Just back from a long weekend at Universal Orlando, using a variety of points and credits.
We paid 105k URs for Universal tickets. The Express Passes (included with our Portofino Bay stay) were really nice to have. We've only been to Universal once 15 years ago and this set of kids have never been. The impetus for going was that both our kids have read the Harry Potter books and my youngest is a potterhead and asked to go here, rather than Disney, about a year ago. Turns out Universal just really isn't for us. We loved the World of Harry Potter (both lands) and thought they were so well done and incredibly immersive. The rest of Universal just wasn't for us. We would have been good with a one day, perhaps 2 day pass at most. We don't really do real true roller coasters. Just had no emotional connection to Universal, like we have with Disney.
We stayed 3 nights at Universal's Portofino Bay booked through FHR and had (3) $200 credits, which brought our per nt cost down to about $400 per nt. This included Unlimited Express Passes for all four of us, early check-in, guaranteed 4pm checkout, $100 resort credit (I think x2 due to separate ressies, but not sure) and $68 in breakfast credits per day. We really liked that we could use our credit in the restaurant, Starbucks or in-room dining. We were frequently able to feed all four of us for breakfast with the credit and often never felt hungry until late afternoon.
We received an "upgrade" to a bay view which didn't matter so much, but the location was superb, just off the entrance to the water taxi. Transportation to Universal via walkway or water taxi was excellent, with no stops for other hotels. I found their boats much nicer/newer than Disney's and thought they did an excellent job with transportation. We spent a lot of time at the hotel, enjoying the warm weather and the outdoor piazzas, and Sal's deli. We ate all our meals at the hotel, had a couple alcoholic drinks per day and our bill for 4 days, after all the credits was under $200. Felt like a steal.
Paid 20k RR pts/per adult/RT for SW + 2 companions. Used our monthly $30 Uber credit plus (2) Amex Uber offers, putting our Uber cost at about $35 RT from Loews to MCO.
We tried ButterBeer, chocolate frogs, participated in the wand choosing ceremony, made it rain using interactive spells, did communal table dining at the Leaky Cauldron and rode Hagrid's Motorbike twice and I got called "Madam" by the goblin at the money exchange. We definitely enjoyed our time in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
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, so yes, definitely an upgrade. We commented so many times how the West Wing and our room location was really the upgrade; it was such a great location.
. Will let you know if it works.
