Book Now Or Hold Out For Better Rate?

[barbnbrian]

For anyone planning on staying at a Universal resort in July or Aug. '05, how many of you have already made your reservations and how many of you are holding out for better rates? I wanted to stay two nights in Aug. before going to Saratoga Springs, but with the room rates so high so far, I'm holding out a little longer, even if it means not staying at Universal onsite for FOTL privileges.

Anyone else holding out for better rooms rates?

 

[robvia]

I booked now, 2 nights at RPR July 6/7, standard room, AAA rate, $210 per night (plus tax). In my case, it's our summer vacation bringing our dawg, so I can justify the higher rate, plus it's only two nights since we drive up.

Depending on who you book with, you can always cancel. Just make sure the new rate is booked before you do, because I've read a horror story of someone who cancelled their ressie, then found rooms were not available for what they wanted.

I really don't expect rates to drop, unless this magic carpet ride from MCO to Disney has an impact and makes USF think again.

 

[HM]

I want to go in August at stay at RPH, but $210 is just too much when you know there were rooms for so much less last year. Will keep waiting. -HM

 

[barbnbrian]

Bumping

 

[mar915]

I booked awhile ago for June 18-21 going there after a week at Disney and I got 237 for AAA at HRH. It was cheaper than I got last year since I missed the discounts when I booked in July last year. So I figure it is worth it since we love the fast access since I have little kids.

I keep looking for better discounts, especially since I don't have AAA yet, I am waiting to see if it goes with ENT but it does not look like it.

Mary

 

[markey]

I want to book in August, but will not book now. My reason for not booking now and changing later if a discount comes out is simple - the rates will only come down if a lot of rooms are empty. If everyone books now, only waiting to change, the hotels will be full. So I want to keep space available, if there is no discount or rooms available later it doesn't matter, because I would not pay the high prices anyway.

 

[WernerW]

@markey:
Exactly. I read a lot about people making a reservation now and looking for a better rate later. This will not work. These people are ruining our prices.

 

[Frances999]

I've booked now for 4 nights this August (August 1st - August 5th).

I paid $344/night for a deluxe room at the Hard Rock Hotel. There are five of us so a deluxe room means there will be enough room and we won't need to splash out for a roll-away bed.

Because we are staying for 4 nights, we get 2 free length-of-stay passes free with the current promotion they are doing - that's what made me book now. For the other 3 passes, we bought the "bonus" passes (currently it is buy one get a kid one free).

I figured that although the rate is high ATM, the promotion of 2 free passes saves around $240. Also, if a better rate does come along, there is no cancellation penalty.

 

[JessicaR]

I'm playing the waiting game as well. We are very flexible with our dates. I have been very spoiled by the rates in the past and dont expect the same, however these quoted rates are nuts! I have an AP so will wait to see what I can do with it! I am hoping for either March, June or August.

 

[d4est]

I booked ahead. My trip is nearly around the corner now. We will pay no matter what as we have never been and Universal is ALL that we will do for our length of stay. My rates are MUCH higher than I anticipated or wanted, but I will pay it. I want this to be the most fun and relaxing vacation to date. I figure the luxury of being onsite (leisure walks to/from the parks, taking our time to "do" both parks, FOTL etc) will make it worth the $$. Of course, if we don't LOVE RPR and USO/IOA I will be very sad....

 

[spotowner]

I just started researching Monday and the rates went from $264 for the second week of July to $314. Does anybody think the rates will fall. I am most concerned with the crowds in July, and the ability to jump FOTL. Is it worth it to stay at Universal, or get a cheaper hotel and pay the Express Upgrade on the admission passes? Thanks in advance

 

[MickeyMagic]

I am waiting. I agree that the rates will not come down if everyone books at the higher rates. We are debating between cutting USO out of our plans altogether or booking only 1 night onsite instead of the 3 like we had originally planned. What to do, what to do???

 

[barbnbrian]

I've decided to hold out. With their new Express Pass system, I'll give up staying onsite for the FOTL privilege because their room rates are too high for me!

 

[goldcupmom]

I just started researching Monday and the rates went from $264 for the second week of July to $314. Does anybody think the rates will fall. I am most concerned with the crowds in July, and the ability to jump FOTL. Is it worth it to stay at Universal, or get a cheaper hotel and pay the Express Upgrade on the admission passes? Thanks in advance

I'm going 7/4 - 7 and Yes, I booked. Getting HRH club was what we wanted.
Doing AAA, the rates were 384, then 374, then dropped for 24 hours to 336.60 (when I booked). Jumped back to 374 and then yesterday back to 336.60. I am checking every day to see if something better comes along, and am calling once a week - so far they say there will not be any Fan, APH or FLO at all for those times(my Sister is coming and is a FL res.)

 

[Pink Flamingo]

Count me in on the "waiting" list. We've never been to UO/IOA & would love to go, but right now I'm not loving the rates I see for Aug. 5-8th ($264 HRH & $233 RPH with AAA discount). We'll be in FL July 30 - Aug 8th no matter what - already have our plane tickets. Where we'll stay will depend on rates/perks ~ WDW or UO ~ only time will tell.

 

[bjakmom]

Well, this seems to be a crazy year down there - this coming weekend and next weekend are supposedly sold out at HRH - at the very end of January! I was watching rates for our weekend (1/28) as we were thinking of going from a kid's suite to 2 rooms - the APH rates for 3 or more nights were 169. -for 2 nights they were at 234.- ; AAA rates were 183.- for either; the other night (Tuesday) the AP rates for 2 nights went down to 169.- ; then yesterday all of the rates went up - AP to 254. for 2 nights/ 211.65 for 3 nights - AAA to 199. 20 - these are all gv rates! We have definitely decided to stick with our suite at AP rate. Looks to me like they are going to a system where AAA will be the only early discount offered (only one offered right now for Oct) and AP rates might be offered closer to the dates - I think it was more in line with their AP advertising when they offered a block of AP rates at the beginning of the year and first come/first serve, rather than only offering AP rates if the rooms weren't filling up. I, too, have been told that Ent will not be offered this year and I haven't heard a word about FAN rates (gone the way of All Access, I suppose).

 

[hapandpam]

After much antagonizing, I went ahead and booked RPH for July 6-8 with a AAA rate of $210. It was much more than I planned on paying, but we have APs and wanted to use them this year because we won't have another opportunity before they expire. I'm still hoping that an AP rate will come out. Otherwise I'll be joining AAA in June. However, in the long run, Universal lost out. Originally we were planning to stay 5 or 6 nights at HRH. Now those nights, and money, will be spent at WDW.

 

[daywalker]

After much antagonizing, I went ahead and booked RPH for July 6-8 with a AAA rate of $210. It was much more than I planned on paying, but we have APs and wanted to use them this year because we won't have another opportunity before they expire. I'm still hoping that an AP rate will come out. Otherwise I'll be joining AAA in June. However, in the long run, Universal lost out. Originally we were planning to stay 5 or 6 nights at HRH. Now those nights, and money, will be spent at WDW.

Maybe they haven't lost out though? If they are seriously booking up as people suggest, they're still pulling in the revenue from people booking and filling up at higher rates and obviously those people will stay & spend.

 

[mainelyj]

I have given up. Already book time at Disney Resort. I canceled my RPR reservations - $210 was the best available rate from them. I guess we got spoiled with their $99 rates some time ago. We are just planning to go to USF and IOA on Monday and Tuesdays (very little people in the parks at the time).