Advice request: Loews or Doubletree in October

[DisneyHysteria]

I've read that the crowds are quite slow first week of October. Is it necessary to spend the extra $400-$500 for Loews since we possibly won't need early entrance? We plan to go on a Monday and Tuesday to both parks.

I am not familiar with the shuttle situation at Doubletree but it looks like the walk is about the same to the main entrance as Loews - if we skip using the shuttle. We'll have an 11 and 9 year old going along so no real little kids.

Also, any idea about ticket specials during that time? We would not go to HHN but if they offered a free 3rd day again, than we might run with that.

What are your thoughts and experiences with this time period and an offsite hotel.

Thank you so much!

 

[bumbershoot]

I am a bad one to answer this, because my answer to "should I stay onsite at Universal" is always going to be "yes if you can!"

So I'll just make sure you know of this website which shows you all the onsite hotels at once, and it will give you the lowest non-member-type of rate available for your dates. (you have to call for AAA rates, and if an AP is at all possible or you just want to check, you have to use the APH code in the code field on that page)

And I'll say that with a 9 and 11 year old, Wizarding World is probably going to be high on your priority list, and the waits for Forbidden Journey and Ollivander's can be long if you're not among the first in Wizarding World.

Also with such a short trip, especially if the "big" rides are on the list, it can make for more rides done if you have unlimited express pass. I'm just sayin'.

But we've stayed onsite no matter the season; it's been two February trips, on early December, and one later September so far. The last Feb trip was during the run-up to President's Day so lots of Americans were there, and it seemed half of England was there (along with a quarter of Brazil and Argentina) so it was busier than the other trips, but it still wasn't *busy*. And yet we love the unlimited EP. Wait 10 minutes for the Seuss Trolley ride instead of 40, oh yes thank you!


Oh and lastly, in your signature did you mean your last trip to Disneyland will be in December of 2013, or that it WAS in December of 2012? Because you have 2013 listed, but the wording seems like it should be 2012. Hope that's not an annoying question, but it confused me, and IF you got the year wrong I wanted to help.

 

[DisneyHysteria]

Oh and lastly, in your signature did you mean your last trip to Disneyland will be in December of 2013, or that it WAS in December of 2012? Because you have 2013 listed, but the wording seems like it should be 2012. Hope that's not an annoying question, but it confused me, and IF you got the year wrong I wanted to help.

haha. Since I don't drive a Delorean, I fixed that. Thank you.

And thank you for the reply. I figured since it was slow in October then the passes might not be necessary and we'd save some cash too. So slow in October isn't necessarily true?

 

[hpriamson]

We went first week of October in 2011, offsite, no express passes. On our IOA day, we were at the gate 10 minutes before opening, and wound up pretty much walking on Forbidden Journey 4 times in the first hour, then toured the rest of the park. Lots of walk-ons, otherwise usually 10 minutes or less wait. Longest line the entire day was maybe 20 minutes (Ripsaw Falls). We went back to FJ near the end of the day, and it was still a pretty short wait - 15 minutes maybe?

Our US day was pretty much the same - longest line was 20 minutes (Simpsons & Jaws ), plenty of walk-ons. We even headed back over to IOA around 5 PM because US closed early for HHN, and short lines again everywhere, even FJ.

Our overall experience was that we went on all the rides we wanted to. Our kids (7, 9 & 11 at the time) were getting ride fatigue by the end of the day. Passes would have been completely pointless for us on that trip.

 

[hpriamson]

Isn't the Doubletree one of the Universal Partner hotels too? If you book a package, that gets you 1 hour early entry to the Harry Potter section as well.

 

[damo]

Isn't the Doubletree one of the Universal Partner hotels too? If you book a package, that gets you 1 hour early entry to the Harry Potter section as well.

Absolutely. Just make sure the package is booked through the universal website.

 

[wteare]

What are the differences between booking an off-site hotel direct vs booking a package with Universal? I'm taking my boys to US March 19 to 21 and I'm concerned about the $200 cancellation fee if I book through Universal. If I book with the hotel, I just have to cancel 3 days ahead with no penalty. We're driving from Missouri to save money and I'm worried about weather... or other issues that might cause us to cancel.

 

[damo]

What are the differences between booking an off-site hotel direct vs booking a package with Universal? I'm taking my boys to US March 19 to 21 and I'm concerned about the $200 cancellation fee if I book through Universal. If I book with the hotel, I just have to cancel 3 days ahead with no penalty. We're driving from Missouri to save money and I'm worried about weather... or other issues that might cause us to cancel.

If you book offsite direct you don't get early admission.

 

[wteare]

Thank you! I thought that was the only difference but I wanted to make sure.

 

[damo]

What you could do is just leave it as late as possible before you book.

 

[DisneyHysteria]

Absolutely. Just make sure the package is booked through the universal website.

Any idea if Universal offers a buy 2 get 1 free in October?

If we decided to book this now, I assume it must be paid in full and if there are any special ticket offers that come along, we would miss them.

 

[macraven]

Any idea if Universal offers a buy 2 get 1 free in October?

If we decided to book this now, I assume it must be paid in full and if there are any special ticket offers that come along, we would miss them.

i haven't seen any ticket specials for that mentioned above yet.

i go early october and did not see any ticket special the past few years.


check the UO website to find any "buy 2 day tickets, get the 3rd day free."
if specials do come out, you will find the info there.


as long as you stay away from weekends, crowds should not be an issue in early october.

if you book the UO vacation offsite package, yes, it needs to be paid in advance.
packages include the room stay and park tickets for your group.

if you are booking offsite room only, some hotels only require a one night's deposit.

 

[DisneyHysteria]

Absolutely. Just make sure the package is booked through the universal website.

Do I have to call Universal to book the Doubletree? I don't see how to book it online through Universal's site.

Disregard - figured it out.

universalorlandovacations.com