Help me understand the ticket prices... sorry!

[Sharpdisney]

Hello -

Thanks to this awesome forum I booked world's greatest Disney trip last February! I wasn't sure we'd ever go back, or even to Orlando for that matter, but as you all know... I now have the bug! I'd like to do a mix of Disney and Universal. To get the budget ready to pitch to our CFO (hubby), help me understand U tickets.
What I am confused about is the different add on's and the bundles for Express.

To me, it seems I can get park-2-park tickets, bundled with the Express Unlimited - that seems to give me one (giant) price.
But, it also seems I can get part-2-park tickets, but then add a separate Express (one ride use) add on to give me a slightly less giant price.
The regular Express is an add-on right? I still have to purchase a normal ticket, right?

For example, with the dates I am looking at, 2 adults, 1 child, I see: $1,170 for bundle 3 days (park2park, express unlimited). Then, if I rework this and get the park2park tickets, then add on the regular Express, my total is $1474??? Now I am really confused. Someone please help me understand!

 

[HM]

When are you going?

Have you thought about doing the parks without Express Passes to bring down the cost? When we are offsite, we don't get them, and find three days to be plenty of time to do each ride and rerides that we want. That added expense just isn't all that necessary much of the year.

If you get to the parks and you find you really do need them, you can purchase the EP right then.

 

[FargoBear]

In looking at the prices on Undercover Tourist, it looks like a ticket for two days, park to park, with an extra free day (for 3 days total) would be $587 for two adults and a child. If you can snag a room at the Royal Pacific for $250 or so, even if you don't use the room, you'd get unlimited express passes both on check-in day and check-out day.

 

[Sharpdisney]

Well.... at this late hour I am thinking of booking a trip during spring break / week of Easter 2016. So I might be a little crazy.
We might go mid-week, like Tues- Tues, and would want to to US maybe Wed/Thurs/Fri, or maybe cut down the cost to two days instead. Since that is a super busy week, I'd like to try to get the Express. I think I would need it during that time.

So would it be $587-ish for the three day tickets and then add on the Express? Doesn't that make the tickets more than a grand???

 

[HM]

If I were you, I'd book two separate hotels for your trip at Easter. Start with Universal and stay at Royal Pacific for two night and get your three days in the park around those nights. No need to pay for EP because it will be part of your resort stay. Then move over to wherever you want to stay at Disney the evening of the third day at US/IOA for the rest of your trip.

 

[snoopboop]

So would it be $587-ish for the three day tickets and then add on the Express? Doesn't that make the tickets more than a grand???

I second another poster's suggestion of trying to see if a room is available at one of the onsite deluxe hotels. One night at one of these hotels gets you TWO days of UNLIMITED Express for all three of you. This is likely a much cheaper option than buying the Express Passes separately.

Still, yes, it might approach $1000 if you stay two nights and/or opt to purchase the EPs separately.... Theme park vacations aren't cheap.

 

[bumbershoot]

During the time of Easter, though, the prices so far are astronomical.

Since we aren't religious in any way, I booked a cruise disembarking on the 27th, having ZERO clue it was Easter. Trying to find something fun before or after has proven very difficult, price-wise...

 

[Sharpdisney]

I didn't think about the hotel option so let me look into that more carefully!
You're right they are not cheap! I guess I got poisoned on the DisBoards, where some love to say Disney is SOOOO expensive, and Universal is much cheaper! Seems to me, not too much difference, but I know you are getting an awesome family vacation for the cost, so I just need to understand what the budget would be! Thanks!!

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I would definitely prefer an express pass that week. I also love the convenience of staying on-site at Universal - it is easier to get around than Disney. I budget about the same for equivalent length trips.

 

[Lynne G]

And be careful of express passes, as I don't think, even with a ticket purchase, they are refundable. the deluxe resorts are really nice. Play around with the different discounts, they have a stay more, save more rate, AAA rate and passholder rate. Just a power pass is needed to get the discount, using APH, in the discount on the hotel's website. You don't need the pass to book the hotel, and if booking hotel room only, the cancel rate is 5 days before, and no cancellation fee. Also, if you find a better price, call, and the hotel will adjust it for you. Also, I found cheaptickets and orbitz both had the hotels on them, and got a great rate for my October stay from cheaptickets and a promo code they were running. Only issue is, if you book directly with the hotel, you are charged one night, the balance when checking out. For the 2 web TAs I just said to check, you pay the whole price up front, and still have the ability to cancel until the cancellation time, with no penalty. I changed twice with Cheaptickets to get the best price, and got refunds for the ones I cancelled within 2 days to the card I used.

I hope you have a great time at USO. My kids are teens, and really enjoy the resorts as much as the parks. We tend to split, so we do some Disney or Busch parks with our USO stay. I've been an AP holder for years now, and I still enjoy the USO parks. My favorite is the Portofino, but will, stay at RPH if there's a good price difference.

 

[johde]

The $1474 seems awful high. For about that, you could get Premier passes all around. That would get you unlimited admission for 1 year. Free Parking, discounts on food and merchandise, and 1 trip per ride express after 4:00.

Like others have said, I'd look into staying onside for 2 nights and getting regular tickets (along with possible 1 annual pass for the discounts).

 

[Piglet99645]

Great thread. I'm going about the same time - a couple weeks before Easter - and doing the same trip - Universal for 2-3 days then moving to Disney. Will watch this one closely.

I've also been confused by Universal's package prices and how they are calculated. Seems like the packages are a pretty decent deal for Room and Tickets (including the Express Pass). I priced out hotels on the Universal site and tickets separately on Undercover Tourist, and I think the package was a better deal. But I got really confused and closed all my tabs in frustration. LOL.

Does that sound right? That the Universal packages are a good deal?

Sorry if this is a hijack. Seems on point.

P.

 

[Lynne G]

Piglet, the only reason we generally Not recommend the packages are they tend to not be the best deal, and they have change fees and cancellation fees that are more restrictive and cost more than a room only.

 

[Piglet99645]

Thanks Lynne. I just started a new thread with all my newbie questions if you want to weigh in.

 

[VacaPlanner2012]

Right now, your options appear to be:

1) 3 day bundle for $1170 ($1250 w/ tax) and stay off site (add what your price is)
2) 3 day tix at Undercover ($587) + 2 nights at RPR ($914 ish)

No matter how you slice it or dice it - you are looking at $1500+ for room, tix, and unlimited express.

So, what is most convenient for you and your family - the "luxury" of staying on site, being able to take an afternoon swim or nap, awesome pools, food, etc., but having to move in/move out of your hotels twice in the same week, or having one home base to drop all of your stuff and head to the parks each day?

Our family would stay on site for the perks, we love the feel of the entire Universal resort, not just the parks. But unpacking and packing multiple times can be a drag (and, yes, I unpack at any hotel stay more than one night, just can't live out of a suitcase, I am unique).

Also, keep in mind that the 3 day bundle in option 1 does not need to be used consecutively, so it might open up the option of a day at Uni, a couple at WDW, then a couple at Uni. Might be an interesting way to tour the parks pending your transportation situation.

 

[bumbershoot]

I've also been confused by Universal's package prices and how they are calculated.

Packages are weird.

I priced out hotels on the Universal site and tickets separately on Undercover Tourist, and I think the package was a better deal.

Hmm.

But I got really confused

What's the confusion about?

Does that sound right? That the Universal packages are a good deal?

Doesn't sound right to me, but I've heard that recently (in the last year) that is sometimes the case.

But there are change fees and cancellation fees and more rules with packages.

 

[Mjkre]

If it helps at all with your planning, many schools in NY have a different week of Spring Break this year. Instead of Easter, it's the last week of April. It may help spread out some of the crowds!

 

[Piglet99645]

Packages are weird.



Hmm.



What's the confusion about?



Doesn't sound right to me, but I've heard that recently (in the last year) that is sometimes the case.

But there are change fees and cancellation fees and more rules with packages.

As it turned out, the Universal package I was looking at for two nights was only giving me a one day ticket. But I was looking at two day tickets on Undercover Tourist. So I wasn't comparing apples to apples.

But yeah, Universal's packages don't seem to be worth it. Good thread. Thanks.

 

[daisyx3]

We have a cruise leaving March 28 (spring break for my son and me is March 25-April 3). Our cruise gets back April 1. My son is a senior and he asked to go to Universal to see HP.
Two nights at RP for 3 of us with water view--$1000
Two day tickets with a 3rd day free from Undercover tourist--$600.
It's a pricy add on but he is the youngest and in college next year, so what the heck. So we will get express passes and even if we get there after the early entry on day #1 (because of getting there from the port) we will have Saturday and Sunday morning and hopefully get the whole HP experience.
Daisyx3

 

[Lynne G]

Sounds like a plan Daisy. Keep checking the hotel for a standard room. You never know. Otherwise, you can also check with cheaptickets or orbitz, as while you will pay the entire hotel bill up front, the cancellation times are still the same, and sometimes both of those online TAs have a great price on the hotels. Take advantage of the early hour and enjoy at least one of the HP areas without much crowding. You can get alot done in 2 and 1/2 days. Check out the potter areas at the end of the day, I love the areas when it's dark as well.