Should I pay $67 a night or $167? (off or on site?) (VERY long)

JC Butterfly

DIS Veteran
Joined
Oct 8, 1999
Hello All-

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me weigh the pros and cons of this debate. I just don't have a personal point of reference so I need HELP!

I have been to Orlando approximately 7 times. A shuttle picks me up at the airport, takes me to Disney, I have a faboulous time being escorted by the Disney bus to every attraction, and when I'm done the shuttle takes me back to the airport! Everything feels "all-inclusive" and I never question my safety.

A couple of months ago, my favorite group NSYNC decided to have their celebrity basketball game at the TD Waterhouse and to nominate Universal Studios as their "weekend hangout" (who knew there was another theme park in Orlando?!). So now I am planning a relatively quick trip to the area (I usually start budgeting 1 year in advance . . . this is like 4 months in advance).

So I have been desperately reading these boards trying to find out everything I can about Universal. The trip is the end of July which in my opionion is the most miserable time of year to go because of the heat & crowds but NSYNC didn't ask me! So now I see that all of these hotels are w/in a couple of miles of Universal. When I think of that in Disney terms, I can't think of a single off-site resort that I would consider within walking distance (except maybe Downtown Disney).

So I'm wondering,am I asking for disaster by expecting to walk from an off-site place to the theme parks?

Is it safe to walk from City Walk to one of the "off-site" hotels late at night as two young women? I don't question Pleasure Island much at all but I'm not sure about City Walk.

I have found the Crowne Plaza, Comfort Suites, and others in a $60-$70 a night price range. My budget can handle this pretty OK. I have never stayed in a hotel that cost more than $100 a night so I simply have no point of reference for what I might be missing out on.

I will arrive on Thursday July 25th around 6:00. I will have all day Friday to spend at the parks. Saturday I will leave mid-day for about 3 hours for an NSYNC event and Sunday I will be busy all morning & afternoon, returning to the parks around 5:00. I will have all day Monday at the parks.

Based on crowd levels, would I have enough time to see everything without having an all day Express pass?

Since this is peak season I could stay at the RP for $129 a night or the HRH for $167 a night and I'm just not sure I can justify the cost.

But if all of you think I will be miserable trying to see the parks in the heat or not all that safe, I will have to seriously reconsider (after all, what's a little more credit card debt?)

Thanks so much for all of your advice & opinions!

Brenda
 
Try for the $99 per night room at Royal Pacific. Then you will also have front of the line access by being an on-site hotel guest. I think this is an entertainment card rate, so you will need an entertainment card.
 
If you don't have an Ent. card, the books are on sale for $15 right now. I called and found out yesterday, when I noticed that I'd lost my card.
 
Just thought I would let you know that I call on Friday about the entertainment rate for the RP for July 26-30. There were not any rooms available with the entertainment rate or at full rack rate. Hotelkingdom and expedia both show to have rooms for 129.00 a night. :rolleyes:
 


I see where she's coming from.

First she's asking about security from the parks to the "offsite" properties. Yeah, you'll be ok, they have cameras leading to the parking garages, and security is tight. The main thing is being careful as you cross Kirkman Road.
Next is comparing "offisite" versus "onsite".
Well, it costs alot more, but its worth it because your hotel key (magic key) gets you into the express line. You won't wait long. If you can save up the money and stay at RPH, then do it.
It sounds like this is a special event, so I'd suggest you spend the extra money and stay onsite because then you'll feel like you're in the action. Don't know how to describe that any better, but being onsite is a step up, it's special.
It wouldn't be a diaster staying offiste, but you'd have to walk farther, you wouldn't be "onsite", and you wouldn't have a magic key. If you stay onsite, you'll get on all the rides no matter when you visit the parks.
I would say the difference is justifiable.
 
I think that if you are specifically going for this event then you should probably stay onsite. (Just work on getting the lowest possible rate.) If there are two of you then the cost will be split, which makes it a little easier. I am not sure how old you are, but if you were my daughter, I would prefer you stay onsite, as I would feel you were "safer"
walking bak to your onsite hotel rather than walking in the heat back to an offsite hotel that may be furthur than you think. (Especially because it is "two young women".) You would then have the ammenities of the resort and front of the line access at your fingertips. Whatever you choose I know you will have a great time! Good Luck! (Now, start searching for that rate!!!) ;)
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Top