Booking thru Universal versus Orangevacations--need help!

[kim]

We are hoping to stay at the HRH July 02-July 05. I've gotten the following so far: $264.00 when I called Universal and $249.00 thru orangevacations when checking the dates on the internet.

I asked Universal if they could match the price, was put on hold, and they couldn't. I told them I had the fan club card, and they said they didn't use it. They asked if I had AAA, and I don't.

Who has booked thru orangevacations? What would be your suggestions?? We normally just go to Disney, but we wanted to split our vacation this year with a couple of days at Universal. Any ideas??

Also, what approximate discount do you get with AAA??

Thanks,
Kim

 

[shines4]

I booked with them for my trip this Easter. They are listed with the BBB with no complaints and I called the hotel direct to make sure they have my reservation. So far everything seems fine. They had a good rate for 3 of the six nights we will be in Orlando but the other 3 were not available. I booked the first three nights with expedia at a different hotel.

 

[AllieKat]

Hi Kim!

AAA.com has your dates for $237.60 a night. They also have RPR for $210.60 a night. APH (Annual Passholder) rates are $211 per night for RPR. HTH!

 

[pete14]

I called the RPR directly and they matched orange vacations rate of $219. When you call ask for in house reservations (otherwise you may be transferred back to the 800#). The # is 407-503-3000 for RPR.

 

[mousey]

I just called and they wouldn't match the rate. They told me I had to book thru orangevacations.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

Frankly, after the booking experience I had last week with Universal ... it will be all I caN STOMACH TO EVEN GO!!! The rate structures are all screwed up at Universal... you will get one thing online and something else when you call direct... plus they say that if you can find a better deal on their hotels that they will match it ...AND BEAT IT BY 25 DOLLARS... but it seems the people posting here haven't had the Universal people mention that little factoid. Frankly, I am furious with Uni... If I had not checked my reservation and then double checked it at with the Hotel.. I would have arrived in Orlando with the wrong rate and the wrong party information.

 

[hannahouse]

I ALWAYS print out my confirmation email and carry it with me, to avoid any such mishap. fyi, when I called univacations, they told me I could not use the mastercard 5th night free deal unless i purchased tickets with it. I went to the website and made the ressie - without tickets, and it went through just fine.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

yeah Hanna,

it is those kinds of insane scenarios that have me thinking I will not re-book...already cancelled once... the online system, call center, and then hotel will quote all kinds of different things for the same vacation package... this my sound harsh... but if a corporations marketing department can't even get the marketing right I certainly am not entrusting them with my child's vacation experience or well being for that matter.

EVery time we have been to Disney it goes like clockwork... smooth... no problems (other than the crowds are nuts at various times)... but not Universal

 

[hannahouse]

I've had experiences like this with many hotel reservations - not just Loews. (There seem to be lots of posts on these boards regarding people who have had problems with Disney res. not being consistant, or giving out wrong info) If you feel that strongly about it, maybe you should just go to Disney and skip Universal altogether?

 

[nataliesdaddy]

I ALWAYS print out my confirmation email and carry it with me, to avoid any such mishap. fyi, when I called univacations, they told me I could not use the mastercard 5th night free deal unless i purchased tickets with it. I went to the website and made the ressie - without tickets, and it went through just fine.

what happened in my case is I noticed all kinds of bizarre pricing anamolies... got a good rate on a HRH club room and booked it. If I had brought the confirm it wouldn't have done any good, because the system considered my daughter to be 1 year of age - never mind I booked for two adults and a nine year old.

I even wrote an e-mail to the chairman of Universal, and the chairman of the web service company running their site... They took the site down 3 hours last Monday, 1 hour on Tuesday... then wednesday after they thought they had the system fixed I get contacted. I check the site and find the same error up and send it to them... their response is "thanks for pointing that out and here's a $100 credit for your next vacation". What an insult.

I know this sounds like I am a real *******... but I am having to figure out for myself... do I really want to go somewhere that can't even correctly execute one of its most important tasks (marketing)? I hesitate to find out just how screwed up everything else is. I mean, if your marketing department can't even get something as simple as a website right, then just how little energy do they exert in accomplishing their other corporate missions like making sure the ride software is properly maintained?

Then on top of that I am an institutional investor - we hold a boatload of GE at one level or another - now we are all trying to figure out just what type of nightmare GE acquired 10 months ago...

ok ...sorry I am venting

 

[nataliesdaddy]

I've had experiences like this with many hotel reservations - not just Loews. (There seem to be lots of posts on these boards regarding people who have had problems with Disney res. not being consistant, or giving out wrong info) If you feel that strongly about it, maybe you should just go to Disney and skip Universal altogether?

yeah that is what I am thinking... call me closed minded or petty but something about the experience really irked me.

Thanks for listening

 

[hannahouse]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience - I would'nt do anything rash, though! Remember, Loews Corporation runs the hotels... I totally agree these little rate games they play are ridiculous, but it's the same with all hotels, airlines, etc. No wonder Southwest is one of the few airlines that can manage to be profitable.

GE?? 3 years ago I was without a washing maching for 4 weeks, because that is how long it took them to replace my brand new GE profile washing machine that broke after 2 weeks Needless to say, it was a long time before I got over that bad feeling!

 

[nataliesdaddy]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience - I would'nt do anything rash, though! Remember, Loews Corporation runs the hotels... I totally agree these little rate games they play are ridiculous, but it's the same with all hotels, airlines, etc. No wonder Southwest is one of the few airlines that can manage to be profitable.

GE?? 3 years ago I was without a washing maching for 4 weeks, because that is how long it took them to replace my brand new GE profile washing machine that broke after 2 weeks Needless to say, it was a long time before I got over that bad feeling!

Thanks for the input - I did not realize loews runs the hotels. I would think Universal would want total control if for no other reason than to maximize the bang for the buck.

You seem to be versed in Universal ... have you ever done the club level? and was it nice? and... so the FOTL is one heck of a perk eh?

We usually do disney contemporary concierge and Dad (that's me) is tour operator and fast pass obtainer... lol

sorry to hear about your GE - we got a brand new Maytag Neptune recently...one of those new fangled low water funky looking things... had the repairman to the house within the first week... works fine now though

thx again

 

[gschmerl]

Thanks for the input - I did not realize loews runs the hotels. so the FOTL is one heck of a perk eh?

Yes, Loew's runs the hotel, so GE has nothing to do with them. They are really great hotels. I have stayed in the Hard Rock and Royal Pacific and loved them both.
YES. The FOTL perk is the best thing going! What a pleasure to just show your room key and go right in the express entrance!

 

[hannahouse]

You seem to be versed in Universal ... have you ever done the club level? and was it nice? and... so the FOTL is one heck of a perk eh?

LOL, pretty well versed for someone who hasn't been yet! This is our first trip to Orlando - however, all my siblings, as well as my sil and her family, have all been to both Disney and US/IOA, and 3 of the families were on site Universal guests. fotl is a priceless perk, according to both adults and children. My brother describes it this way - an exclusive resort with your own private theme park. They are all big Universal fans - apparently it's much different from Disney, but not inferior in any way. We're just excited to be going!

Re the club level - no one in my family stayed there, and reviews here are mixed. It sounds like RPR has the best. We have a deluxe room at HRH booked - if I get club level, that would be great, but the larger room is the most important thing to me. At HRH, you can't book a deluxe room on the club floor - there are only 4, and they don't take reservations for them. I requested it on my ressie, so maybe we'll get lucky.