We were thinking about taking a long weekend just at Universal. The cost of their hotels is outrageous. Here they always advertise how much cheaper they are compared with Disney. It's false. My family could stay at Disney for 7 days cheaper than Universal for 4.
When you're going up against the big fish in the pond, wouldn't it make sense to give guests more of an incentive to stay with you?
I took your challenge that you can stay cheaper at the All-Star resorts with park hoppers than you can at Universal.
These are just prices right off the internet - no codes, no AAA, nothing. Just straight off the websites.
Fictional Family:
Mom, Dad, child 5 and child 10 (wanted to get in one child's pass and one older kid's pass)
Days of Stay -
4 nights Universal: August 18 - August 22
7 nights WDW: August 18 - August 25
Cost of stay at Royal Pacific:
$239.00 per night - includes two length of stay, hopping tickets = $956.00
Two additional 7 day tickets for the kids: 86.00 = $172.00
Total for 4 days at Universal - $1,128.00
Cost of a week at All Star Music -
Includes Magic Your Way tickets with hopping option
$1,590.42
Sorry, but your supposition is incorrect. 7 nights at Disney at a value resort is $462.42 more expensive than 4 nights at a Deluxe resort at Universal.
Now take the same 7 night period at Universal -
Supersaver rate of $203.00 per night - $1421.00
4 - 7 day hopping tickets - $344.00
Total of 7 nights at a 4* Deluxe hotel with FOTL is only $1,765.00
That is only $175.00 more for the week in a Deluxe at Universal than 7 nights in a value at Disney.
For only $6.00 more you can buy one Preferred Annual pass:
7 nights @ APH rate of $189.00 = $1423.00
1 Preferred Annual Pass = 190.00
3 7 day passes @ 86.00 each = $258.00
Total for 7 Nights at Universal = $1,771
And with your Annual Pass, you will get discounts on dining in both the parks and City Walk, and you will get a discount on all the merchandise you purchase. It adds up quickly and savings are usually worth the price of the pass.
And the prices at Universal are bound to go down even further as the time gets closer and Loews is more familiar with what their occupancy rates will be.
So, it is still cheaper to stay in a Deluxe at Universal than it is to stay in a value resort at WDW.