When would you go??

[essmom]

I am very confused now. I am having 2nd thoughts about going 3/20/04-3/26/04. It is spring break in Tampa and Kissimee. We are staying on-site but would you wait and go right when school is out the 1st of June or go ahead and go spring break. We can go back to hotel and rest when crowds are heaviest in the afternoon. really hoped to go spring break but didn't want to wait in line the entire time with FOTL.

 

[Metallicat]

FOTL at Universal is a good thing but keep in mind that you will be in line with everybody else who has a express pass too. I used to love staying onsite until they changed it to where you could only ride the same ride one time per hour. you used to be able to ride the same ride two or three times in a row. anyway, you won't have to wait in long lines. express lines move rather quickly but if your going to any of the Disney parks, expect REALLY long lines. I think our local schools are out that exact same week you mentioned. I would go ahead because the first week in June is crowded too. right up until school starts again. the absolute best time to go is early December or my favorite time January. Linda

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Originally posted by Metallicat
I used to love staying onsite until they changed it to where you could only ride the same ride one time per hour. you used to be able to ride the same ride two or three times in a row.

They don't enforce this. I've gone on MIB a few times in a row...and they have scanned the room key and everything...they even recognized my parents and me...we went on a few times within 30 minutes with no one caring. I thought they said this too, but again, I have not encountered a ride that enforced this.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

I do have to agree with Linda on January...I LOVE going in January!! I mean, that's when they have the deal for AP holders where they can get up to 3 Express Passes at a time...oh, but do not worry! You don't even need the express anyway! I got Express for MIB and later found the regular line to be a 5 - 10 minute wait!!!! In the middle of the day too!!! VERY cool

I'm definitely going in January again! I found it much slower than September even...at least when I went.

 

[Metallicat]

I've heard they really don't enforce the rules of 1 time per hour at MIB but still that is the rule and you never know what kind of person is scanning keys that day whether or not they or nice or just plain bu#s about it. I even went as far as going to guest relations and filling out a complaint. so the rule is definitly there, it's just who's working that day that depends on how many times you can ride a certain ride within an hours time. I just wonder if anybody has been refused a ride when they go back in to ride again for a second or third time? for me, it's the risk of being embarrassed from being turned away that keeps me from doing this. for me, I'll just stay at Disney. they have better benefits for their resort guests anyway but Universal has better annual pass benefits. I hope they don't change that because Lord knows they have changed enough other stuff at Universal that I don't like. I am still wondering why they close the monster cafe during halloween season? I was there last halloween day and it was the only restaurant in the park closed! makes no sense to me.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

So you haven't even tried going on the same ride twice? I guess I'll try it on other rides next time I stay onsite.

But you see, I love staying onsite at Universal because of the FOTL (which BTW - if they do limit you on how often you can use FOTL...it's only fair because of the other people...you already come out ahead. For example...Let's say it is a 10 hour day. That would allow you to go on each ride 10 times each. Figuring this is an advantage of regular Express, which you can only get one Express at a time and then they run out. In addition, the Express Pass Plus allows only one Express entry per ride...). That said, I have to admit that the conveniance of LOCATION is much better than Disney. At Disney, I had to actually wait for a bus, which came every half hour or so. With the onsite resorts at Universal, I could just walk there if I didn't want to wait for a tram or water taxi.

I never felt "special" staying onsite at Disney...but it's completely different at Universal (at least when I stayed at RPR a few times).

But, this is about FOTL...so I'll end it here.

 

[wendypooh]

I'm sorry, but I have to agree with Flyfly, we were just recently down there, and stayed ONSITE at the RPR for close to 10 days. My sons rode almost EVERY ride, over and over and over again. NO ONE said a word to them. We did NOT wait for anything for longer than a very few minutes. We DH, my, and DS3, rode Jimmy literally 20 times in a row......... and I'm not exaggerating that. NO ONE ever enforced that "rule". I personally think, and I may be wrong, that it is just a "rumor". We rode till we could ride no more, over and over and over again........ so, did a lot of other people. We will NEVER go to US/IOA without staying on site for this AWESOME benefit. ONE other thing, people who use the Express pass, can only ride one ride, per hour, or after they have used an existing pass, during the time frame listed. Perhaps that is what the apparent confusion is......... the head of the line priv. you get with the resort, is TOTALLY different. It is all very confusing, but do your homework.......... and it'll all make sense. Good Luck

 

[JessicaR]

I used to love staying onsite until they changed it to where you could only ride the same ride one time per hour.

No they didn't. It may have been discussed as an option to limit hotel express but so far its not been changed.

I've heard they really don't enforce the rules of 1 time per hour at MIB but still that is the rule and you never know what kind of person is scanning keys that day whether or not they or nice or just plain bu#s about it.

Where can I read about this rule?

for me, I'll just stay at Disney. they have better benefits for their resort guests anyway but Universal has better annual pass benefits.

Disney has better benefits for their resort guests? What are they?I dont remember getting a welcome gift at check-in and I dont remember being able to stand in a resort express line to by pass any lines. Transportation wouldnt be better thats for sure. I have never been upgraded like at Universal either. I'm really not being sarcastic, I am just curious what the better benefits are. They even charge more.

I hope they don't change that because Lord knows they have changed enough other stuff at Universal that I don't like.

It's a good thing Disney never changes any stuff.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Thank you for posting JessicaR! I completely agree with all the points you made.

When I stayed onsite at Disney...we got nothing special. We got a tiny room that was overcrowded and with tacky decor (All Star Music). Woohoo...

With onsite, you get lovely decorated rooms, that look like they were actually designed by someone who knew what they were doing. The rooms were larger and more spacious. Not only that, but receiving the paper daily, as well as the welcome gift and the gift they give to children and teenagers...the VERY friendly staff that go out of their way to say "hi" or make sure everything is all right (I remember two guys trying to ease our (my mom and I) minds when a terrible storm was going on...absolutely dreadful storm...). Never even talked to or encountered a staff member at Disney's resort...In addition the FOTL benefit, priority seating...brilliant. Never received any special benifits at Disney All Star Resort. NOTHING.

Oh, and did I mention location?

 

[Metallicat]

I'm surprised that none of you have heard about Disneys early entry mornings or E ride nights for their hotel guests. especially you JessicaR since you know so much about Disney (and yes, your note did sound sarcastic.) and no, they DONT charge more. actually, I paid way LESS staying at THE CONTEMPORARY RESORT last May than I paid staying at the Hard Rock in October.

I'm not here to debate whether Disney is better or Universal is better. I have been to Universal hundreds of times (seriously HUNDREDS of times) and always enjoyed it. I have been treated BETTER at Universal. I've had CM's come up to me and ask if I want to ride without waiting and then being taken in a private entrance like a VIP. they have given me stuff like a Universal bear and free dinners. once a boxfull of cookies from CircusMg. many a CM has commented that I look like my 20 yr olds sister. I've made many friends who work there who I visit when in the park. they have always treated me special not that I'm special or anything, I'm certainly not handicapped or in a wheelchair or anything like that.

BTW, I just got off the phone with Hard Rock Hotel. was told there is no rule on FOTL access! YEA! so I changed my ressies from Disneys to HRH for 10 nights for my halloween trip. got a great rate of $174.00 per night with my annual pass discount. Linda who loves Disney & Universal. (maybe Disney a little more)

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

That's great! I remembered hearing the rumors of such a rule as the limited FOTL, however, I knew that it wasn't enforced...at least not on MIB.

But if you think about it...wouldn't it be silly to exempt MIB from such a rule? I mean, that's one of the more popular rides! Give it for something like...Twister or something that doesn't get nearly as long of lines.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Indeed, room key express remains limitless. When the re-used room key gets scanned, the scanner just says "it has been X minutes, allow to proceed?" Then they just click on the yes button. The only times the "no" button is clicked is if it's an accidental re-scan (0 minutes since last visit), or if it's a Universal Express Plus that has been previously used.