Driving Around

[diskids2]

Hi everyone,

We will be taking our first trip to Universal next summer and we may stay onsite (depending on rates) but right now I have a rate of $148 per night per room (I have two rooms) at the Crowne Plaza Universal for 9 nights Executive Club Level......just to provide a description.

I was wondering what it is like to drive around from Universal to Seaworld, Disney, up and along I-4? I am trying to determine if I should rent a car, or use a car service for trips to Seaworld and Disney and the I-4 trolley for up and around I-4.

I feel like such a newbie. We have been to WDW 9 times, have always stayed on site, and have always used WDW transportation to get around.

Anything you want to tell me would be much appreciated!

I am also considering renting a townhome instead of the Crowne Plaza.

Thanks,

Linda

 

[macraven]

Hi everyone,

We will be taking our first trip to Universal next summer and we may stay onsite (depending on rates) but right now I have a rate of $148 per night per room (I have two rooms) at the Crowne Plaza Universal for 9 nights Executive Club Level......just to provide a description.

I was wondering what it is like to drive around from Universal to Seaworld, Disney, up and along I-4? I am trying to determine if I should rent a car, or use a car service for trips to Seaworld and Disney and the I-4 trolley for up and around I-4.

I feel like such a newbie. We have been to WDW 9 times, have always stayed on site, and have always used WDW transportation to get around.

Anything you want to tell me would be much appreciated!

I am also considering renting a townhome instead of the Crowne Plaza.

Thanks,

Linda

hey linda, hope you will get some suggestions to your questions.

for me, if i was staying for 9 nights, i would book onsite and then readjust my rate when the super saver rates come out.

i booked in january for an october stay onsite at UO. the SS rates came out and it dropped my rate down to $147.xx a night.

it depends on how much you want to spend for lodging and what amenities you want in a hotel. we all will have a different opinion on that matter.

if you stay at the crown plaza, you might want to rent a car. relying on hotel shuttles and their costs are something you need to put into your budget.
you could then easily do the side day trips to SW, disney, etc with ease.

using the trolley system is okay. nothing wrong with that.

do you have dates set up for next year?
do you have more than 5 in your group and that is why you would book 2 rooms at CP?

if you plan to spend a majority of your time at the universal parks, you might want to buy one annual pass. it would give you free parking, 10% discount off of food and merch in the parks and some places at city walk, besides hotel discounts.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I second what Mac says.. You would really do better with a rental to travel around with then to rely on a shuttle each time you go out. You will be there for 9 days, that is a long time. What you do have to remember is, if you stay onsite, they charge you per day to park your car at the resort..so you will have to add that into your budget as well. I think where you are booked now has free parking. If you end up staying on site, you may want to rent a car for a few days to do some off site travel, but not for the full 9 days. There would be no reason since you would be there (at the parks) & no need to have the car ... unless you were going off site everyday... not like you were off site going to a theme park everyday.. see what I am saying? Or did I totally confuse you.. I do that sometimes to people..

oh.. and traffic on International Drive is horrible.. no matter what season you go.. at night... I-4 usually has a back up at some point or another.. in other words, there is usually traffic and congestion. I usually do not drive around there unless I have to go somewhere specific... I try to take short cuts where ever I go. I hate driving on International Drive & parts of I-4....

 

[Metro West]

oh.. and traffic on International Drive is horrible.. no matter what season you go.. at night... I-4 usually has a back up at some point or another.. in other words, there is usually traffic and congestion. I usually do not drive around there unless I have to go somewhere specific... I try to take short cuts where ever I go. I hate driving on International Drive & parts of I-4....

Which is why I stay off of I-Drive...it's a tourist heaven but for locals like me...it's hell!

 

[SNylund]

Its probably a matter of cash, if cash is no object, I would just take a cab everywhere. A rental will save you a little. But also, another strategy is just to try and camp out onsite as much as possible, and you could probably squeeze in what little transpo you need with shuttles and cabs. But cabs can be expensive. Seems like it was right at $50 bucks to go to Disney from the Universal area, for one, one way cab ride. To give you an idea.

But also, if you like to walk, there is a Walgreens with most stuff you would need walking distance from the Royal Pacific, and I think there is one close to the Portifino on the other side as well.

 

[diskids2]

hey linda, hope you will get some suggestions to your questions.

for me, if i was staying for 9 nights, i would book onsite and then readjust my rate when the super saver rates come out.

i booked in january for an october stay onsite at UO. the SS rates came out and it dropped my rate down to $147.xx a night.

it depends on how much you want to spend for lodging and what amenities you want in a hotel. we all will have a different opinion on that matter.

if you stay at the crown plaza, you might want to rent a car. relying on hotel shuttles and their costs are something you need to put into your budget.
you could then easily do the side day trips to SW, disney, etc with ease.

using the trolley system is okay. nothing wrong with that.

do you have dates set up for next year?
do you have more than 5 in your group and that is why you would book 2 rooms at CP?

if you plan to spend a majority of your time at the universal parks, you might want to buy one annual pass. it would give you free parking, 10% discount off of food and merch in the parks and some places at city walk, besides hotel discounts.

Hi Mac....I have my dates set up they are July 16-July 25. I did rent two rooms because we have five people.

I would prefer to stay onsite as I have the expenses of FOTL etc. I am thinking about booking the trip and then seeing what happens with supersaver. The last time I checked RPR was $234 or $269...my old memory is fading....

I'm going to check on the rental car rates....might provide more flexibility for us.

 

[damo]

Just as a heads up, RPR was going for $129/night this past August with the annual pass.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't mind International Drive but we've learned not to head towards the outlets. Traffic hell down there.

I like to drive. I had no trouble finding things particularly WDW. It's amazing how many roads seem to lead to WDW.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Traffic in July can really be brutal on I-Drive .... pure gridlock at times...

 

[macraven]

Hi Mac....I have my dates set up they are July 16-July 25. I did rent two rooms because we have five people.

I would prefer to stay onsite as I have the expenses of FOTL etc. I am thinking about booking the trip and then seeing what happens with supersaver. The last time I checked RPR was $234 or $269...my old memory is fading....

I'm going to check on the rental car rates....might provide more flexibility for us.

if you do another trip in the future, check out the onsite rates again.

the universal on site hotels allow 5 to a room.

 

[Purseval]

Here's what I would do and why: First off, I would book 1 room at Universal. Then I would book another room offsite at an inexpensive hotel (I was there mid July of this year, same timeframe as you, and got a 3-star hotel 1 mile from Universal for $21/night. For your purposes we'll give you a budget of $50) There are always promotions at Universal plus you are staying for more than 7 days, which should get you an even better discount, but we'll say you can get a room for $150/day. Heck, let's make it $175 Then get a rental car, about $35/day for a midsize. Because you have a car you'll have to pay about $13/day for parking at the hotel. OK, let's add it up:

Your original budget was $150/day per room, 2 rooms = $300/day

Onsite hotel + cheap hotel + car + parking = $273/day

Here's what you do at vacation time. Check in to Onsite hotel, which allows up to 5 in a room. That means 5 FOTL passes, no waiting in line your entire stay. Since we'll assume that the original intent of your 2 rooms at the CP was to spread our comfortably you use the onsite hotel as your base of operations, spend the entire day together then split up to the 2nd hotel to sleep. Use onsite for the pool, to relax during the day, change, whatever. Rotate people so everyone gets the onsite experience of falling asleep, but you'll find that once you turn out the lights and close your eyes most hotels look the same.

If your original idea for 2 rooms was because they wouldn't let you have 5 in a room and you don't mind 5 then everyone stay onsite and save another $50/day

So you get it all: onsite, the car, gas money and front of the line, for less than your original budget.

 

[Planogirl]

Purseval, I can't ever find deals like that for onsite hotels! I did once but I haven't found a thing in ages.

 

[Purseval]

From the usf website a simple cut/paste:

Loews Royal Pacific Resort
Kick back and relax in a tropical paradise.
As low as $125 per night**

Hard Rock Hotel®
Live like a rock 'n' roll superstar.
As low as $133 per night**

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Celebrate la dolce vita — the sweet life.
As low as $156 per night**




* Promotional discount is based on savings from Seasonal Rates.

** Nightly rates quoted above are based on 7-night stay in standard room at Loews Royal Pacific Resort during 2009 Value Season (11/29 – 12/17). Rates vary by length of stay, hotel selected, room type, and season. Rates can vary on Fri/Sat.

 

[Planogirl]

It's probably because we can't ever stay for a whole week or go during offtimes. Those are great rates!

 

[rpbert1]

My rates for RPR ,first 2 weeks in July where $144+tax, just hope they have the same deals next summer.

 

[ky07]

My rates for RPR ,first 2 weeks in July where $144+tax, just hope they have the same deals next summer.

I hear you on that Robert cause I am looking to stay at RPR in july next year and have my fingers crossed for low rates

 

[diskids2]

Hi all.....

Great advice and suggestions!

Mac...I think I wasn't clear...sorry for that....my trip is July 2010. Anyway, I know they allow 5 but it's my DH, me, DS, DD and her BF and I'm not staying in the same room as DD's BF .

I like the idea of booking one off site and one onsite room, but I don't want to leave DD's BF alone at either location and she's not staying with him either . Even though he's 23 and she is 19. (The words not under my roof are ringing in my ears....anyway I digress....)

I was going to book one room onsite for the beginning of our trip....like days 2-4 and get FOTL for three days. Day one arrival, Day 5 Seaworld, Day 6 Water park, Day 7 rest and relax, Day 8 and 9 for WDW, and Day 10 go home.

BUT, if I can get a rate of around the same for RPR in July 2010 I would grab two rooms there in a second and then have more flexibility in my touring. Do all of you think the deals will be the same or do you think there will be less deals with Harry Potter flying in?

Since I have never ever ventured out of a WDW transportation vehicle, I don't know about I Drive....but the way you all have described it....sounds like NYC at rush hour and that is one thing I like to AVOID!

The car I found so far is $365 for the entire trip....I think it's full size (might be mid size)...It's a Chevy Impala or similar. I guess I have work to do on that front too.

Looks to me like I should book the RPR now for all nine nights and pay the deposit and then see how things evolve.

Do I have this right?

 

[Metro West]

Do all of you think the deals will be the same or do you think there will be less deals with Harry Potter flying in?

I think the deals will fly out when WWoHP opens...the parks will be busier than they've ever been...no need to discount...at least for a while.

 

[rpbert1]

I hear you on that Robert cause I am looking to stay at RPR in july next year and have my fingers crossed for low rates

Whats your dates next year lawerence, we will be there 7th july till 14th july.

 

[ky07]

Whats your dates next year lawerence, we will be there 7th july till 14th july.

Looks like we are on the same page Robert cause that is the same dates we are trying for and hopefully we will be able to get them if the price is right