newbie to universal! help! have questions

[tina_la]

Looking to take a possible vacation to universal (darkside I know) when the new Harry Potter attraction (s) open. I need to know where to start? I need to find some good rates on everything from rooms to tickets. Where do I start?

Just a little background: we have been taking disney vacations for the past 2 years and going during free dining/ staying at values. For our family of five has been running under 2,000 but will prob go up next year to 2,300 or so because the youngest will be 3 (will have to get either a bigger room and he will need tickets). Would like to stay about that on price. Is this possible? What would be considered a good rate for a family of 5? Should I just go with a travel agent.

As you can see I am at the very beginning stages of looking into this. Any help would be great.

 

[rwdavis2]

There no value resorts on site at US. The least expensive is about $230 a night at the Royal Pacific. But you can walks to the parks and City Walk from all 3 resorts. They do have suites at close to double that price. 7-day 2-park tickets can be bought at the US web site for around $85. You can print them at home or get them there. They cost more if you buy them there.

But if you choose to stay offsite there are several hotels just outside the gates. I do believe they are listed on the Universal Orlando web site.

If you stay at one of the 3 on site hotels you get free Express Passes for both parks. It's essentially the same as a Disney Fastpass but is good for multiple rides on the attractions that take them. If you don't stay on site the Express Pass can be purchased as an additional charge to the ticket. But it's only good for for one user per ride.

I also think the dining at the hotels and City Walk is better than than Disney.

IMHO, their dining plan isn't that great so I wouldn't bother. It does not include all the dining options within the parks.
Bob

 

[macraven]

if you have AAA or the universal AP, you can get rooms much cheaper than that.

there is a special running now up to about mid august for pass holders to get rooms on site for $144 a night.

 

[czycropper]

As a family that has gone over to the "darkside" and loved Universal when we went last week after being in WDW for 5 days- I would recommend staying on site. I got my package through AAA and it was very reasonable to stay at RPR. The Express Pass made it more wonderful. We spoke with a couple who had waited up to an hour and half at the Spiderman & Hulk rides while we were able to ride both of them several times!

My DD absolutely loved RPR and Universal. They want to go back when the Harry Potter ride opens so we're already planning on going in May 2010. It was so nice to take breaks in the afternoon and go to the hotel pool - at the pool my DDs loved the activities they had. This is coming from a family that absolutely loves the Poly over at WDW.

As mentioned in the previous post - the meal plan is nothing compared to the WDW plan so don't really bother unless they change it a little bit in the next year. When we're on vacation we try and not eat hamburgers, pizza, chicken fingers for our meal and that's all that seemed to be at the restaurants that are on the plan- not much of a variety at all. Again, this is just our opinion and if your family likes that type of food then the plan is good for you

Have a great time planning!

 

[tina_la]

Thanks all good info. I had heard the dining plan was not so great. I currently do not have AAA but may look into the pricing and if the discounts would be worth it. Looked at a few of the trip reports and think it looks pretty good. NOt sure if we should just try for a US vacation and stay on site (the fast passes they are offering for the rides is a HUGE plus) or planning to stay at the WDW values and just do a couple of days at US. The kids are very excited about Harry Potter so I know we are going to go.

Anyone know the best place either online or in Orlando to pick up maybe one or two day tickets? The more I look at this stuff the more I think we might shoot over there for a day this Sept if I could get tickets pretty cheap.

 

[macraven]

early to about the third week of september have lighter crowds.

you should be fine as an off site guest as long as you get to the park before it opens.

 

[tina_la]

early to about the third week of september have lighter crowds.

you should be fine as an off site guest as long as you get to the park before it opens.

Great! Just what I was hoping. Going the week after Labor day. on internet now trying to see what's the cheapest one day tickets I can find.

 

[macraven]

Great! Just what I was hoping. Going the week after Labor day. on internet now trying to see what's the cheapest one day tickets I can find.

believe it or not the 7 day 2 park promo will come out cheaper for you...


you can still get that promo at AAA offices for $79.99. you can use the ticket for the first day and use another day of the pass on the day you check out.
hotel guests card keys are valid for fotl on check out day from the hotel


you would have to buy the 2 park one day ticket at the gate
did you check at the website for tickets for one day?

 

[loveysbydesign]

believe it or not the 7 day 2 park promo will come out cheaper for you...


you can still get that promo at AAA offices for $79.99. you can use the ticket for the first day and use another day of the pass on the day you check out.
hotel guests card keys are valid for fotl on check out day from the hotel


you would have to buy the 2 park one day ticket at the gate
did you check at the website for tickets for one day?

If we buy the tix now will we be able to use them in 2010???

 

[macraven]

If we buy the tix now will we be able to use them in 2010???

yes, as long as you don't activate them


once you use the first day on that pass, they are activated.

 

[tina_la]

I thought about buying the 7 day tickets too but it makes me a little nervous to hold onto them until 2010. Still debating on that but may do it.

so far I pulled cheap universal tickets online and finding 2 parks/1 day tickets for about 76.92/ adult to 66.59/child. Still looking... might just buy the 7 day tickets for under $100 use them this year and try and work in 2 days at Universal.