Thanks to all the posters for the great info. we're considering adding a night here before our switch to RP, and maybe afterward too.
I was wondering if you had any issues checking into HRH after leaving the first hotel? like did you need to stop at the first desk and make you were checked out, before they let you check into HRH/get the express passes, etc???/ we have always spent the first night nearby, like Holiday Inn, Fairfield, then checked into a Universal hotel, never moved from one Universal to another. And we hope to be at RP as early as possible to get the express passes active.
Thanks, and thanks again for the info