Pricing Universal Tickets....tell me this cant be right?

[keishashadow]

Whether it's apples to apples or apples to oranges - everyone thinks of a Disney vacation as SO expensive (especially when you're far enough away that you're flying and to make it worth the flight, you're talking a minimum of 5 days) so the hope is that Universal would be noticeably, cheaper - which it's not. We don't want to rent a car, or be off-site, no matter where we travel. We do a vacation every year in a beach house or condo or whatever, where I'm constantly planning meals, packing stuff in the car, etc - not what I want to do in Disney/Universal. We did off-site Disney the first time and essentially hated it compared to onsite - even with a free condo with my ILs, my DH has said absolutely not. I'd love to compare a Universal Moderate to a Disney moderate but the category seems to not exist (we're staying at RP, so I think that's as close as I could get).

Where are you finding Universal GCs? Our grocery store that has gas credits only has Disney and while Discover Card claims to have Universal GCs, they seem to actually be useless. I'd love to pick some up for my kids to use for souvenirs (or better yet, direct the grandparents to get them for them!).

Giant Eagle in Pittsburgh/Ohio has them and GC/park ticket things too. I wait eagerly for the WDW/U ones to go on double fuel perks earnings a few times a year (over due right now lol). They do sell some GC on line, but I haven't personally checked if those are offered currently.

 

[glocon]

Kroger has gift cards also.

 

[cmarsh31]

Bummer, neither in the Northeast. Thanks! (did just get $.70/gallon off after our 4x gift card sale this week!)

 

[CalKhat]

I think it all depends on your vacation style and what perks you have available to you. For me, WDW is always cheaper. I have a small DVC contract that will get me a nice studio for as 5-10 nights depending on when/ how many points I've saved. I have a 10 day non expiring ticket that I've had for YEARS (I think I've used 5 days?) and use as needed. Haven't even touched the plus options on it yet. I have a cousin at ESPN that gives me park passes when she has extra, so I rarely have to buy those, which is why my 10 day pass is barely touched. I use a Southwest CC for flights on points and I use my Disney Visa points for some spending money, paying the DVC dues, and sometimes park tickets. I use ME for transportation. So I pretty much need extra spending money and sometimes a ticket or 2.

Now I'm doing my first Universal trip. Flights worked out the same- used points. Other than that, I'm paying sticker price for everything. So yes at face value Universal may be less expensive, but it really all depends on what you have available to you. Like Mac has thos Youfirst rewards and gets great room deals. I don't have that. This is going to be a pricey vacation for me compared to what I'm used to.

Also vacation style. I like to sleep in and stay up late. I'm not a partier, just a night owl. So I would never get through 2 parks in 1 or 2 days. We want to sleep in, have breakfast, and mosey over. Poke around, move slowly, see everything. Getting to the parks for EE is NOT vacation to me and not at all appealing. I know others love it. We probably will do it one day, just to do it.

 

[luvmy2boyzz]

This thread sparked my curiosity because originally I thought a 5 night Disney stay was way cheaper than Universal. But I was comparing a value hotel and no park hoppers. When I went and compared even a moderate hotel with 3 day park hoppers to my 5 night stay at Royal Pacific, Disney came out about $750 more. Thanks guys! I feel like I got a great deal at Universal! Not to mention when I compared prices from my trip last year at the end of July with just my younger son and I, to this year at the end of August adding my older son, the price for 3 was about the same and actually a little cheaper than what I paid for 2 last year!

 

[keishashadow]

Luvmy2boyzz - WDW DP isn't quite the deal it used to be (2017's info is out btw). At least there are less expensive options in Citiwalk (Burger King, etc.) for those on a tight budget. In park CS food offerings seem a bit more varied and have different price points. I find we tend to spend less $ on food @ U (but more on adult beverages there lol).

The LaBamba character breakfast is a steal compared to those @ WDW!

CalKhat - we are DVC too but find with split trips between the two parks, we have enough DVC points for a bonus trip every year or I let family use our leftovers. U APH rates at the onsite properties are often lower than what you'd find @ even the moderate properties & yes, yes, yes, the youfirst program is very generous.

 

[macraven]

the YouFirst has perks that are good for the members
The platinum level is the one that I'm at and only book the way they accept to keep my status current

At plat level, member can book the standard room and request the free upgrade to a suite at the time of booking
Also a $100 food and beverage credit is available for members
(Per room that is)
Late check out can be arranged with the front desk
Free upper wifi also

Blue and gold levels of YouFirst also has good perks

 

[Brownie54]

I've stayed in all 3.

Look, it's so hard to compare Disney and Universal. Some people will feel they get more for their dollars at Disney, some say Universal. But if you try to compare POR to RPR, HRH, or PBR, then man, you've got pixie dust in your eyes. Just no comparison.

 

[CalKhat]

Look, it's so hard to compare Disney and Universal. Some people will feel they get more for their dollars at Disney, some say Universal. But if you try to compare POR to RPR, HRH, or PBR, then man, you've got pixie dust in your eyes. Just no comparison.

I agree. It really depends on what you value in a vacation and what 'perks' you have available to you. I have stayed at POR but never at Universal so I have high hopes for RPR just based on all the reading I've done.

 

[macraven]

I love POR !

You will enjoy rpr
The entrance to the lobby is unique and notice there is a glassed in lobby in the middle or rpr 's lobby

I hope you find it as attractive as most of us do

 

[CalKhat]

I love POR !

You will enjoy rpr
The entrance to the lobby is unique and notice there is a glassed in lobby in the middle or rpr 's lobby

I hope you find it as attractive as most of us do

I'm sure I will. It looks gorgeous!

I did not love POR. I mean it was nice enough, but my least favorite of where I have stayed- OKW, AKV, Contemporary, POFQ I liked all of those better.

 

[macraven]

ooops......i mistyped.

it is pofq that i love

 

[CalKhat]

ooops......i mistyped.

it is pofq that i love

That is my all time fav!!! Funny how it's my fav and POR is my least. Hahaha. I really do enjoy them all though.

 

[Jonny_Duck]

Look, it's so hard to compare Disney and Universal. Some people will feel they get more for their dollars at Disney, some say Universal. But if you try to compare POR to RPR, HRH, or PBR, then man, you've got pixie dust in your eyes. Just no comparison.

I never tried to compare them....I simply said they're classified on the same tier.

But since comparing something also means to note dissimilarity between things, and not that the two things are identical...then yes it would be very easy to compare them.

Maybe RPR is a nicer hotel but that wasn't really the question....It originally started when someone said RPR was $250 more than the Disney hotel. So in reality it should be a nicer hotel. But in the end you're right that some ppl will find more value in Disney and some will find more value in Universal.

 

[macraven]

I stay at Disney resorts and UO resorts

For what I pay, my expenses are less at UO sites

The tier pricing on wdw resorts have raised faster and higher for the time periods I vacation in Orlando

 

[Jonny_Duck]

I stay at Disney resorts and UO resorts

For what I pay, my expenses are less at UO sites

The tier pricing on wdw resorts have raised faster and higher for the time periods I vacation in Orlando

Doesn't really surprise me. I pretty much always stay offsite since Orlando has some fantastic deals on hotels imo and since I drive I get the luxury of not needing to be right next to the parks. But I do usually get a Universal hotel for the express pass because it means that much for me to have it. I do think RPR is my fav though...it's just got a great style.

This trip I did book a condo at an amazing price imo. If it works out it might be a yearly thing for me. I did book years ago at a different condo and while I liked the price....it was too inconvenient with young kids and a large group. This trip will be smaller so we'll see how I feel about it then but I do think a full week to get Disney and Universal in should be enough. Fingers crossed anyway that it'll be relaxing enough and yet fun filled.

 

[macraven]

years ago i would rent a car and did some off site stays when i had others with me.

for the last 12 years, i do a solo trip in the fall and stay at both resorts and use car service.

Mr Mac does not mind i do Orlando by myself but he insists i stay onsite and no car rentals.
works for me.


well, one of the trips when i did have a rental, one of my boys called home and told Mr Mac that "mom got lost and we got directions from a gas station in Tampa area after midnight."

the conversation went sour after that and ever since then, i no longer rent cars at the airport.


i do agree that there are great savings for off site lodging, especially for families.
makes it easier to do longer stays when you don't have those high hotel costs involved.

 

[CalKhat]

years ago i would rent a car and did some off site stays when i had others with me.

for the last 12 years, i do a solo trip in the fall and stay at both resorts and use car service.

Mr Mac does not mind i do Orlando by myself but he insists i stay onsite and no car rentals.
works for me.


well, one of the trips when i did have a rental, one of my boys called home and told Mr Mac that "mom got lost and we got directions from a gas station in Tampa area after midnight."

the conversation went sour after that and ever since then, i no longer rent cars at the airport.


i do agree that there are great savings for off site lodging, especially for families.
makes it easier to do longer stays when you don't have those high hotel costs involved.

LMAO!!! I was wondering why he didn't want you renting a car- funny explanation. You can use GPS now to avoid that issue.

I always like to stay onsite myself at WDW. This is my first UO trip but I can't imagine I would want to be offsite for any reason.

 

[macraven]

LMAO!!! I was wondering why he didn't want you renting a car- funny explanation. You can use GPS now to avoid that issue.

I always like to stay onsite myself at WDW. This is my first UO trip but I can't imagine I would want to be offsite for any reason.

me too.
i like staying on site at both disney and universal.
my purpose for the trip is to enjoy everything that is there in the parks.

i don't have to get up real early in order to be in the park when it opens.
i can take my time as i have enough days on the trip.

its more of a total vacation for me when i don't have to watch the clock and spend time traveling from a hotel to the parks.

 

[schumigirl]

We like the best of both worlds........wouldn't be without a car when we visit RPR.

We stay a long time, so like to get out and about around Florida.........have been to many beautiful places including gulf and Atlantic coasts, and places nearer like Mount Dora which is a lovely little place to visit.

And so many restaurants choices that we don't have in the UK offsite and onsite. And Mall at Millenia of course......

We still predominantly spend most of our time in the parks, just never full days which is easy to do when you stay as long as we do........and of course HHN.

But a car for us is essential.