disneymom

We are heading to Orlando mid October and would like to go to Universal Thursday and Friday. I have been checking hotel costs. At that time of the year, is it worth the extra $100/night to stay on property to get the "Fast Pass" access? We will be at the parks 2 days, hotel 3 nights. Our other thought was the Fairfield Inn, as my husband likes the Marriott points.

leia0602

We have been to Universal in October twice and the lines are not nearly as long as when we have been there in March and May. However, you will still wait in a line. When we went in March 2008 we opted to stay at the Portofino Bay Hotel so we would have the Fast Pass. Even with the spring break crowds we walked on to every ride.

montereybob

We recently were in Disney World and the Fast Pass was a god-send. It allowed us to pass up long lines of people who didn't have it, thus increasing our fun time and reducing our aggravation time by a huge amount. I wouldn't ever go back again without the Fast Pass. But you must go to the most popular rides early in the morning to run your Fast Pass card through the kiosk to get your reservation time for each individual ride, because on the most popular rides the reservation times are all taken up before the afternoon. And when the reservation times are all taken for a given ride, the Fast Pass won't get you in any quicker than those without it. On the less popular rides, this is not an issue..

mikesmom

Fast Pass at Disney World is not the same as "Front of the Line" access at Universal. When you stay at any of the three on-site Universal Hotels (Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel or Royal Pacific Resort), you get unlimited Express access to the rides. Fast Pass at Disney is completely different.

Front of the Line at Universal is the best perk ever. The hotels are very, very nice. I've stayed at all three of them more than once.

montereybob

Thanks, mikesmom, for clarifying the difference between Front of Line and Fast Pass.

321go

As leia0602 says, the lines in October will not be anything like the lines at spring break or summer. However, there are some rides (such as the Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios which is relatively new) that will have longer wait times.

Agree with mikesmom that the hotels are very nice; if it's within your budget, I'd go with the Universal hotels.

schmerl

If you will only be in the parks two days, you just need a one night stay at one of the wonderful Universal on site hotels. Your express access in good all day the day you check in and all day the day you check out. Just keep your room key after you check out. That is what you show for your express access.
Spend the other two nights off site if you want to save money.

starrs

Yes, it's worth it.
Who's going?
I love the Portofino but for teens the Hard Rock is a hit. Noisy, but fun.

disneymom

we get in really late on Wednesday,have all day Thursday and Friday, we are doing a Disney Cruise leaving Saturday (thats where our money is going_. In order to save a bunch of money should we stay cheap Wednesday and Friday, and go big just on Thursday so we get 2 days of benefits?

mikesmom

I would stay cheap on Wednesday (since you are arriving late) and stay Thursday and Friday at one of the Universal hotels. I think you get the best bang for your buck when you stay two nights in a nice hotel. While it is true that you get Front of the Line access at the parks on both check-in and check-out days, I think it is more relaxing and, quite honestly, more fun, if you don't have to check out the next day, hold luggage, check-in to the new cheaper hotel, etc. So, if it is in your budget, I would check in to one of the Universal hotels on Thursday, check out on Saturday and head to the port for your Disney Cruise.

Sounds like a fun trip!

mikesmom

I forgot to add one thing. You could check in to your onsite Universal hotel early Thursday morning. If your room isn't ready, they will give you your room keys so you can go to the parks and have Front of the Line access. They will give you a number to call later in the day to check on the status of your room. It all works very well.

schmerl

It all depends on your budget. Like mikesmom said having your on site room both days of your visit is relaxing. Although, even if you just stayed Thursday, you could have them hold your luggage Friday and still had express access all day and enjoy the pool area. It's up to you if you want the hassle of changing hotels twice. Staying on site is definitely worth it even if the parks aren't crowded.
We love the Royal Pacific, but their rooms are smaller than the other two on site hotels.

disneymom

I think the idea of staying cheap Wednesday is a great one. I think I will splurge the other 2 nights. Thanks for all the help!

disneymom

One other thing, any website that anyone knows about that has the cheapest rates, but you can still get most of your money back if we have to cancel?

starrs

Book directly with the hotel. Use a AAA rate to get 10% off.
Look for other discounts on their websites to see if there are any special offers.

missypie

Front of the line is amazing!

Eric_W

I stayed in the park last November. I loved the experience and wrote a piece about it in our newsletter http://www.fodors.com/news/story_3288.html

titlev1x

absolutely it is a good idea. If you are spending the money already to go there, you will want it to be as good as you can make it. It will be a much more relaxed trip if you spend a little more and it will allow you to have a good time and make better memories

disneymom

Booked it. We are going to stay cheap the first night, then stay on property. By the way, the tip on calling the hotel and AAA rate, was great. It was by far the best rate, Thanks!

starrs

It usually is. Have fun!