Booking through Universal...Harry Potter "Package"...

[rstanley]

We’re new to Universal and I have a few questions…

1) First of all can anyone tell me about the Harry Potter “Special Discount” package advertised on the Universal website?

Is it worth it?

Can you get into the 3 Broomsticks without it?

Do you need this package to get early entry to Harry Potter or do you just need to stay onsite? We’ll be staying at RPH.

2) If I book a vacation now for March and a different promotion comes out later will Universal make adjustments?

3) I’m confused by the different offers on the mousesavers website. Has anyone used any of these?

4) Are there really special discounts if you book with a Platinum American Express? I just upgraded my Delta VISA to Platinum and am waiting for it to arrive in the mail.

I’m confused with all the options!!

Please help!

 

[damo]

If you purchase the package, there may be fees to change rates if they get lower. The closer you get to your dates, the more those fees are.

If you simply book onsite, you get early entry every day. You can eat at Three Broomsticks (just no necessarily for breakfast), and you can have your rates changed right up to the last week before your arrival without any penalties.

There are American Express perks...you should call and ask, as I have heard some people getting great deals with it.

 

[rstanley]

If you purchase the package, there may be fees to change rates if they get lower. The closer you get to your dates, the more those fees are.

If you simply book onsite, you get early entry every day. You can eat at Three Broomsticks (just no necessarily for breakfast), and you can have your rates changed right up to the last week before your arrival without any penalties.

There are American Express perks...you should call and ask, as I have heard some people getting great deals with it.

Thanks...I'll have to call and ask

 

[bumbershoot]

We originally booked the HP package, then realized it was the most expensive way to go. Cancelled it. No fee. Almost immediately refund of our deposit.

We ended up going straight to the Loew's website and choosing a room-only deal, and got our tickets elsewhere.

As the PP said, just staying at an onsite hotel gets you the early entry privileges, and you can eat at 3 Broomsticks still.

 

[damo]

Here is the revision fee info if you book the package:

Revision Fees:
Once deposit and/or full payment is received, a $50 revision fee per transaction, plus any applicable services fees or price increases, will be assessed for any changes made to the reservation including, but not limited to, dates, air carrier, hotel, and ground transportation. If your vacation includes airline reservations, air change fees apply, plus a $50 per reservation revision fee and any other fees or price increases imposed by the airline will be charged. Fees are non-refundable. Certain types of airline reservation changes, including name changes, are prohibited based upon restrictions imposed by the carrier.

Here are the cancellation policies if you book the package:

45 days or more - Full refund*
44-6 days - $100 fee per reservation, plus fees imposed by hotel, airline and/or other components
5-0 days - $200 fee per reservation, plus fees imposed by hotel, airline and/or other components

 

[koquinn]

Universal's pricing has always confused me. It's not obvious on the website when you compare various pricing options. I find it best to call, and call both the package reservation line as well as the hotel-only line and compare. Make sure you mention AAA if you have a membership. Last year the AAA price was the best option for us. This year it was the HP package deal. Not sure why, but when I called back with a PIN code I got in my email she said my price would go up by several hundred dollars over the HP package. Make sure you think about including your transportation to & from the airport - it's cheaper in a package than it is to call for example Mears directly. In the end, it's WAY cheaper than Disney no matter what you do!

 

[damo]

Universal's pricing has always confused me. It's not obvious on the website when you compare various pricing options. I find it best to call, and call both the package reservation line as well as the hotel-only line and compare. Make sure you mention AAA if you have a membership. Last year the AAA price was the best option for us. This year it was the HP package deal. Not sure why, but when I called back with a PIN code I got in my email she said my price would go up by several hundred dollars over the HP package. Make sure you think about including your transportation to & from the airport - it's cheaper in a package than it is to call for example Mears directly. In the end, it's WAY cheaper than Disney no matter what you do!

Yes, it gets confusing because there are different booking sites. There is the Universal Vacations site which is basically a travel agency that will book packages at many different resorts onsite and offsite and there is the Universal Resorts site (used to be only Loews but now is Hard Rock as well) which will only book you at the onsite resorts. You can also book the Hard Rock at the Hard Rock Hotels website and the Loews website and you can book the Portofino and Royal Pacific at the Loews website. Definitely can be confusing!!!