Will this work?

[papertraveller]

The plan is to hit Universal for two days Dec. 28 and 29. We would stay onsite.

Online ticket cost is $120 a person, single park admission, for the two days. We will already be in Orlando, so wanted to check in early (we know the room won't be ready) to hit the first park. We would buy the tickets online. Do we just present them at hotel check-in to receive the Express pass?

And do I have this right: if we had to buy it, the express pass is $70 a day EXTRA during Christmas week? If so, that makes me feel a little bit better about the crazy room rate.

Day two we would check out of the hotel immediately and head directly to WWHP to take advantage of early entry. What time are we looking at?

Then once we've had our fill, we'll be off to the relative peace and quiet of Marriott's Grande Vista resort to brace ourselves to start the new year at WDW!

 

[Metro West]

Online ticket cost is $120 a person, single park admission, for the two days. We will already be in Orlando, so wanted to check in early (we know the room won't be ready) to hit the first park. We would buy the tickets online. Do we just present them at hotel check-in to receive the Express pass?

And do I have this right: if we had to buy it, the express pass is $70 a day EXTRA during Christmas week? If so, that makes me feel a little bit better about the crazy room rate.

Day two we would check out of the hotel immediately and head directly to WWHP to take advantage of early entry. What time are we looking at?

Your room key is the Express Pass but I believe there is a new EP that requires a picture but that can be done at the hotel.

If you had to buy the EP then $70 sounds about right for the busy Christmas week...and yes...that's in addition to the theme park tickets.

Since you're visiting at the busiest time of the year, you are still going to be looking at a line to enter the park...even with early entry. I would have no idea how to estimate a wait time but there will be a wait. Whenever someone is travelling this particular week, I always tell them to pack their patience cause the parks are going to be wall to wall.

 

[macraven]

i suggest you book your room asap if you are sure of your dates.


then keep checking the hotel rates in case promos arise or discounted rooms w/AAA, AP drop in price.

if your booking price changes, call and modify to the new rate.


if you have aaa/ap, you sometimes can get a great deal on the rooms.

 

[pixeegrl]

I believe you can check in as early as 7 am to get your EP. You don't need to show them your park tickets. JUst grab your EP's and head to the park! We went in 2008 and saw a significant increase in attendance December 26th. Staying onsite will be extremely beneficial. Have fun!!!

 

[papertraveller]

Thanks all. We are staying onsite specifically to get the Express Pass, so hope to make the most of it. We know Christmas crowds, so are ready for that! I'm not sure I'll be able to get DH out of bed on our first day, but we shall see!

I made the room reservation yesterday, and just finished all of our Disney ADRs. Hard to believe we're planning for December-January in the midst of a heatwave!

 

[disneyxo]

i suggest you book your room asap if you are sure of your dates.


then keep checking the hotel rates in case promos arise or discounted rooms w/AAA, AP drop in price.

if your booking price changes, call and modify to the new rate.


if you have aaa/ap, you sometimes can get a great deal on the rooms.

Is there somewhere on the Universal website you can check the AAA rate? or how do you find out if there is one for the time you are going? Do you call the hotel or AAA?

 

[macraven]

call to get the info for the aaa discount.
the TM can tell you how much the discount will be.

you can book your room when you call.


it won't show up on the UO site.

 

[2girlsmom]

Just as an aside, the parks ( or at least IOA) did close for capacity last year by around 10-11am, so if you are wanting to be in the parks, you definitely want to get there as early as possible, as there is always a chance you won't GET in if you wait. Staying onsite for express pass is a great option, but won't help you at all if the parks are at capacity and you can't get in the gates.