Is there a best time to purchase?

[mommymanda]

So thanks to this site I'm feeling prepared for my families first Universal Vacation. It was supposed to be this coming August. However, in February when I was preparing to book life got in the way. Now the plan is August 2019.

Seems so far, but I am wondering if there is a time to get better deals than others. I am planning to use UT for both tickets and resort. When i was prepping in Feb. I was believe my best deal was a 2 day, 3park to park + 1 day deal. Scanning thesite today i see there are now 3 day 3 park to park +2 day. So a better deal. Yet for our resort choice today's cost is about $200 more.

So since i now have time to book for next year, are there better dates/months to book and get the best deal?

 

[escapeartist]

I can tell you to shop, shop, shop around and start early. I booked our August 2018 Universal Resort trip (Royal Pacific) in September 2017. They had the Stay More, Play More rates. I got 5 nights at Royal Pacific for about $210 a night. The rooms have only gone up since I booked it. It only costs 1 night deposit to book and is fully refundable up to 5 days out. I booked thru Universal Orlando Resort website.
I really feel that limiting yourself to buying tickets or resorts from any one company is a mistake. Prices change all the time. The company that had a great deal on tickets last year can be over priced this year. I shop around for each and every trip and I have booked and bought from many different authorized sources. I usually find booking a fully refundable hotel as early on as possible and then rechecking prices for reductions as time goes on works well for me. If I find a reduction, I book that and cancel the more expensive rate. In mid August the Universal hotel rates drop significantly as expected crowds reduce. This year the reduced season begins on Aug 13th. and that is when I booked. Luckily the kids don't go back to school til the 23rd, so that worked for us! The week before the room is $150 more a night than what I am paying! I also bought our tickets where they were the best price at the time, which wasnt UT or Uni.

 

[TommyJK]

Also make sure to note that Universal Tickets expire one year after purchase (at least that's what it says on the UT site):

"Ticket expires 12 months from order date or 6 days after first use (so 7 calendar days). You will activate the ticket upon entry into your first Universal Orlando® Resort Theme Park or one of the paid entertainment venues of Universal City Walk®. Days do not have to be used consecutively."

So don't buy your park tickets too early from UT if you're not going until Aug 2019

 

[mommymanda]

Thanks. I am happy to shop around for deals. I just know when I'd planned to book for this year UT had the better prices.

I was thinking we'd book the room in Sept/Oct. Than tickets 2019 depending when best deal is found.

 

[TommyJK]

I would make sure to buy the park tickets before January of next year

Prices ALWAYS increase every year in Jan/Feb

So look for the best deal you can find between September and the end of this year

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Sometimes Black Friday. In 2017, visitorlando.com did 10% off all their tickets for Black Friday. Got my promo tix for an even cheaper price that way.

 

[escapeartist]

Sometimes Black Friday. In 2017, visitorlando.com did 10% off all their tickets for Black Friday. Got my promo tix for an even cheaper price that way.

I know I am late getting back to this thread, but that is exactly where I got my tickets @CAPSLOCK. During Black Friday week at Visitorlando.com w the 10% off. I also got a great deal on the photo package thru them that week. So to the OP maybe Black Friday week may be a good time to check. Undercover Tourist also had a sale on tickets Black Friday week but visitorlando happened to have the better price. Also note the tix we bought Black Friday for Uni expired a year from purchase date. Good luck!