Could someone please help me????

[Cantw8]

Hi, everyone....
I am new to this board so if I say or ask anything that has been "done to death" please forgive me. Here's my story....

Planning a Disney trip Nov 16th-21st. We, ( Family of four) will be traveling with friends (family of five) and deceided to tack on 2nights and three days at Universal (My FAVORITE parks!!!). Finances are getting kind of tight so I need the least expensive options for all of us. For this time of year (week before Thanksgiving) how crowded are the parks? Will they be crowded enough to warrant spending extra $$$ to stay onsite and take advantage of FOL? Hubby and I stayed at the HRH last April and that FOL has me spoiled. If I use my FAN Card, I can get a rate of $146 per night for the Royal Pacific....I assume that this does not include park tickets? Should I stay offsite and relie on shuttle bus transportation? Do you think a "package deal" would be cheaper? Do you think the Entertainment Book discount is better? Please Help!!!!!

 

[kellymonaghan]

I'd say "Book it!" You won't be there at what Universal calls "peak' time, so the Universal express Plus pass will only be $10. Still for a family of four means $40. When you add in $8 for parking, your off site hotel for four would have to be under $98 for you to save any money. When you then factor in the convenience of being on site, it's a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned.

The paid Universal Express Plus system is new, so there's no way of knowing for sure, but my guess is that you'll find longer waits in the Express lines than you did when you last stayed at HRH.

 

[Seahag]

For this time of year (week before Thanksgiving) how crowded are the parks? Will they be crowded enough to warrant spending extra $$$ to stay onsite and take advantage of FOL?

We went last year on Thanksgiving & it wasn't that busy at all. Now that could change from year to year, but chances are it will be consistant. Crowds should be light.

If I use my FAN Card, I can get a rate of $146 per night for the Royal Pacific....I assume that this does not include park tickets?Should I stay offsite and relie on shuttle bus transportation? Do you think a "package deal" would be cheaper? Do you think the Entertainment Book discount is better?

As far as the pricing, call & ask for the Entertainment rates, they will quote you the rates even if you don't have a card. Then if it is cheaper, then you can get an entertainment book. (don't forget to factor in the cost of the book!)
Unless you were told that price included tickets, it doesn't. You can get quoted prices on a package (tickets, hotel, etc.) but these always seem to be more expensive than you personally booking everything seperately.
Also too, call & get rates at some of the area hotels. The rates may be more expensive because of the Holiday & it may be just as expensive as staying on site especially when you factor in the discounts.
If you stay offsite & rely on a shuttle, then you are at the mercy of those schedules. If that isn't a problem for you, then great. Like I said, check the prices & see how it pans out. It may be just as expensive to stay off site at that time of year.

Hope that helps !!

 

[Cantw8]

Thank you for your responses.....I think I will stay on-site.