New to Universal Orlando Questions

[jsfein]

I will be visiting Universal in April 2009 and would like to stay at one of the resort hotels. We're planning a 4 day/3 night stay. A few questions from a Universal virgin:

1. I have a family of 6. The kids will be ages 10, 9, 7, and 1. Will the resort hotels accommodate my family size? Will I need to go into a deluxe or suite room? The Disney deluxes permit a 6th person under the age of 3 -- are the Universal resorts similar?

2. If I want to book the hotel as room only (not as part of a package), what is the best way to go about doing so to get the best price? Universal website? Loew's website? AAA? TA? Other?

3. When I can expect room rates to be released for April 2009?

4. I will probably purchase my park tickets in advance through a Universal promotion or AAA. Are there different priced tickets for different ages?

I'm sure I'll have lots more questions and really do appreciate people who take the time to read my post and respond. Thanks.

 

[macraven]

I will be visiting Universal in April 2009 and would like to stay at one of the resort hotels. We're planning a 4 day/3 night stay. A few questions from a Universal virgin:

1. I have a family of 6. The kids will be ages 10, 9, 7, and 1. Will the resort hotels accommodate my family size? Will I need to go into a deluxe or suite room? The Disney deluxes permit a 6th person under the age of 3 -- are the Universal resorts similar?

2. If I want to book the hotel as room only (not as part of a package), what is the best way to go about doing so to get the best price? Universal website? Loew's website? AAA? TA? Other?

3. When I can expect room rates to be released for April 2009?

4. I will probably purchase my park tickets in advance through a Universal promotion or AAA. Are there different priced tickets for different ages?

I'm sure I'll have lots more questions and really do appreciate people who take the time to read my post and respond. Thanks.

you would have to book 2 rooms if you stayed on site.

due to the fire codes, only 5 people per room. it is different than disney.

you count all children as people in the room.

usually, you get the better deals by buying each thing separately...room only/ tickets, etc.

 

[pixeegrl]

Also for some reason whenever I tried to book more than 3 days online it would only bring up the "stay 4 days get 2 free tickets deal". That price per day was always higher than the shorter stays. I wound up having to call and book a AAA rate to avoid that option. Thought that was silly.

 

[macraven]

i have had that happen to me also

you put your dates in and you get the listing for the specials which has the tickets in the deal.

i don't need the tickets.

i'll try the UO site, net booker, AAA site.....one of them gets me to the info i need.

isn't it frustrating not to see what you went on the site for in the first place on dates and rates.............

 

[jsfein]

Thank you for the replies. I take it from your response that booking a suite or deluxe room also doesn't allow for a family of 6?

I understand that April 2009 rates are not yet released. Can I still book one of the Universal resorts without the rates yet out there? What will the charge be?

Thanks again.

 

[macraven]

you can book by phone.
are you going to leave the baby with relatives to meet the room number for people?

5 is their limit on people booked in the room.

 

[macraven]

sorry, didn't see you had anoather portion of a question.


you book now to secure the room.
you call and modify your rate when the discount rates come out.

you do it just like disney booking in advance.

you're booked at rack rate and can have the rate lowered.

all you are doing is securing and blocking out that room for your trip.
you pay one night deposit down.
you pay the remainder when you check out of the hotel.

 

[jsfein]

Again, thank you for this very helpful info. In view of the fact that we cannot stay in one Universal resort and probably can't afford two rooms, I need to consider staying offsite. If I stay offsite and purchase the express (front of the line) pass for the 2 adults and 3 kids, I assume that I don't need to purchase any admission/express pass for the 1 year old? Will we have any problem bringing the 1 year old into the express line for a child swap without the infant having a pass? The answer seems obvious that it shouldn't be a problem, but you never know.