Universal FOTL or hotel?

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by Whoppery5k

Hi, I keep seeing people state that they book at stay at universal and not actually stay just to get the pass as it works out cheaper.
But I can't see how? We are a party of 6 and the pass is $70 each.
But a stay over is looking like $1000 plus to get the pass included

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$70 is for the cheapest 1-Park single-use Express passes during off-peak periods. It's only applies to one day and the price varies with the date. This isn't the same as what you get at the hotels.

A stay at a premium Universal hotel will give you 2 days of 2-Park unlimited-use Express Passes for everyone staying there. Price of the room varies by date. For today's date, one standard room costs $319 (+tax). As there are 6 of you, you'll need 2 rooms. Therefore it costs a total of $640 (+tax).

If you wanted a 2-Park unlimited-use Express Pass for today then it would cost $120(+tax) per person per day. So for 6 people for 2 days (i.e. the equivalent as what you get with the hotel stay) that's a total of $1440 (+tax).

It's therefore much cheaper to stay in the hotel if you want 2 days of unlimited Express passes. $640 versus $1440.

[Kevlfc7]

can i ask were you booked it from pls clucky 1966

[Whoppery5k]

Ahhh so it's that extra person... So in theory.
Book a room for 5 and buy the last fast pass...
How do you claim the FOTL pass? Is it posted or claim it at guest services at the hotel.
Also is the offer available via hotels.com ? Or do I need to book directly with US

[galaxyflorida]

Originally Posted by Whoppery5k

Ahhh so it's that extra person... So in theory.
Book a room for 5 and buy the last fast pass...
How do you claim the FOTL pass? Is it posted or claim it at guest services at the hotel.
Also is the offer available via hotels.com ? Or do I need to book directly with US

See more...

It's your room key - each person staying in a room gets one. And no, no matter who you book with you get the FOTL.

[JP81]

Originally Posted by Whoppery5k

Hi, I keep seeing people state that they book at stay at universal and not actually stay just to get the pass as it works out cheaper.
But I can't see how? We are a party of 6 and the pass is $70 each.
But a stay over is looking like $1000 plus to get the pass included

See more...

Passes are FROM $69(+tax) per day for 1 park with each ride 1-use.

They are also date sensitive. So even those $69 plus tax ones are $109.99 plus tax in August. Making those day 1 at US and day 2 at IOA $1,405.68.

Based roughly on your countdown, an unlimited pass is $149.99 + tax per day.

A total of $1,916.88 just for 2 days passes.

Hotel passes are for 2-days unlimited check-in and check-out day.

Book the Hotel.

[JP81]

Originally Posted by Whoppery5k

Ahhh so it's that extra person... So in theory.
Book a room for 5 and buy the last fast pass...
How do you claim the FOTL pass? Is it posted or claim it at guest services at the hotel.
Also is the offer available via hotels.com ? Or do I need to book directly with US

See more...

That "last" FOTL pas is gong to cost you $300 + tax.

2 Rooms with 3 is cheaper. $639
Also, 3 rooms with 2 in each will be cheaper. $958.50
As you would need to pay locally for a rollaway bed above 4 anyway.

You haven't stated how many adults or kids, or if they can be separated?

[lizzie145]

As others have said prices start from $70 for 1 park limited number of rides.

If you are going in August you may not need them as is often quiet enough.
Plus you get to use the pool so can have a rest in the afternoon and go back to city walk

[Whoppery5k]

Originally Posted by lizzie145

As others have said prices start from $70 for 1 park limited number of rides.

If you are going in August you may not need them as is often quiet enough.
Plus you get to use the pool so can have a rest in the afternoon and go back to city walk

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Quite? In August? Really? Thought that would be the busiest time

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by Whoppery5k

Quite? In August? Really? Thought that would be the busiest time

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The last two weeks in August tend to be reasonably quiet - well, quiet for Orlando theme parks anyway. Many American schools start their autumn term from around mid-August.

If you are going at the end of August, crowds won't be too bad. If you are visiting in the first half of August then the parks will be busy.

(Usually you can tell by the price of the Express Passes. If the price is high for the dates you want then it'll probably be busy. If the price is low, then it'll probably be quiet).

[Tinkjon]

I recently searched for crowd dates - beginning of August is 8/9 out of 10 and from the 12th it's 4 or 5 out of ten!

I would never go without Express Pass even then though - it's HOT to be queueing in August, you want that nonsense out of the way asap. It also means the difference between one ride or multiple rides. It's great to be able to say "hey, let's do that again!" instead of having to move on to something else.