The onsite hotels are very nice and are more expensive because of the unlimited front of the line access. If you stay one night you actually get two full days of front of the line access - the day you check in and the day you check out. You can check into the hotel at 7am and they will give you the keys for front of the line access and then when you came back they will assign a room.

If you only have a single day ticket for one park (not a park to park pass) then you will have plenty of time to stand in line and do everything. You can buy a limited front of line access pass in the park called an Express Pass. It is only good for a single use for each ride but might work better. See what the cost is vs the room rate.

http://www.universalorlando.com/Them...us-Passes.aspx