I don't understand Universal

boomhauer

When the world gets in my face, I say - Have A Nic
Joined
Aug 17, 2005
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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?
 
well....they do...if you stay with them you dont wait in line...great deal...also i have always paid no more than 139.00 for rpr and it costs more than that at a mod at disney..and rpr is a deluxe resort.dont get me wrong I LOVE DISNEY but i love fotl access too i am going mothers day weekend with just the ladies and we got rpr for 139.00 and fl.res. tickets 2 days 2parks and 7 day citi walk pass for 67.00 .:cheer2: :
 
I must not be looking hard enough then. Every time I go to their website, the cheapest rate I can find for any of their hotels is $239.
 
Try for a AAA discount. The rates vary according to the season just as they do at WDW. The hotels at Universal really are deluxe and much cheaper than the Disney deluxes-plus the FOTL.
 

Maybe that's the problem. I don't care about staying at a deluxe hotel. As long as I'm on-site.

That's why I'm surprised Universal doesn't have a Value resort.
 
The onsite hotels are Loew's 4 star hotels within walking distance of both parks. Call AAA and see what their rate is... also, try Universal's home page www.universalorlando.com and see what comes up under deals. (altho, AAA is probably your best bet). IMHO, i will pay the extra for the convenience of 1-walking to the parks and not waiting on bus and 2-NOT standing in lines.
 
The way I always look at it is if I have to worry about the price of a vacation destination then I don't go.I have always found Universal and Disney pretty affordable. I have to say though I won't waste my money on Disney's deluxes since a week at Disney is so hectic with most of my time in the parks and not at the resort.At Universal I spend more time relaxing thanks to the front of the line pass.
 
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The way I always look at it is if I have to worry about the price of a vacation destination then I don't go.I have always found Universal and Disney pretty affordable. I have to say though I won't waste my money on Disney's deluxes since a week at Disney is so hectic with most of my time in the parks and not at the resort.At Universal I spend more time relaxing thanks to the front of the line pass.


exactly!!! :thumbsup2 (altho, we find UO to be more affordable than WDW) but, i see your point w/ the room expense. I can't justify paying WDW all that money for a room we are not in most of the time (cuz you're at the parks), but i will pay it for the FOTL access. We don't want to pay all that money to WDW to "stand in line" for our vacation :laughing: we are more relaxed and do/see more at UO strictly cuz of the FOTL access
 
Maybe that's the problem. I don't care about staying at a deluxe hotel. As long as I'm on-site.

That's why I'm surprised Universal doesn't have a Value resort.

It really depends on your dates. I was able to book Royal Pacific in two weeks for $129 a night. If the hotels are busy you're gonna pay more. They offer lots of discounted rates. APH, AAA as well as Loews promo rates, FLO. Plenty of opportunity for a great rate.
 
Maybe that's the problem. I don't care about staying at a deluxe hotel. As long as I'm on-site.

That's why I'm surprised Universal doesn't have a Value resort.

Universal does not have the space WDW has to offer hotels in all classes so it's "economical" choice, the RPR, is comparable to WDW's AKL and WL as far as room size and a step up as far as furnishings, linens and amenities are concerned. The fotl benefit has such an impact upon your park touring and over-all vacation experience, that it is well worth moving up to a deluxe hotel. Combine that with the fact that rooms are priced according to occupancy, and deals are always available to be had, a few days at an onsite hotel is worth much more than what most of us currently pay (hopefully no one from Loew's is watching).
 
I had booked the AAA rate for the HRH for our trip last week. Just on a whim, I called Universal so see if there was a cheaper rate. Turned out, since I live in the state of Georgia, I was able to get between $60 and $80 knocked off the AAA rate each night. That one phone call saved me about $400.
 
We use DVC points so the rates @ Loews on the weekends are far less than comparables (approx. $320 for a studio). We've grown to luv our split stays.:thumbsup2

Rack rate for the summer is in the area of $240 for standard room RPR. My AAA rate @ RPR end of June thru August was less than $200 (have paid less than $140 early Feb) plus $85 tix good for 7 days in the parks.

compare to WDW rates for summer (of course you need to factor in any AAA discount or promo, etc.):

Values: $109/121
Mods: 175/195
Del: 265/550
DVC studio: 359/429 & base MYW 7 day tix @ $211 (no PH, expire 14 days)

Could use an AP @ WDW & stretch it out or get a 40% off pin code:laughing: i've yet to be offered any...think it may be an urban legend
 
If the OP is looking for value type pricing and doesn't need FOTL, there's no law you have to stay onsite. You can get an offsite hotel with free shuttle to universal that is just as close as the value resorts are to the Disney resorts, or closer. Maybe consider offsite since they don't offer value resorts at Universal. The "lack" of lower end hotels allows them to offer FOTL access for the 3 nice hotels they have. I've been amazed by what you get from US hotels if you begin early and watch for specials, $179 for MLK and Mem weekends at HRH when FOTL access really carries some value.
 
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.
 
goofy!, your thesis gets an A+
That was well thought out and presented. Will you work the numbers for my next trip? ;)
 
Are you booking these rates online the AAA, bc I've been trying for the last week or two and come up with no AAA for June when we're going, unless maybe I should call?
 

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