Help a newbie overwhelmed by prices!

[mom2AidanAndEli]

We've done Disney a bunch of times now and am thinking of trying Universal instead. I've done some reading and looking around but feel pretty lost at this point!

I'm thinking staying onsite is the best way to go. Would love that unlimited Express Pass! But I believe it's only the top 3 resorts that allow you that benefit. Looking at 5 nights with 3-day park-to-park passes, it's coming out to over $2900 through AAA. For less than that I can stay at the Poly for 6 nights with 7 days of tickets! (Through a magical deal) Or even just looking at regular Disney prices, I could get POFQ for the same 6 nights/7 days.

Is Universal really that much more expensive? Then I have to add in paying for an airport shuttle or renting a car (then do I also have parking?). Am I missing something very basic to get a better deal at Universal?

Is it worth it to stay offsite and get tickets, paying for the Express Pass? Or would that come out to be just as expensive in the long run?

I don't mind doing research on my own, but need that initial "push" in the right direction!

 

[daughtryfan114]

We are renting a house but staying onsite for 1 night to get the express passes for 2 days (day of check in and day of check out).

 

[kohlby]

For us, Universal is cheaper. We have always been able to find good deals on the hotels - with the AAA rate usually being higher than other special rates. The SMSM rate is nice. Also make sure you're on mailing lists because we've been mailed PIN codes several times as well. You can also book through other sites. For our next trip, we found a great rate on Cabana Bay through Expedia. I had to watch the price for a while though. (About $94 a night plus taxes. I realize CB doesn't have EP but we need two rooms for our next trip so we're trying something new. We usually stay at RPR).

For tickets, Undercover Tourist often has buy 2 get the 3rd day free park-to-park tickets.

As for parking, it's $20 at the three that have EP and $12 at Cabana Bay. You will not need to pay for parking at the park if you stay at a resort.

 

[bumbershoot]

Looking at 5 nights with 3-day park-to-park passes, it's coming out to over $2900 through AAA.

Are you doing a package? If so, try it differently.

Check here for room-only rates. Know that if you book a room-only rate through Loews, you want to keep checking. If you find a lower rate as time goes on, you can easily change it.

You can also look at other sites like Orbitz. With those you pay it all up front, but if you make sure you're not booking a nonrefundable rate, you can change that in the future as well (would have to cancel and be refunded and book and be charged in full again, of course). And *no matter how you book* the onsite hotel, you get the onsite perks. Early entry (with the deluxes and Cabana Bay) and Express Pass (with deluxes) are HOTEL perks, not a perk of booking a package or through a certain site.

Then you can buy your tickets wherever you choose. From Universal ahead of time or at the gate (they'll be more expensive at the gate), from undercovertourist, from maple leaf tickets, etc.

Compare a la carte pricing to the package. Ask AAA for their room only rates, too. Know that rates can change, and often go *down* as time goes on. That's why booking a refundable/changeable/cancelable rate is SO important. And packages will generally have change/cancel fees.

 

[RMulieri]

I book thru loewshotels.com using the stay more ,save more rates.Occasionally I have gotten pincode discounts and when I do I switch to whichever is cheapest. I get my tickets thru Undercover tourist. I pay for a towncar roundtrip to and from the airport .It still comes out cheaper than staying at the Beach Club resort for a week at Disney .Universal is not going to be dirt cheap, but deals can be had. I would never stay offsite .The resorts at Uni are deluxe and proximity to the parks can not be beat.The express pass spoils you for anything else.
PARKING IS charged nightly( if you have a car) no matter whether you are a guest or not at the resort which is why we use towncars and not rent a car.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Thank you all! These are some great suggestions!

 

[johde]

You might also want to try the Annual Pass code (APH). The difference in price between 3 days and a power pass is small as long as you're not visiting during one of the blackout periods.

You could also try booking with Orbitz/Travelocity with a coupon code there. Just make sure you double check the cancellation policy.

 

[Planogirl]

If you are considering offsite anyway, maybe check out Uni's Cabana Bay resort? You don't get the Express included but you do get the one hour early entry and a good location. You can still buy the Express pass if you need it.

We stayed at this one a few weeks ago and we really enjoyed it. We were surprised at how much it had in the way of amenities.

 

[bizziemom]

Ok... I deleted my post because I realized that most of my concerns/questions have been addressed. But, How do you actually entirely delete a post other that edit it? I've searched and can't find the answer.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We stayed at Portifino for one night during Thanksgiving week. Had two rooms with club access and six people. Got free drinks and appetizers the day we arrived, breakfast the next morning and when we came back the next late afternoon after a day in the parks, got back into the club for drinks and appetizers before we left. Wr arrived ar 1 on the first day and left our car until after 8 on the second day. Still only paid one day of parking. We got our tickets online and got the early entry and fast pass with our room. Seemed like a good deal to me.

 

[youngb1978]

We are spending 8 nights at CB in a suite and got the 3 park unlimited pass and it was only like 2500 if not less as I got it priced in Canadian. I figure being there 8 nights we won't need the express passes

 

[damo]

Ok... I deleted my post because I realized that most of my concerns/questions have been addressed. But, How do you actually entirely delete a post other that edit it? I've searched and can't find the answer.

You can't.