Newbie Needs MAJOR HELP Please

[piratemom07]

We will be coming to Orlando in August for 8 days the first 5 will be spent at Disney and this will be our 5th trip to Disney so I have that covered.

My problem is we are wanting to leave Disney and spend 2 nights/3 days to do Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure. I was wanting to get some hotel information for this. We cant afford to stay on property at the 3 hotels but we do want to stay close and drive or take a shuttle.

We do not require a fancy place, but we do want a SAFE, CLEAN PLACE
So for those of you who have visited several times can you please tell me what to do as far as planning this.

I do not have any discounts, also what is the best way to purchase tickets I have a seen a link on here for 89.00 is that the way to do it.

All help is appreciated we only have about 6 more weeks until we arrive, if needed you can send me a PM.
Thanks again,

 

[damo]

The $89 tickets are available through the www.universalorlando.com website. You can often find them for $79 at AAA. There is a group of hotels and restaurants that is within walking distance of the parks that is in a very, very safe area.

Check out http://orlandouniversal.place.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/place/index.jsp

It is newly refurbished and includes breakfast. There are other hotels in that area you can check out as well.

 

[calgarygary]

If you can find a way to stay onsite at Universal, do it. The front of the line benefit from an onsite hotel at Universal is the single biggest perk of all hotels (including those at WDW) in the Orlando area. Try cutting back on your budget while at Disney if you can. If you can't, remember to arrive early, early, early to get the most out of your visit to US/IOA.

 

[piratemom07]

I wanted to ask can you add something to your UO/IA ticket to get you in the better line. I thought I was reading about this in something I picked up. Might could add to my kids ticket if needed

We have cut our visit to disney down two days and that saved me roughly 525.00 which I know would pay for a hotel on property at UO but then I sitll have to come up with approx. 400.00 for tickets so this is my best bet. Staying close to but not on property.

Anymore ideals I would appreciate, also I know I should post this elsewhere but I am going to ask here.

If we were to arrive in FL one night before we are to check in at Disney can anyone recommend a hotel to stay at one for one night and not break the budget, but clean and safe area. We will be comming into the area from Tallahassee on 1-10.

Thanks Again.

 

[minniejack]

check to see what a AAA discount would get you. If you don't have AAA, now is the time to get the membership. Also, it will get you discounts on meals and merchandise.

 

[patster734]

I wanted to ask can you add something to your UO/IA ticket to get you in the better line. I thought I was reading about this in something I picked up. Might could add to my kids ticket if needed

We have cut our visit to disney down two days and that saved me roughly 525.00 which I know would pay for a hotel on property at UO but then I sitll have to come up with approx. 400.00 for tickets so this is my best bet. Staying close to but not on property.

Anymore ideals I would appreciate, also I know I should post this elsewhere but I am going to ask here.

If we were to arrive in FL one night before we are to check in at Disney can anyone recommend a hotel to stay at one for one night and not break the budget, but clean and safe area. We will be comming into the area from Tallahassee on 1-10.

Thanks Again.

Yes, its called the Express Pass. There are several posts on here about it. Basically the purchased Express Pass will give you access to the express lane for every ride (except Pteradon Flyers which doesn't have an express line) once. The price varies depending upon the season you visit and the day of the week. They can be purchases as one park/one day or both parks/one day. The pass is good for one person only.

That's why many people stay on-site. When you factor the cost to purchase an express pass for your entire party, it usually doesn't cost much more to get a room on-site. Plus the express pass for onsite guests has unlimited uses during the stay.

 

[macraven]

check to see what a AAA discount would get you. If you don't have AAA, now is the time to get the membership. Also, it will get you discounts on meals and merchandise.

by all means...
AAA is very affordable for membership

Yes, its called the Express Pass. There are several posts on here about it. Basically the purchased Express Pass will give you access to the express lane for every ride (except Pteradon Flyers which doesn't have an express line) once. The price varies depending upon the season you visit and the day of the week. They can be purchases as one park/one day or both parks/one day. The pass is good for one person only.

That's why many people stay on-site. When you factor the cost to purchase an express pass for your entire party, it usually doesn't cost much more to get a room on-site. Plus the express pass for onsite guests has unlimited uses during the stay.

couldn't have said it better

 

[cmac609]

We will be coming to Orlando in August for 8 days the first 5 will be spent at Disney and this will be our 5th trip to Disney so I have that covered.

My problem is we are wanting to leave Disney and spend 2 nights/3 days to do Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure. I was wanting to get some hotel information for this. We cant afford to stay on property at the 3 hotels but we do want to stay close and drive or take a shuttle.

We do not require a fancy place, but we do want a SAFE, CLEAN PLACE
So for those of you who have visited several times can you please tell me what to do as far as planning this.

I do not have any discounts, also what is the best way to purchase tickets I have a seen a link on here for 89.00 is that the way to do it.

All help is appreciated we only have about 6 more weeks until we arrive, if needed you can send me a PM.
Thanks again,

Hi

We just came back from our first Split Vacation. This was our 2nd time in Disney and decided only to do 5 nights this time and then we went to Universal for 3 nights. This was our first trip to Universal and we decided to stay at the Royal Pacific. We LOVED it. You really should (if you can) stay onsite especially because of the Express Ride Pass. It is great. There would of been no way to do both parks in 2 days without it. We did Universal one whole day (thanks to Express Pass) and then IOA in less than a day with a 1/2 day to relax a little. It was such a blessing. The cost really doesn't compare to staying off.

I guess it all depends on when you go too, with the crowds....but it was crowded and it helped soooo much...the longest wait we had was on the New Simpson ride which was about 10 minutes...the non-express line was 90 minutes.....much better than Disney express pass..

 

[kellymonaghan]

Stay on site!

If you've stayed on site at Disney, it'll seem like a real bargain, especially after you've experienced FOTL (front of the line access)!

 

[piratemom07]

Unless I can get a room for 150.00 a night that is the only way I could stay onsite I just do not have the funds to stay for 250.00 a night. I have two part time jobs and one of them I lost the end of May so that put a damper in me saving for the trip.

With AAA what kind of a discount would I get I looked on the AAA website but could never get an amount on what my rooms would cost.

 

[d4est]

What dates to do want to visit Universal? How many are in your party? Another special is the super saver rates when you spend 3 or more nights. Just playing around with dates (Aug 18, 19, 20) I got a rate of $182/night--super saver. Not $150, but close, for RPR. If you have an AP, I got $134/night for those days. AAA rates are not as cheap...again, not knowing your dates and using those above, it's $192.60 for RPR-standard room.

Not sure if any of this helps...

 

[Metro West]

If you can find a way to stay onsite at Universal, do it. The front of the line benefit from an onsite hotel at Universal is the single biggest perk of all hotels (including those at WDW) in the Orlando area. Try cutting back on your budget while at Disney if you can. If you can't, remember to arrive early, early, early to get the most out of your visit to US/IOA.

 

[piratemom07]

What dates to do want to visit Universal? How many are in your party? Another special is the super saver rates when you spend 3 or more nights. Just playing around with dates (Aug 18, 19, 20) I got a rate of $182/night--super saver. Not $150, but close, for RPR. If you have an AP, I got $134/night for those days. AAA rates are not as cheap...again, not knowing your dates and using those above, it's $192.60 for RPR-standard room.

Not sure if any of this helps...

Laurie

Our dates are Aug.18,19 leave on the 20th. What is the AP rate? I mean 182.00 is more manageable than 225.00 plus. I know you can add express pass to your ticket but do I understand that correctly it only lets you get ahead one time, and how much extra is it? I had thought about that for my kids. I know it will be much better to stay on property because my sister and her family are doing it and we are going together.

Any more suggestions I would greatly appreciate it.

Shannon

 

[cmac609]

Laurie

Our dates are Aug.18,19 leave on the 20th. What is the AP rate? I mean 182.00 is more manageable than 225.00 plus. I know you can add express pass to your ticket but do I understand that correctly it only lets you get ahead one time, and how much extra is it? I had thought about that for my kids. I know it will be much better to stay on property because my sister and her family are doing it and we are going together.

Any more suggestions I would greatly appreciate it.

Shannon

Hi Shannon

If you stay at one of the onsite hotels, you can use your express pass as many times as you like for each ride. AP stands for Annual Pass. We had a AAA discount for our stay.

I believe, but not sure, if you stay off site and buy the express pass then you can only use it one time a ride and I believe is is $40-50 a ticket a day. Cheaper to definitely stay on site then.

Do you have a AAA membership? That is what we used for both our disney and Unversal stays and saved alot of money compared to only spending around $60 for it.

Caroline

 

[piratemom07]

What dates to do want to visit Universal? How many are in your party? Another special is the super saver rates when you spend 3 or more nights. Just playing around with dates (Aug 18, 19, 20) I got a rate of $182/night--super saver. Not $150, but close, for RPR. If you have an AP, I got $134/night for those days. AAA rates are not as cheap...again, not knowing your dates and using those above, it's $192.60 for RPR-standard room.

Not sure if any of this helps...

Hi Shannon

If you stay at one of the onsite hotels, you can use your express pass as many times as you like for each ride. AP stands for Annual Pass. We had a AAA discount for our stay.

I believe, but not sure, if you stay off site and buy the express pass then you can only use it one time a ride and I believe is is $40-50 a ticket a day. Cheaper to definitely stay on site then.

Do you have a AAA membership? That is what we used for both our disney and Unversal stays and saved alot of money compared to only spending around $60 for it.

Caroline

We leave in two weeks would I still have time to get the AAA also if I am looking at the Royal Pacific and the rate I am pulling up is 224.00 per night what would the rate be with AAA can you please give me an example.

Thank you,
Shannon

PS Do I go to the AAA website to join

 

[macraven]

you can call any AAA office and join.
you can sign up on line also.

i called as i wanted to get tickets and check prices with them for the hotel.

 

[d4est]

We leave in two weeks would I still have time to get the AAA also if I am looking at the Royal Pacific and the rate I am pulling up is 224.00 per night what would the rate be with AAA can you please give me an example.

Thank you,
Shannon

PS Do I go to the AAA website to join

Yes, you still have time to join AAA. You don't need it when you make your ressie but should be asked for proof at check in.

I am not sure where you are pulling up the $224...Universal site? On aaa.com, I get $192.60 for a standard room at RPR. When the 3 hotels come up, the price you see is $239/night, but when you select RPR you see different room types and the standard is the cheapest.

The $182 rate is super saver through universal but you have to stay at least 3 nights. The deal is, the more you stay, the more you save.

 

[cmac609]

We leave in two weeks would I still have time to get the AAA also if I am looking at the Royal Pacific and the rate I am pulling up is 224.00 per night what would the rate be with AAA can you please give me an example.

Thank you,
Shannon

PS Do I go to the AAA website to join

Hi

If you want to call the AAA travel agent that I have been using for years, she would be able to call Universal and get you the best price. If you want her number, please email me at cmac609@yahoo.com.

Caroline

 

[BigDopeyMom]

FYI - We are going to be in Orlando 8/22-9/2 - we are going to WDW for the free dining which begins on 8/24. Our plan was to do Universal the first couple of days, but stay on WDW property the entire time (we are renting a car). I started stressing out about being able to do Universal on the weekend without FOTL....long story short a couple of days ago I changed our plans and booked Universal onsite at RPR for the first 2 nights, which means we will have 8/22, 8/23, 8/24 at Universal with FOTL.

I got AAA rate of $192.60 per night - hope this helps!

I would call Universal reservations and have them price out your options!

We are SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited to be staying onsite with FOTL