APH Rates Are Currently Available... [UPDATED 07/27/18]

[mouselike-harrier]

I'm obsessing, and I do mean obsessing, over everyone's dilemma of do I jump at a rate now or wait to see if one comes out for the room currently booked. I've already switched 3 times, once for cheaper, once because my 18 yr. old is now joining us necessitating another bed. This would have to be the last switch as Universal is threatening us with a change fee. We are currently in a suite with an attached 2 queen room. I love the room. We would be switching to 2 rooms in another resort that will save us, if I did my calculations correct, about 500 dollars, even if I have to buy a second AP. Btw, we are going the first week of May and I am assuming that I can just get away with a seasonal pass.

 

[TexasChick123]

I'm obsessing, and I do mean obsessing, over everyone's dilemma of do I jump at a rate now or wait to see if one comes out for the room currently booked. I've already switched 3 times, once for cheaper, once because my 18 yr. old is now joining us necessitating another bed. This would have to be the last switch as Universal is threatening us with a change fee. We are currently in a suite with an attached 2 queen room. I love the room. We would be switching to 2 rooms in another resort that will save us, if I did my calculations correct, about 500 dollars, even if I have to buy a second AP. Btw, we are going the first week of May and I am assuming that I can just get away with a seasonal pass.

You can always cancel your room and rebook if they’re threatening a change fee. Nothing precludes you from doing that. Also, I don’t think they can just charge a change fee. Maybe it’s in the fine print that they can. Again, just cancel and rebook as there is no fee for that unless you cancel less than 5 days out.

We have the seasonal pass. It’s the best value! Just tailor your vacations around the blockout dates, and you’ll save a lot of money.

 

[pinkgirlmommy]

We finally had success with the AP rate for Spring Break, but it took a little while to figure it out since the cheaper rate is not available for our full stay. It's so crazy! We can get 3/9- 3/11 at $289 a nt, 3/10- 3/12 at $274 a nt. I wanted to stay there 3 or 4 nts, but 3/9- 3/13 is $386 a nt. so boo! Even 3/9- 3/12 or 3/10- 3/13 is expensive! We booked 3/9- 3/11 at RP and then 3/11- 3/13 at Cabana Bay, but I really wish I could call and drop one night of the first reservation and make it only 3/9- 3/10 at the same rate of $289, then add a second reservation 3/10- 3/12 for the $274. It's the same resort (RP), and same room category, so I don't know why I can't get it 3/19- 3/12! Anyone had luck dropping one night from your reservation and keeping the same rate even though it's not available online? Or adding 1 night at the same rate? I can get a Standard 2 queen rm. 3/9- 3/11 or 3/10- 3/12. But 3/9- 3/12 it jumps up to a King Suite for $387.80. Yuck! And 3/10- 3/13 is worse. It bumps up to $1441, not 2 queen rooms. However, I can book a water view 2 queen room for 3/12- 3/13 by itself with the AP rate. I am assuming there are no standards left that last night. But I still dont' get the first part why I can get 3/9 - 3/11 or 3/10- 3/12, but not 3/9- 3/12!

 

[mernin]

And RPR just dropped to $274 for a standard room on 03/20-03/22 - decisions to make! We stayed at RPR last year when we went and liked it. Currently at booked at HRH for $304/night in garden room and never stayed here. Just two nights with a 6 & 11 year old & DH. WWYD?

 

[limace]

We switched to HRH from RPR for your dates, pink girl, so check to see if that would be cheaper. I’m not understanding why you don’t just book through the 12th at the lower rate and only move on the last night?

 

[pinkgirlmommy]

We switched to HRH from RPR for your dates, pink girl, so check to see if that would be cheaper. I’m not understanding why you don’t just book through the 12th at the lower rate and only move on the last night?

I would, but it is either 3/9- 3/11 or 3/10- 3/12. 3/9- 3/12 is very high ($388) and so is 3/10- 3/13 ($409) and out of my budget. We fly in on 3/9, so we need a room 3/9- 3/13. I have 3/9- 3/11 booked at RP for $289 then Cabana Bay 3/11- 3/13 for now. Hard Rock is defiinitely more than my current reservation. I was saying I don't want to switch hotels twice. If we booked the 3/10- 3/12 we would have to stay somewhere else 3/9- 3/10 and 3/12- 3/13 (rate is too high) and move twice before moving to disney. That's too much! So strange the room type is available with the APH rate for both stays of 3/9- 3/11 and 3/10- 3/12, but not for 3/9- 3/11!

 

[AntimonyER]

I grabbed a room for March 31st-April 1st, just a for a quick 2 day trip to catch Mardi Gras and celebrate my 35th birthday. Now waiting for the early june offers.

 

[georgina]

I'm obsessing, and I do mean obsessing, over everyone's dilemma of do I jump at a rate now or wait to see if one comes out for the room currently booked. I've already switched 3 times, once for cheaper, once because my 18 yr. old is now joining us necessitating another bed. This would have to be the last switch as Universal is threatening us with a change fee. We are currently in a suite with an attached 2 queen room. I love the room. We would be switching to 2 rooms in another resort that will save us, if I did my calculations correct, about 500 dollars, even if I have to buy a second AP. Btw, we are going the first week of May and I am assuming that I can just get away with a seasonal pass.

A change fee? Do you have a package booked? I always just book room only and cancel, modify, rebook, whatever, multiple times, mostly online, and have never seen any fees mentioned.

 

[mouselike-harrier]

A change fee? Do you have a package booked? I always just book room only and cancel, modify, rebook, whatever, multiple times, mostly online, and have never seen any fees mentioned.

I had 2 room only and the last one was a package.

 

[J'aime Paris]

I would, but it is either 3/9- 3/11 or 3/10- 3/12. 3/9- 3/12 is very high ($388) and so is 3/10- 3/13 ($409) and out of my budget. We fly in on 3/9, so we need a room 3/9- 3/13. I have 3/9- 3/11 booked at RP for $289 then Cabana Bay 3/11- 3/13 for now. Hard Rock is defiinitely more than my current reservation. I was saying I don't want to switch hotels twice. If we booked the 3/10- 3/12 we would have to stay somewhere else 3/9- 3/10 and 3/12- 3/13 (rate is too high) and move twice before moving to disney. That's too much! So strange the room type is available with the APH rate for both stays of 3/9- 3/11 and 3/10- 3/12, but not for 3/9- 3/11!

I'm just guessing....but I think many spring breaks fall during this timeframe.
My DD's is then ,and we anticipate it will be busy. Thank goodness for EP!
I switched over to the HRH for our stay, because the only AP rates left for our dates were for RPR were suites.

 

[limace]

I would, but it is either 3/9- 3/11 or 3/10- 3/12. 3/9- 3/12 is very high ($388) and so is 3/10- 3/13 ($409) and out of my budget. We fly in on 3/9, so we need a room 3/9- 3/13. I have 3/9- 3/11 booked at RP for $289 then Cabana Bay 3/11- 3/13 for now. Hard Rock is defiinitely more than my current reservation. I was saying I don't want to switch hotels twice. If we booked the 3/10- 3/12 we would have to stay somewhere else 3/9- 3/10 and 3/12- 3/13 (rate is too high) and move twice before moving to disney. That's too much! So strange the room type is available with the APH rate for both stays of 3/9- 3/11 and 3/10- 3/12, but not for 3/9- 3/11!

I have $309 at HRH for 3/9-12.

 

[wendlle]

It's been a few years since I held an AP and used it to get a good rate at a resort. Can anyone tell me when I should be looking for an APH rate for September dates?
I'm looking at staying at HRH and at the moment for a 5 night stay I can get a 2 queen garden view for $250 a night, or a King Deluxe for $310 a night. Obviously I'd like better rates than that If I can. I'd prefer the King but $250 seems like a pretty good rack price for the 2 queen. I'm wondering if I should book it now and wait for an APH rate and then change it?

 

[TexasChick123]

And RPR just dropped to $274 for a standard room on 03/20-03/22 - decisions to make! We stayed at RPR last year when we went and liked it. Currently at booked at HRH for $304/night in garden room and never stayed here. Just two nights with a 6 & 11 year old & DH. WWYD?

Those are the same rates for our dates. We chose to spend the extra $30/night on HRH. I’ve stayed at RPR but not HRH. RPR is a pretty long walk to the parks. HRH is a much quicker walk and worth the $30 up charge for us. Also, this HRH stay will mean we’ve stayed now stayed in all 3 of the premium hotels.

 

[SarahWeasley]

Just saved $1000 total on our two rooms at RPR (the same type we had before) for 3/29-4/1. (Our original rates were way high.) Thanks Dis!

 

[TexasChick123]

I checked for my dates April/May for RPH. So far only Jurassic suites showing and Hospitality suites for AP rates.

If traveling with kids, this room is awesome. We stayed in it, and it kids absolutely loved it. If only adults...well...that’s another story.

 

[pmdeve]

What room/rooms would you suggest for 3 adults and a 13 year old girl and a 17 year old boy

 

[TexasChick123]

What room/rooms would you suggest for 3 adults and a 13 year old girl and a 17 year old boy

I’d do 2 rooms. It’ll be cheaper than the suites. At least it usually is. I don’t know if anything other than the 2BR and 3BR suites will hold 5 people, and they’re very pricey. Call to book if you need the rooms to connect. Good luck.

 

[Sue M]

If traveling with kids, this room is awesome. We stayed in it, and it kids absolutely loved it. If only adults...well...that’s another story.

Only adults lol!

 

[soniam]

You can always cancel your room and rebook if they’re threatening a change fee. Nothing precludes you from doing that. Also, I don’t think they can just charge a change fee. Maybe it’s in the fine print that they can. Again, just cancel and rebook as there is no fee for that unless you cancel less than 5 days out.

We have the seasonal pass. It’s the best value! Just tailor your vacations around the blockout dates, and you’ll save a lot of money.

I've never done a change. I've always canceled and rebooked, like you. However, I only ever do room only, no packages. I also don't mind waiting for the deposit on the canceled reservation to be refunded and having to lay out the second deposit before that happens.

And RPR just dropped to $274 for a standard room on 03/20-03/22 - decisions to make! We stayed at RPR last year when we went and liked it. Currently at booked at HRH for $304/night in garden room and never stayed here. Just two nights with a 6 & 11 year old & DH. WWYD?

For 4 people, I think HRH would be more comfortable. HRH is closer to the parks, and the rooms are bigger. Plus, some of the RPR rooms have a semi-translucent door on the bathroom. That doesn't bother me, but others may feel uncomfortable about the lack of complete privacy. I don't know if this is every room. The one we stayed in after the remodel that had this only had a shower, no tub/shower combo. The other room, also after the remodel, had a solid door. My husband will stay at HRH for just the 3 of us, even if the rate is more than $50 extra per night; my son and husband really like it. Portofino is my favorite, but I like HRH too. They also still do rewards for stays, unlike the other 2, if you sign up for the Hardrock Rewards program. I even get a free entree coupon for my birthday; unfortunately, I am rarely in Orlando then.

 

[mrsb2009]

New to staying at Universal so apologies if this is an obvious question or has already answered - I am booked RPR 4-9 June 2019, Have a stay and save rate at the mo but wondering if APH may work out better - when would they normally be released for early June?