1st timer needs some serious help :)

[vacation_junkie]

We generally come to Orlando and head to Disney and stay onsite or when we go on a Cruise. We are so Disney'd out and are thinking this time around we will get the Orlando Flex pass and spend the week at Universal, Island of Adventure, Wet & Wile, Sea World....etc..

I have no idea where to start to plan this thing!

Can you book packages at Universal like you can at Disney...Hotel, Tickets, meal plan etc?
How do you find out which are Universal hotels?

When we were in orlando last week I saw a sign for Home Suite Home Apartment rentals..anyone used them.

Where do I begin...Help!!
April 2012 , 2 adults and a boy who will be turning 12.
Thanks in Advance.

 

[damo]

Your first start should be www.universalorlando.com

Tons of info there.

 

[glocon]

definitely check out the orlando flex tickets

 

[Ohiodislover]

There are many sites that sell the Orlando Flex tickets at a discount. I was able to purchase them for around 250/pp. I thought that was a good deal. They are good for up to 14 days, incl park hopping, and you only have to pay for parking 1 time/day.

The universal website will have package information, but maybe not this far out. I found that booking the on-site hotel separately from the tickets was cheaper for our dates.

 

[cheshireqt]

Damo gave you the prime link. Start there, figure out what you want (hotel and days) and go from there.
Just some observations: You can book a package but so far it has turned out more cost effective, for us, to book separately.
Just like a Disney vacation decide onsite or offsite. Look at the benefits of onsite carefully vs cost of offsite. Time of year will make a difference whether you really should try for the perks of onsite (unlimited front of line admission at almost all the rides, priority seating at restaurants, 1 hour early admission to HP area).
Unlike a Disney vacation you do not need to make reservations for meals eons ahead of time. There are some fantastic restaurants in the parks as well as CityWalk, but the meal plan does not provide for this and is really not that great at Universal, whereas at Disney we would not go without it! Also factor in transportation to the hotel, if staying onsite. If driving disregard, if flying into Orlando you will need to arrange how to get from the airport to the hotel.
Primary discounts on rooms appear to be the Stay more Play more and AAA rates.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

My youngest daughter begged to go to WWoHP so I'm looking at booking a two night at PBH. We've never been off Disney property at all. We normally stay at Club Level rooms but I can't find any information if they are worth it.
I didn't see any picture of the club lounge on the Universal website.

The hotel looks lovely and it is nice to get excited about the trip. I'm worried about smoking around the pool. I'm very sensitive to smoke. I'll start sneezing.

We are going in August so I wonder about the walk in really humid weather. Is it a crowded time to go?

We've done WDW in August and it was manageable if we got up early and came back to the room after lunch. Disney's pools are always crowded in the afternoon and the Beach Club is overcrowded. No seats by 10AM Can I expect the same at PBH?