Staying at Universal?????

[mickeyforpresident]

Hey Guys,

We're all booked - staying at the GF for two weeks in August.

On my well tuned schedule we're going to Universal and IoA on consectutive days. I'm thinking about booking one of the Universal Hotels for just the one night. It's coming out at about $329 (with Breakfast at Hard Rock).

Has anyone done this and would recomend it? I guess it's a waste of one night i've already paid for at Disney, but it saves driving down and back each day. PLus - front of line privs sound great (would we get them both days????)

Your thoughts would be appreciated?

 

[scottishgirl87]

I've heard of alot of people who do this! Go for it! We're staying at RPR for a week in May and I can't wait!

The other thing I would say is, it might be $329 now but remember if the rate lowers you can call them up and ask them to amend your booking Also you can cancel up to (I think) 5 days before without penalty!

 

[fuse04]

We are doing the same in August, reckon it is worth it for the express passes in the height of summer. Stayed at HRH last year for 4 days and it was great

 

[wayneg]

Personally I could not pay for a room at GF and not use it ontop of paying $329 at a Universal hotel. I would do it if leaving a £20-30/night room empty.
I would just use GF and buy front of line of needed, depends on dates you are there later in month IMO front of line access is not needed, earlier in the month it is.
We have booked 3 nights at RPR before checking into OKW, doing Universal 1st with FOL early August, then probably go back up later in the holiday towards end of August when quieter.
Your money though do what you feel is best for you.

 

[Dimplenose]

We did one night at RPR last year, but we were wasting a night at ASMu not GF. At the time we did it one room for four of us was cheaper than 2 days front of line passes.

We checked in early but our room wasn't ready so we were given blank keys to use for front of line access. Once we'd checked in properly our keys were valid until the end of our check out day (so, yes you do get 2 days front of line.)

 

[Babyboo]

We do this on most visits, I try and schedule it at the beginning or end of our Disney stay but if that doesn't work we do exactly what your suggesting saves packing the bags up in the middle of a holiday as we just take an overnight bag.

Last year we went one step further - we were only there for 10 days and as there was 5 of us the hotel room with my AP was cheaper than buying express passes for all of us. We paid $144 for a standard room at the HRH.

We left the parks mid afternoon after doing all our must do rides at least once and went back to the HRH pool and spent the afternoon/early evening there then used the room to shower and change had a nice meal at Texas D Brazil on the way back to the YC which made a nice change.

We then went back late afternoon the next day to do a few rides again using the room keys for FoL.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I don't think you necessarily need FOTL to get on all the rides at Universal, if you get there at park opening for example you should have a good 2 hours or so before the crowds start to build.

Given the price of Grand Floridian it is not something many would contemplate doing as it's so expensive to stay there. I can't imagine how much it would be for 2 weeks, not that's any of my business.
We were looking at staying there but cannot justify the cost of over £250 per night, and that's just for the 3 nights.

Bottom line is - it's your money, go for it if you want to.

 

[disney_princess_85]

I have the same dilemma. We're staying at SSR and I've worked out it will cost approximately £100 each (give or take, depending on the exchange rate) to stay at RPR Club Level for a night.

 

[luke]

I have the same dilemma. We're staying at SSR and I've worked out it will cost approximately £100 each (give or take, depending on the exchange rate) to stay at RPR Club Level for a night.

Just being nosy here, but where did you get that price? We still havent booked our one night RPR but can't get a price anywhere near that

 

[disney_princess_85]

Just being nosy here, but where did you get that price? We still havent booked our one night RPR but can't get a price anywhere near that

No problem Luke! I found it on Universal's website. I didn't progress with the booking so I'm not sure how much it was with tax, but it was $316 for one night at RPR Club Level (so £100ish each).

 

[luke]

No problem Luke! I found it on Universal's website. I didn't progress with the booking so I'm not sure how much it was with tax, but it was $316 for one night at RPR Club Level (so £100ish each).

Ahhhh, each, that makes me feel less dense. I could find it for about that price but thought you'd meant £100 for the room.

As you were...

 

[disney_princess_85]

Ahhhh, each, that makes me feel less dense. I could find it for about that price but thought you'd meant £100 for the room.

God no, I wish!

Which hotel were you looking at? RPR?

 

[Pegasus928]

It sounds like a swings and roundabouts type of thing to me.
If you can get 2 days worth of Express passes for less than one nights stay at HRH then I would stick to that rather than go through the hassle and upheavle of moving for just one night, especially as you will have a room already paid for that will be sat empty. Plus US isn't that far away from Disney so it would only take about 20 mins each way.
Personally I can see why people do it but it's not something I could be bothered to do to be honest - but as we always stay in a villa it's hard to drag yourself away from that sort of luxury and privacy, no matter how good the hotel.

 

[luke]

God no, I wish!

Which hotel were you looking at? RPR?

And I just re-read your original post and realised the word 'each' was in there, damn these early mornings!! Thank god it's half term and I'm not trying to teach kids Spanish the way my brain has woken up!!

Yeah RPR was our choice (mainly as it's the cheapest and we only want it for one night on our arrival before we check in to SSR!), but if I can find the others at a good price I'm not fussy

 

[disney_princess_85]

And I just re-read your original post and realised the word 'each' was in there, damn these early mornings!! Thank god it's half term and I'm not trying to teach kids Spanish the way my brain has woken up!!

Yeah RPR was our choice (mainly as it's the cheapest and we only want it for one night on our arrival before we check in to SSR!), but if I can find the others at a good price I'm not fussy

RPR is a lovely hotel. I personally found HRH a little too "cool" and I preferred the cosier atmosphere at RPR. The cheaper price is rather appealing too!

It makes sense for us to stay at Universal for a night as we're used to the FOTL passes (which are pretty expensive to buy if you're not staying onsite!). Also, we'd like to visit the Prime Outlets- it'll be handy for us to have a nearby base to return to. If nothing else, it's a change of scenery.

 

[wayneg]

Personally I can see why people do it but it's not something I could be bothered to do to be honest - but as we always stay in a villa it's hard to drag yourself away from that sort of luxury and privacy, no matter how good the hotel.

If you are staying in and prefer a villa then a Universal hotel probably doesn't appeal so much. Same as staying in a villa or condo again doesn't appeal to me.

RPR is a lovely hotel. I personally found HRH a little too "cool" and I preferred the cosier atmosphere at RPR. The cheaper price is rather appealing too!
.

I researched all the hotels, HRH did not appeal to us at all so it was a choice between the other 2, decided on RPR, didn't see point in paying extra for Portofino, would have been about £150 to stay there, £100 a night is more than enough for me. Only paying £100 at OKW and includes all our food

 

[disney_princess_85]

I researched all the hotels, HRH did not appeal to us at all so it was a choice between the other 2, decided on RPR, didn't see point in paying extra for Portofino, would have been about £150 to stay there, £100 a night is more than enough for me. Only paying £100 at OKW and includes all our food

I worked out that it's costing us approx. £60 each for every night at SSR- this includes the accommodation, food and park tickets. Universal isn't as good value, obviously, but I'm trying not to focus on that!

Did you enjoy RPR?

 

[wayneg]

I worked out that it's costing us approx. £60 each for every night at SSR- this includes the accommodation, food and park tickets. Universal isn't as good value, obviously, but I'm trying not to focus on that!

Did you enjoy RPR?

Not been yet, there 5-8th August.

Never broke it down per person for value like that, cheaper for us having 3 in the room.
OKW/tix/food is costing us £45pppn
RPR £33pppn then renewing AP at £100pp for the year.

 

[darthtatty]

im glad you asked this question, were thinking of doing the same next August.
we plan to do Universal 1 day, eat at bubba gumps that day and go to the Blue man group show in the evening. then the next day we plan to go to IOA.
i suggested to my husband of staying overnight at a Universal hotel.
i know it means a paid for Disney hotel room is left empty but by the time weve added the cost of travel, time to travel and front of line passes. I think it will make those few days much easier for us.

I was just wondering how early can you check in? im not worried about the room being ready but was thinking about the passes.
Also we'll have a bag of toiletries and clothes-we plan to take the minimum but can we leave this anywhere? eg hotel? or do they have lockers in the park? i think i remember some but not sure. just wondering if theyll let us into the park with the razors etc

not sure what hotel we're going to stay at either.

 

[disney_princess_85]

I was just wondering how early can you check in? im not worried about the room being ready but was thinking about the passes.
Also we'll have a bag of toiletries and clothes-we plan to take the minimum but can we leave this anywhere? eg hotel? or do they have lockers in the park? i think i remember some but not sure. just wondering if theyll let us into the park with the razors etc

You can check in on the morning you're staying there, that's what I've always done. If your room isn't ready, they'll store your bags for you and give you your FOTL passes so you can go to the parks.