I'm confused with the onsite hotel offers--which do you think is best for me?

[IowaGirl]

We impulsively decided to go back to Florida once again!

Booked our airfare this morning so I'm committed (or should be committed !)

There are 2 parents, a 14 year old and a 9 year old travelling.

We will be staying June 17, 18, 19

We want to go the best price, but need a room, park tickets, everything.

Are the package prices a "real " deal? There are family deals, kids free deals, and I am confused.

We have stayed at Portofino when they had entertainment rates of $150,
and stayed at RP with an entertainment rate of $99. I guess I won't see those ever again

So would I be better off booking onsite hotel seperate and tickets seperate, or buying one of the packages?

 

[macraven]

in order to determine if a package is a "real deal" you need to break it all down.

price of tickets/room/ extras that are included in the deal.

then list the costs of those items separately. if you have AAA or universal MC, you can get a discount off it all.

there is a stay and play deal that is for 4 nights. but when you figure it all out, the hotel price is jacked up with no special discounts.

i use AAA for the room discount. getting $47 off per night.
i bought the promo 5 day pass on line, $99

using the aaa and mc for food and merch discounts at the park.

i don't need the free photos that come with the packages. don't need the free kids meal at the hotel. so, a package would not be in my best interest.

if you do not have discount cards you can apply, call and talk to a UO employee at the univ vacation section for all the info they can give you.
you can buy one adult get one child ticket pass free. then buy 2 more adult tickets. or, buy one adult annual pass for entrance to the park and yu will also get free parking, room , merch, food discounts .

you can buy the wrist band for the meal deal at the parks for the family.

 

[yaytezIOA]

Your best bet is to lie about the 9 yrolds age....that puts them in the adult category just like disney at 9.....
Then go with the package deals.....you get the 9yr old ( say 8 ) for free if you stay X amount of days. They also have offsite hotels that they recomend in the packages......you dont get FOTL but they are part of the packages. Those will most likely be your best bets....check www.universalorlando.com

 

[lindalinda]

You just have to do the math. The kids free deal would only apply to the 9 yr old. you will need to purchase a ticket for the 14 yr old, it will probably be 99$ in addition to the package price. Only the 9 yr old will have free meals. The AAA rate for the date you gave is 183.20, so 3 nights is 549.60. Tickets using the on-line deal for you family would be 300$ ( one free one for the 9 yr old. So 849.60 for room and tickets using AAA. The website says package deals start at 449$ per adult for RPR. But like I said you will probably have to add 99$ for a ticket for the 14 yr old. So that looks like around $1000 for the package to me. I doubt if its a good deal, in your case. If you dont have AAA or an AP, I would get one, its worth it.

 

[macraven]

AAA membership fees for chicago and area is $54 a year.

it is lower in other parts of the country.

well worth investing in AAA and it can be used for auto services also.......

 

[TayBai2]

I have the free 4 all package staying at the HRH, but thinking about changing to no package and buying everthing separtely. I was considering buying one AP pass for me and then buying the other tickets which would be for my DH, DS (13) and DD (9). When you say free parking does that mean at the hotel? I might buy the AP at Costco b/c if we like UO (1st timers) then maybe we can go back next summer before the 15 months run out. We are scheduled to go June 1-4.

 

[macraven]

free parking is for the theme park parking garage.

it cost $10/night to park at the hotels.