Booking a Universal Orlando Resort Vacation

[DSNYDREAMER]

As I mentioned, I'm traveling today. Once I get to the resort I will post with more explanation that will hopefully clarify.

 

[DSNYDREAMER]

Can you find that information on the Universal site showing the option for transportation to Disney? I've tried every possible way of booking a package and all I can find is this:

Transportation - Other:
Orlando International Airport (MCO): 9 miles​

• • Shuttle †
  • UNIVERSAL SUPERSTAR SHUTTLE provides dedicated welcome service and transportation between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and our spectacular On-Site hotels. Fees apply.

There isn't a link I can send you because this is made available to us in an area that isn't available to the general public. Earlier in this thread Safetymom copied the information as we see it in our booking engine.

I don't think it is Universal that sells a ticket that includes transfers from a WDW resort, it is Dreams Unlimited. They talked about it in the podcast. It is one of their tickets that they encourage first timers to use. Pretty sure it is with Mears Transportation.

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/universal/tickets.htm

This is not a ticket or combination that Dreams created, Universal makes this ticket available to us as travel partners. The ticket comes from Universal.

We have questions about that ticket on this board frequently. Guests look all over the Universal website and can't find it. We direct them to Dreams Unlimited. There are probably other travel agencies that offer it but, of course, we're going to suggest DU. You purchase the ticket and then contact the transportation company listed to arrange transportation. Universal doesn't seem to be involved.

Universal supplies us with this ticket to sell.

I think the confusion comes from the fact that Universal makes some products or options available to its travel partners that are not made available through their normal booking processes. Universal uses a 3rd party vendor to sell packages to Travel Partners and these may not look the same as what Universal offers direct to consumer.

On the Dreams Unlimited Podcast our point of view would be what is available to us to offer our client. The Universal show that Craig does, covers a wide range of topics and view points. Our goal with the Dreams shows is to discuss as Travel Agents to clients. That is not to say we don't hope others will find some useful information, in fact we hope we are always sharing valuable information. But I think knowing the angle we are coming from helps in this conversation. The challenge for us is finding a balance in what we share and how we share it. We have viewers and listeners that frequent the boards, and are very well versed in the areas that interest them. We also have listeners and viewers who are completely new to the topic we are discussing.

In this case I think it is just a situation of 2 sides to the same story! As far as SLOP and Strollers, I will have to rewatch as I don't recall the particulars of the conversation.

 

[Teleclashter]

As a former Guest Service Coordinator at Universal I can say that the team member may be caring but they can be pointed* or fired for this. The only exception is if the guest has a pass that designates the stroller as a wheelchair and those strollers look at bit different than regular strollers. The reason that strollers are not allowed in the queue is because of the chance of an e-vac, fire, or other emergency. In an emergency, the strollers would most likely be abandoned in line and become a hazard for others during an evacuation. Even if the stroller isn't abandoned during an emergency, the strollers could still be a hindrance for others trying to exit the building. Please don't ask a team member to bend the rules especially for a safety issue, whether it be a stroller in line or a height requirement on a ride. If your child is sleeping, just plan on riding later or have someone stay with the the child.

*I mentioned the team member being pointed. This is called a safety violation. When you get a safety violation it is much more serious than just regular point. You are pulled from the ride and put on a ride Like Twister, Shrek, Terminator, etc that are walk through rides and don't have much chance of safety violations in the future. You can't work on rides with cars or coasters.

As a former Attractions Trainer and CBO at Forbidden Journey and Relief Lead at Dragon Challenge, I'm well aware of safeties as I dealt with them on a weekly basis while working at Dragons. No supervisor would give a safety or point violation ever for a stroller being in child swap because most attractions the child swap room isn't actually in the queue. Before the metal detectors came in at Dragons, anyone could bring strollers into the child swap room whenever they wanted. The only reason that changed was because of the TM at exit with a wand checking anyone going to the swap rooms. Again, I never suggested anyone should take a stroller in line. That is not allowed.

 

[phamton]

As a former Attractions Trainer and CBO at Forbidden Journey and Relief Lead at Dragon Challenge, I'm well aware of safeties as I dealt with them on a weekly basis while working at Dragons. No supervisor would give a safety or point violation ever for a stroller being in child swap because most attractions the child swap room isn't actually in the queue. Before the metal detectors came in at Dragons, anyone could bring strollers into the child swap room whenever they wanted. The only reason that changed was because of the TM at exit with a wand checking anyone going to the swap rooms. Again, I never suggested anyone should take a stroller in line. That is not allowed.

I didn't mention child swap but the queue. Strollers are not allowed in the queue. My son was on the opening crew of Revenge of the Mummy and another son who worked at MIB and they were very strict about safety violations. Violations could even be issued for letting someone get passed you at the first height checkpoint. All I am trying to say is do not ask a team member to break safety rules. In my opinion advocating that a caring team member might let you break a rule is not prudent advice.

 

[damo]

There isn't a link I can send you because this is made available to us in an area that isn't available to the general public. Earlier in this thread Safetymom copied the information as we see it in our booking engine.



This is not a ticket or combination that Dreams created, Universal makes this ticket available to us as travel partners. The ticket comes from Universal.



Universal supplies us with this ticket to sell.

I think the confusion comes from the fact that Universal makes some products or options available to its travel partners that are not made available through their normal booking processes. Universal uses a 3rd party vendor to sell packages to Travel Partners and these may not look the same as what Universal offers direct to consumer.

On the Dreams Unlimited Podcast our point of view would be what is available to us to offer our client. The Universal show that Craig does, covers a wide range of topics and view points. Our goal with the Dreams shows is to discuss as Travel Agents to clients. That is not to say we don't hope others will find some useful information, in fact we hope we are always sharing valuable information. But I think knowing the angle we are coming from helps in this conversation. The challenge for us is finding a balance in what we share and how we share it. We have viewers and listeners that frequent the boards, and are very well versed in the areas that interest them. We also have listeners and viewers who are completely new to the topic we are discussing.

In this case I think it is just a situation of 2 sides to the same story! As far as SLOP and Strollers, I will have to rewatch as I don't recall the particulars of the conversation.

That makes sense, but when it is stated in a podcast that Universal provides transportation, it is confusing to the GP who will go on the Universal website to look for tickets that provide transportation to Disney or they will be asking at the front desk about the transportation that is provided. I just think some clarification should have been made because for sure we are going to get questions on the forum about the information that the podcast provided.

Same goes for the issue of strollers in the child swap. It is going to be confusing to the GP about how to get into the child swap room if strollers aren't allowed in the queue. Again, clarification should have been made regarding this issue.

Both pieces of information were great but I can also see them leading to a lot of frustration and confusion. As a conversation between TAs, it is all well and good but as a podcast for beginners to Universal, it just may have made things a lot more difficult.

Craig did a great job clarifying when it was said that none of the Wizarding World rides took express passes and I wish someone would have clarified on those other issues.

 

[bchbetha]

$40 per person for a shuttle ride (I'll hope that's round trip at least) is super steep. Just as easy to catch an Uber or Lyft (which is about $15-20/ car not per person) or even just a taxi.

 

[TheConsciousness]

I really enjoyed this podcast. Is this crew the usual who do them, cuz I'd watch it again for their discussions. Do these Universal podcasts happen often?