Is Costco the best option?

[Frstclspls]

With no AP rates and rates going up it is less than $100 more for me to book a room and 1 ticket (which we don’t need we have AP) with Costco than to book the same room direct with Universal. Costco then gives a cash card back for $400 (booking a suite at Deluxe resort) and then we net another 5% back with our 3% back in travel (Costco credit card) and 2% back (executive membership).
We will end up with a 5 day (3 day plus two days free) two park pass we won’t use. Is there any way to apply the value of this pass to anything else once we arrive?
Is there a more affordable booking option I‘m not considering that anyone else has used?
TIA!

 

[georgina]

I have never booked through Costco, definitely check the cancellation/change policies. I haver heard there is a long wait for customer service on the phone. Don't know of any way to use the ticket value (bring a friend?).

Sounds like it would be a better deal. i have no experience though!

 

[dez1978]

I just priced the same vacation thru costco and sams club and it's like 300 cheaper thru costco not including the shop cards... Thats almost worth getting a membership lol

 

[sjuncfan]

Costco's rate for Portofino is really good today. I wanted Royal Pacific and that's not an option. Debating whether to just go ahead and book Portofino.

Cancellation policy is more generous than booking through Universal, and I just called and got through in about 20 minutes.

 

[georgina]

OP has an AP so the Universal booking would be a 1 night room deposit, fully refundable up to 5 days before. I doubt Costco is better!

 

[RubyBug]

OP has an AP so the Universal booking would be a 1 night room deposit, fully refundable up to 5 days before. I doubt Costco is better!

Not better, but still a very generous policy- our Costco Universal trip is fully refundable up until 7 days before and partially refundable after that. You pay the entire trip balance about 6 weeks before your departure date. Just fyi for anyone considering.

 

[RubyBug]

With no AP rates and rates going up it is less than $100 more for me to book a room and 1 ticket (which we don’t need we have AP) with Costco than to book the same room direct with Universal. Costco then gives a cash card back for $400 (booking a suite at Deluxe resort) and then we net another 5% back with our 3% back in travel (Costco credit card) and 2% back (executive membership).
We will end up with a 5 day (3 day plus two days free) two park pass we won’t use. Is there any way to apply the value of this pass to anything else once we arrive?
Is there a more affordable booking option I‘m not considering that anyone else has used?
TIA!

I don't have any answers to your actual questions, so sorry! We also have a trip booked through Costco and I just wanted to share that the reward cards don't ship until after your trip. When I booked ours, I thought we'd be able to use them to defray some of the pre-trip purchases. So just a head's up Also, you could get 2 shop cards if you are willing to book two rooms and requesting connecting instead of going for a suite. We are taking our vacation with another family, and we booked 2 queen rooms through Costco. We are getting 2 $400 costco cards as a result. We were able to book 2 rooms, tickets, rental car all on the same booking, so presumably you'd still just be out the 1 ticket. I also remember when I was checking out, that towards the end of the process it gave me the option to add tickets to other attractions (disney) and I believe at that point I played around with deleting the Universal tickets and adding a disney ticket and it maintained the package deal. Doubt it saves you any money, I just mention it in case you might prefer a disney ticket.

 

[Frstclspls]

I don't have any answers to your actual questions, so sorry! We also have a trip booked through Costco and I just wanted to share that the reward cards don't ship until after your trip. When I booked ours, I thought we'd be able to use them to defray some of the pre-trip purchases. So just a head's up Also, you could get 2 shop cards if you are willing to book two rooms and requesting connecting instead of going for a suite. We are taking our vacation with another family, and we booked 2 queen rooms through Costco. We are getting 2 $400 costco cards as a result. We were able to book 2 rooms, tickets, rental car all on the same booking, so presumably you'd still just be out the 1 ticket. I also remember when I was checking out, that towards the end of the process it gave me the option to add tickets to other attractions (disney) and I believe at that point I played around with deleting the Universal tickets and adding a disney ticket and it maintained the package deal. Doubt it saves you any money, I just mention it in case you might prefer a disney ticket.

Thank you so much for this suggestion! I hadn’t thought of that but it might come out even less! Yes, I know the shop cards ship later - we use Costco for so many every day staples that it makes sense for us for sure.
I also looked into what you did about the two rooms, I think the Costco shop card amount is basically them refunding the Travel Agency commission to their members, so the shop cards depend on total cost etc.
Also, in case it helps anyone else, we did not do the rental car and booked Mears SUV to and from the airport. Super easy and great service. Instacart from Publix and Total Wine was everything we needed! Really appreciate this group for all of the suggestions!

 

[Frstclspls]

Update! During the checkout process there was no option given to add other attractions and remove the unneeded Universal ticket. My 7 day package was $4860 vs the $4790 quote from Universal with no ticket. $431 shop card and 5% back from Costco. I will keep watching for AP rates as this is the same price we paid in Sept with 4x five day tickets (upgraded to AP upon arrival) and we got the AP in anticipation of those discounted rates! At least we have something before it gets even more expensive!

 

[dez1978]

Update! During the checkout process there was no option given to add other attractions and remove the unneeded Universal ticket. My 7 day package was $4860 vs the $4790 quote from Universal with no ticket. $431 shop card and 5% back from Costco. I will keep watching for AP rates as this is the same price we paid in Sept with 4x five day tickets (upgraded to AP upon arrival) and we got the AP in anticipation of those discounted rates! At least we have something before it gets even more expensive!

now I need to check on the cost of a costco membership

 

[georgina]

now I need to check on the cost of a costco membership

$60 per year, or $120 for executive membership with 2% back on purchases. They will refund the extra $60 if you don't get that much back over the year from purchases.