Question about Christmas crowds and on-site hotel...

[tfletcher1]

I just booked our trip for Dec 19-22. What are crowds usually like this time of year? Also, we are staying at the Royal Pacific. Can we get our room keys as soon as we get there, even if our room is not ready yet? Thanks for the help.

 

[gschmerl]

I just booked our trip for Dec 19-22. What are crowds usually like this time of year? Also, we are staying at the Royal Pacific. Can we get our room keys as soon as we get there, even if our room is not ready yet? Thanks for the help.

The week before Christmas shouldn't be too bad. It won't really matter because you're staying on site and will have your magic room key for FOTL. Yes, you can get a key to use at the parks even if your room is not ready. They will also store your luggage for you until your room is ready.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Welcome to the Dis tfletcher1!
We have stayed there the same dates as you are going to and the parks were not that busy. It is considered off peak so I hope you received good rates for RPR. The closer you get to Christmas the busier it get and after Christmas to New Year's forget it!
Get your keys early as 6 a.m. and be the first to the park if you walk. The room however might take until 4.

 

[tfletcher1]

What is considered a good rate? We are doing the kids play and eat free and our rate for the 5 of us (2 adults, 3 kids) was $560 for the 3 nights, which includes 2 kids tickets and 2 kids all you can eat.

Thanks for the info about the crowds and room keys. We are all excited to go. Last time we went to Universal, by little boy was just over a year old and didn't get to do anything. He is now 4, loves Spiderman and Men in Black so I think this will be a blast for him!!! My girls are 9 and 7 (the baby is 18 months, but my parents are going to watch her for us). This will be their main Christmas gift and they are super excited.

I will be visiting these boards quite a bit between now and then. Thanks so much!!

 

[Motherfletcher]

I'm getting $129/night for RPR using Florida resident rates and from Mousesavers:

Online 4-Day Ticket Deal
Get 4 consecutive days' admission to the two Universal theme parks for $99.95 plus tax ($106.45 with tax). That's less than the gate price of a 2-Day/2-Park ticket. Can only be ordered online at the Universal Studios Ticket Booth web site.

Same deal as above, but now you get a FREE child's ticket (ages 3-9) with each adult ticket purchased! Yep, that's one adult and one child ticket, good for 4 consecutive days' admission, for LESS than the price of an adult 2-Day/2-Park ticket at the gate! Must be purchased before 1/1/06 and used by 4/30/06. Can only be ordered online at the Universal Studios web site.

So I guess it depends on how much the kids can eat!

 

[tfletcher1]

Wow, those are good rates! Are those double occupancy? That is what is killing us. Our rates were $280 per adult for the 3 nights. We arent FL residents so we wouldnt be able to get that discount. We actually live in VA. My parents live in GA and we thought since we would be down there for Christmas, we might as well hit Universal while we are there. Thanks again for the help!!!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

MotherFletcher is right - the parks shouldn't be too busy as you are there just before Christmas. (and stop by Shrek and say "hi")

Smiles,
Holly

 

[Motherfletcher]

Yeah, that would be the room rate for all five of you. I think Ga. gets the same rate as Fl. Now you gotta take your parents!

 

[patster734]

Wow, those are good rates! Are those double occupancy? That is what is killing us. Our rates were $280 per adult for the 3 nights. We arent FL residents so we wouldnt be able to get that discount. We actually live in VA. My parents live in GA and we thought since we would be down there for Christmas, we might as well hit Universal while we are there. Thanks again for the help!!!

Are your park tickets for the adults included too? I wouldn't expect to see a rate per adult cost if park tickets weren't included!

 

[tfletcher1]

Are your park tickets for the adults included too? I wouldn't expect to see a rate per adult cost if park tickets weren't included!

The kids tickets and kids food were included. Here is what it said when I was reserving:

Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and include preselected flights, hotel accommodations and hotel taxes. Your vacation price may increase or decrease based on the number of people in your traveling party and the items you select. You will receive your final vacation price after you finish building your vacation.

 

[patster734]

OK, that clears things up since your airline is included. Doesn't sound like a bad deal, but it doesn't hurt to check the prices seperately. If you know what airline you will be flying on, you can go to their website and get a price quote from them. Then go to Universal Studios hotel website and check their prices for room only. I believe that Universal has some internet specials going on during that time. Universal Studios hotel website is http://themeparks.universalstudios....l_map.html?__dest=resort_hotels_hotel_map.TOP. The prices you'll be quoted will be pre-tax.

 

[tfletcher1]

Actually, it doesnt include airline tix. That is just what it said at the top of the booking page while I was doing the package deal. The price was per person based on double occupancy. Basically, we are a family of 5, staying at RPR for 4 days/3 nights. It includes tickets for all 5 of us (we got the bonus pass of 5 days) and all you can eat for all 5 of us for 3 days for $1050 (total, that was charged to my card). We may have got hosed a few hundred, but its already booked and I cant cancel. I honestly thought I was getting a good deal by booking the kids free 4 for all through the website (I went through the one posted in the last post). I just got a little excited and in the future when I have more time to plan, will exhaust all of my options. Thanks for the input everyone. I appreciate it!!

 

[pandora174]

I'm getting $129/night for RPR using Florida resident rates and from Mousesavers.

I was going for the PBR for the $159 using the FL resident rate or the $ 129 for the RPR but my agent got me PBR $149 garden view or $169 bayview. I took the garden view but there are some great deals out there if you look !