Both nights at RPR or first night at less expensive hotel? Late arrival.

[lvdis]

Please help me decide! I thought I had it all figured out and now I'm questioning my decisions! We will arrive at the Lakeland airport at 8:00 PM on Friday, January 6, 2012 and plan to drive to the Universal Area and stay at a Comfort Suites on Major Blvd. My thought was to get a less expensive hotel for the first night, then check in early at RPR on Saturday morning to get the express pass benefits. I reserved the room at RPR for Saturday, January 7 for one night back in July. We are moving to a resort at WDW on Sunday evening. Now I keep thinking that maybe I should have reserved RPR for Friday and Saturday night, so we don't have to mess with moving that morning.

What would you do? Is it worth the extra expense to stay another night when we won't arrive until around 9 or so at night? Or, should I just keep the other reservation and move Saturday morning? It's a difference of about $130. Part of me says just go for it and do both nights at RPR, the other part wants to save the money! Another thing that's confusing me; when I booked RPR it was at a rate of $219, now when I look online at adding another night, it's coming up as $244 for a night

Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

Getting in that late, with the plan to check in EARLY, I hope, to RPR, is probably what I would do. If the parks were open late enough for you to go to one, it might be different, but since you'd probably just be hanging out and sleeping, just staying on the cheap works.

 

[cbsnyber1]

A couple of questions: are you renting a car or using taxi, limo, etc.?
How far is the cheaper place from RPH (not familiar with that Comfort Suitesl)?
Are you an early bird?

I would stay at RPH both nights. The hassle of driving to the first place, even with just an overnight bag, then getting up the next day, breakfast, bundling everything up, getting to RPH, hoping your room is ready - but if not you will have to store your luggage, then come back later, then check into RPH after going to the parks or whatever while waiting for the room - all of that can make for a looooooong day.

If you have only one and a half days for the parks anything that cuts into park time should be considered. Besides, once you're at RPH you could (weather permitting and if open) soak in the hot tub or take a dip, explore the hotel, just relax - you're there! Then you can get an early start Saturday and enjoy the parks (plus get in early to WWOHP, if you wish), or sleep in if you want.

I think the convenience is worth the $130. If you don't go to the parks regularly (like us, we go every five years or so), anything that reduces hassle is worth it. Another thing, the room rates change and are higher over weekends; that might be the reason the rate was higher. Or you might have received a deal the first time - rates can be difficult to figure out.

 

[macraven]

the best laid plans always has issues with them.


you arrive late and stay offsite.
you have to get up early the next morning and grab a cab to move to the other hotel.
(instead of repacking a night bag or grabbing breakfast before you try to catch a cab to relocate, make it one hotel only for those 2 nights.)



for me, i would avoid this scenario.
Time is money.


go directly to the onsite hotel that night.
get organized for the next day and then hit the hay for the night.


you are on vacation.
don't fret about the extra money for this one extra night.


how often do you travel to Orlando to hit two different resorts/parks?


make it easier for yourself and family and have some downtime to relax and enjoy the UO parks.


You can have two full days at universal without the extra rushing that first morning.


You check in the evening around 8 pm.
you don't have to wait for a room to be ready.
enjoy your room and the dining places in that hotel that night.
get up early the next day and use the early entry for hotel guests.


if you chose not to go this route, there is a chance your room would not be ready if you check into the hotel during the morning.
you would have to store your belongings with valet until your room would be assigned and available for you.


checking in the night before, you will avoid this situation and have 2 full days in the park.

 

[macraven]

reread your question.
you don't need a cab as you are renting a car.

i still vote for the onsite hotel for both nights.



i've done the hotel hopping like that before years ago.
all i did was save money and incurred a lot of stress trying to organize moves.
never did sleep well the night before changing hotels, as my mind would race about having to repeat the move two more times.

 

[lvdis]

Thanks for all your helpful comments! I'm really leaning towards canceling the Comfort Suites and adding a night to our RPR reservation.

To answer cbsnyber1, we will have a rental car and the Comfort Suites shows on Mapquest as being 2 miles away.

I do think it would be nicer just to settle in one place for those 2 nights. I wonder if there is any way to get the additional night at the same rate I reserved my one night for back in July. It was $219 a night then, now the online reservation is showing it will be $244 a night. I guess I should just quit wondering and call to ask! Thanks!!

 

[macraven]

Thanks for all your helpful comments! I'm really leaning towards canceling the Comfort Suites and adding a night to our RPR reservation.

To answer cbsnyber1, we will have a rental car and the Comfort Suites shows on Mapquest as being 2 miles away.

I do think it would be nicer just to settle in one place for those 2 nights. I wonder if there is any way to get the additional night at the same rate I reserved my one night for back in July. It was $219 a night then, now the online reservation is showing it will be $244 a night. I guess I should just quit wondering and call to ask! Thanks!!

Call UO resort ressie number and ask if you add the Friday night, will they match it to the original ressie rate you already paid for.

if they say no, ask to speak to a supervisor.

makes sense that if you booked a weekend night prior at the lower rate, the other weekend night will not be an issue to add onto the original reservation.

 

[lvdis]

Call UO resort ressie number and ask if you add the Friday night, will they match it to the original ressie rate you already paid for.

if they say no, ask to speak to a supervisor.

makes sense that if you booked a weekend night prior at the lower rate, the other weekend night will not be an issue to add onto the original reservation.

Well, I'm not very happy right now. I called to check on adding Friday to our Saturday only reservation and he said "that will change your rate to $244 a night is that OK?". I said no, that's not OK, I have already paid for Saturday and it's at the $219 rate. He said well, that was just for one night and this is now a weekend rate. I told him, I already had Saturday at $219 and that's a weekend night. So, he told me to hold on while he talked to his supervisor. I thought, oh good, he's going to get this taken care of. He came back and said they could leave my Saturday at $219, but would have to charge $244 for Friday. Oh, how generous of them to leave the rate that I already paid in full 4 months ago at what it was. I asked to speak to the supervisor myself. He came back and said they were busy with another issue and would have to call me back. I asked if it would be today. He checked and said it would be within 48 hours. As I said, I'm not very happy. I guess we'll see what happens.

 

[Bluer101]

To bad you don't have an annual pass, I checked the rate and it's $179 plus tax.

Also remember that the prices are plus tax and if you have a car self parking is $15 per night plus tax.

 

[lvdis]

I got a call back from the supervisor this morning and she took care of everything! We are all set now for two nights at RPR at the lower rate. Yay! Thanks to everyone for their input and help! I'm super excited!

 

[Bluer101]

I got a call back from the supervisor this morning and she took care of everything! We are all set now for two nights at RPR at the lower rate. Yay! Thanks to everyone for their input and help! I'm super excited!

That's great they came through.

 

[macraven]

I got a call back from the supervisor this morning and she took care of everything! We are all set now for two nights at RPR at the lower rate. Yay! Thanks to everyone for their input and help! I'm super excited!

that is great news.

so glad for you.

a supervisor will always work with you.