Well, if you plan to spend any time at a Universal Studios Orlando theme park -- Universal Studios Orlando or Islands of Adventure, then it might be to your benefit to stay at one of three resorts Universal has on property, especially if you're visiting during a busy season (like Thanksgiving and Christmas).
Hard Rock Hotel Universal
One of the benefits of staying at a Universal resort (Royal Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel, or Portofino Bay) is the inclusion of the front-of-line-access to the most popular rides at both parks. This can be a HUGE savings, even for a small family. If you plan to spend a couple of days (or more) at either or both of Universal's two theme parks and want to add the front-of-line-access to a ticket (it's not free like Disney's FastPass) -- it's going to cost you between $20-45 per ticket per day! With a family of four, staying at a Universal resort and getting this option for free would save you as much as $180 per day! That's enough to pay for one night (almost) at any of the three resorts!
Next time you're thinking of going on a Universal Orlando vacation, consider the cost and time savings by staying at an on-property resort. Not only are all three resorts beautiful with excellent amenities and services -- they're walking distance from the parks and City Walk (Portofino's a little farther, but it has a water taxi) and they provide you with FREE front-of-line-access passes for the duration of your stay. As noted, this will not only save you a ton of money, but also a ton of time, especially during busy seasons when waits for popular rides can exceed 2 hours.
