Onsite Universal Hotels + Tickets

[damo]

Thanks. Just called hotel, and no special promo going or special for AAA since it's busy week for them. :-(

booo

 

[Jedi5]

I suggest you go to www.undercovertourist.com to get them. They are cheaper there.

I just went to UnderCover for tickets and saw their prices.
Are they cheaper if you buy them from the secret link sent by MouseSavers?

 

[damo]

I just went to UnderCover for tickets and saw their prices.
Are they cheaper if you buy them from the secret link sent by MouseSavers?

I'm not sure if they are much cheaper. Maybe a teeny bit.

 

[Jedi5]

Thanks Damo.

We've never been to Universal so we're not really sure what to expect.

We currently have been quoted a price for $1013.40 staying at the Hard Rock
from April 29th to May 3rd. The quote is for 2 adults and 2 kids.
Most likely I'm going to buy the park tickets (park to park) from UC as suggested.

Will the 4 days we'll be there at Universal be more than enough to see everything?

I saw the meal plans they have for kids, in your opinion, are they worth it?
Not to worried for us adults, mostly for the kids.

Thanks.

 

[macraven]

check the menus for the places in the park and see if it will appeal to the kids.
go to the park/UO website for that info.

only 3 restuarants per park are valid in the meal deal promo.
beverages are not included.


meal deal begins at 11:00 and terminates 30 minutes prior to park closing.

you would need to consume 3 meals in order to come out ahead.

 

[damo]

Thanks Damo.

We've never been to Universal so we're not really sure what to expect.

We currently have been quoted a price for $1013.40 staying at the Hard Rock
from April 29th to May 3rd. The quote is for 2 adults and 2 kids.
Most likely I'm going to buy the park tickets (park to park) from UC as suggested.

Will the 4 days we'll be there at Universal be more than enough to see everything?

I saw the meal plans they have for kids, in your opinion, are they worth it?
Not to worried for us adults, mostly for the kids.

Thanks.

4 days is a great length of time to stay and the weather should be great for riding all the water rides.

Listen to mac about the meal deal. I have never used it and she is the pro!

There are so many good restaurants at the resort that aren't included in the meal deal. You'd be missing out a lot if you used it for more than 1 day.

 

[finalwish]

two day base tickets through undercover tourist: $604.75 including tax (3 adults 2 kids)

I night at rpr (base price--not AAA, you'd have to call): $403.88 including tax

total: $1008.63



Seems like in the package price for tickets, they aren't charging the processing fee for the 2 day 1 park tickets...interesting

So the advantage of purchasing separately would just be the lack of advance payments, here, and the price if a AAA one is available.

I went through mousesavers link of Undercover Tourist to bring the price of tickets down to $ 597.76. So, with hotel it would be $1001.64... so pretty close to the vacation package from Universal Travel... so decided to cancel the pkg and purchased hotel and tickets separately for the flexibility just in case to rebook hotel if the price gets lowered. Thanks.

 

[finalwish]

I just went to UnderCover for tickets and saw their prices.
Are they cheaper if you buy them from the secret link sent by MouseSavers?

About $7 cheaper for 3 adults/2 kids through MouseSavers.

 

[damo]

I went through mousesavers link of Undercover Tourist to bring the price of tickets down to $ 597.76. So, with hotel it would be $1001.64... so pretty close to the vacation package from Universal Travel... so decided to cancel the pkg and purchased hotel and tickets separately for the flexibility just in case to rebook hotel if the price gets lowered. Thanks.

Good luck!!! I hope prices do go down for you!

 

[Jedi5]

check the menus for the places in the park and see if it will appeal to the kids.
go to the park/UO website for that info.

only 3 restuarants per park are valid in the meal deal promo.
beverages are not included.


meal deal begins at 11:00 and terminates 30 minutes prior to park closing.

you would need to consume 3 meals in order to come out ahead.

So for a family going for the first time, would you suggest to NOT get a dinning plan? Not sure my kids will eat 3 meals per day.

I couldn't find this online but are snack included in the kids DP?
An ice cream, popcorn, or drink?

 

[macraven]

So for a family going for the first time, would you suggest to NOT get a dinning plan? Not sure my kids will eat 3 meals per day.

I couldn't find this online but are snack included in the kids DP?
An ice cream, popcorn, or drink?

the children would order the kids meal only.
it includes the entree.
could be burger and fries and a desert.
that is it.

no snack type of food, no soft drinks, no popcorn.

if they want more, then they need to go back thru the order line.

if they won't eat more than 2 times while in the park, it is not worth it.

it is time consuming to do the meal plan.
if you go during the normal eating periods, there could be some what of a wait if you are going in the summer.

the first time a family is visiting the parks, spend the time on what the park has to offer.
be it shows, outdoor entertainment, the characters, rides, looking thru the shops, pin carts, etc.

you are limited to only 3 restuarants per park.
if you are at the studios, that would be Mel's (basically burgers, fries type of food), Louie's, which is a favor of many that go there (meatball sandwiches, pizza, salads, fruit cups, pasta dishes, etc) and IFFF/international food, film, festival which has a variety of entrees. american/chicken dinners, burgers, chinese dinners, and i forgot the other one....

louie's and ifff are decent places.
i go there frequently but only order certain foods at ifff.

i suggest to eat breakfast prior to going to the park.
do lunch at an off time to avoid any long lines at the cs, finish up in the park with a few snacks and then do dinner at city walk or one of the hotels onsite.

i don't know when you are going but if you go in the low season, the parks close early. you wouldn't want to lose park time due to sitting down for an hour to eat during the day a couple of times.

if you plan to go two days, plan the second day for the meal deal for your family if you are really interested in it.

some of the menus are listed in damo's menu thread that is a sticky.
if you can't find it there, post back and i'll pull them up for you.

 

[macraven]

Universal Studios Florida® Participating Restaurants


Mel’s Drive-In - Burgers, Chicken and Salads


Cuisine

Hamburgers, fries, chicken sandwiches, chicken fingers, onion rings, root beer floats and frosty milk shakes


Louie's Italian Restaurant - Pizza, Pasta, and Salads


Louie's Italian Restaurant

Meal Deal Best for Family
You might rub elbows with Michael Corleone himself at Louie's, the Italian restaurant home to the Bronx's best Pizza, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Fettuccini, Meatball Subs, Salads, plus Gelato & Italian Ice.


International Food and Film Festival - Asian, Italian, and American Food
You can sample cuisine from around the globe as you stroll through the World Expo section of Universal Studios. Sit down to a full meal at the International Food & Film Festival, or enjoy the best of Springfield with a hot dog and a Squishee in front of the Kwik-E-Mart.

International Food and Film Festival

Meal Deal Best for Family
No matter what your native tongue, when it’s time to say "I'm hungry' this cafeteria-style food court speaks your language. Choose from Asian, Italian, and American Dishes, Salads, and a Soft Serve Ice Cream window.





Food service ends 30 minutes before theme park closing and is not valid during Halloween Horror Nights event nights.


Universal's Islands of Adventure® Participating Restaurants

Circus McGurkus Café Stoo-pendous™ - Fried Chicken, Spaghetti, Pizza, Chicken Caesar Salad, Burgers and Chicken Sandwiches

Comic Strip Cafe® - Chinese, Italian, New England and American Food

The Burger Digs® - Burgers, Chicken Sandwiches, and Chicken Fingers

 

[Jedi5]

But remember, it is usually cheaper to buy the hotel and tickets separately.

I looked into buying hotel and tickets separately and after a price comparison, it was cheaper to buy this way over a package deal.

But...

I was told that if I were to book an onsite hotel room and buy tickets separately, I lose the CityWalk Passes, the Early Admission to the Parks, and the Express Ride Access Passes.

The perks of buying a vacation package is that you get all those components.

Can anyone confirm that?

 

[damo]

I looked into buying hotel and tickets separately and after a price comparison, it was cheaper to buy this way over a package deal.

But...

I was told that if I were to book an onsite hotel room and buy tickets separately, I lose the CityWalk Passes, the Early Admission to the Parks, and the Express Ride Access Passes.

The perks of buying a vacation package is that you get all those components.

Can anyone confirm that?

That is all false. As long as you stay onsite you get early admission and express. As long as you buy a multiday ticket, you get Citywalk passes.

They don't need to be purchased together and it doesn't matter where you purchase them from.

 

[Jedi5]

thanks damo.

I didn't sound right to me but I've never been to US so I wouldn't know to begin with.

PM sent.

 

[damo]

thanks damo.

I didn't sound right to me but I've never been to US so I wouldn't know to begin with.

PM sent.

Your room key is your express pass and your proof for early admission. And all the Citywalk pass gives you is access to the clubs later at night if you want to go clubbing. You still get access to everything else in Citywalk for free.