Universal Orlando during spring break, stay on-site or off?
 

Myself and DD15 and DS14 are going to sneak over to Universal during spring break the week of March 20, 2005. I would love to stay on-site. I do have reservations at the Royal Pacific Resort at $264 per night. The front of the line pass is a great benefit but at what a cost! Do you think during spring break the lines are so long that I'll be glad for this priviledge? I could stay close by for so much cheaper and breakfast included. Any suggestions?

I was at Universal two years ago during Easter Break two years ago and the lines were massive.

We stayed onsite at the Royal Pacific and were thankful we did.

We walked past people standing in line next to signs that read, "Line is 90 minutes from this point". We got right on some rides and others MAYBE had a 10 minute wait.

Yes! It is so worth the price of the hotel!

Stay onsite! I can't stress this enough.

If you are spending a few days at Universal, consider moving during the stay to save some money. You can get your room key the morning of the day you are going to check in and it works until the following evening. In other words, for one night's stay, you get two days of front of the line. You will want to have the pass!

Stay on site!!!! We stayed elsewhere and one of the days purchased the front of the line passes for myself, husband and two kids (came to around 150.00). Now that is alot of money to lay out everyday to get to the front of the line. If you stay in a cheap hotel than it might be worth just buying the tickets, but you can stay in a nice one and get the passes for free.

We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel and got a better room rate and the fast pass. Very wise investment!

In July of 2003, our family of 5 stayed at the Royal Pacific. It is definitely worth it to stay onsite! We were able to get a great rate using the Entertainment Book.

We have also been to Universal during spring break, and we stay on site. I would not go to Universal without staying on site as the front of the line makes it worth it. When you see the long lines, and you get on the FOTL access line, you will know you made the right decision. Keep your reservations, breakfast can be done quite inexpensive in the parks, and fun too. Last time we were there the "Marx Bros" sat down and played cards with me while my husband was getting breakfast in Universal Studios. Some things are just worth the extra $$ and this is one of them. With FOTL you will not even know its spring break. You also have the ease of boat transportation from your hotel to the park they run every 15 minutes. Not to mention the beautiful pool at the RP. The RP is new and beautiful - You will not be sorry!

The Express Pass feature is worth its weight in gold. I would pay for the privilege, by staying at a park hotel, on a slow day. By the way, it's a separate line-you don't push past people. We rode Spiderman one day about 15 times (indoors during the rain) in the time it took the regular line to go once. That's the point: if you want to ride any one ride a second time, you don't wait an hour. As mentioned, they sell a version for people not staying at park hotels and it's very expensive. There is also a very limited free system for reserving a spot at some attractions, but, you could only do that for 2-3 per day. We stayed at the Portofino in a 1BR suite, 900 sq. feet. Plenty of room for 5.
One other thing, they opened the park earlier than the official time when we were there. Very helpful if you want to visit an attraction to which you can't use your Express Pass (I counted one).
We're going to Disneyland next month and I'd [almost] kill for a similar feature.

Okay, okay, thanks for all the replies. You've helped twist my arm to stay at the RPR on-site! Heck that's just a few extra 12-shifts as an L&D nurse! I also liked keysmom's suggestion to move after one night. I have not been able to get a better price at any other on-site resort nor by using AAA, entertainment book, FAN club, annual pass, etc. However, I call everyday and the reservations people say to continue to do so as something better may open up. Again, thanks for all the great replies. Barbara

I agree with everyone else. STAY ON SITE. We love the Royal Pacific. We rarely took the water taxi to the park. The walk over is very nice. Go to www.usoinfo.com to learn everything you need to know about Universal.

I just want to add my two cents - STAY ONSITE. FOTL is fantastic and the resorts are great - I've stayed at all three.

bmurray & keysmom, the staff at Universal and the Royal Pacific told me (Easter before last) that the room key only works until you check out the next day which would be 11AM or 12Noon. Being that it was so busy, they swiped our cards with this little computer to make sure we were still checked in with the hotel.

I asked them if they could really tell who had checked out or not and both said yes. It may have been because it was Easter and so busy but I would call the Royal Pacific and one other hotel to check and make sure the key works until the evening.

Ours did not.

We had a couple of hours before we had to leave for the airport and our fast pass keys no longer worked.

Yikes! It worked for us all day both days. Thanks for the update.

keysmom, I'm wondering though if it was just over the busy Easter week that they were so strict with the keys? The crowds are so much larger than normal so maybe at other times they let you slide? Either way, I would call the hotel.

We were there in June 2004 using our Express Pass/room key. We were checked using a handheld electronic device 2-3 times in 5 days, though we did not try to overstay our welcome and did not try to reenter the Park after checking out.

This was bothering me since check out is at 11:00 am and many people would want to be in the park the day they check out. I called the hotel and they confirmed that the key works the entire day on the day you check out.

The key works the entire day you check out at far as the front of the line privilege is concerned. It will not work for charging things to the room of course.

Stay on-site you will not be sorry.Keep,checking hotels on-line at universal orlando site. I have always gotten 2 park passes included with room at hard rock for 239 a nite. We always stay hard rock due to pool (kids have alot of fun with slide) and hotel is short walk park.
good luck

We're thinking of going to both Universal and Disney over Easter. Does anyone know if the fastpass at Disney is also good? My replies to another post just about Disney say it is terrible at Easter.

Hi, we are doing Disney at Easter also, well, the week after...staying off site at the Hilton Sea World timeshare. Do you know if there is anything we can buy to do the front of the line thing at the Magic Kingdom and MGM Studios??? Thanks. I am very concerned about the lines since last year we had a terrible time with all the people, we waited hours for rides with two little kids. Thanks.