Cost of On-Site Resorts....

[CanadaPT]

... wow, I would love to have the jobs that all of you have! The front of the line system seems terrific but I cannot even fathom paying $200 + a night for a hotel room. To me this seems absolutely extravegant. Judging many of the posts, it appears as if $200 a night is a great deal!! Is it?? Maybe I'm just missing the boat on this one??

 

[ksdave]

With the right deal, you can get rooms at RPR as low as $100/night. This rate is comparable to the rates at the WDW All-Star resorts, but RPR is much nicer than the All-Stars. Plus, at UO you get FOTL, at WDW you get to ride the bus.

 

[damo]

Tell us when you want to go and we'll help you to get the best deal.

 

[RescueRanger]

CanadaPT-

What you have to remember is that Universal's hotels are Loews hotels and are considered Deluxe Hotels. If you price Disney Deluxe hotels, you will see that Universal's prices are really quite good. Consider the fact that a comparable room at Disney's Polynesian is about $360 per night. We are staying at RPR in May/June and our rate is $146 per night with a discount. This is actually less than a Disney "moderate" hotel. In addition, you get FOTL with Universal onsite hotels and you really can't put a value on that. Are there offsite hotels that are cheaper? Of course, but just like at Disney, some of the cost is for the perks such as FOTL and transportation. Damo is right. Give us the info on when you want to go and the people here on the boards will help you get the best rate.

 

[wendypooh]

I know, my DH thought it was steep too.......... until we did it, and he saw how beautiful the resort RPR was, and how spoiled he got with fotl.............. now, on our trips, he's the one looking for the best deal for RPR........... since he WON"T stay anywhere else....... again, everyone here is willing to help you get the best deal, and share all the tips they have. It is well worth it, and once you do it once.......... you'll see why. On our last trip, with the ent. discount, we got our room for $110.00 a night......... for an 8 day trip, we were glad it wasn't $200.00. There are good deals to be had though.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Originally posted by ksdave
With the right deal, you can get rooms at RPR as low as $100/night. This rate is comparable to the rates at the WDW All-Star resorts, but RPR is much nicer than the All-Stars. Plus, at UO you get FOTL, at WDW you get to ride the bus.

I don't want to sound like I am putting down the RPH but saying that the rate is comparable to the All Stars ins't true.... when you get the lowest rates for Universal ie: $119 for RPH you can get the All Stars for $59, a moderate (Port Orleans) for $74 & Animal Kingdom Lodge/Wilderness Lodge for $123.... so I would more or less say it is priced like AKL/WL...not the All Stars. Yes, it is Universal's lowest price resort, but it is not a value resort by no means. Is it worth it to stay on site for FOTL.... YES ... without a doubt it is!

 

[themepark]

We have stayed at RPR three times never paying more than $119 per night. Our upcoming trip is $119 per night at RPR. We are splurging on a deluxe room at PBH this summer for $188 which I am told is a great deal. Good deals can be found. It is worth every penny as the Universal hotels are beautiful top notch hotels where I have always been given VIP treatment. Plus having FOTL is priceless.

 

[decaff38]

I am planning a combination WDW and Univ. trip for a family of five in Jan 2005. Have been trying to book a room but having no luck. WOuld love to find the 119.00 deals. Where would I look? You seem to really know your stuff. When would you expect the 2005 entertainment books to be available? Thanks so much.

 

[gschmerl]

The 2005 Entertainment Books should be available sometime in August or September 2004. However, that doesn't mean that any rooms will be available at those rates for the dates you want. Just keep calling 1-800-BeAStar for rates. I think the $119 rate is an annual pass holder rate.

 

[RescueRanger]

I believe the 2004 Entertainment Books expire in November so the 2005 book would have to come out before then. January is usually a slow month and they usually have pretty good rates during that time (excluding New Years of course).

 

[Ashley24]

We are staying at the Royal Pacific for 5 nights starting on July 5th. We are paying 189. a night (water view) using the entertainment card. Could I get a lower rate than this or should I be happy with this rate?
Thanks!

 

[damo]

Ashley24, summer rates are higher as demand is high. Your rate is fine.


RescueRanger, I think gschmerl meant that the entertainment book rates will come out in August or September.

 

[dgw9]

Einstein said everything is relative. So 200.00 in late June (which is what I'm paying) is relatively good, while paying the same amount in August or April would be relatively bad!! At least that rate includes front of the line privileges--which would cost 100.00 a day for me and mine.

Look at it as a once in a lifetime thing--and then do it every couple of years!!!

 

[gschmerl]

Originally posted by damo


RescueRanger, I think gschmerl meant that the entertainment book rates will come out in August or September.

Actually, I meant that the 2005 Entertainment Books come out in August or September 2004. Our school sells them every year as a fund raiser and we have the new ones as soon as school starts.

 

[RescueRanger]

Originally posted by gschmerl
Actually, I meant that the 2005 Entertainment Books come out in August or September 2004. Our school sells them every year as a fund raiser and we have the new ones as soon as school starts.

Actually, I wan't responding to gschmerl. I think we were probably typing at the same time (I'm a slow typer). I was just answering the OP directly. That's why I used the word believe because I wasn't sure.

 

[themepark]

Sorry! I should have said the $119 rates I booked were APH rates. Last August, I booked a $110 ENT rate but I understand the entertainment rates aren't as good this year.

Originally posted by Ashley24
We are staying at the Royal Pacific for 5 nights starting on July 5th. We are paying 189. a night (water view) using the entertainment card. Could I get a lower rate than this or should I be happy with this rate?
Thanks!

Ashley24, I see these rates for your dates using the Loews website:
1) APH rate of $153 for standard or $174 for waterview.
If you were willing to stay in a standard view, you could save $180 off your current rate which would pay for an APH. Plus you get discounts on merchandise and at restaurants with a AP. I don't know if you would be interested in that or not.

2) FAN club rate $164 standard view or $187 waterview (I know $2 isn't much) Fan Club Cards are free.

 

[CanadaPT]

I'm understanding the reasoning around staying on-site a bit more! We will be there from June 2 - June 5 for Universal touring and then we have a time share we will be staying at for the duration of our trip.

Thanks everyone for your help!

 

[damo]

You can get Royal Pacific for $149 with annual passholder's rate.

 

[Beauty]

Where would you look to see the prices for specific dates. We are AP holders for Disney but not Universal, however I would love to stay at one of their resorts.

Our dates are August 6 - 15.

 

[damo]

Beauty, go to www.loewshotels.com and check occupancy for Royal Pacific, Hard Rock or Portofino Bay.
The discount codes are AAA, APH -for annual passholder, FAN for fan club rates. If you call 1-800-BEASTAR and ask for entertainment rate, that can be very cheap as well but you have to buy the entertainment book to get that rate (buy it after the rate has been booked)