will be able to have a drink, hope this is helpful

 

[marciemi]

Thanks - I may go ahead and book it since it shows no cancellation penalty as long as you cancel 5 days out. We can always change our mind right? I also think I'm going to jump on those 7 day tickets but I'm waiting for confirmation that they are in fact good next year which no one seems to be able to confirm! Now I just have to try to make a tentative schedule of our 2 weeks to figure out the best time to go to Universal. Do you know if any days are better than others there? I'm assuming avoiding weekends is good, but of course I'm not sure! Thanks again!

 

[buzz2400]

We just went the first week of August but stayed at RPH. We got there when first opened and felt it was kind of a waste for the fotl passes because there was no wait. Previous years we have gone 4th of July week. Our findings, if you get to the park when first opens and keep moving, there will be minimal waits. Without fotl pass, you will be waiting long lines in the afternoon.

 

[kilbroney]

After reading another thread some one e-mailed Universal and asked about an expirey date and there is none, so I might get some for my 2008 holiday, as I already have them for 2007

 

[DisneyWisher]

Are the hotels nice/worth spending the night at even if you have another place to stay?

Universal Hotels are very nice. I think they are comparative to Disney Deluxes (not WL and AKL) but Poly and CR. They are very spacious. If you do book 1 night you are basicially getting 2 days of FOTL. The day you check in and the day you check out. Another suggestion is getting 1 AP for the discounts. I was about to get PBH for $169 on July 19th of this year. I booked it the day before we left. Last July I got RPR for $189 a night. Plus free theme park parking. This does not include hotel parking.

Small tip. Its more expensive to stay Friday & Saturday (not sure about Sunday night). So pick a weekday.

 

[BrerMama]

We were questioning this first, and for a long time it was preventing my husband from even considering a rental home. In the end, we compromised... we'll all but the last night of our trip in the rental home, then move to RPR for the very last night. If we really love it at US/IOA, I'm open to staying there for more nights next trip, but for now, with 5 in the family and not many discounts on the rooms I think this is a good compromise.

 

[marciemi]

Thanks everyone - I did go ahead and book the AAA rate of $191 for one night in the middle of our trip, although I'm not certain we're going to use it. We can cancel up until 5 days out and I may wait until before we leave and see what people say the crowds are like.

I understand adding one day at the end and it makes a lot of sense to do it that way, but the rental house we booked was by the week, and I don't think we'd get much back cutting off a night. And since we already booked the air (and really don't have any play on either end between summer classes ending and soccer season/tryouts starting!), we don't have the flexibility to add one more night anywhere.

Additionally, 3 of the 5 in our family are golfers so I was thinking if we went to US in the middle of the trip, my non-golfing son and I could possibly go back and hit anything we'd really enjoyed or missed while the others were golfing. I did go ahead and order the tickets as well.

Sounds like they're nice hotels. The highest end Disney resort we've stayed at is POR/Coronado Springs so it'll be a step up for us! Although, maybe the rental house will spoil us!

Does anyone know if you go that first morning to check in where you park? Do you go right to RPR, check in, get your room cards and leave your car there somewhere? Can you check in very early (like 7:30)? Do you need to? Are lines long then (for check in)? Can you walk (really) to the parks?

Thanks again for all the input!