Anyone DVC and Universal in a trip?

[TerriBelle]

We have never stayed or been to the Universal parks and we are considering it on our next trip. Have many of you stayed at the Universal hotels for the weekend and then moved to DVC? Are there any tricks to getting a good rate at these hotels? We are going in Jan or Feb.

Thanks,
Terri

 

[DisnutDave]

Hi Terri,

We do this quite often. The best way to get a good rate from Universal is to use the Entertainment card or the Fan Club card. For example, we are staying at the Hard Rock Hotel on a Friday and Saturday night in May for $125 per night using the Entertainment rate and then again in October at the Royal Pacific Hotel for $110 per night.

I suggest you call Lowes directly (1-800-Loews-11) since they seem to release their rates a little sooner than Universal does. If you are told a rate is not available keep calling. It took several calls over a couple of months to get the $125 rate for Hard Rock. Have a great time!

 

[JOC]

Check out the Universal Resorts forum...lots of good info there. We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel last year; this year we're going to try the Royal Pacific Resort. The front of the line perk for staying on-site is great!

 

[VMS]

We also stayed at the Royal Pacific last summer for a few nights to save on the weekend points. We got a good rate $139 by booking very early and using AAA. My 2 DSs were 11 and 9 and wanted to do some bigger rides. The advantage of going to the front of the line by staying on Universal grounds was a very big plus. I still like WDW A LOT more. I felt I was getting nickled and dimed while staying at Universal (paying a daily rate for parking at the hotel even though we never moved our car, we wanted a fridge and had been quoted a reasonable price when I made the reservations and it had been substantially raised at check in, a quick breakfast cost us a ton). Others we spoke to felt the same way.

 

[spiceycat]

I was very happy with my stay at Royal Pacific - and I will do it again.

My rate was $99 because I had an annual pass and got that discount. Now I wish I had done more days.....

But yes if you need a hotel for the Fri/Sat stays because the points are so high - I would definitely stay at a Universal.

 

[Muushka]

We always either begin or end our vacation at USF. We own at VWL and enjoy the time there. But I am finding that I wish we could spend more time at the USF hotels/property and less at WDW (DVC), but my husband insists on staying at VWL for that 5 night stretch.

So what we do is go into the conservation mode at VWL meaning that we cook a lot and not eat out so much. Then when we go to USF we splurge and have some great meals out. I don't mind spending the $ at USF because their ticket prices (AP) are so reasonable. I just love USF hotels.

If you are going in Jan you should be able to get some great rates. You can book the room now and check on the lower rate at a later date. We usually get the Entertainment rate or Fan club rate.

 

[bjakmom]

Terri - we'll be doing just that for the 2nd time. Last Aug DS and I stayed at RPR (ent rate 109. waterview) Fri and Sat nights - then switched over to BWV on Sunday. In Jan. I'm taking the whole crew down and we're going to reverse it - checking into BWV on Sat, then over to HRH on Friday for MLK weekend. FOL access was great and I'm not worried about the crowds on a holiday weekend as long as we have that! Universal has a different feel about it, and we find we enjoy both - so we love splitting our stay between the two!