Best Off-Site Hotel you've stayed at

[DISNEYLOVER70]

Hello. I am staying at Disney for 5 nights and want to stay at Universal for 2.

I got a quote from AAA for 1085.55 for two nights at the HRH including park passes for 2 adults and 2 children, ages 8 & 12. That seems like so much!!! I realize the benefit of FOTL, but we are going May 16-18 (tues-thurs) so I am hoping that the Express pass will help. We went in May in 2003 and although it was busy, it was doable.

So............. I can't remember what hotel we stayed at a few years ago, but I would like to stay at a hotel that is walking distance to parks, any suggestions ???????????????? Thanks, I need to get this booked a.s.a.p.

I'm going to Universal

 

[ksdave]

That price from AAA seems a bit much. I would check into buying a PAP for yourself, and then see what the room rate is for HRH using the PAP discount. You may find it alot less expensive. Then you can buy the other three park tickets with the PAP discount, and get the other savings that come with it.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Check your private messages.

 

[lovetheparks]

Just after a quick look - you can get RPR Standard Room for 183.20 per night or HRH Garden View for 233.10/night with the AAA rate. PAP rates are not showing yet for that date.

The 2 park power pass (has blackout dates but not when you'll be there) is $119.95/ea

A special going on right now is:

(following copied from UO website)

2-Day 2-Park Ticket - Kids FREE & 2 Days FREE
You can save $5 off the front gate price when you buy online and receive two (2) days admission to both Universal Studios Florida® AND Universal’s Islands of Adventure® theme parks.

Plus, for a limited time, for every 2-Day ticket you purchase you get one ticket valid for children ages 3-9 for FREE. In addition, you will also get two (2) additional days FREE with each ticket, for a total of four (4) consecutive days of admission.

The above special was $99.95 + tx

GL!

 

[DISNEYLOVER70]

Just after a quick look - you can get RPR Standard Room for 183.20 per night or HRH Garden View for 233.10/night with the AAA rate. PAP rates are not showing yet for that date.

The 2 park power pass (has blackout dates but not when you'll be there) is $119.95/ea

A special going on right now is:

(following copied from UO website)

2-Day 2-Park Ticket - Kids FREE & 2 Days FREE
You can save $5 off the front gate price when you buy online and receive two (2) days admission to both Universal Studios Florida® AND Universal’s Islands of Adventure® theme parks.

Plus, for a limited time, for every 2-Day ticket you purchase you get one ticket valid for children ages 3-9 for FREE. In addition, you will also get two (2) additional days FREE with each ticket, for a total of four (4) consecutive days of admission.

The above special was $99.95 + tx

GL!

I got that same price of 233.00 for HRH from the lady at the universal customer service line. But she said the tickets for the four of us would be 99.99 a piece, even for my 8 and 12 year old. So I don't understand how I am getting the one child for free??? Unless she misspoke. Hmm, now I am wondering...............

Thanks for checking into this for me, wow, that was really nice....

 

[metsfan11]

DOUBLETREE AT THE ENTRANCE TO UNIVERSAL ORLANDO! We just came back from this hotel and it was GREAT! It is about a 15 minute walk to Universal. It is on the corner of Kirkman Road and Major Blvd. It is very close to the Portifino. It is so close, you can see the parks from half the windows. It is 2 seperate buildings. It has a beautiful pool and the rooms are colorful and nice. It also has a free shuttle to Universal, Sea World, and Wet and Wild. It is a great hotel, very convienent to Universal. Make sure you look up the hotel with those exact words. There are 3 Doubletree hotels in Orlando each with a different name. If you need anything, please send me a message. I want to know where you book it LOL.
Have Fun!

 

[Foladar]

The Double Tree looked nice, we were tempted to stay there.
You may be able to find a special on that one (if you choose it) @ http://hotels.travelzoo.com/orlando-hotels/ .. it's on sale there now for $55 / night.
I'm staying @ RPR for 129.00 a night, Annual Pass price, but you should explore your options.

 

[D3K]

Foladar,

Do you know for long the rate for AP holder will be $129.00. We are going in Nov. and I was thinking about booking at disney ($89.00/night). But I would love to stay at Universal resort.

 

[Foladar]

Foladar,

Do you know for long the rate for AP holder will be $129.00. We are going in Nov. and I was thinking about booking at disney ($89.00/night). But I would love to stay at Universal resort.

I'm not sure, 129 is the value season, don't think that would be in November.

 

[robvia]

Offsite hotels are here.
http://www.nogodforme.com/offsite.htm
http://www.nogodforme.com/hiltongardeninn.htm
http://www.nogodforme.com/Amerisuites.htm

Pick one based on your budget level. Check rates on each hotel website directly. Amerisuites is really nice. A little bit more than a budget hotel, but worth it.
Hilton Garden Inn is nice, not within walking distance, but comparable to the All Stars. Only bummer is no free breakfast.
I'm staying at the Best Western this Saturday.

Try to stay onsite if you can afford it. The benefits are worth it. Think of it as a splurge trip.

 

[DISNEYLOVER70]

Thanks everybody!! I thought long and hard about it last night. I guess I am going to stay at Pop Century at Disney for 5 nights (I was going to POFQ). But I will save a few hundred by staying at a value resort. Doing this, I can rationalize staying at the Hard Rock for 233.00/night. The last time I was at Disney we stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge so I am a little nervous going from a Deluxe to a Value. I just have to not have my expectations up too high The whole FOTL ticket thing really sold me for staying on site at Universal. With 2 kids, if I can shorten the lines at all it is worth it. We only do vacations every couple years so I might as well enjoy it the best I can.


Metsfan11: Thanks for the DoubleTree info. I plan on making another trip in a couple years so I saved your information and will use it the next trip if we decide after this one that it wasn't worth the extra $$$.

Dis'ers are such helpful people, gotta love ya..............

 

[Foladar]

Thanks everybody!! I thought long and hard about it last night. I guess I am going to stay at Pop Century at Disney for 5 nights (I was going to POFQ). But I will save a few hundred by staying at a value resort. Doing this, I can rationalize staying at the Hard Rock for 233.00/night. The last time I was at Disney we stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge so I am a little nervous going from a Deluxe to a Value. I just have to not have my expectations up too high The whole FOTL ticket thing really sold me for staying on site at Universal. With 2 kids, if I can shorten the lines at all it is worth it. We only do vacations every couple years so I might as well enjoy it the best I can.


Metsfan11: Thanks for the DoubleTree info. I plan on making another trip in a couple years so I saved your information and will use it the next trip if we decide after this one that it wasn't worth the extra $$$.

Dis'ers are such helpful people, gotta love ya..............

Don't want to go offtopic too much, but do you have photos of the AKL or tips? We're staying there Oct 5th, can't wait!

 

[DISNEYLOVER70]

Don't want to go offtopic too much, but do you have photos of the AKL or tips? We're staying there Oct 5th, can't wait!

When I went, I didn't have my digital camera so I can't send you any pics. BUT, I can tell you, that it was absolutely GORGEOUS, BREATHTAKING, etc......................... The restaurants inside are so worth visiting. We had a bunkbed savannah view room. The bathroom was wonderful. My husband laughs because I judge every hotel on its bathroom fixtures,etc...... It was all earth-tone marble with soft lighting, it was sooo nice. The lobby is amazing, the pool is awesome..........

Can you tell I loved the place ???

We got very lucky, when we went in May of 2003, we were originally scheduled to stay at POFQ but they closed it last minute for refurbishment, so we were bumped to the AKL for basically nothing extra, I think it was like $200 for the whole week extra. I don't know that I would pay rack rate to stay there, only because we are park lurkers, we don't hang out much at the hotel.............. But you will love it, I hope you post a trip report, would love to read it.........