Never been there, can anyone help?

[Julie-at-home]

I would like to plan this US/IOA vacation much like I plan the Disney ones.
However, I know next to nothing about vacationing here.


1. Is it best to book on their website or cheaper somewhere else?
2. The site asks for a promo code, how do I get one?
3. Meal Plan: what is the best way to use this?
4. How many days do we need for each park? (3 kids, 10, 8, 3)
5. I think I would like to stay on Lowes property for the perks, do you stay there while you are visiting , say, Sea World? Does the shuttle service take you there, too?
6. Looks like Royal Pacific is the least costly of the 3. Any opinions on this hotel?

I appreciate any and all tips, tricks, cost savers, advice. Thanks in advance.

 

[ky07]

I would like to plan this US/IOA vacation much like I plan the Disney ones.
However, I know next to nothing about vacationing here.


1. Is it best to book on their website or cheaper somewhere else?
2. The site asks for a promo code, how do I get one?
3. Meal Plan: what is the best way to use this?
4. How many days do we need for each park? (3 kids, 10, 8, 3)
5. I think I would like to stay on Lowes property for the perks, do you stay there while you are visiting , say, Sea World? Does the shuttle service take you there, too?
6. Looks like Royal Pacific is the least costly of the 3. Any opinions on this hotel?

I appreciate any and all tips, tricks, cost savers, advice. Thanks in advance.

It depends on when you want to stay cause this year we will be onsite at RPR for 3 days for the first time in july and I am a AAA member and found rates cheaper on thier site and others call universal direct and have gotten cheaper rates.
2. I really don't know other than putting AAA and the rates are avaliable then it shows up
3. The meal plan is when you get it is certain places in the parks you can eat and you can eat as often and as much as you want on the food that is offered on the meal deal list and I have 2 boys and have found it wouldn't be worth it to us since they want to ride the rides and really don't want to eat until we leave the park or they just get so hungry that they can't hold out any longer.
4. You can still stay onsite and go to seaworld but they don't offer a free shuttle service but you can pay for a shuttle service such as mears to pick you up at the resort and bring you back and I think it can be as little as $16.00 a person
5. if you stay onsite then you have fotl and you should be able to do both parks in 2 days
6. the way it goes with the hotels is the cheapest is RPR then HRH and PBR being the most expensive.
As far as money saving tips is if you have a AAA card then show it at the restaurants and shops they will give you a 10% dicount.
Hope this helps

 

[Julie-at-home]

So, do most people stay at the Lowes resort for just the couple of days they need for US/IOA, then move to a different hotel while they are visiting Sea World and other places? Or do you use the Lowes resort as home base while you go everywhere and anywhere?

 

[ky07]

So, do most people stay at the Lowes resort for just the couple of days they need for US/IOA, then move to a different hotel while they are visiting Sea World and other places? Or do you use the Lowes resort as home base while you go everywhere and anywhere?

I think some do use it as there home base but for me when going to sea world I stay offsite and the hotel we usually use is the Doubletree on Major Blvd cause its a nice hotel and they offer a free shuttle to sea world and back and if we can't afford to stay onsite we stay there casue they also offer free shuttle to universal and plus its only a 10 min walk to universal but think thier rates went up but like I said before if you have a AAA card you can get a standard room on thier site for $80.00 a night and thats what we are doing before staying onsite this year our first two days are at the Doubletree.

 

[wwessing]

I would like to plan this US/IOA vacation much like I plan the Disney ones.
However, I know next to nothing about vacationing here.


1. Is it best to book on their website or cheaper somewhere else?
First, if you are not currently a Loews First member, I would recommend you sign up. Just visit www.loewsfirst.com and you can see all the perks there. After you have done that, I would go to the hotel website, or call directly, and see what rates are available. There are discounts available if you are an AP holder, AAA member and probably a few others. Also, if you are staying 3 nights or more, it is likely there will be "supersaver" rates available. You put in your dates and the rate will show up if available. . there is no code for this rate. Supersaver is the best rate available.

2. The site asks for a promo code, how do I get one?
I am not certain how to answer this. I don't know of any codes.

3. Meal Plan: what is the best way to use this?
Unless your kids are big eaters and not very particular about what they eat, this may not be the best deal for your family. The menu is fairly limited and mostly fast food type options.

4. How many days do we need for each park? (3 kids, 10, 8, 3)
It would depend on if you just want a quick tour for the highlights or if you really want to visit and explore. Most would say a day in each park and a 3rd day for revisiting your favorites. . .at minimum

5. I think I would like to stay on Lowes property for the perks, do you stay there while you are visiting , say, Sea World? Does the shuttle service take you there, too?
Our family does not like to be dependant on the shuttles. We like to do things at our own pace and not be at the mercy of someone else's schedule. So, other than I know shuttles are available, I can't provide much information.

6. Looks like Royal Pacific is the least costly of the 3. Any opinions on this hotel?
I would recommend you do your homework and take a good look at all of the options, then decide which suits your family. RPR has very favorable reviews, like the others. It's almost impossible to go wrong when staying on-site. RPR is usually the least expensive, but also has the smallest rooms. Having said that, if you don't plan to spend alot of time in your room, it probably wouldn't matter too much. It all depends on what your preferences are and what you are able/willing to spend.

I appreciate any and all tips, tricks, cost savers, advice. Thanks in advance.

Have you checked out tickets yet? Look at the 7 day unlimited admission ticket. It's really the best deal out there. . . even if you aren't going to spend all those days, it's likely the most economical unless you are only going for a day or two.

 

[damo]

There is a free shuttle from Universal to Sea World and Wet 'n Wild. Just inquire at the front desk.

3 days is a perfect universal vacation.

Book through your AAA or the website. There are promo codes for annual pass (aph) and some of the breakfast deals. The AAA promo code will tell you if it is available but you can't book it or find out what it is for some strange reason.

Royal Pacific is great for kids like yours. They have a huge kiddie area at the pool.

 

[wwessing]

So, do most people stay at the Lowes resort for just the couple of days they need for US/IOA, then move to a different hotel while they are visiting Sea World and other places? Or do you use the Lowes resort as home base while you go everywhere and anywhere?

I think probably most people do different things. Some for sure make Uni resort their home base and go from there. Others move around. . . staying a few days at a disney resort maybe, then a few days at Universal, perhaps a few days offsite.

We are spending 9 nights in hotels. The first 3 are off site, but that is only because our kids really, really, really wanted to spend some time at the Nickelodeon place. The next 6 will be spend at HRH and we will be taking some time to visit other places. One full day will be spent at Busch Gardens, and perhaps another afternoon someplace else. We also have 2 days at SeaWorld, but will be going there while staying at Nick Hotel.

It's a bit of a challenge for our family to move around, so 2 hotels is our limit.

 

[sha_lyn]

1. Is it best to book on their website or cheaper somewhere else?

Sign up for a loews first membership on the loews website. They will offer codes/special rates from time to time

2. The site asks for a promo code, how do I get one?

See above
3. Meal Plan: what is the best way to use this?

Used it once and didn't think it was worth the $. We had rather eat sitdown at USO.

4. How many days do we need for each park? (3 kids, 10, 8, 3)

1 1/2 -2 depending on the crowd levels.


5. I think I would like to stay on Lowes property for the perks, do you stay there while you are visiting , say, Sea World? Does the shuttle service take you there, too?

Yes.... we used the shuttle service. to Sea World

6. Looks like Royal Pacific is the least costly of the 3. Any opinions on this hotel?

Love love love RPR. Beautiful resort, great service and wonderful restaurants.


Have also stayed at HRH 2x and had problems both times. Beautiful hotel, but the staff wouldn't know how to find it's way out of a paper bag.

 

[ky07]

Sorry everybody like I said it will be my first time this year staying onsite and I had no idea they offered free shuttle to sea world or wet n wild

 

[jenseib]

Can you post a link to the lowes site?
How much is the Double tree hotel?

 

[Julie-at-home]

It costs $14 + tax per night to park at the 3 Lowes hotels?!?!?!?! That is criminal. (another reason to love Disney, free parking at the resorts)

 

[sha_lyn]

http://www.loewshotels.com/en/default.aspx

It costs $14 + tax per night to park at the 3 Lowes hotels?!?!?!?! That is criminal. (another reason to love Disney, free parking at the resorts

The 3 loews hotels at Universal are comparable to Deluxe hotels at WDW, but cost much less per night to stay in. All Hotels incur expenses for their parking lots. WDW just includes their expenses in the rate that everyone pays to stay at the hotels.