Help with pricing this trip?

[nfceagles]

DH and I decided to take our 2 kids (5 and 8) on a mini-vacation the weekend of Mar 29-30. The kids have PT conferences, early dismissal, and therefore guaranteed no state testing the W-F before that. We're open to them missing some or all of W-F, but no more than that. We were leaning towards giving Universal a try since we've never been there and it seems doable for a short trip. I'm a little surprised by the prices though and having second thoughts. It may just be that weekends are less bang for your buck than week long vacations or that we're used to using our DVC points on Disney trips or that we picked a time with few discounts.

Can anyone tell me if I'm missing some tricks to saving a little. The cheapest I can find a room for is $319/night for standard 2 queen room. I know Loews are very nice hotels and we're willing to squeeze into 1 room for this sort of short trip, but $319 seems like a lot when we're used to staying in Residence Inns and 2br DVC villas. Is there someplace close that is cheaper enough to justify purchasing express passes?

Thanks for any thoughts and ideas. And feel free to tell me that my expectations are simply unreasonable.

 

[rowan555]

You might want to check on the AP rate for the hotel on one of the weeknights you'll be in town - put APH into the promotion field on the hotel booking page. It might be worth it for one of you to get an AP to get the hotel discount (this is what I did last year). If you stay onsite one night you will get 2 full days of Express passes since you can use them the day you check in and the day you check out. Then you can find a less pricey off site hotel, or switch to Cabana Bay if the price is right. Hit all the major rides during your two days on site, and then catch the shows and other attractions, and re-ride your favorites, when you return without express passes.

 

[damo]

There are a few options. If you want to stay onsite do as rowan555 said above using the www.loewshotels.com website. It is always a good idea to check the APH rates since one APH only costs $199. It is often worth it to get one because the nightly savings can be huge. (Royal Pacific for you dates is $239/night)

Another option is to click on the packages button at www.universalorlando.com and book an offsite stay. If you book an offsite hotel through that website, early admission is included in your stay and you can add the express passes on as an extra. Often this will work out cheaper. You can even add an unlimited express pass if you wish.

Some popular hotels within walking distance are the Doubletree, The Holiday Inn and Suites closest to Universal and the Hyatt Park.

There are generally lots of good options when you visit Universal.

Hoped this helped and keep asking questions!

 

[nfceagles]

THANK YOU! That is exactly the type of idea I needed. Off to adjust my estimates!

 

[jjas]

There are a few options. If you want to stay onsite do as rowan555 said above using the www.loewshotels.com website. It is always a good idea to check the APH rates since one APH only costs $199. It is often worth it to get one because the nightly savings can be huge. (Royal Pacific for you dates is $239/night)

Please help me if I am looking at the website incorrectly, but it looks to me like you have to purchase a Preferred Pass to get the hotel discounts and those are $244.99 - is that correct. Also, do you get a discount on buying park tickets - say for the rest of your family - if you have an AP and if so, how much is that discount?

Thanks.
Janet

 

[damo]

Please help me if I am looking at the website incorrectly, but it looks to me like you have to purchase a Preferred Pass to get the hotel discounts and those are $244.99 - is that correct. Also, do you get a discount on buying park tickets - say for the rest of your family - if you have an AP and if so, how much is that discount?

Thanks.
Janet

That's what it still says on the website but the annual pass office recently confirmed that the power pass will also give you the hotel discounts (but not the dining and merchandise discounts).

The power AP discounts on tickets is 10% off GATE prices (online prices are $20 more expensive than gate prices for anything other than a 1 day ticket).

The preferred AP discounts on tickets is 15% off GATE prices.

 

[Kat913]

Check out aaa prices too. We are staying at royal pacific for 1st time in aug. We needed 2 rooms -2 weeknights, 1 weekend night. With tax came to 8 hundred and something a room (not home to look at my ressie sheet.)

 

[jjas]

That's what it still says on the website but the annual pass office recently confirmed that the power pass will also give you the hotel discounts (but not the dining and merchandise discounts).

Just an update - I booked Portofino Bay last night and the booking agent told me that the APH rate works with any annual pass EXCEPT the Power Pass. I am going to call the Annual Pass line tonight and see what they say.

 

[damo]

Just an update - I booked Portofino Bay last night and the booking agent told me that the APH rate works with any annual pass EXCEPT the Power Pass. I am going to call the Annual Pass line tonight and see what they say.

I called the annual pass hotline and they confirmed it after someone else had called guest services to confirm it.

The more people that confirm it, the better!

 

[buckeev]

Also....For the Non-AP tickets you are gonna need, check out Undercovertourist.com...
Many of us have used them before and saved a bit...Free USPS and tax is included. We had to buy a couple of tickets at Universal last month and even with my AP discount, it was about $20 PP higher than the regular UT prices.

By staying On-Site, you can really maximize your park-time. 5 minute walk from HRH to US entrance! (compared to the hour plus bus ride/wait times we experienced last month!)...Makes it MUCH more feasible to hop back to the hotel for a quick nap when needed with the little ones!