October HRH, PBH rates

[NashvilleTrio]

For the first time ever our our son's school system will have a week long fall break this October. I've heard that the on-site hotels don't discount during this time because of HHN. I can understand not discounting the weekend nights (Fri & Sat), but we were planning on a 5 night stay during the week (check in Sunday, check out Friday morning).

Are we likely to see any heavy discounting for the weekday nights? We have AAA and AP. There are 5 (4adults/1child) of us, so we'd prefer a Deluxe Double Queen at either HRH or PBH.

We're YouFirst Gold so if we book a Deluxe Queen at PBH are we eligible for a free upgrade to a Portofino Suite, if available? Or is it additional $$$ per night if available?

Our budget is around $250/night before taxes. If we're not likely to be offered these rates, I'm going to suggest we bump the trip up to early August or Labor Day weekend while the SuperSaver rates are still being offered. You can't beat the 5/3 deal.

Thanks for your help and rate speculation!

 

[Laurabearz]

Wowie Zowie, I just priced out a 5 night Oct stay and I am shocked at the cost.



It is such a great time to be there, so I can see how they dare to charge so much.

You can get the Royal Pacific for $249 (plus tax) for Columbus day week (that's the week I plugged in, your mileage may vary)

It's the

STAY 4, PLAY MORE PACKAGE
Includes TWO (2) 2-PARK UNLIMITED ADMISSION TICKETS for both Universal Orlando theme prks

Perhaps if you can you can find a better rate without tickets.

Keep us posted!

 

[NashvilleTrio]

Wowie Zowie, I just priced out a 5 night Oct stay and I am shocked at the cost.

Wowie Zowie is right. The SuperSaver rates run through Oct 8, but that means taking our son out of school for a week only to have a week out of school later in the month.

 

[bubba's mom]

We're YouFirst Gold so if we book a Deluxe Queen at PBH are we eligible for a free upgrade to a Portofino Suite, if available? Or is it additional $$$ per night if available?

Can't book a deluxe and get upgraded to Suite... Have to book standard...sorry

I still hope you are able to make the trip tho!

 

[NashvilleTrio]

Thanks for the replies guys. We decided to move our trip to early August instead of October while the SS rates are still being offered. It's going to be hot, but the parks should be open later which means 2 things: Universal 360 and JAWS AT NIGHT!!!!!

We've booked a handicap accesible Deluxe Queen Room for 4 adults and 1 child at the Portofino. With the Loews Gold free upgrade and the SS rates, we saved around $1000 over rack rates on our 5 night stay!

 

[mtblujeans]

We've just decided to go to USO the third week of October and I don't see a discounted resort room in sight.

 

[AlexandNessa]

I am surprised in this economy that they aren't discounting rooms for HHN. HHN must really have picked up in popularity or they're experimenting this year to see what the HHN market will bear.

Last year we booked a std room at RPR and were upgraded to a King Suite: rate $199/night and dates: 10/9 - 10/14/08.

 

[patster734]

A couple of points about October:

1. If you are a member of AAA, call Universal. AAA rates aren't showing on Universal's website for October. I was able to get AAA rates from Travelocity, but as that website is considered a 3rd party, Loews Youfirst benefits don't apply. As I am a YouFirst Gold member, I called Universal, got the AAA rate and my YouFirst membership applied to my stay. The AAA rate has been running at $228.65 for Friday night/Saturday night stays and $211.65 for the other nights.

2. I've noticed that there are 2 APH rates possible. The first APH rate is usually available year round and will be comparable in price to the AAA rates, sometimes cheaper, sometimes more expensive. Lately, that rate has been more expensive though. The other APH rate is usually a highly discounted rate that I've seen for less than $150 per night. Those rates are usually released quarterly for the upcoming 3 months. If those rates are available for October, they'll probably be released in August or September.

 

[U2_rocks!]

What happens if you have a reservation far in advance (to make sure you get a room) and then they release a really good AP rate 3 months before - can you call and get your reservation changed to the new AP rate?

 

[Laurabearz]

What happens if you have a reservation far in advance (to make sure you get a room) and then they release a really good AP rate 3 months before - can you call and get your reservation changed to the new AP rate?

Yes you can

 

[U2_rocks!]

Yes you can

Thanks - good to know!

 

[macraven]

We've just decided to go to USO the third week of October and I don't see a discounted resort room in sight.

i doubt that any of us will this year.

i have called again to see if there are any drops in the aaa or ap discounts.
i booked my room for the columbus day time period. will be there 6 days.

the other day, the loews clerk told me not to expect any drops in my rate.
she said the aaa and ap rates will increase later this summer for the rooms.

HHN fills the rooms in October.
it is a case of supply and demand.


The only time i have ever seen a drop in the last 8 years in October has been when a vacation agency (ie orangevacations, etc) has let a block of rooms to go back to the hotel.

On those times, since it is at the last moment before penalty fees are accessed, the ap rate usually drops.

Anyone can cancel their ressie if they are 4 days out from the arrival date.

When agencies book blocks of rooms to use to sell with a vacation package, they release those rooms that they could not sell back to the hotels before the cancellation deadline.

I'm in orlando 8 days before i check in to the Universal hotels.
I rarely call to modify my room rate at that point.

Sometimes, an agency will release blocks of rooms back to the hotel 3 weeks out. When those rooms are then in the system again, they go like hotcakes. You usually see great discounts with the ap at that time then.


I booked in January and my rate is $20 less than what lauraberz quoted for the same hotel she found this week. That is using the ap or aaa rate too.

 

[Laurabearz]

I booked in January and my rate is $20 less than what lauraberz quoted for the same hotel she found this week. That is using the ap or aaa rate too.

My rate posted above included 2 park tickets, not sure if that makes a difference though...

But as stated by several posters October is prime time at US/IOA, and the rooms fill up without discounts.

 

[macraven]

even the seasonal rate is the same as that promo with the 2 tickets.


i was surprised to see that rate that way.

 

[macraven]

But as stated by several posters October is prime time at US/IOA, and the rooms fill up without discounts.

Laura, I don't know if i mentioned this to you before, but in January when I started to book my room, I tried to book the PBH.

I have the loews platinum and it would upgrade me for free to a suite at PBH.

When I called loews to make the booking, i was told there were no suites available for my dates in October for that hotel.
They have some standard rooms available but no upgrades that week.

They told me there will be 2 conventions at that hotel during the period i want to book and also many have booked already for the hhn time period.


dang!!!!


I usually book on january 1st each year but this time waited near the last week of that month to book.

Readers digest version: booked in january for RPB and getting the king suite as the free upgrade.

I have called back again to see if any openings at pbh w/ upgrade for my dates but no dice.
I'm going to stay with what I have.
Too stressful to play around with hotels for openings for me now.

 

[NashvilleTrio]

Too stressful to play around with hotels for openings

Yep, that's why went decided to ditch the October trip and move it to mid August. Less stress (and money too).

 

[Laurabearz]

Your not alone.

We have been to WDW/US/IOA for the past 5 or 6 Octobers, and decided this year to just buck up and do a summer trip (getting to hard to pull the kids from school)

Even though summer is peak, we are finding alot of the cheaper.

Our RPR Club room is cheaper than a standard room in Oct. We will get lots of use of it.

 

[macraven]

Laura, no HHN for you this year?????

 

[ADP]

When I went last October 20th - 24th I received a Super Saver Rate at the Hard Rock Hotel. Keep checking your rates.

 

[macraven]

when i called yesterday, was told no super saver rates for my time period.
the ss ends on oct 8th, i check in on the 8th.

tm at the hotel also told me they doubt they will release ss rates for october this year as rooms are booking up quickly now months out....

yes, it would be wonderful to have the ss extended while i am there but was told not to count on it.

whatever the case, i already booked in january and used the AAA for a decent discount