First time Universal Qs-room reservations

[Saffire]

Will be in Orlando for business at the end of June and staying at offsite property until we move for 3 nights to Universal property. I will be with my dh and 9 yo twins and our first family trip to Universal. DH and I went in 2004 for one day and stayed offsite so basically its brand new for all of us.

If I buy tickets from UT or convention discount website, the hotel will add Express Pass and early entry to our tickets?

I see that if you by one annual pass, you can save good amount on hotel rates per night. is there a list of blackout dates posted somewhere for this? I cant find.

I think we will be out of the room a lot at the pool or parks but do appreciate extra space in a guest room. Is the extra space at Portofino usable space to spread out? Considering Portofino or Royal Pacific.

There's a current promotion Universal promotion good through 5/31. Do they generally offer deals for June/July? Should I wait? I feel behind the ball securing a room but not sure if I should wait to see if a better deal comes out.

TIA!

 

[Saffire]

Sorry, I think I posted in wrong sub-section!




Your thread is fine here.

Since many are replying, i won't move it but leave it in this forum.
macraven

 

[damo]

Will be in Orlando for business at the end of June and staying at offsite property until we move for 3 nights to Universal property. I will be with my dh and 9 yo twins and our first family trip to Universal. DH and I went in 2004 for one day and stayed offsite so basically its brand new for all of us.

If I buy tickets from UT or convention discount website, the hotel will add Express Pass and early entry to our tickets?

I see that if you by one annual pass, you can save good amount on hotel rates per night. is there a list of blackout dates posted somewhere for this? I cant find.

I think we will be out of the room a lot at the pool or parks but do appreciate extra space in a guest room. Is the extra space at Portofino usable space to spread out? Considering Portofino or Royal Pacific.

There's a current promotion Universal promotion good through 5/31. Do they generally offer deals for June/July? Should I wait? I feel behind the ball securing a room but not sure if I should wait to see if a better deal comes out.

TIA!

Express pass you get from staying at the deluxe hotels has nothing you do with your park tickets. It is a hotel perk, so you can buy your tickets wherever you like.

The extra space at Portofino is just a general space. There's a bit more room on either side of the beds and at the end.

The Power pass has blockout dates. These are basically Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and mid June to mid August. During those times, you won't generally get good AP discounts. You can find the blockout dates by going to the Universal website annual pass page and clicking on details at the bottom of the chart that lists the different passes. Make sure you go to the non-Florida page if you are not a Florida resident. https://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Park-Tickets/Annual-Passes/Non-FL-Annual-Passes.aspx

There generally is not an offer for the summer. That is peak time. Undercover tourist has the buy 2 get 3 deal that doesn't expire, though.

 

[Saffire]

Thank you!

 

[macraven]

promotions come and go.
if rooms are not filling up, UO might do a promo for cerrtain time periods.



about the ap for lower room rates, it can be iffy.
just because you have an AP, doesn't mean you can get the AP rate for a room.
an alloted amount of rooms at the hotels are set aside for that discount.
no idea how many rooms, just know it does not guarantee you a discount if you have the ap.

 

[bumbershoot]

If I buy tickets from UT or convention discount website, the hotel will add Express Pass and early entry to our tickets?

Further to how Damo explained it, there's nothing added to tickets. EE is received by showing your room key once you get to the spot where the TMs (Team Members) are to let you continue on into the park before opening, after scanning your ticket at the gate. Express Pass is a separate card that you get after check in, but putting your room key into a kiosk and taking a picture of yourself. NO matter how you book at an onsite Deluxe resort at Universal, you get EP and EE. If you book at a non-deluxe, you get the EE, no matter how you book it.

I see that if you by one annual pass, you can save good amount on hotel rates per night. is there a list of blackout dates posted somewhere for this? I cant find.

There are no official blockout dates for rates. But they come and go. Use "APH" in the code field when looking for rates through loewshotels.com. If there's an AP rate for your dates on the day you're looking, it will show up. If not, it won't. Keep trying. Maybe an AP rate will show up. If you find a rate through their site that's decent, book it. And keep checking. If a better rate comes out, you can change to it.

 

[sandydk]

Just to clarify, to get Express Pass for the park, you have to book a deluxe Universal hotel? Which ones qualify? Husband wants EP, so I need to make sure I'm looking at the right hotels... Thank you!

 

[billlaurie]

Portifino, Hard Rock and Royal Pacific. Cabana Bay and Sapphire you only get the early entry benefit.

 

[sandydk]

Thank you!

 

[schumigirl]

Just to clarify, to get Express Pass for the park, you have to book a deluxe Universal hotel? Which ones qualify? Husband wants EP, so I need to make sure I'm looking at the right hotels... Thank you!

Portofino Bay, Hard Rock and Royal Pacific will get you unlimited EP and EE...........

Sapphire Falls and Cabana Bay are EE only.

RPR and SF are classed the same level as preferred on UO website, but perks are different for now........you don't get as much at Sapphire.