Lodging at Universal dilemma

[tammyroo]

Hi all--
I am planning my first trip to Universal with our family in December. Our main reason for going is the WWoHP.
Our dates are Dec 16-21 at WDW and Dec 21-22 at Universal--for 4 adults (kids will be 18 and 21)
So, our agent with Dreams quoted us over a $1000 to stay on property for one night for 3 adults (son is being added on at that part of the trip and wasn't originally included in the quote) and tickets with the Broomsticks breakfast, which I think is really steep for us for one night/2 days However, I was thinking the FotL pass would be necessary that time of the year so that is why I requested staying on property.
For all of you Universal veterans, is the FotL pass that necessary and will it be worth that much extra expense?
We had friends who went down there opening week and waited 3 hours to get in to WWoHP and they seemed okay with it but I don't know.......

 

[damo]

That seems pretty steep to me. It might be cheaper to put the one night stay at the beginning of the vacation.

A two day ticket is $120 -- perhaps you only want a one day ticket?
Your hotel is max $250 plus $50 for the two extra adults and that is rack rate. You should be able to get AAA rate or something better. I don't think discounts are out yet.

I'd skip the Three Broomsticks breakfast.

The front desk does not check ages...just saying.

 

[madelyn]

On the Universal website and pricing packages now. It prices out 1 night at RPH std room for your dates for 4 adults, 3 broomsticks breakfast, 1 day ticket and vacation protection plan for $902.84. I remove the vacation protection plan and the price comes down to $703.04. If I got to the website and price the hotel room only, it comes up to be $302.63 for Royal Pacific, $319.50 for Hard Rock, and $364.50. This is for the cheapest room for 1 night for 4 adults for you date at full rate w/ taxes (but parking and resort fee not included). You could purchase tickets from a ticket broker like www.undercovertourist.com and there the prices are $115.95 for a 2-day ticket. It doesn't look like there are discounts on a 1 day ticket. Keep in mind the package price only included a 1 day ticket. So that would be $463.80 for 2 day tickets for your family plus the 1 nights stay which would be a total of $766.43 for RPH. If you get a 1 day ticket the total price drops to $636.36. I was surprised but the rates for the night of Dec 16th were the same price!

 

[damo]

On the Universal website and pricing packages now. It prices out 1 night at RPH std room for your dates for 4 adults, 3 broomsticks breakfast, 1 day ticket and vacation protection plan for $902.84. I remove the vacation protection plan and the price comes down to $703.04. If I got to the website and price the hotel room only, it comes up to be $302.63 for Royal Pacific, $319.50 for Hard Rock, and $364.50. This is for the cheapest room for 1 night for 4 adults for you date at full rate w/ taxes (but parking and resort fee not included). You could purchase tickets from a ticket broker like www.undercovertourist.com and there the prices are $115.95 for a 2-day ticket. It doesn't look like there are discounts on a 1 day ticket. Keep in mind the package price only included a 1 day ticket. So that would be $463.80 for 2 day tickets for your family plus the 1 nights stay which would be a total of $766.43 for RPH. If you get a 1 day ticket the total price drops to $636.36. I was surprised but the rates for the night of Dec 16th were the same price!

There is no resort fee at Universal. Just a parking fee.

 

[tammyroo]

Thanks everyone. I see the prices separately are much cheaper as well as not doing the HP Package. Not sure why the quote was for so much more. Maybe she thought we wanted to 2 park per day option...HP Extras etc.

 

[norm&linda]

we are staying DVC at WDW but i booked one night a HRH Universal in order to get the front of the line privilege. The agent told me that although check in is 4 pm you can arrive first thing in the morning, check in and get the front of the line passes, which are then valid until midnight on checkout day. I am planning to purchase 2 day 1 park tickets to take advantage of this.