Orlando recommendations

Sebastalona

Correct mate. We stayed at Royal Pacific for a night, arrived before park opened, left luggage and got our passes from the machines in reception.

MarkyPancake

If you're serious about Universal Express Passes, staying at one of their qualifying resorts to get them, plus the convenience of being within walking distance of the parks and City Walk, is well worth it.

andyparksy

We do royal pacific every time we go. Its expensive but universal is just too busy to try and do without. The rides are too good - you go on once and you want to go on again but in august some rides will have 2  hour queue. With the hotel, get there as early as you can, use room key to get passes from reception drop luggage then walk to park. You can use the passes both check in and check out day. With passes you can do both parks in 2 days, but no chance at all without.... will be the best money you spend on the trip.

andyparksy

For disney fast passes you will need to do some homework as sometimes you are better off booking certain rides that are popular rather than ones you want to. Star tours is great at studios, but can normally get on it without using a pass, for example. I would go space mountain, splash mountain at disney, sorin and test track at epcot, tower of terror and rock n roller coaster at movies and was everest and rapids at animal (but not sure now with avatar thing). Best book passes early so you can use them and free up getting more for later in the day. How old are your kids? We did some degree level planning last year using child swap stuff as one couldnt go on some rides..... if thats the case you can end up doubling your passes if you sort it (its not hard, you just have to know the system- sounds pretty sad but is worth knowing)

Abbeygoo

Cheers @andyparksy decision made.

Abbeygoo

Kids are 17 and 11 @andyparksy

Sebastalona

@Abbeygoo

Which phone network provider are you with? I changed to Three before we went in 2014 as they have 'Feel at Home' which allows you to use your allowance abroad. Absolute godsend, used it for Sat Nav in rental car, for finding shops/restaurants etc, and obviously being able to book fast passes / check wait times in parks.

Got a text when we got back saying I'd saved £1400 using the service! Suffice to say was the same whenwe went last year Not sure if any other networks do similar, but worth checking out before you go.

Abbeygoo

Thanks @Sebastalona will do. I'm on EE

homer timpson

Just be careful with your luggage - 8 peoples luggage will be hard pushed to fit into that vehicle.
Nothing worse than standing in the parking lot at MCO in the stifling heat trying to get everyone and their luggage into a vehicle after an 8/9 hour flight!!

Homer

MarkyPancake

We upgraded to a Chevrolet Suburban one year, as we had seven of us, plus luggage in one car. We got all of us and our luggage in the Suburban, but would have struggled with the regular seven-seater we booked.

Last year we had six of us, plus luggage in a Dodge Caravan type car and we all fitted, along with the luggage. Two of the group had big bags and not cases, which helped.