Would it make sense to purchase 1 Annual Pass in our case?

[ruthgator]

2 adults, 2 kids going to US/IOA for two days.
We can either: Stay on site, get one AP (we don't plan on returning within a year... ) get a room discount, free parking (?), and the discounts at the parks, etc. Are there any other perks to getting an AP?

OR
We can get the VIP tickets (unlimited express line, just no early entrance to HP, from what I can tell...) and stay off site at a room with a separate room for us (kids on a pull out couch). If we stay at certain hotels, can we get early entry to HP?

This is all so confusing... FWIW, we are planning on going the first week of June.

Thanks for the help, ya'll!!
Ruth

 

[KathleensKid]

I have the same issue.
We are 2 adults/2kids spending two days/one night at Universal before heading to WDW.

For us, I think buying one annual pass makes sense. I priced it out yesterday. We'll save 100 on our on site hotel room (I didn't price out staying off site), get cheaper tickets for the other 3 people and get a discount on food/other purchases (at some places).

I think that's what we're going to do.

 

[mesaboy2]

You'll have to do the math for your particular case. I can tell you that no AP saves you parking fees if you stay onsite. The free parking perk is for the garage, which you would not be parking in. Everyone with a car pays parking at the onsite hotels.

 

[macraven]

2 adults, 2 kids going to US/IOA for two days.
We can either: Stay on site, get one AP (we don't plan on returning within a year... ) get a room discount, free parking (?), and the discounts at the parks, etc. Are there any other perks to getting an AP?

OR
We can get the VIP tickets (unlimited express line, just no early entrance to HP, from what I can tell...) and stay off site at a room with a separate room for us (kids on a pull out couch). If we stay at certain hotels, can we get early entry to HP?

This is all so confusing... FWIW, we are planning on going the first week of June.

Thanks for the help, ya'll!!
Ruth

what are your dates?
if it is in a slow time, not much of waits in lines.
a busy time, staying on site might come out ahead once you factor in the costs if you had to pay for vip express for everyone.

if you stay for 3 nights, you can get the stay more save more of 10% discount

I have the same issue.
We are 2 adults/2kids spending two days/one night at Universal before heading to WDW.

For us, I think buying one annual pass makes sense. I priced it out yesterday. We'll save 100 on our on site hotel room (I didn't price out staying off site), get cheaper tickets for the other 3 people and get a discount on food/other purchases (at some places).

I think that's what we're going to do.

if you buy the ap for the room discount, do buy the other tickets with the ap.
use the ap in the parks and shops for the 10% discount.
you have to show it for the discounts before they ring it up.

it could be cheaper to buy AAA membership.
you would get 10 % off the room and also the food and merch in the parks and most of city walk.

my membership costs me $40 a year.

it's good for many things.
shopping online gives me discounts when i go thru the AAA site.

if you pay $170 for the AP, i don't know if that would be better than the AAA.

for a one night stay, i would have to do the figures before i could say which was best.

but, if you really enjoy that one day and night at the darkside, maybe you would return within one year....