Persons in room matter for Express pass?

[Funtrip2006]

Ok so I posted here because the hotel area seems dead.

Hi all

I have a few quick questions that I was wondering if any of you knew the answers. I am going down there at the end of June (coming up!) and want to book at a hotel on the property. This will be the 2nd time I have been down there however 1st for my 5 year old daughter and 1st time staying on the property. We are doing this to take advantage of the kidsfree/express pass deal and ease of the vacation.

It will be 3 adults and 1 child all together going. Now I am looking to stay at the Royal Pacific Resort however having some issues on something. They want to charge about $40 or so I think it was bucks per night more to have the 3rd adult in the room. Is this normal and do I have to say 3 adults and 1 child? If I just have 2 adults and 1 child will I still be able to get an extra room key for the 3rd adult so they can use express pass? I have never paid more for an extra person before ever in all my travels unless there was more then 4 people and I feel like I am being fooled in getting charged it now. No hotel in Vegas, Tokyo, Florida in past visits, etc has ever charged me more and now I run into this... So anyone have any insight please? Thanks!

2 other quick things... Are meal deals worth it or will I find myself eating snacks and other places? I know my daughter will get to eat free at the same places as the meal deal due to the vacation package so I am still not sure if I want to go that route for the adult food or not, any suggestions? Last, does the Sea world shuttle get you to the park before it opens and after it closes or is it like the Busch Gardens shuttle that gets you there hours after it opens and picks you up hours before it closes where you really don't get your moneys worth for the tickets you buy.

Thank you for all your help

 

[disneyfreakk]

let me start off by saying hello and welcome to the disboards!

Would you please clearify some things? Where are you finding the "kidsfree/express pass deal" ? Did you mean the KIDS STAY-PLAY-EAT FREE! Pkg w/2 Adult tix and 2 Kids Tix ages 3-9. Kids dining included? It doesnt make any sense why there would be a hotel deal with express passes because at all three universal hotels resort guests use their room keys as express passes. How many nights are you planning on staying? There might be a better deal.

Also, Universal only charges $25 per extra adult a night not $40. This is a pretty good deal considering that if you do not tell the hotel that this extra person is in your room they will not get a room key with their name on it and will have to pay alot more than $25 for an express pass through the parks.

I have found it to be standard practice in all hotels to charge a extra person fee. Disney and Vegas both do it.


I am sorry I cant help you with the shuttle or meal deal questions, but I am sure there is someone here that can.

 

[Funtrip2006]

Thanks for the welcome!!

Yes, that is the same deal I am talking about. I think I just mentioned the exrepss pass since I know it comes with staying at the hotel. I travel all over the world at least 5 times a year, never once paid more for the amount of people I have unless I go past 4, Although it is cheaper when by myself, but 2-4 is always the same. Guess I am lucky or the way I have booked in the past? Since I don't really see many other discounts other then AAA or annual pass for Universal I am stuck going through them I guess for the extra charge. Like I said, I guess this is normal for these hotels but I never ran into that before. No worries, I just wanted to make sure before I booked. I think I will get an annual pass and use that to get a discount at the hotel and cheaper tickets, etc anyways, seems to be a better deal? I am not sure how fast I get the annual pass and how I use that to buy the cheaper tickets though unless I just do it at the parks? We are staying 7 nights, 5 nights at Universal resport though. 3 Adults, 1 5 year old (44 inches)

Thanks

 

[disneyfreakk]

before you book, be sure to look at all of your options! It will take some time, but you can save big bucks. Since you are staying 5 nights you qualify for the pct discount code which gives you 15%-20% off per night depending on your travel dates. Also be sure to check out the universal site for special ticket offers. http://www.universalorlando.com/hot_deals.html The discounts for park tickets arent all that great with the APH. If you decide to purchase your park tickets online then choose the Kiosk option. There is no charge to pick up the tickets yourself, and its not a difficult as it sounds. If I were you I would calculate all of the different options to see which one will be the least expensive.


~ Kellie

 

[disneyfreakk]

I am not sure how fast I get the annual pass and how I use that to buy the cheaper tickets though unless I just do it at the parks?

Universal will send you a voucher for the APH. When you get to the parks just show your voucher and they will tell you where you need to go to have your picture taken and the actual pass made. It takes anywhere from 5-20 mins, depending on how crowded they are. If you decide to buy park tickets using the APH discount you have to stand in line at the ticket window.

Since you are going for 5 nights I would strongly suggest that you get atleast one APH. The discounts on food and merchandise will cover the added cost of the pass, and you will be able to use the one pass for discounts on your entire party. Just dont forget to actually show your pass when buying stuff! LOL, I forgot all about it one year. Now I just buy the lanyerd (sp?) so that I will have it around my neck ( they almost always notice it if I happen to forget to ask for my discount. )

 

[Funtrip2006]

Wow thanks very much!

So you said the discount on tickets isn't that good? Isn't it 15%? I figured if I get 15% off of the 2day/2 apark passes so for $85 and it gives 3 days free that seems pretty good. I was thinking the same thing about food, etc. I think that will pay for its self unless I do that meal deal. What was the PCT discount code you said I wuld qualify for? Does that only work for hotel prices or other things and Is that better then the APH dicount for hotel? I was mainly going to get an annual pass only for the discounted hotel room but if I can get the same if not better rate without it I may skip it still.

If you have any more help, it is greatly appriciated!

Thanks again!

 

[mslclark]

I agree, it's not fun to pay the extra for the 3rd adult, but you really need to in order to get their own room key. The last 2 times we were there they requested a room key from each person using FOTL access at the rides.

 

[goofy!]

Wow thanks very much!

So you said the discount on tickets isn't that good? Isn't it 15%? I figured if I get 15% off of the 2day/2 apark passes so for $85 and it gives 3 days free that seems pretty good. I was thinking the same thing about food, etc. I think that will pay for its self unless I do that meal deal. What was the PCT discount code you said I wuld qualify for? Does that only work for hotel prices or other things and Is that better then the APH dicount for hotel? I was mainly going to get an annual pass only for the discounted hotel room but if I can get the same if not better rate without it I may skip it still.

If you have any more help, it is greatly appriciated!

Thanks again!

Last time I called to ask about the discount on tickets, I was told my AP discount was only good on standard, regular priced tickets. It could not be used on "specials" such as the buy 2, get 3 day free. So, it wasn't really a good deal at all for us.

 

[Funtrip2006]

Hmm sounds like the PCT discount code would work best then if they dont allow u to have those special tickets on sale.

Any more info on the PCT code? I couldn't get it to work when I entered it in for some reason. Do I need anything special or is that a discount anyone can use, what is it for/from?

 

[disneyfreakk]

If the PCT discount isnt comming up then maybe they sold out those discounted rooms. Try APH or AAA and see which one comes out less expensive. Remember if you book through www.loewshotels.com they dont charge you a deposit, so keep checking the rates and just call and have them changed if a better rate comes out.

And no, you cant double up on discounts

 

[Funtrip2006]

Can you clerify what PCT stands for, so I know what kind of discount I would be getting? I understand AAA is Triple A so I would have to have a membership, same with APH, need an annual pass, what do I need for PCT?

 

[disneyfreakk]

Since you are staying 5 nights you qualify for the pct discount code which gives you 15%-20% off per night depending on your travel dates.


~ Kellie

go here http://www.universalorlando.com/ht_rpr_rates_offers.html#super and then look under the supersavings deal. Maybe you have to book through universal vacations?

The PCT discount code is open to everyone, no membership needed. I think it stands for percent but I am not 100% sure.

 

[snjmorrison]

I have ot agree that it stinks to pay extra fo the additional adult when you're not exceeding 4 people. Can't you just say 2 adults and 2 children? You will get 4 room keys right?

 

[PavelB]

Please do some checking on those rates. This July it seems that in some instances the AAA rate is less than the APH rate - or very close.
RPH Club - APH $279 AAA $264
Standard APH $179 AAA $183
Have a great trip.

 

[DisneyWisher]

I have ot agree that it stinks to pay extra fo the additional adult when you're not exceeding 4 people. Can't you just say 2 adults and 2 children? You will get 4 room keys right?

When we stayed there 2 weeks ago with my parents, my DD12, and myself they noted on my DD room key her age next to her name.


Also I have yet to stay in any hotel in FL where they haven't charged more money for over 2 adults.