Book a package or not?

[disneydka]

I wonder what the take is on booking passages versus booking room and purchasing tickets separately. We will be travelling in March and plan to spend 2-3 days at US/IOA.

 

[bumbershoot]

I've priced out several vacations (and booked two), and I cannot get a package to be less than hotel and tickets separately.

By staying onsite you get the perks of the package (except for the 3 Broomsticks breakfast with the HP package, but you're paying for that meal in your package and I didn't want to eat there anyway) like the special express pass and early entry to WWofHP. Tickets are available at various places (even the Universal website) with discounts. I just cant' get it lower with a package.

Last december our trip was onsite booked directly with a "stay more pay less" rate, and tickets were bought from some wildly great now-gone deal through maple leaf tickets. This September our trip, so far, is onsite booked with an AP rate (use APH as the code on loewshotels.com to see if they have AP rates for your dates), one of us will buy an AP online, and then most likely buy tickets with the AP discount (15% off gate price) for the other two of us.

 

[disneydka]

can you get an AP even if you are not a FL resident?

 

[Marquibiri]

I've stayed onsite before. I have also stayed offsite at a partner hotel with vacation package. Although I end up paying just a few more bucks, I don't mind since I get the early entry just as onsite guests do (main reason), souvenir photo, and breakfast at 3 broomsticks. I've got my money's worth with that.

Marquibiri

 

[Marquibiri]

can you get an AP even if you are not a FL resident?

Yes you can!

http://www.universalorlando.com/Tic...s.aspx?ComponentId=12956&SourcePageId=13636#8

Marquibiri

 

[MoxieGirl]

I've found getting everything separate is the way to go - unless your going to the Dark Side and they are having an amazing deal like the 4/3 a couple years back. Calling the on-site hotels directly also helps a bit too. The first time in '05 we were given an amazing deal for the summer.
Staying on site is the only way to go - at least in the summer - the look on my kids faces the first time we used express pass was priceless - they thought we were cutting the line - and then got so excited to use it at almost every ride - they thought it was the absolute best - Bit of advise if you are doing Disney and Universal and staying on-site - do Disney first because you will be very spoiled at Universal with express pass!!

 

[disneydka]

What is the Dark Side? I am a Universal newbie

 

[donaldduck352]

What is the Dark Side? I am a Universal newbie

It's a inside joke on the Disboards,Disney is the MOTHERLAND and Universal is THE DARKSIDE..Its all in fun.

 

[macraven]

What is the Dark Side? I am a Universal newbie

Mac 101:

darkside...............universal
motherland............disney
homies................. fellow posters


if you have questions, post away.
there are many homies that love to help.

 

[edamethyst]

we always book everything separately, seems like the cheapest way to do it...we try to always get the stay more safe more room, saves alot of money if your gonna be there awhile.

 

[disneydka]

Thinking of staying 2 nights with 3 days at the parks. Our first night will be 3/19/2012. I hate that pricing for the hotels is not out yet during that time, as I am a planner and like to have it all booked by now. Am intrigued by the idea of seen posted about one person getting an AP which then gives them discounts on tickets for the rest of their party. Does the discount only apply if you get those tickets at the gate? Is it a bigger discount than if you bought them online at regular price? It appears that the AP discount is pretty deep with an onsite hotel as well. I really like the idea of staying onsite for the express pass. But if the difference is hundreds of dollars more to stay there than a partner, that may make a difference. What kind of wait times should I expect in that week in March during the week, Mon, Tues, Wednesday?

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm no expert, but I consider anything from early March through the end of May to be *someone's* Spring Break (whether college or lower, from around the country). So if I travel during those times, I'm expecting madness.

The AP discount on multi-day tickets is 15% off *gate* price, and you have to buy them there at the gate. The discounts buying them online isn't 15% from what I've been able to calculate, and neither is the discount buying them someplace like undercovertourist. Or so I've been able to find. So it does actually end up being the best deal (from what I've gathered, but I could be wrong, do the calculations!).

We stayed onsite in December and even though it was a slower time, the express pass that the hotels offer was *awesome*. We're going again in later September and I hear it's a slower time as well, but we don't care, we loved that special express pass (the EP you can buy only lets you ride each ride ONCE per day...the hotel version allows you to ride however many times you want to ride).

 

[macraven]

spring break has high rates for the hotels.


check on last years date and rate thread.

it is listed by months, cost w/dates.

go back some pages to find it.

i think damo did it last year and bubba mom is doing that thread this year.


you will see what homies paid for their stay onsite.