2 Days at Universal: Harry Potter vs. Everything Else (Give me your opinion)

[damo]

I just double checked and it's definitely a standard room for that price. Also, I am aware the Harry Potter attractions don't take EP. It's the only reason I'm considering dividing up the days this way. Otherwise it would be an easy decision!

What are your dates? You must be going at a prime time, which would be another thing to consider.

 

[kcm105]

What are your dates? You must be going at a prime time, which would be another thing to consider.

Early June 2017. Definitely a prime time, I'm aware.

 

[damo]

Early June 2017. Definitely a prime time, I'm aware.

Actually that's not prime time. Check out this thread ... http://www.disboards.com/threads/the-official-2016-date-and-rate-thread.3462523/

You might want to consider an APH to get a huge room discount.

 

[kcm105]

Actually that's not prime time. Check out this thread ... http://www.disboards.com/threads/the-official-2016-date-and-rate-thread.3462523/

You might want to consider an APH to get a huge room discount.

I'm aware it's not the #1 prime time. I said earlier in the thread that it might not be peak season but it is a busier time. Also, these are the only 2 days I'll be visiting. Don't really think it would make much sense to get an annual pass....

 

[damo]

I'm aware it's not the #1 prime time. I said earlier in the thread that it might not be peak season but it is a busier time. Also, these are the only 2 days I'll be visiting. Don't really think it would make much sense to get an annual pass....

If an annual pass will give you $100 off on a room and it costs $25 more than a 2 day ticket, it makes a lot of sense!

 

[macraven]

Damo knows her math

Makes sense to me

 

[kcm105]

Okay, so this is the first I've looked into it, but the numbers still don't add up for me (although it's certainly cheaper than I'd have guessed). For the 3 of us, the cheapest tier annual pass is $780. Assuming I get a $100 discount on a room (which I'm not sure is correct, all I can find is that you get up to 30% off), then my total cost is still $1020, vs. $905 for my cheapest option (one day of EP), or $990 if I were to book a room for one night instead of purchasing EP outright. It's close, but it's still more. Plus, as far as I can tell (maybe you all know better than me), that $100 is a guess on what type of discount I'd get for the room. Maybe I'm totally missing something here, not sure.

 

[damo]

Okay, so this is the first I've looked into it, but the numbers still don't add up for me (although it's certainly cheaper than I'd have guessed). For the 3 of us, the cheapest tier annual pass is $780. Assuming I get a $100 discount on a room (which I'm not sure is correct, all I can find is that you get up to 30% off), then my total cost is still $1020, vs. $905 for my cheapest option (one day of EP), or $990 if I were to book a room for one night instead of purchasing EP outright. It's close, but it's still more. Plus, as far as I can tell (maybe you all know better than me), that $100 is a guess on what type of discount I'd get for the room. Maybe I'm totally missing something here, not sure.

You only need one annual pass. Get normal tickets for everyone else.

30% on a $340 room is $102.

 

[kcm105]

You only need one annual pass. Get normal tickets for everyone else.

30% on a $340 room is $102.

Okay, this gets me to break even pretty much. Assuming I would get the 30% discount (it just says UP TO 30%). I feel like this is a crazy number of hoops to jump through though, ha. Not saying it isn't possibly worth it, but it feels so much like gaming the system. Not that that's bad, I guess. It's just strange, for me anyway.

 

[bumbershoot]

Also, we won't have a car, so parking isn't a concern.

I figured you would have a car since you're commuting.

Alright, so now I'm rethinking this altogether. I remembered the hotel gets you in an hour earlier too. So do I have this right?? -

If I book just a single night at one of the 3 Universal Resorts with this perk, I can get the Unlimited EP for 2 days in the park, along with early admission both days??? If that's the case, the extra $100 might just be worth it! Can someone confirm I'm understanding this correctly???

One night at RPR, HRH, or PBH gives you early entrance to one or both Wizarding Worlds AND unlimited EP from checkin to parks close on the day of checkout.

One night at Cabana Bay or Sapphire Falls gives you early entrance to one or both Wizarding Worlds both days assuming you're there early enough on the first day.


You don't have to *stay* there. Some might call it gaming the system, some don't, doesn't really matter IMO. Those are perks for paying for the room.*

Booking now for next June...I would imagine the costs are going to come down. Just keep checking.

Getting an AP rate is awesome and amazing, and can really help out. You don't need to buy an AP now; you can just plop "APH" into the code field on uo.loewshotels.com and see if/when an AP rate shows up. If it's better than the rate you already booked, you can call and change it. Easy. The reps at the Loews hotels are fabulous and kind and sweet. If you end up with a good AP rate, then at some point you buy one AP.


Express Pass works just fine for Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge, FYI.




*if you ever go to Atlantis in Nassau, there's a similar thing that people do by booking at the Comfort Suites...gets them pretty much onsite perks at Atlantis without having to stay at Atlantis...people will check in and out at the same time, while getting their wristbands... Sometimes hotels have these cool things!

But I gotta tell ya...it's a LOT of fun to stay onsite at Universal. In our opinion, a WDW trip is work, but a Uni stay is VACATION. At Uni hotels for longer stays when you buy something in the parks they send it to your room, for instance. Not to Bell Services like at WDW, but to your room. (long stays, though...just like WDW you can't do that with a one night stay)

 

[damo]

Okay, this gets me to break even pretty much. Assuming I would get the 30% discount (it just says UP TO 30%). I feel like this is a crazy number of hoops to jump through though, ha. Not saying it isn't possibly worth it, but it feels so much like gaming the system. Not that that's bad, I guess. It's just strange, for me anyway.

Ya but you're not just breaking even, you're getting two days of unlimited express and two mornings of early entry and you get to stay onsite, which is so much nicer than transporting back and forth to WDW.


You've got tons of time before you have to book anything for early June. Just keep an eye on things. You don't have to have the AP to book the AP rate and the AP rate wouldn't be available until about Feb/March anyways.

And, you can actually get the AP for cheaper than it is by purchasing your ticket at some place like Undercovertourist and then upgrading it. Universal will bridge your ticket.

There are so many tricks!

 

[kcm105]

Thanks again everyone. I am not booking anything quite yet. It was always something that was going to wait until at least toward the end of the year. This has definitely opened my eyes to some more options. The more I think about it, the more this seems worth a few extra steps. Thanks!!!!!

 

[damo]

Thanks again everyone. I am not booking anything quite yet. It was always something that was going to wait until at least toward the end of the year. This has definitely opened my eyes to some more options. The more I think about it, the more this seems worth a few extra steps. Thanks!!!!!

I luvs your dog!

 

[Andysol]

Thanks everyone. We had already discussed the idea of staying at Universal for a day or two, but I just think it's a non-starter. The hassle of switching hotels isn't worth it to us. Plus, I am a real Disney person and it just wouldn't sit right with me to end my trip at Universal. I know that's not really rational, but it's how I feel!

But I gotta tell ya...it's a LOT of fun to stay onsite at Universal. In our opinion, a WDW trip is work, but a Uni stay is VACATION.

I can't agree with bumber enough. My wife is exactly like you Kcm- a complete Disney fanatic. But there are others (like myself and my oldest daughter) who prefer universal over the "work" of Disney (and I'm a planner).
I would recommend you stay on site, enjoy the boat ride to the parks, the fantastic food of the resort, and the great service of Loews. It's not Disney, in my opinion it isn't better or worse, just different. You'll likely prefer Disney- maybe not, but by staying at Uni and seeing all it has to offer, you are truly giving it a chance to shine. If they've done anything, they've earned my business over DIS.

 

[bumbershoot]

I am not booking anything quite yet. It was always something that was going to wait until at least toward the end of the year. This has definitely opened my eyes to some more options.

Awesome! IMO that's all any of us wanted to do here; just open the eyes of a newbie.

Our first trip to Orlando was our first trip to WDW and Universal. And, um, we had already purchased DVC because we figured we'd love WDW so much. Total of 10 days at WDW and Universal onsite for maybe 3 nights (we ended up with two "half" and two full days at Uni). Wanted to do Uni "right", but figured we were one and done and it would be all Harry Potter all the time. We had to drag ourselves out of Universal to go check into AK Jambo for the last bit of our time in Orlando!