question about staying onsite

[mo3]

Hi all. I'm new to this board. We will be doing a short trip to U and IoA and disney in August. I saw the deal on the universal site: buy two days get 3 days free. We have been to disney and loved it but my 3 teens want to try universal. I am tempted to skip disney altogether and spend 5 days at U/IoA. Maybe do a day at SeaWorld.
There are 5 of us. Those of you who have stayed onsite with large parties: did you book two rooms? How big are the suites? It might be better for us to stay offsite in two rooms or a suite and deal with the lines. Are there deals to be found for onsite hotels? The rates I have found will put us at more than $500 a night. I saw the Master Card deal, stay 4 nights get 5th free, but needing two rooms will still break the bank. My kids are 15, 16, and 18 and we cannot do two double beds with a pullout! Any advice is appreciated.

 

[damo]

The deluxe rooms at the HRH have two queen beds and a double pullout and are very large rooms. I don't know if that makes any difference. The kids-suite has a king bed in one room and two twins in the other. You could get a cot to go in the room with the two twins and this would work (or bring an air mattress along).

Would you be going the end of August? Rates are lower then. Your teens will love Universal! Prices are cheaper with AAA or one annual pass. You can check these reduced rates using AAA or APH as the discount code on the Loews Hotels website.

 

[hannahouse]

The deluxe rooms are larger, with 2 queen beds and a sofa bed. We did the 5th night free deal, and it does offer substantial savings. You can also use the Entertainment coupon for $50.00 off - code is unentbook. Also of note, when booking through univacations.com, you can 'uncheck' the ticket options for a room only reservation, and remember tax is included in the total price - tax is 11.5%, so take that into consideration when comparing the price to other rates. We ended up with a total price with tax of $230/night for a deluxe room, which is better than anything I've seen elsewhere (this is for Hard Rock.) good luck!
We're a family of five also.

 

[mo3]

Thank you both. I checked the rate at HRH using the master card deal (and used the code for the $50 off) and got a much cheaper rate! However, I couldn't talk my husband into 5 days at U/IoA--he wants disney as well. I am going to buy the 2 day-get 3 free tickets and try to get another day in. These boards are amazing. To think that we didn't even try any Florida trips in the last five years because of cost issues makes me so sad...I wish I had known!

 

[hannahouse]

Most people recommend doing Universal last if you are going to do Disney and Universal/onsite. You get spoiled by FOTL!