Need your help...First trip to US and staying onsite...Questions

[Mastiff]

Okay, we have done the Disney thing several times before, so I have got that down to a tee but now we are planning a trip this December and would like to spend a couple of days at US/IOA and I have no idea where to start.

Can someone help me as to the best(cheapest) way to go about getting hotel and tickets.

We are a family of 4. Kids are 11 and 7. We are going to stay on-site at US. Not sure which hotel, any suggestions are appreciated. Leaning towards Portofino but not sure.

So do I call Universal and do a package deal like you do with Disney or is it better to book hotel and tickets separate?

You Dis'ers never let me down!

Thank you

 

[mysparky]

There are many more on this board that possess much more knowledge than I, but I'll tell you what I've found...

This will be our 2nd on-site trip this summer and since we usually only stay 2 nights, we never qualify for the "stay more-save more" promotion. For our dates, the Annual Passholder discount has been the best rate. We need 2 rooms (2 adults, 5 kids) and the savings per room with the annual passholder rate has been about $90/night/room ($159/night with pass versus $224 without pass).

If we did not have the annual pass, then the AAA rate would have been the best way to go. I don't remember the exact figure, but the savings with AAA was about $40/room/night.

With both AAA and the passholder, you can also receive discounts (10-15%) for food at most restaurants.

One thing I would recommend is to book your room now. If the rate goes down, you can call back and get that better rate.

Finally, Portofino's is a beautiful hotel and we stayed there a few years ago, but IMHO, the walk from the HRH just cannot be beat! Taking the boat is always an option, but if you don't want to wait around, HRH is all of a 5-6 min walk along a really nice path.

 

[mjohnson96]

I would not reccomend doing a package with Universal, usually you can piece part your trip out instead and save more that way. I keep my AP renewed since the cost now to do that is less than a ticket for a week and we also get the room, food, and merchandise discounts. The first year I got the AP the cost savings on the room alone made up the price difference on the ticket. If you would rather go the AAA route usually the savings also make up the difference of the membership cost.

The rooms are bigger over at PBH but I would check into HRH and maybe a deluxe room, it has a pull out sofa in a study area. The HRH and RPR has more going on for kids. DD (7) loves the pool at PRR since it has the play area but she also likes the slide at HRH. If your at HRH then your in the middle and can always pool hop to the other 2 resorts.

The walk is significantly longer from PBH than from HRH or RPR and we hate waiting on the boats so I like having a shorter walk back to the hotel in the afternoon.

If you can, book now and then call back to change the rate when they go down. This will ensure that you do get a room for the nights that you want.