Considering visiting Universal January 2016 Questions!!

Momtwofour · Mar 30, 2015

I havent been to Universal since 2000 I think and am considering making a trip with my daughters in January 2016 (They are huge Harry Potter Fans) So I am looking at the onsite resorts and it says they are all booked for every date I enter? Is this normal for this far out? Is it better to stay off site?? Where do I even start?? lol Any information you can share to a 1st timer is welcome!

zbsigpi · Mar 31, 2015

January, is a huge convention month, so it is possibly due to that. Right now however the rooms are probably not actually sold but rather reserved for the groups and will be released closer to the actual date (i know this does not help you though).

macraven · Mar 31, 2015

call Loews direct and see if they have openings for your January date.

chabs · Mar 31, 2015

Harry Potter weekend is in January-usually the last weekend. I would suggest that you hold out for that weekend. I have a note on my calendar to check back for the package around 8/14. I probably won't buy the package because I have annual passes and I don't really care if I go to the Friday night event but I might if the price is right. Most of the events you can go to without buying the package though-they are open to anyone in the park. There is an expo that we had to stand in line for but it was not bad-maybe an hour and a half and we happened to be in the right place at the right time because the Weasley twins came out and we took pictures with Fred while we were in line. The expo was really interesting-you can google the events from last year.

chabs · Mar 31, 2015

Also-forgot to say. I booked our trip at the last minute and didn't have any problems getting a room at the Royal Pacific with my annual pass rate. There were a lot of groups as the weekend went on but it seemed like they were mostly at IOA so I wonder if Universal blocked them out of HP weekend at the Studios park. You have plenty of time-I would wait until the summer and keep checking for a 20% off Cheaptickets code or AP rate and buy one AP.

RMulieri · Mar 31, 2015

Call Loews.Last year we booked over the phone for this past Jan since the rooms weren't on the website till closer till June. Keep in mind while Jan is a slower month, it is not dead.LOTS and LOTS of tour groups .Staying onsite definitely helps

Momtwofour · Mar 31, 2015

Ok thanks for the information!

macraven · Mar 31, 2015

yes.........lost of tour groups.....
i'll not be returning in january again...

RMulieri · Apr 1, 2015

macraven said:
yes.........lost of tour groups.....
i'll not be returning in january again...

I don't think we are either..DD can't be pulled out of school anymore since she starts Middle School in August.Plus the tour groups and the really unpredictable weather kind of cements it...I am heading down for HHN for 2 days and our next family trip is end of August 2016..We did August '13 so we know what to expect.

chabs · Apr 1, 2015

Honestly, I didn't think the tour groups were so bad HP weekend this year. We just saw where they were heading and went the opposite way. There were a lot of "pink" girls only groups, which I thought was odd. All had matching custom made jackets, shirts, backpacks, etc. Everything was pink. I kept thinking that they must have spent a fortune on the clothing alone. They were pretty well behaved too-I only saw one incident of unnecessary chanting on the bridge by HP castle.

RMulieri · Apr 1, 2015

chabs said:
Honestly, I didn't think the tour groups were so bad HP weekend this year. We just saw where they were heading and went the opposite way. There were a lot of "pink" girls only groups, which I thought was odd. All had matching custom made jackets, shirts, backpacks, etc. Everything was pink. I kept thinking that they must have spent a fortune on the clothing alone. They were pretty well behaved too-I only saw one incident of unnecessary chanting on the bridge by HP castle.

We were there the week before HP weekend , and thought it was far worse than when we went the same time the year before..Hundreds of them all over and they would walk /slam right into you,Cut in front of you etc..DD got knocked over when the one group saw the Grinch out and about..We have done Jan before, but this one was enough to end it for us.Add to it the sea of selfie sticks it cemented the decision for us

CPanther95 · Apr 1, 2015

macraven said:
yes.........lost of tour groups.....
i'll not be returning in january again...

Have you considered Brazil?

Apparently, the whole country is a ghost town in January.

chabs · Apr 2, 2015

RMulieri said:
We were there the week before HP weekend , and thought it was far worse than when we went the same time the year before..Hundreds of them all over and they would walk /slam right into you,Cut in front of you etc..DD got knocked over when the one group saw the Grinch out and about..We have done Jan before, but this one was enough to end it for us.Add to it the sea of selfie sticks it cemented the decision for us

Yeah I get that. I forgot about the stupid selfie sticks. They were everywhere. We must have been lucky the last trip because we didn't see the groups too much and they didn't really annoy me other than the fact that they took up the whole HP gift shop on the way out of FJ. But that place is always crowded anyway. The big draw to me next Jan is HP weekend. We had a great time I am planning on going back.

wookiebeck · Apr 2, 2015

CPanther95 said:
Have you considered Brazil?

Apparently, the whole country is a ghost town in January.

johde · Apr 2, 2015

I'm thinking your looking too early for online pricing. I know for my trip last year it seemed to take forever for January prices to show up. Right Now, prices seem to be loaded through Jan. 3rd 2016.

Jakejosh4 · Apr 3, 2015

When will end of March be available its not on line yet if I ring will they be able to let me know prices starting to panic a little as its Easter and I know it will be busy and book up quickly thanks

macraven · Apr 3, 2015

Jakejosh4 said:
When will end of March be available its not on line yet if I ring will they be able to let me know prices starting to panic a little as its Easter and I know it will be busy and book up quickly thanks

if the prices are not in the system yet, the TM's won't be able to give you info on pricing.
next year Easter is early and hotel prices will be high the as it is this year for that period.
you will be looking at a crowded time period with easter and spring break going on at the same time.

if you can book now, book at rack rate and modify your room rate when that info is available.

i'm gettting confused so let me clarify.
thread is about january booking.
so for the op's question, book now and modify your rate when discounts are out.

bumbershoot · Apr 3, 2015

CPanther95 said:
Have you considered Brazil?

Apparently, the whole country is a ghost town in January.

Probably a good idea. And it's summer there at that time. No potential for freezing! (Which is why I'm not going in January anymore)

macraven · Apr 4, 2015

i joined the club of "no more visits in january"

i'll join CPanther in Brazil.

anyone here have a CDL so we can drive down?

CPanther95 · Apr 5, 2015

macraven said:
i joined the club of "no more visits in january"

i'll join CPanther in Brazil.

anyone here have a CDL so we can drive down?

Cool, you bring the attitude, and I'll bring a boat load of selfie sticks.

Considering visiting Universal January 2016 Questions!!

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