Universal Orlando - VIP/Director/Front of Line pass worth it?
 

We are going for the first time to Universal in FL and wondering if anyone has had experience with upgrading to VIP, Director Pass, or Front of Line Pass...I am thinking the front of line pass is of most interest to me, but would like some feedback from those who have been there. We will probably never get to go back again, so wondering if paying extra for these upgrades would be worth the money to get in as much as possible in a short time, probably only going to spend one or two days there. Thanks!

Now I am confused, maybe the VIP is the only available upgrade in FL, the Director and front of line may only be in CA? Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

What hotel are you staying at? If you stay at an on-site Universal Hotel (Hard Rock, Portofino Bay, or Royal Pacific) you can go to the front of all lines with your room key. It's an on-site hotel priviledge. It may cost you less to stay at these hotel & have that access than to pay for a special pass to get it. And I just stayed at the Hard Rock - it was great!

I totally agree with the above poster. Stay on-site at Universal and you will get to the front of the line with your room key - it's like magic. No need to "buy" this privilege. Stay on-site and you will go to the front of the line. We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel last June (great hotel and we never stood in line more than 10 minutes). We are staying at the Portofino Bay in August. The Royal Pacific Hotel is opening this month.<BR><BR>Staying on-site is the only way to go!!! You will love this perk.

Well, I have a reservation to stay at Disney because we are doing both Disney & Universal and we don't want to move hotels during the week. So I guess now I need to know if it is worth the inconvenience of moving hotels, or if I decide to stick with my Disney hotel what pass is the best one to buy at Universal to skip the lines? Thanks everyone!

You may be able to get a room at the Royal Pacific for $99 a night with the Entertainment rate. If you stay on night, you will get two days front of the line privileges. <BR>Go to www.disboards.com and scroll down to the Universal forums for detailed explanation. YES, depending on when you'll be going, it could be well worth moving hotels. My nephew had a hotel at WDW at Thanksgiving. He got a room at the Hard Rock Hotel for one night, so he could have the two days FOTL privileges and said it was WELL worth it.

I can see that the opinion is to move hotels. If I can't get my travelmates to move, does anyone know what kind of upgraded pass would help us avoid lines the most, and how much it would cost? Thanks again!

Sorry, I don't know about the pass, but I recommend moving hotels during the week. Stay at Disney first and then move to Universal. That way, you have the FOTL to look forward to. Last year we stayed four nights at Disney (Beach Club) and then three nights at the Hard Rock Hotel. I am very glad we did Disney first, because once you've had FOTL access you do not want to stand in line at Disney. You get spoiled!!<BR><BR>

We moved after three nights at the Swan in WDW to the Hard Rock for 3 nights. DEFINITELY worth it. It only took me an hour to pack for my entire family of 4. Well worth it. <BR><BR>FOTL is fantastic! Make sure you do Universal last, as having FOTL will indeed spoil you! You can only get FOTL by staying at the Royal Pacific, Hard Rock or Portofino Bay. The Hard Rock is a fantastic hotel. There is nothing like it and it beats the expensive tours ($100 pp!), plus you have to stay with a tour guide. This isn't the way I would want to do it, but to each their own. I would convince your friends to switch hotels.

Thanks for all the advice! I am convinced we need to change hotels. Just a few other questions...Can we do Universal in 2 days or do we need 3? Two of you mention the lines at disney, but doesn't the "fast pass" help there? I guess we will check out the Hard Rock since everyone seems to like it..