Please help me book Royal Pacific!

[styron]

I would appreciate any help/tips you would be able to give on sorting through my options.

I'm taking a mother-kids (ages 8 and 6) trip to Harry Potter and was hoping to do this very soon - I am thinking 7/16-20. I'd like to stay at RPH.

The rates on the HP package are pretty high, and I am not sure that I care about the Brooms breakfast (do I?). If I book through Expedia, I think I can get a slightly better rate and a lot more flexible room options. It says that if I book RPR through Expedia, I will get these:

* Early entry to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter 1 hour before park opening
* Free Universal Express Ride Access to skip the regular lines in both theme parks

So my question is:
(1.) Do I lose anything if I book through Expedia instead of getting the package?

Also, the rate is very high compared to this great rate-comparison thread. The Expedia rate on a standard 2-queen room is $269. I'm not military or AAA -- but what are the best tips to get a better rate?
(2.) For example, if I buy an Annual Pass for myself, are there discounts for RPR during the time period 7/16-20? I would get the middle-level Annual Pass - and I guess that gives me discounts for the 2 kids, but does it also get me a hotel room discount? Is it worthwhile?

Finally, my basic question is,
(3.) How much time do you think we need to cover Harry Potter and a little bit of the rest of the Universal parks? Could we do it in 2.5 days instead of 3.5?

Thank you so much for any guidance. I'm a little overwhelmed by all the options, and I tried contacting Small Worlds Vacations for help, but they haven't been responsive.

 

[PMcOuntry]

I visited last year and stayed at the LRP and it's a great hotel. I stayed around the same times you were and the head index was so bad (110+) that I was not able to continue my stay and went home early. I booked through Universal and only paid $800 for 1 person. I've never used Expedia and I would double check to make sure you get the fast pass (which can't be used on the main Harry Potter ride) and the early park admission. I don't recommend The Three Broomsticks breakfast, it's cafeteria style. You order, get your tray, seat yourself, eat. By the time we found a table the food was barely warm. However, it is nice and cool in there and the atmosphere is unbelievable! You must stop in even if it's just for pumpkin juice and/or butter beer to experience it!

My friends who accompanied me and stayed (after I went home) used the entire three days at Potter park and did nothing at the rest of Universal, however, we are all extreme Harry Potter fanatics. My friend just got back from there again a few weeks ago and said the rides were about a 30 minute wait, and there is a wait (especially at peak time) for the shops. There may even be a wait to enter the actual park.

Remember, you are planning your trip at peak time which means the rates are at their highest prices and the heat! I use Dreams Unlimited Travel to book all my vacations down there and they can find some awesome discounts and they are free to use. You might want to get a quote from them and compare.

The hotel in question is the least expensive of the three resorts but expect to pay $$$ for meals there or on Citywalk. The resort is beautiful (I recommend the water veiw because you can see Hogwarts from your window!) but there are no balconies. If you want a fridge you have to request one (I recommend it). You have to take a ferry to get to Universal or you can walk. If anyone in the party gets motion sick, either walk or bring lots of a Dramamine. My friend didn't and she gets horrible motion sick and nearly vomited right over the side of the ferry. I'm told the walk is about 10 - 15 min to the front of the park and you can bet on another 5 - 10 min walk just to Harry Potter, it's at the very back of Universal. I know it seemed like forever to walk there.

I hope some of the information was helpful.

 

[PMcOuntry]

It won't let me post a link, but Google - Dreams Unlimited and look for Universal Orlando and then Quote. They are very quick about it. When I had a trouble with my vaction last year they were able to get the hotel to refund me money.

 

[damo]

I would appreciate any help/tips you would be able to give on sorting through my options.

I'm taking a mother-kids (ages 8 and 6) trip to Harry Potter and was hoping to do this very soon - I am thinking 7/16-20. I'd like to stay at RPH.

The rates on the HP package are pretty high, and I am not sure that I care about the Brooms breakfast (do I?). If I book through Expedia, I think I can get a slightly better rate and a lot more flexible room options. It says that if I book RPR through Expedia, I will get these:

* Early entry to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter 1 hour before park opening
* Free Universal Express Ride Access to skip the regular lines in both theme parks

So my question is:
(1.) Do I lose anything if I book through Expedia instead of getting the package?

Also, the rate is very high compared to this great rate-comparison thread. The Expedia rate on a standard 2-queen room is $269. I'm not military or AAA -- but what are the best tips to get a better rate?
(2.) For example, if I buy an Annual Pass for myself, are there discounts for RPR during the time period 7/16-20? I would get the middle-level Annual Pass - and I guess that gives me discounts for the 2 kids, but does it also get me a hotel room discount? Is it worthwhile?

Finally, my basic question is,
(3.) How much time do you think we need to cover Harry Potter and a little bit of the rest of the Universal parks? Could we do it in 2.5 days instead of 3.5?

Thank you so much for any guidance. I'm a little overwhelmed by all the options, and I tried contacting Small Worlds Vacations for help, but they haven't been responsive.

Booking through expedia does not let you cancel and get a refund like you would booking directly online. It still gives you early entry and express passes though.

When in doubt, the best thing to do is just call the reservation line and ask questions. They are very good at finding you the lowest possible rate. For your dates of July 17-20, you need to enter the code APH to see if there are any discounts. The biggest problem right now is that you've left it pretty late and the best rates are gone. You can get a King Suite at RPR for $282 annual pass rates but there are no other rooms left for those dates. The preferred annual pass will give you room discounts as well as all the other discounts listed on the information page.

 

[macraven]

with leakycon being held at rph for some of your dates, you won't see many discounts.

 

[styron]

LeakyCon! Well, geez, that would do it. I'm going to have to tinker with these dates... I don't think we want to go see Harry Potter when the whole world is going on an organized convention to see Harry Potter!