Universal Newbie Question

[celina14]

Hi all. We just found out that my parents are booking a house for our whole family in Orlando for Dec 23-30, 2022. We are responsible for buying our own park tickets though and while I'm pretty confident on the ins and outs of Disney, we've never done Universal. Our kids are getting older (they will be 8 & 11 when we go) and I think they may actually enjoy some of the stuff at Universal more since my daughter is very into Harry Potter.

So onto the question... I was looking at the cost of adding the express unlimited which for my family would be $1k on top of tickets. However, I saw that if you stay at certain hotels, they include that for free. I can book a room at the Lowes Royal Pacific for one night for around $400 for my family of 4. So to me, this sounds like a no brainer, even if we don't even stay in the room (we may use it though just to be closer to the park in the morning).

Am I missing something where this actually isn't beneficial for us? It just seems like a really big savings loophole so I want to make sure I'm not missing something.

Also... is the express pass valid on checkin day or check out?

Thanks for the help!

 

[DoryGirl1963]

This is exactly the best way to get Express Passes at UO & yes, they are good for both the day of check in & the day of check out .

Lots of folks - my hubs & me included - book a Throwaway Room to get a couple days of XP. You're welcome to actually STAY in the room or just use it for a break or not even enter it at all.

You will need to go to the front desk & check in because your room key is your express pass.

Happy Planning !

 

[celina14]

This is exactly the best way to get Express Passes at UO & yes, they are good for both the day of check in & the day of check out .

Lots of folks - my hubs & me included - book a Throwaway Room to get a couple days of XP. You're welcome to actually STAY in the room or just use it for a break or not even enter it at all.

You will need to go to the front desk & check in because your room key is your express pass.

Happy Planning !

Thanks so much for the info! So just to clarify, even if we are only staying 1 night, we get 2 days of the express unlimited? If so that’s so worth it, especially in the busy Christmas season!

 

[Uncle Coaster]

Piggybacking to ask a question whose answer is probably easily found elsewhere…

If the room key is your pass and you use it on check out day do you have to check out in the morning but keep your key and then go back to the hotel to return your key at the end of the night?

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Thanks so much for the info! So just to clarify, even if we are only staying 1 night, we get 2 days of the express unlimited? If so that’s so worth it, especially in the busy Christmas season!

That's correct - it's an awesome deal, for sure

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Piggybacking to ask a question whose answer is probably easily found elsewhere…

If the room key is your pass and you use it on check out day do you have to check out in the morning but keep your key and then go back to the hotel to return your key at the end of the night?

You'll need to check out (usually can just text this or email) but you don't have to go back to the hotel later to return your key. They'll deactivate at check out time for room access but your Express Pass functionality will still work at the parks all day of check out

I keep my room keys as souviniers but I'm a weirdo like that, LOL!

 

[macraven]

It is a great perk !
Book one night and get two days free EP for all in your group


Even though you check out, your hotel key card is valid until park closes on check out day

 

[celina14]

Thanks so much for the info!

 

[snowwhite84]

You'll need to check out (usually can just text this or email) but you don't have to go back to the hotel later to return your key. They'll deactivate at check out time for room access but your Express Pass functionality will still work at the parks all day of check out

I keep my room keys as souviniers but I'm a weirdo like that, LOL!

This just made me think, I literally can’t remember the last time I returned a hotel key! I was under the impression it was standard procedure you don’t have to return keys anymore!

 

[cschaaf]

I agree with everyone else - at that price, book the room even if you have no plans of ever seeing the inside of that room You'll get 8 EPs (2 days x 4 people) - a great deal!

The only real 'downside' is that you will have to go to the hotel to check in and that will take a bit of time; but you'll make that time back with the EPs pretty quickly!

This just made me think, I literally can’t remember the last time I returned a hotel key! I was under the impression it was standard procedure you don’t have to return keys anymore!

At most hotels, I just leave the cards in the room when I leave. I'll check out on the TV if they have that option, otherwise, I just leave. I can't remember the last time I checked out at the front desk.

Piggybacking to ask a question whose answer is probably easily found elsewhere…

If the room key is your pass and you use it on check out day do you have to check out in the morning but keep your key and then go back to the hotel to return your key at the end of the night?

The room keys are personalized so they don't even want them back . When you check in, they print your name and a barcode on the key. At the premiere hotels, that bar code is what you scan for Express Pass.

 

[Uncle Coaster]

This just made me think, I literally can’t remember the last time I returned a hotel key! I was under the impression it was standard procedure you don’t have to return keys anymore!

That is one thing I’m old school and admittedly overly concerned about. I pretty much always check out at the front desk. I like to know that they know I’ve checked out on time and that my responsibility has ended.

 

[macraven]

I only check out of the hotel at the front desk