Booking on the Universal Web Site

[Seeker615]

My daughter and I are planning on booking a mini trip to Universal in the fall. On the Universal web-site they have a great Harry Potter Package we are considering. It was very reasonable. do you think we could do better booking through AAA or piecing together a trip ourselves? Has anyone booked through the universal web-site? Were there any problems?

 

[fairyprincess88]

I booked my last trip through the website on the Harry Potter package. However, it does depend on a lot of things as it if it is cheaper to book the package, rather than through AAA or elsewhere.

For us, the package made the most economical sense and fit our needs. We didn't feel that the price to stay onsite was worth it for our short trip, but at the same time our main purpose for going was the WWoHP and we wanted the early admission. So we could either book an onsite room for $700(not including tickets) or we could book the Potter package at the Holiday Inn Maingate right across the street from Universal for $550 total with tickets included in that price. On the package we got the early admission for each day of our trip, plus a "free" breakfast at The Three Broomsticks. The only perk we didn't get was FOTL which we had no use for given the parks were dead anyway.

However, there are cheaper ways to stay onsite, such as purchasing an AP and using the discounts on the hotel room and other tickets ect. I think it all really depends on what you want out of the vacation, how long your are going for, what price you can get through AAA ect. For us, the Potter package was the best fit for that vacation, and while I was there I was able to upgrade to an AP since I knew I'd be going back later this year more than once.

 

[dfriia]

I booked a HP package through the Universal website for an off-site hotel. The website locked up as I was completing the transaction and I did not get to print a receipt. I called the 800 number to get a confirmation number and make sure the transaction was completed. The person who answered my call just redid the transaction. An hour later, I checked my credit card account and it had been billed twice! I called the 800 number again and they cancelled one of the 2 bookings and refunded the duplicate charge. So, it wasn't a perfect experience, but websites lock up all the time during transactions and I don't think it reflected too badly on Universal. The first rep I spoke with on the phone should have checked first before making the reservation again from scratch over the phone.

I would willingly repeat the entire experience from booking online to the actual visit. Here is a link to my trip report.
http://roadtripswithbob.blogspot.com/2010/12/on-road-to-hogsmeade.html

 

[bumbershoot]

Each time I've checked the prices, I've done much better doing a la carte sort of bookings for Universal than with the HP package. Definitely make sure it's the best for you!

 

[RMulieri]

Each time I've checked the prices, I've done much better doing a la carte sort of bookings for Universal than with the HP package. Definitely make sure it's the best for you!

This has been my experience as well

 

[Metro West]

This has been my experience as well

 

[damo]

If you intend to stay off-site but want the early entry, then the Harry Potter package is the way to go.

If you intend on staying on-site, then you can usually do better booking individually.

 

[jthornton94]

Why do you need the Harry Potter package? It's my understanding just booking the partner hotel with tickets gains you the hour early access, you just don't get breakfast. Per the 2 Park Getaway package:
3 Night Getaways starting from only $239* per adult, tax inclusive!

•3 night accommodations at a Universal Partner Hotel
•2-Day Base Ticket^ to both Universal Orlando theme parks – one theme park, per day
•Access to live entertainment^^ at Universal CityWalk®
•EARLY PARK ADMISSION◊ to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ before the rest of the general public

 

[damo]

Why do you need the Harry Potter package? It's my understanding just booking the partner hotel with tickets gains you the hour early access, you just don't get breakfast. Per the 2 Park Getaway package:
3 Night Getaways starting from only $239* per adult, tax inclusive!

•3 night accommodations at a Universal Partner Hotel
•2-Day Base Ticket^ to both Universal Orlando theme parks – one theme park, per day
•Access to live entertainment^^ at Universal CityWalk®
•EARLY PARK ADMISSION◊ to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ before the rest of the general public

Yup, the Getaway package serves the same purpose. It is still a package through the Universal Orlando website.

 

[jthornton94]

Agreed, but much cheaper without the overpriced breakfast. We are staying at the Fairfield Inn which includes a free breakfast. We are getting a bit of a discount as military but we have 4 nights, three adult two day one park tickets a one child ticket for $727. We will be spending one day at Sea World as well which is free for military.

 

[fairyprincess88]

Why do you need the Harry Potter package? It's my understanding just booking the partner hotel with tickets gains you the hour early access, you just don't get breakfast. Per the 2 Park Getaway package:
3 Night Getaways starting from only $239* per adult, tax inclusive!

•3 night accommodations at a Universal Partner Hotel
•2-Day Base Ticket^ to both Universal Orlando theme parks – one theme park, per day
•Access to live entertainment^^ at Universal CityWalk®
•EARLY PARK ADMISSION◊ to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ before the rest of the general public

True if you book any package with Universal at an offsite partner hotel you still get the early entry, whether it be the Getaway or the Potter package. But either way, if you stay at a partner hotel, you need one of the packages to get the early admission, just booking a room gets you nothing but a cheaper place to sleep.

For us, there was a $20 difference between the Getaway and the Potter package, so $10 each for the added breakfast. Didn't seem too absurd at all. Considering that the only reason we were taking the vacation was for Potter, having a nice morning meal in the Three Broomsticks was a fun bonus. The meals we had were worth the price, and the ease of just strolling in with no lines or crowds in the 3B was a nice way to soak in the atmosphere for a couple of Potter nerds. While we did eat there for lunch and dinner a few times, it was the breakfast there that was our favorite meal(plus they have English bacon, and since that is one of the things I miss most now living in the States, I'd happily pay them $10 for the bacon alone).

It really is about what you want out of it. If having brekkie in the Three Broomsticks is not something that you could care less about, then book another package, but if you're a Potter nerd who thinks it would add to the experience, then pay the extra.

 

[jthornton94]

For $10 I would do it. When I priced it it was $18 per person which is absurd whne one is only 6.