July 2007 - I Have a TON of Questions

[scanne]

We are taking a big trip next summer to Orlando. We want to be at US/IOA from July 5th - 8th and we want to stay at a US hotel. I don't really care which one - my DH would be more likely to want Portofino Bay.

How do you get the BEST rate on the hotel room?
Is it better to book some sort of package?
Does Dreams Unlimited handle Universal ressies? (I use DU for all of my WDW trips!)
We have 2 kids - my DS will be 4 and my DD will be 2.
We're AAA members - does that help?
We usually have the entertainment book - does that help?

Any tips would be great.

We're planning on doing US on 7/5, Sea World on 7/6 and IOA on 7/7. On 7/8 we're going to be heading to WDW.

Thanks very much!

 

[theterms]

We've stayed at all 3 onsite hotels and have loved them all. They all have different qualities that we like, so it's hard to say which I like best!

Some of the best rates are the Annual Pass (APH) rates and AAA rates. You only need one AP to book a room at that rate. I book mine through the Loews website www.loewshotels.com. Put in APH or AAA to check the rates for that time of year - however, we are going in June (staying at RPR) and have changed my rate once already and am hoping it will go down again. I just keep checking every day. Our friends are going with us and they booked their trip on Travelocity - the Play 4 Free package. Since we have AP, it doesn't make sense to do that. Plus, I booked our air back in March, when it was lower.

Since your kids are very young, I would try the RPR first. The pool is really nice and has a water-park type play area. The HRH has a slide, as does the PBR. All the pools are great and you can pool-hop, if you'd like to check out the others.

Have fun!

 

[Motherfletcher]

Check out the package offer here:
http://www.universalorlando.com/ht_pbh_rates_featured.html

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We try to do US/IOA every other year in combination with Disney. Here's what works best for us:

The kids, DH and I love the HRH. I have found the best rates were AAA. We actually are staying in a club level HRH room for only $27 more than the normal rate we pay for a deluxe room (we're a family of 5). HRH rooms are really nice. We usually stay at the GF in Disney and I think the HRH rooms are comparable to them.

Tickets - We have been lucky both trips to get the Buy 2 days/Get 5 days, one free child with each adult tickets. So we got 3 adult/3 kids tickets for only $300 for 5 full park days!

We have found this a better deal than the packages.

Have fun - you will love Universal!

 

[PatMcDuck]

We have a large group of 6 (4 teens), so all need adult tickets. The last 3 trips, we have used the Mastercard promotion for passes. They are 2 day hoppers, good for 5 days (expire in 14) AND buy 4 get one free. So for about $400 we get 5 passes, usable for 5 days, and we add a 6th pass. (we usually go for 3 days) I think the link is still on mousesavers.

We use AAA for the rooms now, used to use Entertainment book when it was cheapest......

 

[S. C.]

Thank you for asking this question. We haven't been to universal since about 1996 and we stayed offsite. Hoping to stay at one of their resorts this time and getting FOTL.

 

[mikey1]

We intend to stay RPR early July so giving this a bump.
Have you found the best deal yet?

 

[rpbert1]

We intend to stay RPR early July so giving this a bump.
Have you found the best deal yet?

best at the minute is $191.20 AAA rate,which i have booked for the 14th July, i would book your rooms now so you have them booked ,and if the rate changes give them a call.
you will love this hotel ,we stayed there this year, and going back next year, we enjoyed it that much ,and with FOTL there is no rushing about to try and do what you want at the parks, you just take it at your own pace

 

[bubba's mom]

Visit the Universal home page and check the prices of "FlexTicket" for SW, Univ & IOA. Sometimes a "package" is not as economical as a la carte purchase of tickets and hotel. (You just have to do a little homework to see what works best for you.) Use AAA rate for hotel discounts and keep it w/ your key card so you can get AAA discounts at restaurants and shopping. RPR is cheapest of 3, HRH middle priced and PBH most expensive. Entertainment book used to help, doesn't seem like it anymore (altho, I don't have one, so I'm not an expert).....Also, go to the Loew's website and sign up for the free Loews First membership...you'll get "welcome gift" of your choice and other perks.