Buying vacation package directly from US vs through other outlets? Cheaper? benefits?

[nestmom]

Thinking of doing on property resort pass for express pass and early entry. Hubby saw that those packages are cheaper through agents....is this true? Will it give us the same benfits? What recs?

 

[macraven]

Some of those packages have different rules such as prepaying in full prior to arrival, charges for changing reservations, etc

I haven't found any advantage in using them

Some prefer to use an agent/ vacation company and swear by them

 

[bumbershoot]

Express pass is a deluxe resort perk. Early entry is an onsite resort perk. You do not have to book a package to get them. ANY way you book a deluxe resort you will get both. ANY way you book cabana bay you will get early entrance.

You want to look at packages but you also want to check out booking room only (either through universal or Loews directly or Travelocity or wherever you choose) and buying tickets from your choice of vendors. (We often talk about maple leaf tickets as well as undercovertourist here)

See the costs, the cancellation and change policies, and what you get. Just remember that those perks you mentioned aren't package-specific perks.

 

[nestmom]

Thanks!! Ok so will look up those items you mentioned...

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm not on my mobile now so I can type easier.

http://uo.loewshotels.com/en/booking/uo?hotel=UEPBH,UEHRH,UERPR is a place to look for room-only reservations.

There are many online travel agencies; many of us have our favorites. (though my fave NEVER has good rates on Uni hotels, sadly)

universalorlando.com has links to room-only reservations and to packages. There are normal packages, Harry Potter packages, etc. HP packages often have breakfast reservations at one or two of the restaurants in Wizarding World, so it's important to now you don't really need reservations anymore to those places.

undercovertourist.com and https://www.mapleleaftickets.com have had decent deals on tickets and are totally reputable and trustworthy businesses. Of course you can also buy tickets from Universal, or even at the gates.

 

[cbsnyber1]

My experience: we wanted club rooms at Royal Pacific, five day park tickets, and Blue Man Group tix. You can buy all these separately, but for this combination I found it best to go directly through Universal because the Blue Man Group add on (to the park tickets) was cheaper than buying them individually. Plus, for whatever reason, the three park (Universal, Islands, and Wet 'n Wild waterpark) 14 day unlimited ticket is not sold on the Universal web site. It is available through independent ticket brokers like Undercover Tourist or (as I did) by calling Universal. It was just far easier, for this combination of room/tickets, to do everything by dealing directly with Universal.

As other posters already stated, it depends on where you want to stay and what you want to do. Figure that out, then start calling or checking web sites for pricing.

 

[kohlby]

We've never done a package, as it's always been cheaper for us to not do one. And though this is usually the case, there are exceptions so price it out - and don't forget to add in taxes and fees when comparing as well as checking cancellation policies. As for going directly vs not, it again depends on what you're trying to do. Our hotel has been cheaper directly every time in the past except for our most recent trip planned. We found Orbitz to be cheaper for this time. We have AP's now, so that was direct, of course. But have found that UT has been the best ticket option for us otherwise in the past usually. We did Blue Man Group during our last trip and it was cheapest to book directly through BMG despite us having AP's but we did a special sensory-friendly show that wasn't even listed on the Universal website. We don't buy trip insurance so we make sure most can be cancelled without a charge (or with a low enough charge) or used at a later date. (Our exception was the BMG tickets but we decided it was worth the gamble).