First time trying to plan Universal trip....Help!

[HBGdancermom]

I think we are heading to Universal for the first time over our Spring Break in April. I'm scared and totally overwhelmed over planning this one... (In a this is not a real problem kind of thing)

I think this is why I never do this trip because I am so comfortable with my disney planning....

I'm hoping you experts can help me with a few questions.....

Trying to figure out if CL is the same at Universal as the Disney CL rooms. What is your experience with Universal hotels CL versus non CL rooms?

And what ticket package do I want? I want to be able to go where I want the 3 park days we have there and have as little wait time as possible

Also, a really great pool would be incredible.

Anyone, any advice you have is most appreciated and if you can point me in the direction of the threads that can answer these that is great too.

 

[bumbershoot]

Staying onsite means you can go to any pool in property.

How do YOU define a great pool? All the pools are different and meet different needs/wants.

To get as little wait time as possible you want early entrance (to a wizarding world) and unlimited express pass. Staying onsite at Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, and Portofino Bay gets you those things. Staying onsite at Cabana Bay or Sapphire Falls gets you early entrance to a wizarding world (every morning).

To ride Hogwarts Express you have to have a "park to park" ticket. Other than that you just need a ticket that gets you to the parks you want to go to.

I haven't stayed club level at wdw to compare. But it's quite nice at universal.

Be sure that you're looking at both a la carte pricing (directly through loewshotels for the room and at Uni or undercovertourist etc for tickets) and at packages if you've just looked at packages so far. Packages rarely give you anything beyond what you can get, and they have more fees and restrictions for changes.

 

[gotomu212]

Just wanted to add that you don't have to be stressed planning for Universal (compared to Disney). It's SO simple- no FP, ADR, or touring chaos needed!

1. Pick the hotel
2. Get your tickets
3. That's it

If you don't want lines, pick one of the deluxes (they're all great but little kids seem to enjoy Royal Pacific Pool, Portofino has great family pools and a slide, HRH has a cooler vibe for older kids/young adults). All 3 come with unlimited express pass plus you'll have free transportation to the parks with boats or a 10 minute walk.

You'll want to get park to park tickets and at 3 days you can usually get a good deal at Undercover Tourist. You may want to also upgrade to an annual pass (it's not much more and then you would be eligible for an APH rate at the hotels-you can check to see if there's a discount by plugging APH into the special code on the Loews website.

That is literally it. You can make dinner reservations the week of (or even walk up for a small wait) and enjoy you're unlimited express pass.

 

[wagman67]

Can you narrow down your 3 day window for us? If we know those, there may be more/fewer options available to advise on.

Right now you can buy 2 Day Park to Park tickets that include 2 Extra Days free.

Depending on the days you go, you may be better off with upgrading to an Annual Pass, which may get you significant discounts on Onsite Hotel rates.

If you are visiting between April 8th and 22nd, optional discounts are more limited.

 

[HBGdancermom]

Staying onsite means you can go to any pool in property.

How do YOU define a great pool? All the pools are different and meet different needs/wants.

To get as little wait time as possible you want early entrance (to a wizarding world) and unlimited express pass. Staying onsite at Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, and Portofino Bay gets you those things. Staying onsite at Cabana Bay or Sapphire Falls gets you early entrance to a wizarding world (every morning).

To ride Hogwarts Express you have to have a "park to park" ticket. Other than that you just need a ticket that gets you to the parks you want to go to.

I haven't stayed club level at wdw to compare. But it's quite nice at universal.

Be sure that you're looking at both a la carte pricing (directly through loewshotels for the room and at Uni or undercovertourist etc for tickets) and at packages if you've just looked at packages so far. Packages rarely give you anything beyond what you can get, and they have more fees and restrictions for changes.

Thanks so much for your response. I feel better already! My 10 year old is the one that will spend the main time in the pool. She loves a good slide, hot tub, activities...
Thanks for info on undercover tourist and a la carte pricing and package info!!

Just wanted to add that you don't have to be stressed planning for Universal (compared to Disney). It's SO simple- no FP, ADR, or touring chaos needed!

1. Pick the hotel
2. Get your tickets
3. That's it

If you don't want lines, pick one of the deluxes (they're all great but little kids seem to enjoy Royal Pacific Pool, Portofino has great family pools and a slide, HRH has a cooler vibe for older kids/young adults). All 3 come with unlimited express pass plus you'll have free transportation to the parks with boats or a 10 minute walk.

You'll want to get park to park tickets and at 3 days you can usually get a good deal at Undercover Tourist. You may want to also upgrade to an annual pass (it's not much more and then you would be eligible for an APH rate at the hotels-you can check to see if there's a discount by plugging APH into the special code on the Loews website.

That is literally it. You can make dinner reservations the week of (or even walk up for a small wait) and enjoy you're unlimited express pass.

That definitely helps me so much! So it is the express pass that comes with all 3 deluxes? Good to know about APs! Do you need just one AP or one for each family member?

Thank you!

Can you narrow down your 3 day window for us? If we know those, there may be more/fewer options available to advise on.

Right now you can buy 2 Day Park to Park tickets that include 2 Extra Days free.

Depending on the days you go, you may be better off with upgrading to an Annual Pass, which may get you significant discounts on Onsite Hotel rates.

If you are visiting between April 8th and 22nd or Saturdays, optional discounts are more limited.

Yes! We are going April 12th - April 15th.... So really 4 days!

 

[wagman67]

Well, the best option for an easy 4 days is Onsite hotels listed above which include EPs and the 2 Day Park2Park with 2 Free days tickets.

 

[macraven]

Read some of the trip reports

You find info in them that will cover some of the questions you have not thought of yet

 

[bumbershoot]

So it is the express pass that comes with all 3 deluxes?

Yes. And it's the unlimited express pass, which means you can use it as many times as you like in the rides. My son went 15 times in a row on the little Nuthouse coaster.

I only skimmed so forgive if the other poster mentioned it. But you can look for and even book the aph rate without having an ap. Just put "aph" into the code field on the Loews website. If it's available at that time for your dates it will appear. Emruhht now I thin ap rates have just started appearing for late may or maybe even June. There's a thread here all about what dates have shown up.

So IF an ap rate shows up for your dates and the total (room at discount plus cost to upgrade one of the part) makes sense, book the room and at some point before or during your stay get or upgrade to an ap and show it to the front desk people. Easy.

 

[mjhtvchick]

Just to add my 2 cents regarding the hotels:

RPR - relaxed "polynesian" vibe; closest walk to IOA; nice relaxing pool but no slide; another poster recently mentioned that the pool was closed for rehab - not sure for how long or what this means
HRH - more upbeat "rock" vibe; closest walk to USO; active pool with live music; great slide
PBR - elegant "italian" vibe; farthest walk; largest resort; multiple pools

 

[HBGdancermom]

Well, the best option for an easy 4 days is Onsite hotels listed above which include EPs and the 2 Day Park2Park with 2 Free days tickets.

Thank you! I just looked up rates on UndercoverTourist.

Read some of the trip reports

You find info in them that will cover some of the questions you have not thought of yet

That will definitely be happening after work.

Yes. And it's the unlimited express pass, which means you can use it as many times as you like in the rides. My son went 15 times in a row on the little Nuthouse coaster.

I only skimmed so forgive if the other poster mentioned it. But you can look for and even book the aph rate without having an ap. Just put "aph" into the code field on the Loews website. If it's available at that time for your dates it will appear. Emruhht now I thin ap rates have just started appearing for late may or maybe even June. There's a thread here all about what dates have shown up.

So IF an ap rate shows up for your dates and the total (room at discount plus cost to upgrade one of the part) makes sense, book the room and at some point before or during your stay get or upgrade to an ap and show it to the front desk people. Easy.

I know my boys will want the unlimited express pass. They rode Expedition Everest once trip 18 times single rider so I think this option is a must!! I did put the AP rate in and my dates appear to be blocked out.

Just to add my 2 cents regarding the hotels:

RPR - relaxed "polynesian" vibe; closest walk to IOA; nice relaxing pool but no slide; another poster recently mentioned that the pool was closed for rehab - not sure for how long or what this means
HRH - more upbeat "rock" vibe; closest walk to USO; active pool with live music; great slide
PBR - elegant "italian" vibe; farthest walk; largest resort; multiple pools

Your summary actually sealed the deal on where I want to stay. Thank you! I think HRH will be the best fit for my family. And no CL will work just fine.

One more question.... If I am booking HRH directly through Loews do they require full payment or one night deposit?

 

[Mama Lo]

I did a trip in November spend 3 nights at WDW's Poly CL and then moved to RPR CL for 3 nights.

The notable differences between the two are there is a greater selection of food at RPR. Breakfast was similar but had more items. The evening spread could make a light dinner if you like the selections. Also, there is a weekly menu so you know if you want to make it there. There is also bottled water available upon request at RPR. At the Poly beer, wine and sangria is served from 5-10 p.m and you could get a wine or beer at anytime by just asking. At RPR there was only 2 hours that you could get a wine or beer.

For the tickets we bought the buy 2 get 1 free from UT. From what I read here there hasn't been an account of people actually upgrading to an AP from the buy 2 get 2. Since I was sure that I wanted to upgrade I didn't chance it. At that time it was $30 to upgrade but it's my understanding that it's about $10 to upgrade that ticket now.

I was not able to get AP room rates for that trip, dates were 11/12-11/15.

We are leaving this Thursday (woohoo!), for two night. I booked on 12/24 at rack rate at HR non-CL. I had been checking for AP rates periodically and on 2/1 I found AP rates available. It saved me a total of $274 for the two nights. So I wouldn't lose hope that you won't get AP rates for spring break since I did for President's weekend. Although I'd book something that you are comfortable paying.

I can't imagine not staying at one of the three hotel that give the unlimited express pass. That thing is worth its weigh in gold especially for kids that like to ride over and over.

As for your experience at Universal over Disney, its chocolate and vanilla to me, both yummy and great to have both options. For the planning aspect, Universal is so much easier, you basically don't have a to plan anything. Sure, you should take advantage of visiting HP upon the early entry that you get with the hotel. You may want to read about the dining options that are available but we never had a reservation. We loved Cowfish at Citywalk, it was a 15 minute wait when we walked up and they text you when your table is ready so we visited the nearby shops. Toothsome had a 2 hour wait but they don't take reservations.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[wagman67]

Note: No APH rates on the dates listed.

 

[macraven]

Note: No APH rates on the dates listed.

Yet....
Keep checking

 

[macraven]

To piggyback on bumber's post
Ap rates are out thru May 26

 

[schumigirl]

One more question.... If I am booking HRH directly through Loews do they require full payment or one night deposit?

You can just pay one night deposit when you book, rest of the balance is due on departure.

 

[HBGdancermom]

Thank you so much for all of your replies!

I went ahead and booked a deluxe 2 queen room last night at HRH and I am so excited now! I really think I do want to stay CL since that is really convenient for my family, however there are no rooms and they told me to keep checking back.

How does it work for the AP again? Do I just keep entering my dates and put APR rate in to see is it pops up. If it does, do I just call HRH? Or do I need to change my tickets?

Also, I am going to book my tix today through UT and I am going with the 2 day park to park, 2 days free but no add ons correct since I have RHR reservations?

Do you get hard copies of those or do the e tix?

Sorry so many questions.... You all have been super helpful

So excited now!!!

 

[macraven]

Don't know if u have a typo but use APH when you check the discounted rates for hrh

Also try SMSM code as that code will cover since if you have a 3 night or more stay

 

[bumbershoot]

Don't know if u have a typo but use APH when you check the discounted rates for hrh

Also try SMSM code as that code will cover since if you have a 3 night or more stay

Smsm rate always just comes up for me fun it's there. Have they changed it that we have to put in the code?

 

[macraven]

I have not checked with the new system until just now
screen did not take any command

Will try it when back home today on the iMac
Using iPhone I can't get it very easily right now

 

[macraven]

Thanks so much for your response. I feel better already! My 10 year old is the one that will spend the main time in the pool. She loves a good slide, hot tub, activities...
Thanks for info on undercover tourist and a la carte pricing and package info!!







Yes! We are going April 12th - April 15th.... So really 4 days!

here is the chart for SMSM for this year

your dates in April fall into the seasonal period

the amount of your smsm discount would be 10% for 4 night stays
( no smsm for 3 night stay in seasonal periods)
15% for 5 and 6 night stays

7 nights and over allows you a 25% discount on the total costs.


if no ap rates come out, go with the general code for anyone/SMSM rate when you book.

looks like you only have a 3 night stay which means i hope you do find AP rates available for your booking.

3 Nights 4 Nights 5/6 Nights 7 Nights
Holiday, Peak, and Summer 10% 15% 25%
Regular and Value 10% 20% 25% 35%


on the website, the above season charge has a place to click for the actual dates for the year
shows you which is the high rate and regular/value rate.

told you i would be back once i could pull it up on the newer website...