unlimited express pass versus onsite hotel stay

[MOMandSONvacation]

Hi,

I hear everyone say how staying at a hotel onsite is such a good idea for two days worth of express pass. I have 49 days until my vacation, and am trying to decide what is the right plan for the tickets. In this scenario I plan to be at US 10/16 - 10/18.

The below examples, does not include any discounts I really don't have any options other than AAA.


1) If I book a hotel night for just the 16th, it will be $228 (w/aaa discount) and while that includes the hotel pass, it does not include the tickets.
2) If I purchase tickets for three days park-to-park, that is $317
3) If I purchase tickets for three days park-to-park with the UNLIMITED Express Pass it is $563.42.

The current hotel I have booked is 81$ a night, plus free hot breakfast and free parking.

If I stay onsite one night, I'll owe $228 (hotel w/aaa discount), plus $317 for tickets, plus $17 for parking, plus $20 for breakfast that morning, and I'll only have hotel pass for 2 out of the 3 days = $582 total

If I purchase the unlimited express pass tickets I pay $81 for hotel and $563.42, have express pass all three days = $644.42.

Is my math and logic correct? Will staying onsite only save me $62, give "front of the line" for only 2 of three days and with checking in and out, probably cause more headache than it's worth?

Looking for thoughts and feedback!

 

[Maytrix]

Assuming your math is correct, which it seems to be, you do also have the added benefit of being able to come and go to the park as you please when staying onsite.

I assume the hotel you are staying at has a shuttle? If not, you'd have to pay to park at the park as well, so you could factor that in.

Personally though, staying onsite is well worth it and makes things far more relaxing since the hotel is just a short walk away.

 

[damo]

You may want to look into getting an annual pass and seeing what discounts that will give you. We have gotten RPR for $149/night. The code is APH if you are checking prices at www.loewshotels.com


The Universal hotels are deluxe hotels, so you will be paying for that luxury as well.

 

[Maytrix]

APH for those dates is $199/night. AP can also get you discounts on the daily tickets too.

Probably worth doing the math for that as well. Staying onsite is worth the added cost though due to the benefits its a nice hotel, has nice amenities and is walking distance.

 

[bumbershoot]

Consider using undercovertourist.com for Universal tickets. They tend to be cheaper even than using the AP discount (assuming you buy an AP) off the gate price of tickets.

And remember that the Preferred and Premium APs give you discounts on food and merchandise.

On the other hand, if you have a car (which I assume you will since you mentioned free parking), you'll be paying to park at the onsite resort. But then you won't have to pay to park at the parks, because you won't need to drive to the parks.

 

[KristenHoneymooner]

Don't forget that staying at an onsite hotel give you early entry! It's very helpful for WWoHP because the express passes don't work on FJ.

 

[damo]

Don't forget that staying at an onsite hotel give you early entry! It's very helpful for WWoHP because the express passes don't work on FJ.

Or Rip Ride Rockit at Universal which is also open for early admission.

 

[macraven]

the 16th and 17th will be a tuesday and wednesday.

as long as that week is not hell week, there should not be bad ride lines.

i'd put some of that money on a one night onsite hotel stay and receive 2 full days of unlimited usage of the express lines that the hotel perk gives.
do the off site hotel of $81 for the last two nights of your stay.

you would also recieve early entry for those 2 days.

then on the third day you are in the park, decide if you want the express pass.

you would have done all the major rides and shows already in the first two days, the third day you could just take your time and not be concerned of missing out on anything.

you might not even need the express pass on that third day.

 

[Maytrix]

I like Macraven's idea. If it was me, I'd stay 2 nights onsite - not just for express all 3 days, but for the ease of going back and forth. Not just to the park either- Citywalk can be fun too.

It's really the difference between being integrated into Universal the whole trip or being separated from it. I like the full integration staying onsite gives you. If you happen to need a hotel prior and/or after, by all means stay offsite.

 

[ros]

We stayed at the RPH for one night, checking in at 7am took the boat ferry to IOA, the next morning we went to US using the express passes both days. The night of the second day after the park closed we came back to RPH and drove a mile to the Sheraton Four Points with free parking. That way we were not paying a second night to park at RPH ($18). I can honestly say I don't know what we would have done with a third day--we had seen/done everything we wanted to in both parks. But we loved having early entry and express passes for both days.

 

[lorik]

We just returned from 4 nights at RPR, giving me 5 park days. We felt that 2 days would have been more than enough to thoroughly cover both parks, maybe even too much. The hotel was beautiful and we loved being on site, but if you are looking to save money, I would not consider buying 3 day park tickets. It isn't necessary in August and I can't imagine it being necessary in October.

 

[Maytrix]

There's plenty to do that 3rd day!

Go ride the rides you loved again and again and again. Go see the Horror Makeup Show again - it will be different. Go see Animal Actor's show again - it too will be different.

Go ride MIB and try to get a higher score.

We often spend 3 days and just ride our favorite rides over and over. I've ridden the mummy and dueling dragons well over 100 times each. I've also gone around on Bluto's barges 6 times without getting off and 16 times consecutively running back around through the express queue. Probably could have done a lot more than 6 times if the people who joined us on ride 5 didn't keep wanting to repeat as well! A full boat is harder to let go than it is for 2 people

With 3 days, take the time to try out for fear factor - My friend and sister both did it - it was fun to watch. If I hadn't opened my big mouth and said something about who will video tape us if we all get picked, I also would have been picked

So there's plenty do to with a 3rd day - I don't know why anyone feels like once you've seen and done everything, you need to move on.

 

[damo]

There's plenty to do that 3rd day!

Go ride the rides you loved again and again and again. Go see the Horror Makeup Show again - it will be different. Go see Animal Actor's show again - it too will be different.

Go ride MIB and try to get a higher score.

We often spend 3 days and just ride our favorite rides over and over. I've ridden the mummy and dueling dragons well over 100 times each. I've also gone around on Bluto's barges 6 times without getting off and 16 times consecutively running back around through the express queue. Probably could have done a lot more than 6 times if the people who joined us on ride 5 didn't keep wanting to repeat as well! A full boat is harder to let go than it is for 2 people

With 3 days, take the time to try out for fear factor - My friend and sister both did it - it was fun to watch. If I hadn't opened my big mouth and said something about who will video tape us if we all get picked, I also would have been picked

So there's plenty do to with a 3rd day - I don't know why anyone feels like once you've seen and done everything, you need to move on.

I know. People will do the same Disney rides over and over and over year after year after year but yet 3 days is too much at Universal. I find that I want to ride Universal's rides many more times than Disney's.

 

[Maytrix]

I know. People will do the same Disney rides over and over and over year after year after year but yet 3 days is too much at Universal. I find that I want to ride Universal's rides many more times than Disney's.

I'd probably ride Disney's rides as much, but they are so far spread out (the one's I like anyway) that you can't ride as much in the same day as you can at Universal. That's why we haven't been to Disney in a while - our trips are also usually just long weekends for HHN and Universal is much more suited to frequent riding and much more compact.

 

[bumbershoot]

So there's plenty do to with a 3rd day - I don't know why anyone feels like once you've seen and done everything, you need to move on.

Some people just don't like repeating. I think it's why some people think 2 or 3 days is "enough" for Disneyland. We're heading on an 8 night trip to Disneyland in a month! And we'll still be sad to leave!

I find that I want to ride Universal's rides many more times than Disney's.