universal exopress tickets or stay at universal hotel for one night?

tinkerbell2013 · 8 Jan 17, 07:57 PM

we are looking to get express tickets for one day, around 70 - 79 pounds.

can someone explain as this is new to us if this is the best option or if we should stay onsite for one night?

if so where can you stay as we have never stayed in this area?

many thanks all

MissDisneylover · 8 Jan 17, 08:58 PM

Hi,

We always stay onsite for a few nights for the front of Que passes. We think it's better for the money as we save money parking, even though you have to pay around $12.00 a day for parking in the car park; it's cheaper than parking at Universal. Also you just need to walk/get the boat/bikes to the parks which is very nice and relaxing. Also it's easier to back to relax and have busier days. And just to add we stay at the Hard Rock Hotel as its such a nice hotel!

klr15 · 8 Jan 17, 08:58 PM

There are three hotels onsite at universal that offer the express passes. If you stay for one night then you can get express passes for check in and check out Day.

Guest · 8 Jan 17, 11:04 PM

Hello.

There are three hotels (Loews Royal Pacific Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Portofino Bay hotel) which offer unlimited front of line passes. This is the same as the Express Pass and uses the same queue, but you can go on one ride as many times as you like. There are two varieties of the express pass itself (one go per ride) or unlimited

Royal Pacific hotel is the cheapest and the hotel rooms are the smallest rising to Portofino Bay, most expensive, largest rooms. You can get 5 people in a room. Either sharing existing bedding (if kids ,<17 and under>), or book a rollaway for $25.00 direct with the hotel.

Although it will say that the hotel room will be available from 4pm you can check in as early as you want. We are normally there around 6.00am. We check in, get our FOLP tickets (photobooth ticket thing in reception - quick and easy 2 mins), give them our mobile number. Head to the parks for the extra hour in WWoHP before the parks open.

Park all day, you will get a text saying your room is ready - then we head back for swim, back to parks in evening, night out in City walk. Repeat the following day. But we check out at 6-7 am dump bags in car boot and go back to the parks for early access again. Then back to the hotel for a further swim and potch (shower by the pool) and home for the night.

It works for us. it means you have a much more intense universal experience, but with the FOLP you can do all the rides in the parks easily. $25 to park from 6am on day of arrival to departure at end of 2nd day.

We keep our other hotel room / villa and just take overnight bags.

There are a few things that you might wish to factor into your decision. When are you going. How busy is it expected to be. How many in your party. Naturally the busier it is going to be the more you will benefit from the FOLP passes. Also - the higher the prices they can charge for those hotels because they know lots of people do it.

You can get an indication of how busy they expect it to be by checking out how much the Express passes are for your dates. If very cheap then maybe very quiet and not needed so much (although still nice to have) - if very expensive then may be more worthwhile. Plus you can see how much Express passes for 2 days for your whole party will be and then compare that to the cost of the hotels overnight.

Hope this helps.

Guest · 8 Jan 17, 11:08 PM

You have to get Universal tickets on top of course. So for a 2 day experience it can end up being pretty expensive !

You can go the parks without doing any of this - and just pay for the park tickets. You will still have a great time. You will have to queue significantly more, and if in high season may do more queuing than not. But you will still enjoy.

I would recommend as an option if you are thinking of the express passes anyway.

tinkerbell2013 · 9 Jan 17, 08:48 PM

Great help. do you book direct with universal in dollars or through lows site itself as cheaper?

Guest · 9 Jan 17, 11:26 PM

THere are lots of people hunting for the best prices. Many threads on the go about this. I would say from experience check that all taxes and fees are included (e.g booking.com dont include it) and be prepared to pay for the first night upfront.

This is the link to the Universal season dates. If you can shift your day in the park either side of one of the more expensive seasons without destroying your holiday plans you can save big. For example - staying overnight on the 13th August rather than the 12th will save a lot of $$.

The express passes broadly follow this pattern too. That said there may be special days where they bounce it up for one reason or another.

We have currently booked with e-bookers through Quidco for cashback, but it is refundable so if something better comes along ...

BA often have deals. We have also booked direct but bear in mind you will have to pay currency transaction charges on your cc - unless you can pay in dollars online, but not many have $$$ bank acounts.

Guest · 20 Jan 17, 11:37 AM

I had never thought of this option and this year our wedding anniversary falls on our holiday.
Getting there at 6am is not an issue with the hotel? To get Front of line passes
I assume early opening is 9am.
We can use all facilities for both days regardless of check in times?
I think it's a night in hard rock hotel for us that night.
Many thanks

8 Jan 17, 07:57 PM	#1
	8 Jan 17, 07:57 PM tinkerbell2013 Earning My Ears
tinkerbell2013 Earning My Ears Join Date: Apr 16	universal exopress tickets or stay at universal hotel for one night? we are looking to get express tickets for one day, around 70 - 79 pounds. can someone explain as this is new to us if this is the best option or if we should stay onsite for one night? if so where can you stay as we have never stayed in this area? many thanks all

8 Jan 17, 11:04 PM	#4
	8 Jan 17, 11:04 PM Guest Guest
Guest Guest	Hello. There are three hotels (Loews Royal Pacific Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Portofino Bay hotel) which offer unlimited front of line passes. This is the same as the Express Pass and uses the same queue, but you can go on one ride as many times as you like. There are two varieties of the express pass itself (one go per ride) or unlimited Royal Pacific hotel is the cheapest and the hotel rooms are the smallest rising to Portofino Bay, most expensive, largest rooms. You can get 5 people in a room. Either sharing existing bedding (if kids ,<17 and under>), or book a rollaway for $25.00 direct with the hotel. Although it will say that the hotel room will be available from 4pm you can check in as early as you want. We are normally there around 6.00am. We check in, get our FOLP tickets (photobooth ticket thing in reception - quick and easy 2 mins), give them our mobile number. Head to the parks for the extra hour in WWoHP before the parks open. Park all day, you will get a text saying your room is ready - then we head back for swim, back to parks in evening, night out in City walk. Repeat the following day. But we check out at 6-7 am dump bags in car boot and go back to the parks for early access again. Then back to the hotel for a further swim and potch (shower by the pool) and home for the night. It works for us. it means you have a much more intense universal experience, but with the FOLP you can do all the rides in the parks easily. $25 to park from 6am on day of arrival to departure at end of 2nd day. We keep our other hotel room / villa and just take overnight bags. There are a few things that you might wish to factor into your decision. When are you going. How busy is it expected to be. How many in your party. Naturally the busier it is going to be the more you will benefit from the FOLP passes. Also - the higher the prices they can charge for those hotels because they know lots of people do it. You can get an indication of how busy they expect it to be by checking out how much the Express passes are for your dates. If very cheap then maybe very quiet and not needed so much (although still nice to have) - if very expensive then may be more worthwhile. Plus you can see how much Express passes for 2 days for your whole party will be and then compare that to the cost of the hotels overnight. Hope this helps. Edited at 11:05 PM.

8 Jan 17, 11:08 PM	#5
	8 Jan 17, 11:08 PM Guest Guest
Guest Guest	You have to get Universal tickets on top of course. So for a 2 day experience it can end up being pretty expensive ! You can go the parks without doing any of this - and just pay for the park tickets. You will still have a great time. You will have to queue significantly more, and if in high season may do more queuing than not. But you will still enjoy. I would recommend as an option if you are thinking of the express passes anyway.

9 Jan 17, 08:48 PM	#6
	9 Jan 17, 08:48 PM tinkerbell2013 Earning My Ears Thread Starter
tinkerbell2013 Thread Starter Earning My Ears Join Date: Apr 16	Great help. do you book direct with universal in dollars or through lows site itself as cheaper?

9 Jan 17, 11:26 PM	#7
	9 Jan 17, 11:26 PM Guest Guest
Guest Guest	THere are lots of people hunting for the best prices. Many threads on the go about this. I would say from experience check that all taxes and fees are included (e.g booking.com dont include it) and be prepared to pay for the first night upfront. This is the link to the Universal season dates. If you can shift your day in the park either side of one of the more expensive seasons without destroying your holiday plans you can save big. For example - staying overnight on the 13th August rather than the 12th will save a lot of $$. The express passes broadly follow this pattern too. That said there may be special days where they bounce it up for one reason or another. We have currently booked with e-bookers through Quidco for cashback, but it is refundable so if something better comes along ... BA often have deals. We have also booked direct but bear in mind you will have to pay currency transaction charges on your cc - unless you can pay in dollars online, but not many have $$$ bank acounts.

20 Jan 17, 11:37 AM	#8
	20 Jan 17, 11:37 AM Guest Guest
Guest Guest	I had never thought of this option and this year our wedding anniversary falls on our holiday. Getting there at 6am is not an issue with the hotel? To get Front of line passes I assume early opening is 9am. We can use all facilities for both days regardless of check in times? I think it's a night in hard rock hotel for us that night. Many thanks