Universal "fastpass" for hotel guests

[tentaguasu]

I'm trying to figure out whether it's worth booking a single night at a universal resort in order to get the express pass. I've sort of resigned myself to doing it, but my question is this - if I'm staying one night, when can I get the pass? At check in? If so, when is that? And when do I have to relinquish it again?

I'd love to squeeze two days of expressing out of one night there.

I guess related to that, how quick is it to go to and from the hotel (i.e. so I can go the park, then check in later, etc.) ?

 

[scottishprincess]

thats what weve done for next week.We plan to stay for one night and check in at 8.30 and get room keys (even though room wont be ready), go straight to park then go back to hotel at night.Next day we will head to park again then use pool in the after noon. cant believe you get FOTL passes for the 2 days.

 

[asmit4]

I heard that since everyone has the FOTL passes (they can be purchased too without a room), the lines are just as long, if not longer. Anyone have any info on that?

 

[scottishprincess]

hi we paid for the passes last july and the most we waited was 10 mins.For an extra 40$ or so we get to stay the night as well.

 

[DisZip]

I heard that since everyone has the FOTL passes (they can be purchased too without a room), the lines are just as long, if not longer. Anyone have any info on that?

Just got back from 8 days at Disney and 4 at Universal, so I can comment on this (staying on AKV and Portofino Bay). We never found the FOTL line to be as long (or longer) than the standby line - there are a lot of people staying off property who are not willing to pay the extra money.

In most cases we walked right onto most rides, where the standby time was 30 mins or greater. There are some attractions where you load in batches, like the Simpsons or Jimmy Neutron rides, so you will have some wait time, but you will still have a shorter wait than the standby line.

Also, the Express passes you buy are only good for 1 FOTL access per attraction, while the room keys are good for as many times as you like. So at the beginning of the day everyone is using their Express cards, but as the day progresses those that bought the Express cards are done and the Express line is mostly on-site guests only.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

This question really belongs in our Universal Studios forum, so I'm moving the thread there. I hope you get the answers you're looking for!

 

[asmit4]

Thank you for your response! This is very helpful!

 

[patster734]

Here's a thread with information about on-site express:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1867127

 

[december]

I came here to post the same question. I know at WDW, you can check in at any time to get your room key/park tickets, even if the room isn't ready. If I stay one night at Universal, I'd definitely want to get 2 full days of FOTL privileges!

 

[macraven]

I'm trying to figure out whether it's worth booking a single night at a universal resort in order to get the express pass. I've sort of resigned myself to doing it, but my question is this - if I'm staying one night, when can I get the pass? At check in? If so, when is that? And when do I have to relinquish it again?

I'd love to squeeze two days of expressing out of one night there.

I guess related to that, how quick is it to go to and from the hotel (i.e. so I can go the park, then check in later, etc.) ?

book one night on site and get two free days of unlimited FOTL.
when you check out of the hotel,have your luggage stored with the valet baggage tms in the lobby, it is a free service.
go to the parks or the pool.
your hotel key is valid on check out day until the parks close.

return to the hotel when you need to be there for your ride pick up, give your claim card to the baggage area to retrieve your belongings.

you keep the hotel key as a souvie.

if no one is ahead of you in the check in line when you first come to the hotel, you can be at the front desk and check in and your bags within 5 minutes.
go to the park and be there within a 15 minute time if you walk from any of the hotels.

thats what weve done for next week.We plan to stay for one night and check in at 8.30 and get room keys (even though room wont be ready), go straight to park then go back to hotel at night.Next day we will head to park again then use pool in the after noon. cant believe you get FOTL passes for the 2 days.

it is true, you can.

I heard that since everyone has the FOTL passes (they can be purchased too without a room), the lines are just as long, if not longer. Anyone have any info on that?

FOTL is for hotel guests only. unlimited riding pleasures on everything,including shows and attractions.

buy the express pass plus and use the same express line that the FOTL homies do but you can only do each ride/attraction/show only once.

lines are shorter in the express lanes

Here's a thread with information about on-site express:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1867127

patster, i couldn't get that thread to open for me.
must be a glitch in my mac.

 

[patster734]

patster, i couldn't get that thread to open for me.
must be a glitch in my mac.

Odd. I just bumped the thread I was pointing to for those having trouble with my link.

 

[APB513]

I'm trying to figure out whether it's worth booking a single night at a universal resort in order to get the express pass. I've sort of resigned myself to doing it, but my question is this - if I'm staying one night, when can I get the pass? At check in? If so, when is that? And when do I have to relinquish it again?

I'd love to squeeze two days of expressing out of one night there.

I guess related to that, how quick is it to go to and from the hotel (i.e. so I can go the park, then check in later, etc.) ?

I was facing the same dilemma, tnetaguasu! But when I found 40% off APH rates for RPR for my dates in August, I jumped on it. LOL

Acutally, I ended up booking two nights Really looking forward to FOTL!!!

 

[BigDopeyMom]

I was facing the same dilemma, tnetaguasu! But when I found 40% off APH rates for RPR for my dates in August, I jumped on it. LOL

Acutally, I ended up booking two nights Really looking forward to FOTL!!!

Hi - what is an APH rate? I would love to book a couple nights onsite at Universal before we begin our onsite stay at WDW!!

Anyone have any advice on room discounts at Universal????

 

[Metro West]

Hi - what is an APH rate? I would love to book a couple nights onsite at Universal before we begin our onsite stay at WDW!!

Anyone have any advice on room discounts at Universal????

The APH rate is the Annual PassHolder rate and I think the APH and AAA rates are the best...depending on when you're going.

 

[BigDopeyMom]

The APH rate is the Annual PassHolder rate and I think the APH and AAA rates are the best...depending on when you're going.

Thank you....I just checked online for an AAA rate and it says that it's unavailable

 

[Metro West]

Thank you....I just checked online for an AAA rate and it says that it's unavailable

You may want to call...sometimes they might have inventory not available on the website.

 

[APB513]

Hi - what is an APH rate? I would love to book a couple nights onsite at Universal before we begin our onsite stay at WDW!!

Anyone have any advice on room discounts at Universal????

APH = Annual Passholder

If you have a Preferred Annual Pass or a Premium Annual Pass, you can receive up to 30% off hotel rates.

I happened to see this thread ( http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1866724 ) that mentioned 40% off for APH for stays through August 16th. So I canceled my ressie with a AAA discount ($219.60) and booked the APH ($146.60).

As far as getting discounts, other than AAA (I only found 10% off for my dates) and APH, you might want to check Expedia or Travelocity. I checked Travelocity today and they had some discounted rates for RPR.