Questions about Express pass and onsite stays for Jan 2010 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Questions about Express pass and onsite stays for Jan 2010
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sue M.
I am staying at Hard Rock for 1 night, for the Express pass benefit. I've heard it's actually good for 2 days of express pass. On your check out day it still works. So that takes care of 2 days.
We are visiting universal studios on January 5th 2010. We have never been there since we are from Europe - Slovenia. Will there be long waiting lines on this time? we have 1 and 3 year old kids so waiting in lines will not be a good experience.
I am wondering if kids rides are very occupied too.
I am thinking of getting 1 night on site hotel for Express pass.. but check in time is usually on afternoon and checkout in morning. So how to use room key card 2 days if I check in late and check out in morning. If I get it right I can use the express pass only after hotel check in and before check out. Am I wrong?
Any other suggestions for family with small kids? 1 night of loews royal pacific on universal web page is 300+ $ and it says Skip the Regular Lines with FREE UNIVERSAL EXPRESS. Price on Loews web page is 219$ but it does not say anything about free univ. express
other value hotels in neighbourhood are from 33 - 50 $ so I think if it will be necessary I will book the on site hotel. but I need some confirmation about free express pass system (1 night hotel 2 days card).
Any help would be appreciated.
p.s.
any ideas of getting good prices for park tickets?
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Hi Marko, welcome to the boards! To my knowledge, the Loew's website price ($219) will include the express pass benefit. To get 2 full days of the express pass for Universal's hotel guests, you can check into the hotel as soon as you arrive. They have a secure place to store your luggage if your room is not ready when you arrive - just ask at the desk for that. When you have checked in, they will give you your room key to use in the parks in the express pass lines and they will tell you when they expect your room will be ready. As soon as you get your key, it is an active express pass. To get the 2nd day, your express pass on your room key doesn't expire until the parks close that night. You will have to check out by the hotel's check-out time, but again they can store your luggage for you while you are in the parks. So you can enjoy the parks all day, still with the benefit of the Express Pass. However I don't think that you will have very long lines or heavy crowds by January 5th. Most school vacations will be over by then, so most families will likely have gone home by then. The express pass benefit is still very nice although I think you would probably be able to get along without it. The best place to get your tickets is online at their website. I've just checked out the tickets you mentioned. That 2 park unlimited pass for $99.99 is a good deal. You must pre-purchase the tickets online at least 2 days before you plan to use them. There will be tax and a small service fee in addition to the ticket price, but it's still a good deal.
We are visiting universal studios on January 5th 2010. We have never been there since we are from Europe - Slovenia. Will there be long waiting lines on this time? we have 1 and 3 year old kids so waiting in lines will not be a good experience.
I am wondering if kids rides are very occupied too.
I am thinking of getting 1 night on site hotel for Express pass.. but check in time is usually on afternoon and checkout in morning. So how to use room key card 2 days if I check in late and check out in morning. If I get it right I can use the express pass only after hotel check in and before check out. Am I wrong?
Any other suggestions for family with small kids? 1 night of loews royal pacific on universal web page is 300+ $ and it says Skip the Regular Lines with FREE UNIVERSAL EXPRESS. Price on Loews web page is 219$ but it does not say anything about free univ. express
other value hotels in neighbourhood are from 33 - 50 $ so I think if it will be necessary I will book the on site hotel. but I need some confirmation about free express pass system (1 night hotel 2 days card).
Any help would be appreciated.
p.s.
any ideas of getting good prices for park tickets?
online special is 99$ for 2 park unlimited.
Thanks, Marko
Donna is right, your Express Pass (room key) will be good the entire second day after check out. We did this, staying 1 night at Hard Rock, then moved across the street to The Doubletree.
Our Universal visits were in August, but I've been to WDW in late Jan. and crowds were light, so think they will be at Universal too.
The $99 2 park is a great price. We paid that last Aug 08. 2 parks/7day ticket for $99 on line.
How long will you be in Orlando? Are you going anywhere else? SeaWorld would be another place to visit. Have a great visit!
That are good news thank you both! Probably I wont need Express pass.
I will be in orlando for about 5 days. I decided for universal I think that it will be good since we have 1 and 3 year old kids and it shows that it has some rides for our 3 yr old too. We definitely wont visit multi parks since 100 USD per park is astronomicall price.
My wife is worried because I am searching for cheap hotels. She asks if those places are safe for us with 2 small kids. What are your experiences? for example: HOTEL1 or HOTEL2 since those hotels are near universal I find it great so we wont have to pay parking at universal and we can walk in.
I think Ill have to look for some better hotels with large rooms, so we can be a bit separated, when 1 year old goes to sleep.
one more question. Since you all are some fun experts. Which park is best for kids!
our 3 year old is just over 42 inches. so there are few rides in studios for him. but paying 300 USD for those 4 rides is still quite a lot. Which theme park is best for small kids?
Well, I haven't seen either of those hotels sorry. But we got a really good rate at The Doubletree when we were there in August 08.
One thing to consider is, I assume you will be relying on hotel shuttles to get to park. Some of the hotels have minimal shuttle service. Mainly in the morning and evening park closing only. The Doubletree has some of the best shuttle service going back and forth during mornings, afternoon and evening times.
On the same block or a couple of blocks there was a Best Western, Hampton Inn, and Holiday Inn. I think there was a Hyatt Place a few blocks away too, I would look at these. They are reliable brand hotels and are held to certain standards. Islands of Adventure: Live the adventure of a lifetime Universal Studios Orlando: Experience the movies
I think there is plenty to do for kids at each park. And you and your spouse can switch off watching the kids to go on some adult rides too.
Thank you!
So I have to consider shuttles too!? I thought those hotels are very close to parks so we could walk in. I found the Hyatt Place interesting also. Going to buy those online tickets now and make some hotel reservations! thank you!
Thank you!
So I have to consider shuttles too!? I thought those hotels are very close to parks so we could walk in. I found the Hyatt Place interesting also. Going to buy those online tickets now and make some hotel reservations! thank you!
Marko
Yes, shuttles are definitely something to consider too. Sue's got some great advice.
You will find that many hotel websites will say "within walking distance", but it could still be a mile (about 2 km) from the park. Yes, that is within walking distance I wouldn't want to do that with a couple of young children after you've spent a day in the parks. Or even if they say "across the street", they can be across the street but it is on the opposite side of the park entrance which could mean a very long walk around the outside of the park.
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We went to US/IOA over our Spring Break a few years back. We stayed at a Marriott near WDW. We spent three days (from before opening until about 3pm) and found we did just fine without the "fastpasses". I was worried about it before we left, but I wasn't going to spend extra on them. I was glad we didn't.
Thank you!
So I have to consider shuttles too!? I thought those hotels are very close to parks so we could walk in. I found the Hyatt Place interesting also. Going to buy those online tickets now and make some hotel reservations! thank you!
Marko
Yes. Def. consider shuttles. Don't know which hotel you are now considering, but you could phone them directly and ask what kind of shuttle service they have.
Doubletree was good, it is walking distance, it took us 20 min to walk. We did it once. Mostly used hotel shuttle. It's a long across the street, as Donna said.
Hyatt Place is great, and has a nice (free) breakfast, room with fridge and microwave, and is a suite, bedroom and pull out sofa in living room. We stayed in one on I-Drive.
Hi Marko!! I think you're going at a great time - the crowd levels should be very low in early January, and you probably wouldn't need the Express pass. The 3 Universal onsite hotels will be the closest if you want to walk to the parks. But I'm sure you can find a less expensive hotel than the Universal hotel. I second Sue's recommendation of the Doubletree. We stayed there during spring break, and we had a view of the parks from our room. It's a beautiful hotel. The rooms are very spacious. This hotel has several restaurants on their property. However, I wouldn't walk to the parks from the Doubletree, I'd take the shuttle bus.
For your younger children, I'd probably go with Universal Studios. I think the Curious George play area would really appeal to them. But then again, Suess Landing is fun too. Tough call!
Thank you all!
Now we messed up our plans so we will go to disney instead
We found out it is far better for our little ones!
now searching for hotels near WDW goes on it is funny all disney value hotels on site are full already.
Can I find cheaper disney entrance tickets than on their web site?
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Mousesavers is a great source of info. If you go to discounts you will notice there are room promos out now, but you would have to book soon. One promo is stay for 4 days get 3 free. This includes room and park tickets. I don't know what the availability is for this. Another promo that just came out for WDW is value 30% off room rate, moderate 35% off and deluxe 40% off. With this promo you can book a room only, and buy your park tickets thru Undercovertourist.com they offer a small discount on park tickets, there is a link thru mousesavers.com.
If the values are all booked, I'd look at the moderate resorts: Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter, Caribbean Beach or Coronado Springs. At 35% off it's a great deal, and affordable.
I think you'd be better off staying on site. WDW had fantastic continuos bus shuttle service all day, you can leave the parks for a mid day nap for the kids, and go back to a park later. You can't do that staying off site unless you rent a car. And I think you plan on using hotel shuttle service. Also staying on site you get free transportation to and from airport, saving $ on cabs.
Good luck with your planning. I hope you find something.
Your kids will love WDW!
I would continue to check daily for an opening in one of the four value resorts. We stayed there and loved it! Since you will need transportation, I would really encourage you to stay onsite, they provide FREE transportation to and from the airport and to all the parks! I think even if you went with a moderate hotel, the transportation perk would be worth the extra $. Hope you are able to get a hotel booked soon......
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it is funny all disney value hotels on site are full already. 
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