How can I save money at Universal's Resort

[ChevyNat]

It has always been a dream of mine to stay at least once at universal Studios Resort and take advantage of the early entry and unlimited express pass.
Is there a way to save money at the resort, is there a code to enter to save money etc... the hotels are very expensive, especially since my sister and I can stay at Disney World with her points.
But we will be travelling in August, so very busy time of the year, and that's why I thought of staying on site to be able to beat the crowd at WWoHP and Diagon Alley.

 

[chs27]

There is the stay more, save more discount, or buy a pass to get discounted rate. Last May, when I visited, we only stayed one night. We checked into HRH early that morning, got two days of ep. Checkout morning, our luggage was stored with bell services. When we finished touring the parks, brought the car around, and they loaded our luggage.

 

[DPCummerbund]

I've seen these discounts / websites mentioned more often than any others on this site:

1. "Stay More, Save More" (SMSM), booked through Universal Orlando or Loews hotel websites. Positives: they offer greater discounts the longer you stay (thus the name), they don't require total prepayment, you can earn loyalty points from Loews or Hard Rock, and you get the peace of mind from dealing with the hotel directly. Negatives: can be more expensive than the other discounts below, but not necessarily. They do require a first night's deposit.

2. "Annual Passholder" (APH), booked directly through Universal Orlando. Positives: very low rates, plus the benefits mentioned above. Negatives: at least one member of your party must have an Annual Pass by the time you check in. Also, rates only released a few months out.

3. Cheaptickets / Orbitz: two different version of the same website - Cheaptickets generally offers cheaper rates; Orbitz is slightly higher, but has a rewards program. Use the promo code listed on their home page (it changes each week, but they promote it freely) for very good rates. Ebates customers can get rebates for hotels booked through Cheaptickets. Negatives: often require prepayment, but this is usually refundable until a week or so before booking (check the fine print). You're not dealing with the hotel directly, but many, many people have used Cheaptickets without a problem.

4. AAA / AAA.com website: AAA members can call AAA travel agents for complete travel packages and advice, including park tickets, often at a good discount. The AAA website also has very good rates (they're frequently the best rates I've found anywhere - I've seen rates at aaa.com that were more than $100 a night less than anywhere else). Negatives: every state/region has its own website, and they can offer wildly different discounts and hotel availability, and sometimes the website rates are quite different from what an agent will quote you. Some (but not all) rates require AAA membership, and many require prepayment (usually fully refundable, again check the fine print).

 

[sunshine1178]

It has always been a dream of mine to stay at least once at universal Studios Resort and take advantage of the early entry and unlimited express pass.
Is there a way to save money at the resort, is there a code to enter to save money etc... the hotels are very expensive, especially since my sister and I can stay at Disney World with her points.
But we will be travelling in August, so very busy time of the year, and that's why I thought of staying on site to be able to beat the crowd at WWoHP and Diagon Alley.

Staying on site will sort of help with the crowds at Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley because you have one hour early entry. However, the Express Pass doesn't work on Forbidden Journey, Gringotts, or the Hogwarts Express, so you'll be in line with everyone else on those.

 

[Portugal1000]

You could save money but only staying one night. That's what we do, we don't check out of our normal hotel. I wouldn't stay longer as rooms too small. But we check in real early, about an hour before park opening which gives time to get yo park entrance. Then up early next morning so two early entries and two days of express pass for only one night stay.
We paid £140 ( not dollars) last year for one night at RPR on 21st August. It's going to be about £160 this year.

 

[nkereina]

We saved some money by booking our room at Royal Pacific through AAA. We also purchased our tickets through Undercover Tourist which allowed us to get the third day free. When we were there, we saved some money on food by eating some fast food at City Walk. Every night on our way back to the hotel, we stopped at Cinnabon and at that the next morning before heading out to the parks.

 

[dizneyjill]

I just booked a one night stay at RPR for my sister,my daughter and myself for next month.it was 389.00 before taxes.I just looked at AAA ,it was the same price.Annual pass price was 384.30. Not a lot of savings there.we were going to get the unlimited express pass for one day 2 parks.it was going to be 89.00 each.Now with out the 95.00 for the other hotel,for a little over 100.00 apiece we get early entry and unlimited express pass for 2 days.plus water taxi.now my bad news. I fell last week and fractured my pelvis.I'm on crutches now.I don't know how it will be by the 13th of March.I know the lines are wheelchair accessible.I hope to be walking on my own,just not sure.what do they do with the wheelchair while you're riding.do they move it to the ride exit side? I really don't want to cancel.

 

[sharona]

Ugh, I hope you feel better soon! That's a tough break (no pun intended). You must have missed the standard rooms being available for the APH rates for your dates, I think they tend to disappear quickly. $384 for RPR with APH rate seems more like the price for a suite or club level - if no standard rooms available they do display the rates for the cheapest available room. Just looking on the website, 3/13 APH rate for a 2Q pool view at HRH is $336 including tax.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

While you are in the parks, you can also do things like splitting meals. Mom and I split the burger meal at Richter's (we purchased one extra drink), and there are apparently other locations with larger meals that will fill both of you up for the price of one meal plus a drink. My hubby and I will probably do this on our trip this summer as well.

Often, even the snacks are big enough to share. We also usually have small snacks with us - without fail, the boys will get hungry while we're waiting in line for something. Since they are scouts, they are just fine with a slightly crushed granola bar, packaged nuts or dried fruit. All those fit easily into their cargo pockets and save us money as well. YMMV on that one.

We also take advantage of the free water at restaurants. We purchase 2 bottles of water (for 4 of us) soon after arriving, and refill them multiple times throughout the day with the free filtered water. If you don't want to do water, you can bring the little flavor sticks to use. We do both.

 

[nkereina]

I just booked a one night stay at RPR for my sister,my daughter and myself for next month.it was 389.00 before taxes.I just looked at AAA ,it was the same price.Annual pass price was 384.30. Not a lot of savings there.we were going to get the unlimited express pass for one day 2 parks.it was going to be 89.00 each.Now with out the 95.00 for the other hotel,for a little over 100.00 apiece we get early entry and unlimited express pass for 2 days.plus water taxi.now my bad news. I fell last week and fractured my pelvis.I'm on crutches now.I don't know how it will be by the 13th of March.I know the lines are wheelchair accessible.I hope to be walking on my own,just not sure.what do they do with the wheelchair while you're riding.do they move it to the ride exit side? I really don't want to cancel.

I believe AAA prices include tax.

Best of luck with your pelvis. My dad fractured his pelvis on November 26th - the day before Thanksgiving. He was back at work on February 2nd. I was surprised at how quickly he recovered, given that he could barely walk those first few weeks. Best wishes!

 

[tricky1]

Yes they will have the wheelchair at the ride unload, you would have to use the elevator
on some rides(MIB,Hulk,Mummy,Hogwarts express)

 

[johde]

We also take advantage of the free water at restaurants. We purchase 2 bottles of water (for 4 of us) soon after arriving, and refill them multiple times throughout the day with the free filtered water. If you don't want to do water, you can bring the little flavor sticks to use. We do both.

For soft drinks, if you like Universal and plan to return "frequently", the refillable cups are a real money saver. For $.99 you get a drink that's larger than a large drink. I've used mine several years. If you like popcorn, there's also a souvenir popcorn bucket that has cheap refills.

 

[tstottle]

No one has mentioned the Cabana Bay hotel. It is "on site" but not a walk, you take a shuttle. And, it does NOT include Express Pass so you would have to buy that and factor that in. However, I have found that Cabana Bay+buying EP is still cheaper than the deluxe hotels. It depends on your party size, I imagine (mine is big). However, just wanted to note that we chose Royal Pacific because we really want to get in easily and early in the morning. But I thought I would mention Cabana Bay for cost savings.

 

[vacation_junkie]

It has always been a dream of mine to stay at least once at universal Studios Resort and take advantage of the early entry and unlimited express pass.
Is there a way to save money at the resort, is there a code to enter to save money etc... the hotels are very expensive, especially since my sister and I can stay at Disney World with her points.
But we will be travelling in August, so very busy time of the year, and that's why I thought of staying on site to be able to beat the crowd at WWoHP and Diagon Alley.

Sign up on Lowes & Universals mailing lists. Every year for the past three years we've rcv'd 40% off pin codes. But I think those had a minimum a two night stay.

I'm not sure what the percentage off is with the APH discount so I can't help you there.

 

[vacation_junkie]

However, I have found that Cabana Bay+buying EP is still cheaper than the deluxe hotels.

It doesn't always work out cheaper.

If we were to purchase EP for our 4 park days.. Which for our dates usually is approx. $70 per person per week day. 1park/once per ride.

Cabana bay for 7 nights. ($1100)
4 days of the basic express pass. ($840)
=$1940

7 nights @ hard rock with unlimited EP
=$1690

 

[tstottle]

Good point. Worth checking for your number of nights and people in your party, and the date too, since the EP rates vary with the calendar. And I should add, we are only going to the park for one day so that's only one day of add on EP. Maybe that's the true difference, and after the first day the deluxe's are cheaper than Cabana+Express Pass.

 

[vacation_junkie]

Good point. Worth checking for your number of nights and people in your party, and the date too, since the EP rates vary with the calendar. And I should add, we are only going to the park for one day so that's only one day of add on EP. Maybe that's the true difference, and after the first day the deluxe's are cheaper than Cabana+Express Pass.

Exactly Cabana + 1 day EP is cheaper..

 

[macraven]

I've seen these discounts / websites mentioned more often than any others on this site:

1. "Stay More, Save More" (SMSM), booked through Universal Orlando or Loews hotel websites. Positives: they offer greater discounts the longer you stay (thus the name), they don't require total prepayment, you can earn loyalty points from Loews or Hard Rock, and you get the peace of mind from dealing with the hotel directly. Negatives: can be more expensive than the other discounts below, but not necessarily. They do require a first night's deposit.

you are correct that smsm could be more expensive than other discounts if you are there for a short time period.

the more nights you stay on site, increases your discount.
if you book 7 nights or more, it's a good deal.
i received a 35% discount with smsm on my fall stay.

last october the ap rate came out after i booked.
i checked it out and it was only a $20 discount for the total 12 night stay.
eh.....