Does Undercover Tourist have best prices?

[Dakota731]

It seems like they save you a few bucks?

 

[CastAStone]

You really should shop around, it changes constantly. I just booked a package via Costco travel for cheaper than I could buy individual components everywhere; 3 days later I repriced everything with the new dining promo and it’s cheaper to book it all separately now.

If you’re not doing a hotel UT is a great option, but so are AAA, as well as Sam’s, Costco, and BJs, when they have tickets available. It kinda just depends.

 

[reddog21]

if your just after tickets I find they are always within a couple of bucks of the best price if not the best price. My experience is only with Orlando attractions Disney/universal/SeaWorld not sure outside of Orlando.

 

[Dakota731]

You really should shop around, it changes constantly. I just booked a package via Costco travel for cheaper than I could buy individual components everywhere; 3 days later I repriced everything with the new dining promo and it’s cheaper to book it all separately now.

If you’re not doing a hotel UT is a great option, but so are AAA, as well as Sam’s, Costco, and BJs, when they have tickets available. It kinda just depends.

What is the new dining promo?

 

[CastAStone]

What is the new dining promo?

You get a gift card only good at Universal O&O restaurants on property with the purchase of a *full price* package of room and park tickets.

The amount of the gift card varies by number of nights and hotel, and caps at $1000. Looks to be available via Universal or TAs.

 

[wdwrule]

What is the new dining promo?

https://www.universalorlando.com/we...web/en/us/tickets-packages/offers/dining-card

The above link might not work… I’ll check another one. But the info is in the app and in UO website.

ETA: here’s a chart that explains it:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1824080776264061034

 

[momof2halls]

We normally use Undercover Tourist to buy our park tickets, however this year I found Get Away Today had the best prices. YMMV

 

[Dakota731]

You get a gift card only good at Universal O&O restaurants on property with the purchase of a *full price* package of room and park tickets.

The amount of the gift card varies by number of nights and hotel, and caps at $1000. Looks to be available via Universal or TAs.

Can you tell me what O & O means?

 

[Dakota731]

We priced out the package against our 20% room discount, and it looks like we will pay $750 more to get the $1000 gift card, so not sure what we will do. There are only two of us in our room, so not sure if we can spend $1000 on dining in a week. If I don’t use the entire card, can we save it for another year?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Can you tell me what O & O means?

Owned & Operated. Although really it's pretty much anywhere on Universal property (hotels, CityWalk, parks), and it's pretty much every restaurant. "The dining card cannot be used at the following locations: The Palm – Orlando, BiCE Ristorante Orlando, and Blondie's."

If I don’t use the entire card, can we save it for another year?

Yes, it's a gift card that never expires.

 

[tony67]

Just wondering - is there anyway to add these gift cards to the app yet, so you can use it for mobile ordering?

that is my biggest frustration with the dining gift cards.

 

[CastAStone]

We priced out the package against our 20% room discount, and it looks like we will pay $750 more to get the $1000 gift card, so not sure what we will do. There are only two of us in our room, so not sure if we can spend $1000 on dining in a week. If I don’t use the entire card, can we save it for another year?

We were going to pay $730 more to get an $800 gift card and there was no way I was doing that. We won’t spend $800 on dining.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Just wondering - is there anyway to add these gift cards to the app yet, so you can use it for mobile ordering?

Assuming no, it states "The Card cannot be used for mobile food and beverage orders."

 

[Dakota731]

Owned & Operated. Although really it's pretty much anywhere on Universal property (hotels, CityWalk, parks), and it's pretty much every restaurant. "The dining card cannot be used at the following locations: The Palm – Orlando, BiCE Ristorante Orlando, and Blondie's."


Yes, it's a gift card that never expires.

Then that may be a possible option. Often these packages end up equaling out so no great savings. If you get the free dining then you lose the room discount

 

[Dakota731]

We were going to pay $730 more to get an $800 gift card and there was no way I was doing that. We won’t spend $800 on dining.

Which package do you currently have or did you just get a room discount? I think it would be hard for two of us to spend $1000 on dining in a week too and we are big eaters lol.

 

[CastAStone]

Which package do you currently have or did you just get a room discount? I think it would be hard for two of us to spend $1000 on dining in a week too and we are big eaters lol.

We booked a package through Costco travel, it was about $400 less than a similar priced package on the Universal Website.

The package is listed as “Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Promo Package with Universal Orlando Tickets” and the promo rate is “Short Stay Promotional Rate”.

Like all Costco travel packages, it further came with a Costco gift card for about 7% of the package price.

 

[Dakota731]

We booked a package through Costco travel, it was about $400 less than a similar priced package on the Universal Website.

The package is listed as “Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Promo Package with Universal Orlando Tickets” and the promo rate is “Short Stay Promotional Rate”.

Like all Costco travel packages, it further came with a Costco gift card for about 7% of the package price.

Sam’s Club was actually higher than Universal’s. We don’t have a Costco near us - do you have to be a member to use travel services?

 

[CastAStone]

Sam’s Club was actually higher than Universal’s. We don’t have a Costco near us - do you have to be a member to use travel services?

You do, but you don’t have to be a member to check pricing at costcotravel.com. If it’s more than $60 cheaper than your next best option, that’s the price for a membership, and you can sign up online.

 

[tony67]

I assume these will be the same dining gift cards they sell at Mardi Gras every year.
I usually buy several of them with the AP holder special deal they offer at Mardi Gras..

In general I've almost always found it better to book stuff separate and get an AP or even the stay more rate.
These packages tend to be for folks who just want to book and not do a ton of work.

Same with the Disney free dining packages, in general with 2 people you break even and end up eating more than you wanted to so you can get your moneys worth.

I do find the Universal Dining cards very flexible, you eat what you want when you want and you can typically buy alcohol as well, very little is not included. The only place I could not use it was the food court in Endless Summer.

Also, if you don't use the entire card you can save it for a future trip (I assume) so you don't just loose it.

 

[Dakota731]

After doing all the math, the package with the hotel and and tickets saves me $250. The Costco package was even cheaper, but doesn’t include Hard Rock which our nine year old requested since he is a big music lover. I already put one night deposit down for my room only reservation so can I call and have it switched to the ticket/room bundle?