Anyone booked hotels whilst already out there? Any deals to be had?

[Goofey's Girl]

A reasonably quick holiday decision means we are going end of August.
Flights are booked.
Because of late decision I am really struggling to find just the right villa if you know what I mean. Found a few OK's though.
I am toying with the idea of booking villa for a week to ten days and then just seeing what's available hotel wise for the rest of the stay. Maybe treating ourselves a bit to some of the nicer hotels with great pools.
Wondered if anyone had ever dared go to Orlando without all the nights sorted.
Did you actually manage to get any good deals or were the prices the same as they would be if I booked ahead.
I was thinking of using last minute, Kayak that sort of website. The actual dates would be around 28th August to 3rd Sept. I thought the hotels might be starting to get a little quieter if there is such a thing as the American kids are back at school.
Is the idea ludicrous? I really would appreciate your honesty. We are two adults and two teenage boys so no small children to consider.
Thanks.

 

[wayneg]

Only way I would do it is with internet access so I could book online, use discount codes and/or Quidco cashback.

Generally walk up hotels are expensive compared to pre-booking in the UK, we usually get better deals here.
I once stayed at the Homewood Suites near Universal, paid £22/nt in the UK, a family walked in while we were there and they were charged $199/nt. I believe our £22 was a misprice but still would never have cost $199+tax in UK.

A current example is the hotel I have booked for August for 9 nights, I have paid £32/nt after cashback £288 total, direct with the hotel(which would probably be walk in rate) $693 or £450, almost double price I paid.

http://www.extendedstayamerica.com/...y-america-orlando-lake-buena-vista-hotel.html

 

[Goofey's Girl]

Thank you so much for your honesty. I will definitely do our booking this end. Thanks for the link I haven't come across that one before.

 

[wayneg]

Thank you so much for your honesty. I will definitely do our booking this end. Thanks for the link I haven't come across that one before.

No problem, once you decide which hotel you want post your dates and best price you can find and I will look to see if I can see it cheaper.

 

[Goofey's Girl]

Thank you.
It's quite confusing at the moment my mind is a blur..
Our idea is to arrive and get a simple cheap hotel for one night. This is because the next night we are hoping to book the Hard Rock hotel for one night. This is a surprise for my Guitarist son. As I understand it I will be able to get the express tickets or whatever they are called with Universal for for two days (arrival day and departure day) I realise I have to buy universal tickets for this. If we went straight to the Hard Rock we would miss one day of express tickets.

After that we will be looking for a Villa which we have done before. As we are going for 17 days out 14 day Universal tickets will run out which is why I had originally thought of a hotel with a pool at the end just as a couple of days chill and of course to shop!

Out of interest do you know if my thought are correct about the two days of express tickets with one night accommodation? I will search on the other forums if not so no problem please don't put yourself out. I have been told that even though you can't check in till later in the day you can turn up and ask for the tickets.
By the way me and my partner met nearby you. He was police officer at Batley police station and I worked there as a civilian. Our oldest son was born in Dewsbury Hospital and we lived in East Bierley. Loved it there. Now live miles away.

 

[wayneg]

Out of interest do you know if my thought are correct about the two days of express tickets with one night accommodation? I will search on the other forums if not so no problem please don't put yourself out. I have been told that even though you can't check in till later in the day you can turn up and ask for the tickets.

Yes, you get front of line for day you check in and the next day.

 

[Tinkerpeas hubby]

My wife's family used to do this all the time, in fact they was only saying the other day how the only thing they used to arrange was the fly-drive lol everything else was done over there and that was way before Internet access!!
They used to get in the car and just drive until they seen a place they likes with a vacancy sign.

Now not sure if I'm brave enough and my wife prefers to plan plan plan lol.

 

[bex7583]

Only way I would do it is with internet access so I could book online, use discount codes and/or Quidco cashback.

Generally walk up hotels are expensive compared to pre-booking in the UK, we usually get better deals here.
I once stayed at the Homewood Suites near Universal, paid £22/nt in the UK, a family walked in while we were there and they were charged $199/nt. I believe our £22 was a misprice but still would never have cost $199+tax in UK.

A current example is the hotel I have booked for August for 9 nights, I have paid £32/nt after cashback £288 total, direct with the hotel(which would probably be walk in rate) $693 or £450, almost double price I paid.

http://www.extendedstayamerica.com/...y-america-orlando-lake-buena-vista-hotel.html

oo we are staying there also got a great rate , maybe will see you there !

to the op we had thought about just booking on the day but after lots of advice on here decided to plan and im soo glad i did as rooms for 5 of us have been harder to find at a good price than i thought !

 

[Goofey's Girl]

Thanks guys you really sorted it out in my head. We are planning ahead.
Going to have a cheap couple of nights at the Hilton Garden inn International drive North followed by one night at the Hard Rock Hotel so we can get two days FOTL tickets and then 14 days in a villa.
Chose the Garden inn simply as its near Universal and we can have our first full day simply as a chill day round their pool which looks quite nice. DAY 2 and 3 will then be full on in Universal. After that whatever we want. Only getting 14 Day Universal and Seaworld combo tickets this time no Disney. We simply can't afford the two and have done Disney unlimited 3 times now. The boys 14 and 17 aren't into Mickey anymore..sad I know.

Thank you for your advice. If it was maybe just the two of us I would risk just turning up but far too much worry when it's probably our last big holiday as a four. Oldest boy going to University in 18 months and probably will want holiday with his girlfriend in the future.