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It's been a long time! 8 years since we've been to UO. We're DVC was planning to stay there and just get park tickets. My TA says I must get premier hotel for express pass. 3rd week in August for 2-3 days and if we don't do Epic it's ok. True or false?

4:45pm by babyruth

Epic is a must do and preferably with express if you can swing it. 1 night at a premier will get you 2 days express at US and IOA. That way if you want to stay offsite just get a premier for 1 night

5:31pm by clyde4242

You don't HAVE to get a premier hotel for express passes, but buying express passes outright is MUCH more expensive. I always urge people strongly to consider the premier hotel, especially if it's 2 people staying. :)

31 min ago by browndalmatian

Also, I respectfully disagree with clyde. :) I don't think Epic is a must-do. I DO think it's great! But I think the other two parks are much better, and with potentially only 2 days (even with EPs) it makes Epic even less of a must-do. JMO!!! :)

29 min ago by browndalmatian

However this is based on MY/OUR likes/dislikes. If you really love Nintendo, Fantastic Beasts, and maybe also Universal Monsters, then Epic might very well be a lot more fun for you than US/IoA. :)

28 min ago by browndalmatian

I know this is kinda silly, but how often do the buses run at Stella Nova? I'm in queue at Epic and I could have walked back twice in the time I've waited.

8:01pm on 5/19/26 by Redbeard25

How long did you wait? I noticed that the SN buses and I think TN rotated? SN would often wait on the side until the other bus left. I always walked it.

7:09am by PrincipalTinker

We waited at least 20 minutes. We're not going to wait again!

9:28am by Redbeard25

Not silly at all imo. We very often walk instead of taking the boats. Not sure about the busses but I bet I'd rather walk too.

10:32am by browndalmatian

SN/Tl are close enough we'd ususlly walk it- we did get bus this time w DH hip. Leaving after park close we let a packed bus go as he cldbt stand. Another empty one came by straight after as the 1st drove off

2:27pm by hodg

UO TRIP REPORT FOR 5/17/26: On Saturday night I randomly checked out the prices at UO hotels while watching the fight from the couch... CBBR, $113/night AP rate, tomorrow (Sunday). "We can get a room just to pool hop to HRH..." I booked it.

5:32pm on 5/19/26 by browndalmatian

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My boys and I headed over after church and checked in. Wife and DD at a school thing that morning. Line at CBBR was super long for checkin. Room was ready though, even though we had no plans to use it. (CBBR does not allow dogs.)

5:33pm on 5/19/26 by browndalmatian

Went to CBBR slide pool, boys went on a few times. Grabbed sandwiches to eat on the way to the lazy river on the other side of CBBR. After that we got more food lol... turkey sandwich (not bad), chicken sandwich (old, kinda gross), pizza (also old, gross)

5:35pm on 5/19/26 by browndalmatian

... no matter, I was looking forward to what was next and that was HRH. Got in car and drove over. CBBR room key works for parking at HRH! Didn't have to pay! Whoo! Went to desk to get "amenity key" with my CBBR room key. Ah... at pool finally. lol

5:35pm on 5/19/26 by browndalmatian

Boys played all the games, we got smoothies. Wife/DD met up with us (incidentally, her room key for CBBR worked on the way out, she didn't have to pay either). NACHOS time... NOT AS GOOD AS PBH FYI. ALERT. NOT AS GOOD AS PBH. LOL Still good though. :)

5:37pm on 5/19/26 by browndalmatian

Wings - AMAZING. Kids burgers were $14 each (WAYYYY cheaper than adult and not a small burger either)... SUPER GOOD BURGER. No fruit and yogurt on the menu, darn. What we got was great though.

5:37pm on 5/19/26 by browndalmatian

The kids met some friends, played all the pool games, and there were baby ducks swimming. Wife/DD finally left and drove home. Boys and I went back to CBBR just to close out the night in the lazy river and pool there. :)

5:38pm on 5/19/26 by browndalmatian

I ALMOST stayed the night in the room but since I had to be up early for work we went home at about 10:30-11pm. FUN DAY. WORTH THE $113. Funny story though... I told the waiter at HRH that I couldn't "just sneak in to the pool" like so many people do, and

5:39pm on 5/19/26 by browndalmatian

...and I had to get a "cheap" room at CBBR and then pool hop. He looked at me like I was crazy and said "dude... just come in. Big deal. I mean you're spending money here buying food, I don't know why they don't at least let APs do that."

5:40pm on 5/19/26 by browndalmatian

...but... I would feel bad and guilty doing that. LOL :) Anyway, fun time. I need to do that again if they have a good rate again. :) I was super tired the next day though. :D

5:41pm on 5/19/26 by browndalmatian

Sounds awesome!

7:24pm on 5/19/26 by WendyMarie

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So funny @brown, we stayed three nights at PBR and on checkout day our room key did not work at the pool so we snuck in. I felt guilty! Even though I just spent hundred of dollars there!! Lol

7:50am by ladyortramp

@ladyortramp I 100% don't think you should feel guilty about that. You are supposed to have pool access on the day that you check out. I think that was just a case of the key not working. That happens regularly! So, don't feel bad!!

10:33am by browndalmatian

Pool access stops at 11am. I do not feel guilty tailgating in after that however

2:26pm by hodg

In queue for USF park open because Len says it's a 2 today! Hoping to walk on a bunch of stuff! F&F coaster construction noise is kinda annoying. Also, at 9:27 they announced that IOA was open to all park guests. I guess that's based on crowd size?

9:30am by Redbeard25

Have a great day! Sounds like fun! Not sure why they made that announcement. I bet the F&F noise won't be too bad when you get farther into the parks. Have fun!!

10:32am by browndalmatian

All park guests should have been able to access IOA at 9, so yea weird announcement.

11:05am by clyde4242

I'm sure most people know but just a reminder recheck hotel rates we saved $100 today.

1:22pm on 5/17/26 by snelvis

On our week long January trip I booked three different hotels at an AP discount about 3 months before and no lie ended up saving almost $1100 total before we went by rechecking every hotel every day! I was so excited!

7:18pm on 5/17/26 by sneezy93

Yes ! I try to check daily but forget

7:39pm on 5/17/26 by snelvis

AGREED. GREAT ADVICE! We were able to sneak a one-day getaway in for $113 last weekend at CBBR, last minute. :O Also, $1100 savings!? GREAT JOB!!! That's awesome!

10:52am on 5/19/26 by browndalmatian

It literally paid for all our food and wasn't hard to do at all! They make it so easy to rebook!

7:18pm on 5/19/26 by sneezy93

I'm legitimately now thinking of getting the cheapest room at CBBR just so I can pool hop to PBH for the nachos. Why don't the UO hotels offer day passes for locals? :D That is all. Have a good day everyone. :)

1:50pm on 5/11/26 by browndalmatian

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I had RPR nachos like 12-15 years ago so I don't really remember. But PBH nachos I had about a year ago and, yeah, they were great. :)

10:32am on 5/16/26 by browndalmatian

I too had RPR nachos years ago and they were not very good on that day.

11:53am on 5/16/26 by PrincipalTinker

So... I did end up doing this, but I got the Nachos at HRH. Trip report coming soon. LOL!

5:31pm on 5/19/26 by browndalmatian

Dropped our VRBO and decided on family suite at CBBR. It's our home away from WDW...Travel agent saved me from the UOR website so it's a win all around. Got promotional tickets that include VB. Any VB tips?

1:56pm on 5/19/26 by whenuwish

Any ideas for breakfast that is quick at RPR that is open before rope drop? I am not in the mood for granola and dried fruit like we usually do. Also don't want a huge line but not sure if that's possible.

10:18pm on 5/18/26 by Buckeye86

Or ideas on grocery delivery maybe?

3:49am on 5/19/26 by Buckeye86

The QS in the lobby's posted hours begin at 6am.

7:34am on 5/19/26 by PrincipalTinker

I don't eat in the morning so my advice for "nothing but black coffee and water" might not be your favorite. :P :) Other than that, I'd grab something the day before and have it ready, maybe in the room fridge.

10:50am on 5/19/26 by browndalmatian

I will add that the QS usually has a hot grab and go section.

11:52am on 5/19/26 by PrincipalTinker

Has anyone taken the super star shuttle? Does it take a long time like mears often does for WDW resorts?

2:08pm on 5/17/26 by WildernessPixie

We have only taken it from MCO to our resort. Two trips we got on pretty quickly, a few stops before RPR, but wasn't bad. Last trip it was not good, took a long time to get picked up- probably at least 40 minutes. Then the bus driver took a wrong turn.

3:19pm on 5/17/26 by WendyMarie

Bus driver was also reportedly mentioned tips being appreciated, to the point it was just obnoxious.

3:23pm on 5/17/26 by WendyMarie

Thank you! We'll probably stick to using uber or Lyft.

3:25pm on 5/17/26 by WildernessPixie

We took it once and never again Took forever to arrive and went to several hotels before dropping us off. Uber is way easier and cheaper.

8:50pm on 5/17/26 by Buckeye86

We can start booking dining soon, but I feel much less organized than I normally would for a WDW trip. Is there any dining that *needs* to be booked well in advance at Universal, or can it all wait until closer? There are 8 of us, going Thanksgiving week.

11:17am on 5/12/26 by Ofmiceandmen

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We did book ahead as soon as able- esp wanted specific times for bar Helios & blue dragon. But we did chsnge a few reservations day of/ day before w no issues at PBH & citiwalk

9:37am on 5/17/26 by hodg

There have been times I was having trouble getting a certain reservation but check back mid morning when they send out text reminders to confirm or cancel because sometimes you can grab one then.

10:16am on 5/17/26 by sneezy93

Will do!

1:41pm on 5/17/26 by Ofmiceandmen

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