Change of plans! More advice needed for May/June trip!

[Dawgfan81]

Thanks to the winter weather, my family will no longer be able to have a mini vacation in Feb. since the schools just had to close due to the temps.

So now we're trying to plan out a end of May/earlier June trip. We've got these two weeks circled but having a hard time deciding. The kids get out of school on May 22 so we're thinking either:

May 26 - 30
or
June 2 - 6

Planning on staying on site so not too worried about crowds. Just curious how packed Memorial day would be. Which week would you vets pick?

Speaking of staying on site, we've always stayed off site. So this is our first time. The wife and I are leaning towards Royal Pacific but the kids are saying Hard Rock. Any pros/cons between the two?

I've also read that I could purchase an AP and save on the hotel and tickets along with food/merchandise in the park. I'm guessing this is a no brainer.

Any tips or advice would be great, thanks for reading!

 

[macraven]

i don't have a calendar in front of me so i need to ask....

are your dates around the presidents weekend?


that usually is a busy time but early february is fine.

drury inn is a great place to stay but it is not as close as some other hotels.


wait, you said you need a 2 bedroom villa.
probably use the search button and pull up threads where others have stayed at.
the trip forum might be a good place to start at.
quite a few post about their villas/larger sites in their trippies.

 

[Dawgfan81]

Just changed/updated my original post. Couldn't find an option to delete and didn't want to clutter the board. Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[damo]

I'd stay away from Memorial Day Weekend. There are no AP discounts for that weekend, so they must be expecting larger crowds.

To check the AP rate, use the code APH on the loews website.

 

[Dawgfan81]

I'd stay away from Memorial Day Weekend. There are no AP discounts for that weekend, so they must be expecting larger crowds.

To check the AP rate, use the code APH on the loews website.

We're actually going Monday through Friday. Not sure if that'd make a difference.

When I use the code for dates I get a of $169 a night. Without the code it's giving me $207 for Royal Pacific.

I'll probably go with the June 2 thru 6 dates. We did Disney last year from June 1 thru 8 and had a nice time. Staying on site will help with most lines minus Harry Potter.

Thanks for the input!

 

[KorbensMomma]

I have gone that 1st week of June and it is a great time. Warm enough for the pools but low crowds.

My favorite hotel is PBH but the HRH has a nice water slide the kids might like. I have never stayed at HRH but the other two are nice.

 

[Dawgfan81]

I have gone that 1st week of June and it is a great time. Warm enough for the pools but low crowds.

My favorite hotel is PBH but the HRH has a nice water slide the kids might like. I have never stayed at HRH but the other two are nice.

Thanks for the input. First week of June it is.

I guess my next step is buying the AP and then reserving through Loews website. What's the deposit? I always put $200 down at Disney but that's for their vacation packages.

Also, since I want to use the AP to buy my wife and kids tickets. I guess I can't buy them till we get there correct?

 

[damo]

Thanks for the input. First week of June it is.

I guess my next step is buying the AP and then reserving through Loews website. What's the deposit? I always put $200 down at Disney but that's for their vacation packages.

Also, since I want to use the AP to buy my wife and kids tickets. I guess I can't buy them till we get there correct?

The deposit is the first night's charge. Yes, wait until you get to the park to get the family's tickets. You will have to activate your AP before you can get them. That means actually going through the gates.

You can go through the gates and go to guest services inside the park to buy the rest of the tickets if that line is shorter or go through the gate and then come back out and line up at the ticket booth.

 

[glocon]

I wonder if the Diagon Alley area will be open the first week of June. That would be a perfect time to go!

 

[Dawgfan81]

I wonder if the Diagon Alley area will be open the first week of June. That would be a perfect time to go!

I'm kind of doubting it but maybe it'll have a "soft opening" while we are there!

 

[macraven]

I'm kind of doubting it but maybe it'll have a "soft opening" while we are there!

crossing my fingers that it will happen for youse while you are there.

 

[Dawgfan81]

Ended up booking 6/1 - 6/7 at the Royal Pacific. Also decided on getting myself the Preferred Pass and my family the Power Pass for just a little extra. We plan on going back in December and possibly again the following spring.

Quick question. If I buy the AP and activate it 6/1/2014. It's good til 6/1/2015, correct?

 

[klineyqueen]

The pass from universal is good after the first use for one year.

 

[tink1957]

Don't forget to ask for the GA resident discount for your passes. I bought mine at the guest services window and saved a ton vs buying ahead of time.

Hope you have a great time at the darkside

 

[Dawgfan81]

Don't forget to ask for the GA resident discount for your passes. I bought mine at the guest services window and saved a ton vs buying ahead of time.

Hope you have a great time at the darkside

Thanks for the tip, wasn't aware that Georgians got discounts. Unfortunately we've decided to buy annual passes (1 preferred/3 power passes). Should I buy those at the park in hopes of a discount?

 

[tink1957]

Yes I would definitely wait to purchase your AP.

I bought my preferred AP in 2010 and have renewed every year at the FL resident rate. In fact, my AP says FL resident. You have to go to guest services and show your GA ID in order to get the discount and then you should be able to get a discount on your power passes too. I'm not sure if you have to activate your AP before you can get the discount on the power passes but that's as simple as using it to enter the parks. Hope this helps.