Best way to book room and tickets?

[kim_d]

We are going to stay onsite for 3 nights in Sept 2009. I check packages online via Universal website and it doesn't look like there is any package discount for purchasing room and tickets together? Is that true.

Is there a AAA discount available? Should I call instead of booking online?

 

[rwdavis2]

I've never seen any deals for only 3 nights. In value seasons they sometime offer free park admission if you stay 4 or more nights in one of the on-site hotels. Don't know anything about AAA.
Bob

 

[damo]

I wouldn't be worrying about booking a room yet. September is a very slow time at the parks.

Package deals are rarely good deals at Universal. I would go ahead and purchase the tickets now since they are very well priced for the 7 day deal and then worry about the rooms later. There are AAA deals but the Supersaver rate which is for 3 nights or more is usually a better deal. Those rates may not be out yet.

 

[francie57]

We have always booked our trips to Universal/Disney through AAA. The first few years at Universal we booked a package (room/tix). We got a discount on the package through AAA. This past Aug. we actually booked through AAA and did room only reservations (two connecting rooms) and then purchased the tickets separately at the AAA office. This worked out to be a better savings then doing the package deal.

 

[imwithgoofy]

When I started planning our trip, I called AAA. (June 2008)
However, I kept checking on line and doing my own research. Eventually, I found a better deal than the AAA price. So I ended up booking everything myself.

For Universal hotel, I booked directed with them for (Sept 2008) on line.
I paid one nights stay and the balalnce at check in.

We took the Bed and Breakfast deal for 2 nights with free breakfast buffet in the Kitchen Restaurant.

I check the Universalorlando site about every other day. The ticket prices changed slightly. They were $99 each, then $89, and finally back to $99 but they added FREE WET N WILD tickets. So I booked this. $99 for each ticket, for 3 parks Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Wet N Wild for 7 days! Right now the price is $109 per ticket.

I also got a deal on Halloween Horror Night tickets with roundtrip transportation. (We were at WDW hotel at the time)

My advice, keep checking, you have 11 months, and the deals keep changing.

 

[imwithgoofy]

Sometimes the Universal ticket deals are only available online...

Keep checking, often. You can buy them at anytime. You activate them when you get to the parks.

I'll keep looking for my next deal too! Good luck!

 

[lisaross]

I'm planning to do Universal for 3 nights the end of August - I already bought the 7 day unlimited tickets at Costco - i think it's 92.99 for the two parks plus the water park!

As for Hotel - i'll just keep checking!

lisa

 

[RACEFAN9]

WE JUST GOT BACK FROM PORTOFINO BAY.I WENT ONLINE FIRST AND GOT A PRICE AND THEN CALLED THE 1 800 # AND GOT THE SAME PACKAGE FOR OVER $200 LESS THEN ONLINE. WE GOT THE GORY GETAWAY DEAL.ALSO WE WERE PLANNING ON STAYING AT ROYAL PACIFIC BUT I ASKED HOW MUCH MORE WAS PORTOFINO AND SHE SAID $5.00 DIFFERENCE WAS ALL.THEN WHEN WE GOT THERE THEY OFFERED US A FREE UPGRADE TO DELUXE ROOM. WE HAD A BLAST.

 

[stephaniebatesjones]

I'm planning to do Universal for 3 nights the end of August - I already bought the 7 day unlimited tickets at Costco - i think it's 92.99 for the two parks plus the water park!

As for Hotel - i'll just keep checking!

lisa

Are the costco tickets the same as the others where you can hop from park to park? And are they cheper on costco than on the universal site?

Thanks
Steph

 

[lisaross]

The tickets from costco were about 2 bucks cheaper than from Universal for the 7 day unlimited but it also included the water park - probably won't use the water park but good to have in case and it was also $2 cheaper per person so saved 8 bucks!

lisa