deluxe hotel rates

[SuperJ]

did 2022 rates for the EP hotels jump substantially, or am i just comparing apples to oranges? We're AP holders and went in Dec. 2021, no AP rates available, but we did a savvy travel rate and it was about 340 for RPR (week before christmas). Looking now for the week before Easter, no expecting AP rates again, but the cheapest rate, again savvy traveler, is Portofino for over 600! Since my point of comparison is holiday weeks, and we're usually fall/winter visitors to the parks, I have to admit this was some serious sticker shock. We booked at Sapphire, but do like the EP benefit (i have a bad ankle and love how the EP minimizes standing time) - is this the "new normal" hotel highs? is there a chance it will drop as dates gets closer (i'm thinking no?).

Wondering if 1. I should keep checking in the hopes that the prices drop or if that is a lost cause, given the dates and 2. this is actually the new going rate for the EP hotels (since it seems roughly equivalent to what the mouse is getting away with for their deluxes), which for us means we've been priced out and we just need to start the grieving process for being able to rely on EPs.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

They did. I have RPR booked for July 7-9, went up around 130 a night, I believe
I found out the hard way when I accidentally modified one of my three rooms to CL, and saw the difference, and went back to original, only to now have 2 rooms at lower price, 1 at new price.
(I don't have AP)
Hoping they go down so I can bump my 1 to a lower price, but thank goodness I booked early.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Maybe it’s something about this spring? A lot of people maybe delayed holiday trips because of omicron or maybe more people are ready to travel again. There’s also some thought that people are quitting Disney (because of losing FP and other changes) and going to Uni instead. I don’t know if that’s really more true now than it’s ever been in the past, but maybe.

I looked at rates for the weekend we normally go in the fall and rates for 2022 are very much in line with what we’ve paid in years past. AP rates don’t come out until closer to your travel dates but otherwise Universal often gives better rates the further out you book.

 

[dez1978]

They absolutely have. I booked in Aug for a stay this May at HRH for less than 400/night. Those same rooms now are 530ish

 

[cfoxga]

Not only did prices go up for the dates I've been watching (Feb, Mar, Oct), but APH rates have definitely gotten scarce for peak dates. It seems like UO is headed for a new "normal" for pricing...

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

Crazy stuff. Looks like Loews is finally realizing that they were seriously underpriced compared to Disney.

I booked a Garden View at HRH in May 2021 for May 2022 and got an average ST rate of 295 at night. I decided to look now, well over a year ahead, to see how May 2023 looked. For the same week, there are NO ST rates offered except suites. Rack rate for a GV room averages 444 a night.
For my September week, again no regular rooms at ST rate, just club and suites and the rack rate is 140 a night more than what I'm paying.
I looked at a few other months in 2023, same thing. ST rates only for the more expensive suites, and a way higher rack rate for regular rooms such as standard, garden and pool view.

 

[SuperJ]

sigh. these responses were what i expected, but still disappointing to hear. it's frustrating to be priced out of what we thought was the affordable option and the hotels that we've enjoyed since they opened (we used to be locals and have been going to Universal since it opened and IOA as far back as its pre-opening preview days), especially after having had the same thing happen with disney (though, granted, that was like a decade ago at this point). i am a single adult who makes a good six figure salary and these rates are still insane for me (i go with other family). I honestly don't know how a family can afford it, especially factoring in food and tickets and travel and other expenses. I guess with two six-figure incomes? or going heavily into credit card debt? even then, i love the theme parks but I think if I could afford 600/night, i would be taking my money to a different hotel or vacation option in that price range. i guess will enjoy SF for as long as we can continue to afford that hotel and lament the loss of EPs for the rest of this year, but, if this is how rates are going to be going forward, I think we will likely forego the APs next year and reconsider where we regularly spend our time off. i know universal won't miss us, but it's definitely disappointing for us to see.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

I would definitely not assume this is a permanent change yet. Things are still not normal. There are people who haven’t been comfortable going to theme parks. Those people might be booking now because they feel things will be back to normal after omicron. Or finally going now that their kids are vaxxed, etc. Some of the Disney people will decide they don’t like UOR and either go back to Disney or different vacations.

Uni apparently has a lot of demand right now. It may or may not stay that high. If not, the rates will come back down and AP rates will be available again.

That said, I’m sure they’re going to go up and change when Epic opens

 

[SuperJ]

I would definitely not assume this is a permanent change yet. Things are still not normal. There are people who haven’t been comfortable going to theme parks. Those people might be booking now because they feel things will be back to normal after omicron. Or finally going now that their kids are vaxxed, etc. Some of the Disney people will decide they don’t like UOR and either go back to Disney or different vacations.

Uni apparently has a lot of demand right now. It may or may not stay that high. If not, the rates will come back down and AP rates will be available again.

That said, I’m sure they’re going to go up and change when Epic opens

yeah I am assuming that this is gonna be the "new normal", if not higher, when Epic opens so, even if this is a covid bump and things come back down, I don't think it would be anything more than temporary. Still just amazed at how many people can afford these rates.

 

[DCLMP]

yeah I am assuming that this is gonna be the "new normal", if not higher, when Epic opens so, even if this is a covid bump and things come back down, I don't think it would be anything more than temporary. Still just amazed at how many people can afford these rates.

It's called inflation. Everything's up in price. I'm not sure prices are coming back down. Hopefully, they stabilize.