Need Help- 1st Time at Universal

[Bryce's Mom]

This is our 1st time going to Universal Orlando, so I would love any tips on how to save money booking the resort and tickets. We are planning the trip for my son's 8th birthday in July. We wanted to arrive on Sunday July 2nd and leave on Saturday July 8th. We went to Disney World and stayed at the Wilderness Lodge for six nights last July, so we wanted to go back to Disney on the 2nd and 3rd to go to Blizzard Beach and Downtown Disney (the things we missed last time), then go to the Hard Rock Hotel from the 4th through the night of the 7th.
We thought about staying at the Comfort Suites Main Gate East for the Disney Days (to save money). Has anyone stayed there; is it nice? Is the Hard Rock Hotel worth the price? What ticket option should we get for 4 days at Universal? Do you know of any birthday specials there? Thanks for any advice you can give!

 

[macraven]

i will try to answer some of your questions but wil have to go back and reread what i have missed.

you can get discounts on the hrh room with having an ap from universal,
the AAA card, mcard, universal fan club card. if there are more, i am not aware of them.

you can get the free magicorlando card which will give you 10% off food and merch at some places. you can get the card online and print if off.
with the AAA , mc, you can get 10% off food and merch in the park and at city walk.

if you go online to the universal site, check the promos they have offered.
right now they have the special of stay 3 nights get a 4th free on site and a package of tickets with your stay. it expires before i would be going so i don't remember the specifics right now.

if you see the mc logo, click on that to see what specials they are running.
i usually call universal on the toll free number and talk to one of their agents and have them tell me the deals/specials they have to offer.

at the tourist stops and at dennys for example, you can pick up coupons and booklets that you can use at city walk. i got one last year and it had a coupon for buy one drink/soda get one free. also had one for hard rock cafe.

right now there is a special for each adult ticket to universal you can get a childs ticket for free. there are a few threads on this board that explains it quite well.

you should try to book now if you plan to stay onsite at universal. hard rock might fill up around the 4th, but i don't know that for a fact. i stay away from disney and universal in the summer as much as possible.....too crowded for me.
you mentioned comfort inn for disney. we used it once and it was not bad, but this was quite a few years ago.

if i can think of anything to add i will stop back here again. there are many on this board that can add to what i have said. there are some experts here.
hth

 

[Bryce's Mom]

Thanks for the advice- I think I will try AAA and MC for discounts. We are trying to book in the next couple weeks so we don't miss out on a room at the Hard Rock.

 

[macraven]

just wanted to add,
i booked march 6 2005 when i went on the 05 oct trip and stay at hrh.

i got the room with the AAA discount.

2 weeks later, maybe it was 3 weeks, i called to add another room for my cousin but was told hrh was sold out for the weekend i needed.

it was a hhn weekend so that was the case for me. hopefully you won't encounter that in july.

when you book at a loews hotel, you only pay 1 night stay to hold the ressie.

 

[macraven]

We thought about staying at the Comfort Suites Main Gate East for the Disney Days (to save money). Has anyone stayed there; is it nice? Is the Hard Rock Hotel worth the price? What ticket option should we get for 4 days at Universal? Do you know of any birthday specials there? Thanks for any advice you can give!

i just read on the mouse for less board that someone stayed at the main gate west comfort suites and was quite satisfied with the costs and hotel.
it is less than 10 miles from the property they said. the place is renovating rooms but is was not an issue for that group that stayed there.

you might want to check the maingate west CS and compare the amenities and cost. just a thought.