Staying off site

[mjandz]

Hi,

we are thinking of going to universal and IOA for a few days in the summer.

Money is tight so staying on site it out for this year since DH just told me yesterday he wants to stop there on the way to my parents house. Wish he would have thought about this six months ago I could have saved. Oh well. Any ways I found a bunch of off site hotels, has anyone stayed there and if so which one is a good one.


Thanks so much

ALlison

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by mjandz
Oh well. Any ways I found a bunch of off site hotels, has anyone stayed there and if so which one is a good one.


Thanks so much

ALlison

Maybe you could share your list or are you just looking for suggestions?


When we go down we stay right across the street from Universal at at Comort Inn Suites *Junior Suites* It's clean, new and pretty cheap. When we go down it's around 50-55.00 bucks a night. Its on Major Blvd which is literaly right across the street from the Universal parking garage. There are about 20 hotels on that street alone so any of those would be really close.

 

[mjandz]

Thanks for your info.

I just went to universal site and there I found a ton of hotels and packages, it was for two nights two days at the park with third day free. The prices ran from 542 to 700 or so.


Allison

I did not see the comfort in suites.

Here is a list of hotels that offer deals



Hotel Name Price Guide
Sleep Inn and Suites Universal Orlando Area
Marriott Fairfield Inn International Drive Area
Quality Inn Plaza International Drive
Quality Inn International International Drive
Best Western Plaza Hotel International Drive
Howard Johnson Plaza Resort Universal Orlando Area
Wingate Universal Orlando Area
Clarion Hotel International Drive Area
Holiday Inn International Drive Resort International Drive
Amerisuites Hotel Universal Orlando Area
Hampton Inn Universal Orlando Area
Holiday Inn at the Entrance to Universal Universal Orlando Area
Radisson Hotel Orlando at Universal Universal Orlando Area
Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive
Sheraton Studio City Hotel International Drive
Marriott Grand Vista International Drive Area
Embassy Suites International Drive/Jamaican Court

This is where I got all of this from

http://www.universalstudiosvacations.com/hotdeals/hotdeals.asp?referrer=un4

Then you can Customize what you want.

Thanks
Allison

 

[PattiPB]

Allison---stayed at the Sleep Inn & Suites 11/00. Nice property with decent shuttle service. Breakfat was OK, pool was TINY. BTW---our #1 off-site choice right now is Sierra Suites PO, which is $53 on hotelkingdom.com.

EUROPA---the Comfort Suites you are talking about...it is REALLY walking distance to US/IOA, or is it really LONG walking distance!?!?

Trying to make an on-site/off-site decision ourselves...

Patti

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by PattiPB


EUROPA---the Comfort Suites you are talking about...it is REALLY walking distance to US/IOA, or is it really LONG walking distance!?!?

Trying to make an on-site/off-site decision ourselves...

Patti

WE use Hotelkingdom also...great service.


While you could "walk" to Unviersal. It would be a long walk. As you are really closest to the Parking Garage. Think of the walk from the parking Garage to IOA and at least double it.

 

[Planogirl]

We stayed at the hotel listed as Holiday Inn at the Entrance to Universal Universal Orlando Area and it more than met our needs. It's a bit of a far walk but the bus service is good if infrequent and the hotel has some good rates.

I would personally try to avoid hotels on International Drive unless you have a favorite or a lot of patience. There's some nice places there but traffic is horrendous.

 

[mjandz]

Thanks for helping...........

Allison

sorry meant to ask,so do you guys buy tickets seprate from your hotel?

 

[karin037]

You can stay on-site at the Royal Pacific Resort for as little as $110 a night (Entertainment rate). RPR also comes up a lot on Hotwire for $114 a night. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=361425&highlight=+Hotwire
You can buy 5-day Bonus passes for $89.95 each. http://themeparks.universalstudios.com/orlando/website/tickets_and_vacations.html
Packages are usually a lot more expensive.

 

[robvia]

I drive up, and also stay at cheap hotels because I get to the park early.

I've stayed at the Plaza Hojo located at 7501 S. Kirkman Rd. It's nice and only about 1 mile south of USF.
But I've found the best kept secret. It's the Hojo Suites located at 4601 S. Kirkman Road, about 3 miles north of USF. There's a Publix across the street, and each room is a suite (2 rooms and a kitchen) facing a lake with a fountain in the middle. They have free continential breakfast (doughnuts, bagels, fruit, milk, juice). Each room has 2 tvs, fridge, and microwave, and I got it for $53 from the www.hojo.com web site.

Going up this weekend for 2 days and 1 night. I'll have a TR next week when I get back.

 

[mjandz]

I am thinking of staying at the Sleep inn and suites for 542.00 for two nights at the hotel and 2 days at the park with third day free.

Does sound like a goo deal?

Going to book today I think....


Allison

 

[karin037]

I am thinking of staying at the Sleep inn and suites for 542.00 for two nights at the hotel and 2 days at the park with third day free.

How many people are in your party? If it's just you and DH, that rate is kind of high. You can stay on property for less than that and get the 5 day bonus passes. Check out this thread to see the rates people have gotten at the Universal Resorts: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=187829

Hotel Kingdom has the Sleep Inn & Suites at Universal Orlando for $45.90 a nt (standard room) and $55.90 a nt (junior suite). http://www.discounthotelsorlando.com/Orlando/Hotels/forsleepinnstesuni.htm

When you book through Universal Vacations, you are charged per person, per night.
When you book directly through the hotel or through Hotel Kingdom, Hotwire etc., you are charged per night, not per person.

 

[mjandz]

It is Dh and myself and our two sons.

We are going to my parents house after so that is one reason we are not staying long,this mini vacation stop over at IOA is a last minute one.If planed the right way I would have stayed longer and in the park,but since we only have a few days we are doing the sleep in suites two nights 2 parks 2 days third day free for $542.00 THen it is off to my parents for 5 or 6 days.

We are coming from nj is it is a long drive with two kids and a dog(my parents are coming to orlando to get the dog)


Allison

 

[The Sweetness]

Its the HoJo's at 6603? Int. Drive. They offer free breakfast for 2 adults (eggs, bacon, toast, and fruit) and a free shuttle that we may not use if inconvenient as we can just use that I-drive trolly thing for $1 per person each way, or drive for that matter. We have a pool here at our apt bldg and have no interest in swimming. Just a clean place to shower and rest our weary heads

 

[Nan]

If you feel comfortable using Priceline - I have gotten the Wyndham Orlando Resort on International Dr. for $30 a night two different trips. It is a lovely hotel. I have always had good luck with Priceline.

Nan

 

[kellymonaghan]

Originally posted by EUROPA
Think of the walk from the parking Garage to IOA and at least double it.

I'd say more like quintuple it!

I stay in the Major Blvd hotels a LOT and I like to walk to the parks. It takes about 30 minutes to reach CityWalk.

 

[mjandz]

Thanks for all the great adivce.

We are going June 30th to July 2nd then off to my parents for a week.........

Do you all do the UNIVERSAL EXPRESS, is this for the peopel staying off site too?

kinda confused by that thread,guess DH will have read it. I have read so much my head is full with a ton of infor........ LOL


Allison

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by mjandz
Thanks for all the great adivce.

We are going June 30th to July 2nd then off to my parents for a week.........

Do you all do the UNIVERSAL EXPRESS, is this for the peopel staying off site too?

kinda confused by that thread,guess DH will have read it. I have read so much my head is full with a ton of infor........ LOL


Allison

Everyone has access to Express Pass. Located near the attractions will be a machine you insert your ticket and you get to chose between two different return times. Once you time rolls around you comeback to the attraction you show your Express Pass ticket to the employee out front of the attraction and they direct you to the Express Pass entrance. From this point there is up to a 15minute wait ...but ususally you get right on/in to the attraction.

If you are staying "onsite" at one of the three Universal/Lowes hotels you get Front of the Line Access(FOTL). Which means you show the person at the entrance to the attraction your room key. They scan the key and you get to go through the attractiions "EXpress Pass Line" There still may be up to a 15 minute wait but again usually you can get right on/in.

Hope that helps.

 

[mjandz]

Yes it does.

Thank you

Allison

 

[mjandz]

One more question about FOTL so you can only get one pass per ride? or one pass per day? and some of the ride do not allow it? like the roller coaster? sorry for all the questions, but thanks a bunch for all the help


Allison

 

[karin037]

This thread explains FOTL: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=189420&perpage=15&pagenumber=1