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Old 03-07-2010, 02:41 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Universal hotel and Universal Express pass

I can't quite figure this out - I know that if you stay at a Universal hotel, you get a Universal Express pass to skip the lines, which would be very useful for me with my chronic fatigue, but if you stay for say one night, do you get a pass for two days and if you stay for two nights, is it valid for three days? That's the bit I can't quite work out from the website... anyone got any ideas?
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Old 03-07-2010, 05:04 AM   #2 (permalink)
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It works like this - they day you check in you can use your room key all day long. So you can arrive early in the morning, check in, obtain your room keys, leave your luggage with the concierge desk (because your room will most likely not be ready), and head to the parks. The day you check out your room key is good for most of the day. The policy has varied over the years, it once was good until 3 or 4 pm the day of checkout but others have posted that they used theirs the entire day. So basically you can get 2 days worth out of one night's stay.

The room key is actually better than the Express pass you can purchase because you can use your room key over and over at the same attraction as many times as you want. An express pass is good once per attraction.

It would be ideal for you Cheryl, because it's such a short walk from the resorts to the parks. The Hard Rock in particular. Very easy to return to your room for a rest.
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Old 03-07-2010, 08:42 AM   #3 (permalink)
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We stayed at the Hard Rock and it was ideal for me with Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis. The Express Pass made it a lot easier (no lines to speak of). The Express Pass is available on about 90% of the rides - the biggest exception, and a big disappointment, was that it wasn't available for Rip Ride Rockit. The hotel was an easy walk from the parks. If you don't want to walk, you can head over to City Walk (across a bridge) and get the water taxi, or right outside of Universal Studios (which is next to Islands of Adventure) you will find bike taxis. They hold 2 adults easily, and they work for tips only.

I did a Trip Report here: http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/universal-studios-florida-islands-adventure/210975-my-us-ioa-trip-report-wow.html.
If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to PM me!
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Old 03-07-2010, 09:48 AM   #4 (permalink)
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Thanks so much for the answers guys. I think that, if we go back to Universal, which I'd like to do on our trip next year, staying at one of their resorts would definitely be the way to go.
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Old 03-07-2010, 12:59 PM   #5 (permalink)
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We did that Aug 08, stayed in HRH one night, and got the benefit of 2 days of the pass benefits, then we moved across the street to The Doubletree. We were also going to Sea World & Aquatica. As we had the 7 day Universal ticket, we did go back to Universal some days at opening to re-do our favs, then left when crowds started to build.
While we had the on-site pass I think we rode Simpsons 4 times in a row, lol. Great ride.
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Old 07-25-2010, 12:56 PM   #6 (permalink)
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<<An express pass is good once per attraction>>

Is this once per attraction for the entire day? so only shorten the line once a day?
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Old 07-25-2010, 02:37 PM   #7 (permalink)
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<<An express pass is good once per attraction>>

Is this once per attraction for the entire day? so only shorten the line once a day?
Yes, the Express Pass that you purchase is good once per attraction. The Universal website states, "Valid for one (1) entry per participating attraction". However, you can use your room key for entry in the Express Pass line as many times as you like.

Tickets and information for the Universal Orlando Resort
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Old 07-25-2010, 03:14 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by jhoshowski View Post
We stayed at the Hard Rock and it was ideal for me with Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis. The Express Pass made it a lot easier (no lines to speak of). The Express Pass is available on about 90% of the rides - the biggest exception, and a big disappointment, was that it wasn't available for Rip Ride Rockit. The hotel was an easy walk from the parks. If you don't want to walk, you can head over to City Walk (across a bridge) and get the water taxi, or right outside of Universal Studios (which is next to Islands of Adventure) you will find bike taxis. They hold 2 adults easily, and they work for tips only.

I did a Trip Report here: http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/universal-studios-florida-islands-adventure/210975-my-us-ioa-trip-report-wow.html.
If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to PM me!
It's also said that The Forbidden Journey will not have the Express Line, but I haven't gone yet to check!

But staying on site at Universal is awesome. The key usable over and over for the express lines which is great and the hotels are super close and quite beautiful And when I went a few months ago they said nothing about it ending on the day I checked out!
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Old 07-25-2010, 11:21 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Yes, the Express Pass that you purchase is good once per attraction. The Universal website states, "Valid for one (1) entry per participating attraction". However, you can use your room key for entry in the Express Pass line as many times as you like.

Tickets and information for the Universal Orlando Resort
That stinks but I guess we'll have to do it that way if we need the express passes. We are renting a house offsite.
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Old 07-29-2010, 07:05 PM   #10 (permalink)
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KellyMarie, you might want to consider how much it would cost to do one day on site and compare that to buying express passes. You can get 4 room keys and use them on the day you check in and the day you leave. If you have four people, it might be pretty close in cost.

I have always been told the key is good from when you check in until the park closes the day you check out.

Universal hotels are also really beautiful and beautifully themed, although in a much more subtle way than Disney.
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Old 07-30-2010, 08:18 AM   #11 (permalink)
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KellyMarie, you might want to consider how much it would cost to do one day on site and compare that to buying express passes. You can get 4 room keys and use them on the day you check in and the day you leave. If you have four people, it might be pretty close in cost.

I have always been told the key is good from when you check in until the park closes the day you check out.

Universal hotels are also really beautiful and beautifully themed, although in a much more subtle way than Disney.
We already booked the house and we are going in February so I don't know if I could justify the cost of a night's stay. There are 3 adults and 4 children (17yrs,11 yrs,11yrs,10 yrs) I think they would all be adult price too.
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Old 07-30-2010, 09:04 PM   #12 (permalink)
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we have five people so we decided to book one night at the Hard Rock Hotel in order to have the benefit of the passes. We are going to keep our DVC villa throughout and head over to Universal on the morning of check-in day, pick up the keys, hit the park and the next morning get up for the universal version of extra magic hours and tour Island of Adventures.

It's seems extravagant to double up on accoms for a night, but I think the benefit of the express pass will be worthwhile and we'll be able to see and do everything we want to do.
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Old 08-01-2010, 08:02 AM   #13 (permalink)
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we have five people so we decided to book one night at the Hard Rock Hotel in order to have the benefit of the passes. We are going to keep our DVC villa throughout and head over to Universal on the morning of check-in day, pick up the keys, hit the park and the next morning get up for the universal version of extra magic hours and tour Island of Adventures.

It's seems extravagant to double up on accoms for a night, but I think the benefit of the express pass will be worthwhile and we'll be able to see and do everything we want to do.
How much is a room for one night and can you rent one room for 7 persons?
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Old 08-01-2010, 02:04 PM   #14 (permalink)
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I don't know about 7 people in one room. It's possible that some suites might accomodate that many people. One great thing about Universal's resorts is that they do allow 5 people in a standard room. Perfect for our family of 5!

As far as price, there are 3 different resorts with different price ranges. I think Royal Pacific is probably the cheapest of the 3.
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Old 08-03-2010, 07:27 AM   #15 (permalink)
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How much is a room for one night and can you rent one room for 7 persons?
We are a family of 7 and had to get two connecting rooms.....Staying onsite is sooooo with it!! Having the express pass was incredible - there was a 50 minute wait for Jaws and we went on it twice with no wait - I actually felt a but guilty!!
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