Universal advice for a novice Englishwoman please!

[purplecatherine]

I'm trying to plan a trip to Universal for Feb. next year. We are going to Disney for 5 nights then to I.Drive for 4 nights to include 1 & half days at Universal. My question is, is it worth paying loads extra and stay in one of the Universal resort hotels so we can get this Universal Express privilege? I know we can buy them on entrance to the parks but we can't guarantee to be amongst the lucky ones that get them. As we're only there such a short time, is it worth the extra money or should be stay on I.Drive and just buy standard tickets?
Any advise will be gratefully received.
Cheers.

 

[Metro West]

I'm trying to plan a trip to Universal for Feb. next year. We are going to Disney for 5 nights then to I.Drive for 4 nights to include 1 & half days at Universal. My question is, is it worth paying loads extra and stay in one of the Universal resort hotels so we can get this Universal Express privilege? I know we can buy them on entrance to the parks but we can't guarantee to be amongst the lucky ones that get them. As we're only there such a short time, is it worth the extra money or should be stay on I.Drive and just buy standard tickets?
Any advise will be gratefully received.
Cheers.

If you're only going to spend a little over a day at Universal, I would say no to staying onsite. It's not usually busy in February and you probably won't need the Express Passes.

 

[purplecatherine]

Thanks for your reply. However, I think we're going in Presidents week? Not sure what that is but the dates we would be going to Universal are 20th & 21st Feb. Does that make a difference?
Cheers.

 

[juliefurr]

When you purchase express pass it is good for one ride on that particular only e.g you can ride HULK 1 time on express pass, if you want to ride again, then you use the regular line. However if you stay onsite it is good for unlimited rides, unlimted times using the express method, just show your room key and your at the front of the line.

I went in Sept, which is a very slow period. That being said, there was a posted 50 mins wait for JAWS!!! We stayed onsite and got on the next boat.. total waiting time: 2 mins!

I would say, if you can afford the 1 night stay onsite then do it!!!! You get the full use of front of line access for the next day so you get 2 days for 1!

Enjoy

 

[JulieWent]

If you're going during any holiday time (like President's Day), it's definitely worth the money to stay at one of the Universal Studios resorts. We like RPR. (Usually the least expensive and quieter than Hard Rock.) There is nothing like being able to bypass pretty much any line on site, seriously. If you add up the money you pay for a hotel off site and the money you pay to actually purchase an Express Pass, I'm pretty sure, you'll come close to paying your resort expense, anyway. (Check for discounts -- There are MANY!)

Julie

 

[purplecatherine]

Thanks for all the info. Where do I find out about any offers/discounts?
Cheers. PC

 

[macraven]

check universal's website for info
or check here in the forums to see if anyone posts of any specials.


AAA, PAP gives discounts on the hotels and tickets.

there is a promo going on presently on UO website for a multi day 2 park pass for $85. you said you only wanted a 1.5 day stay. it's kind of a toss up on which way to go.

i say cut your disney trip a day short and make universal a 2.5 day stay and stay on site.

presidents week is not an empty time at the parks.

 

[fws]

We have just returned to England from a 9 night Disney/ 2 night at HRH stay. It was a quiet time and we had the FOTL passes in Universal, but would not have had to queue long for rides in the morning. By afternoon the crowds were building up and the room key was definitely worth it. The hotels are set in lovely gardens so the walk to the parks was a definite perk. Being so close to the parks means that the whole stay is so much more relaxing than driving. Our best bit was before leaving, when we had 45 minutes to spare. The boys shot to IOA and got in The Hulk and Spiderman whilst we had a pleasant stroll to the Portofino Hotel.
When we were there at February half-term three years ago, the parks were quiet, except during President's Day weekend, when it was very, very busy.