This is all new to me...help!

[eeyore1226]

I don't consider myself a WDW hotel veteran but I'm much more "in the know" about them than I am about the Universal hotels. My 12 year old and I are planning a surprise trip for my hubby's 40th birthday this August (16th - 22nd) so far we have only airfare booked. We've stayed at WDW resorts many times and love them however this year I'd like to try a Universal hotel and the themes parks. We went to Universal a long time ago before IOA was built. Can anyone help me with hotel preference (we probably won't rent a car) and rates? Also, why you prefer one hotel over another? Any other information would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks

 

[Robinrs]

Hi, eeyore1226:

Don't be afraid, we ALL were in your position before!

For a comparison of the three hotels, I find this link from the Universal website helpful CLICK HERE or you can visit our sister site www.usoinfo.com.

The Royal Pacific, is the newest of the three entities and is comparable to the Polynesian Resort at WDW. It's the closest to Islands of Adventure. The Hard Rock is the hippest of the three and the closest to Universal Studios. The Portofino Bay is the Grand Floridian of the three, a five star resort worthy of every star.

You can check www.hotelkingdom.com for fourth night free rates which makes the deal great.

Other alternatives for rates are AAA, Annual Pass, Fan Club and Entertainment rates. Call the 1-800 BE-A-STAR number and ask for what discounts are available for your dates. THEN come back and we'll tell you how to get them!

Have fun!

 

[mark & sandra]

Hello eeyore1226- We were in the same boat as you last year. WDW vets, but no idea of Universal stays. We got the Entertainment book and got an Entertainment rate at the Hard Rock Hotel for 125.00. Not at all bad for a 4+ star hotel. The walk to Universal is about a 3 minute stroll. City Walk about 5 and Islands of Adventure under 10. The front of the line access that your room key gets you is priceless. We went on Men in Black twice while others in line remarked that we had just passed then a couple of minutes earlier. During our stay we went over to wdw for a day and the kids kept asking if we could use our front of the line access hear too. Believe me, it will spoil you. We're going back memorial week to the HRH and can't wait. P.S. we even rented a cabana by the pool for one of our off days.

 

[skip]

eeyore we are staying at pbh in august 16-20 and we got an entertainment rate of $155.
we have never gone to us but pbh looks really nice and we couldn't pass up $155 rate.