Military Vacation packages?

[JennTheGinger]

We are a family of 3 (2 adults, 1 12yr old). Husband is Active Duty military.
Looking to go for 5 nights: March 27th 2021 - Aprils 1st 2021 OR March 28th-April 2nd.

We want to stay at a resort where they give early park access to Universal Studios and another park (Island of Adventures?). Transportation to the parks are a huge plus. Cabana Bay resort is preferred, but any resort in the area will do.

Are there any deal packages for what we're looking for? I've been looking all day.
Any info on who to call with phone numbers and what sites to go to would be greatly appreciated. I see deals for just tickets, but they don't tell you how to get them.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Packages do not typical include the military discount on either the room rate or the tickets.

it’s almost always cheaper to get a military rate on the hotel( we like Royal Pacific). And then get the tickets from ITT.

only Royal Pacific, Portofino and Hard Rock are preferred with EP built in. All three are connected by a walkway( shaded) that is maybe a 15-20 minute walk to City Walk. Or, the water taxis that drop you off in CW close to the parks. The bus stop is at the far end of CW furthest from the parks.

 

[JennTheGinger]

Packages do not typical include the military discount on either the room rate or the tickets.

it’s almost always cheaper to get a military rate on the hotel( we like Royal Pacific). And then get the tickets from ITT.

only Royal Pacific, Portofino and Hard Rock are preferred with EP built in. All three are connected by a walkway( shaded) that is maybe a 15-20 minute walk to City Walk. Or, the water taxis that drop you off in CW close to the parks. The bus stop is at the far end of CW furthest from the parks.

Thank you! What is EP built in mean? And what is ITT? I'm sorry, this is our first time going to FL so I don't know what they mean.

 

[Mrsjvb]

The three hotels that include Express Pass as part of the room rate. Your hotel key is the EP and is separate from your ticket for admission. if you stay at any of the others, you must purchase EP and would get yet another thing to keep track of. You just have to do your own math when factoring in the higher average rate at a Preferred/ Premiere hotel versus a cheaper one plus the cost of adding EP.

ITT ( or MWR) is the base facility where you purchase discounted attraction tickets. They may or may not have actual tickets. Mine, NAS Pensacola, just has the vouchers which you must exchange for the real thing at the concierge desk at any Universal Resort.

 

[Angelia'sthree]

The Freedom Pass is the best ticket for military right now. We just purchased these at our local base for our upcoming trip. We also called Royal Pacific and inquired if military rates were available for our stay in March.

 

[JennTheGinger]

The Freedom Pass is the best ticket for military right now. We just purchased these at our local base for our upcoming trip. We also called Royal Pacific and inquired if military rates were available for our stay in March.

Over the last few days, the resorts have been booking up for our dates, there's hardly anything left now. We ended up getting a 2 queen deluxe room at the Portofino Bay resort, the suites/bedrooms were booked up everywhere except Cabana. I called the number that books for the resorts there and the guy helped me figure it out. I was going to stay at Cabana since they were the only ones left with a suite, but he convinced me to go to PB because of the Express Passes. Calling directly with military saved us almost half.

I already got the free SeaWorld tickets online. I was able to get ahold of the Leisure office today. Instead of doing 2 day 2 park tickets (which would be $220), we can get annual passes for $200. So if we go back later in the year, we don't have to worry about paying for Universal parks. I'm going tomorrow morning to pick up our tickets!