trying to plan a trip, need help!

[almburr]

we got back from Disney a few weeks ago and already planning the next vacation. Im looking at US/IOA. You see last August 2005 we took our two oldest DD11 and DD6 . November9th-12th 2006 we took our next 2 DS6 and DD4 . We have one more left to take DS2 .(he gets to go with just mommy and daddy no brothers of sisters. SPOILED!) We are thinking of going in 2009 so DS will be 4. I got to thinking about taking them all since oldestDD graduates HS in 2012 it would be nice. So here is my question. What are the best times to go to US/IOA? And is there a variety for all age ranges. Right now our DD4 loves fast scary ride and while DS6 was afraid of Haunted Mansion, until he rode it 3 times. We still would like to do Disney just think it wouldnt be fare to not take the baby to Disney. I would love to hear from anyone who has done both or what ever you ideas are. We loved using Disney ME, we really dont want to drive a rental. Also we had DDP and loved not having to worry about money oop. Is there something like that at US? We stayed on site at disney Wilderness Lodge for about 200 a night. What are the onsite hotels like? I saw that they are around 400 a night is that true? Im sorry that i am running on. I like to be very planned, that way i can relax and have fun.

 

[macraven]

we got back from Disney a few weeks ago and already planning the next vacation. Im looking at US/IOA. You see last August 2005 we took our two oldest DD11 and DD6 . November9th-12th 2006 we took our next 2 DS6 and DD4 . We have one more left to take DS2 .(he gets to go with just mommy and daddy no brothers of sisters. SPOILED!) We are thinking of going in 2009 so DS will be 4. I got to thinking about taking them all since oldestDD graduates HS in 2012 it would be nice. So here is my question. What are the best times to go to US/IOA? And is there a variety for all age ranges. Right now our DD4 loves fast scary ride and while DS6 was afraid of Haunted Mansion, until he rode it 3 times. We still would like to do Disney just think it wouldnt be fare to not take the baby to Disney. I would love to hear from anyone who has done both or what ever you ideas are. We loved using Disney ME, we really dont want to drive a rental. Also we had DDP and loved not having to worry about money oop. Is there something like that at US? We stayed on site at disney Wilderness Lodge for about 200 a night. What are the onsite hotels like? I saw that they are around 400 a night is that true? Im sorry that i am running on. I like to be very planned, that way i can relax and have fun.

when i go to orlando, i do both parks. have been doing this with my kids since 1993.

i could not stand the ME system. it was horrible for us.
it took us 1.5 hours from start to finish and the luggage was not received until way late. you must have had good luck with them. it was such an awful experience that i hired a town car for my return back to the airport.
used ME for the mco to disney resort only once and that was enough.

i know the deluxe hotels at disney can start around $400 a night and go up to more than $900 a night on certain seasons and hotels.

you will not find that the case at the onsite hotels at universal. even when i stay at concierge level/club at hard rock, i have never paid $400 a night there and i go in regular season.
universal accepts AAA for discounts for hotel rooms, merchandise in the park and city walk, and for tickets. there are specials on the UO website at different times. check the UO site regularly in order to get the best deal for your family. i have used package deals only when it is cheaper than buying everything separate to put a plan together for my family.

if you are staying at WL and only paying $200 a night, you must be using a code and staying in the value season.

royal pacific was built in 2002 and is themed quite nicely.
the room size could be 320 sq ft , not sure. you can check the dimensions and see pics of the rooms on the universal website. rph is the cheapest of the 3 hotels. rates start around $149 a night but there have been specials periodically.
next is the portofina bay hotel which is quite classy and quite large room size. many love this place. rooms are less than $200 on value seasons.
when i go in the fall during regular season, i usually stay at the hard rock hotel. when hhn events are happening, hrh does sell out.

this past october, the rate for hrh increased to about $250 a night. because hrh is so popular, the prices have increased for this hotel.

if you are looking for a standard room, it wil be less than what you pay at disney.

if you sign up for loews first, you will receive perks from all loews hotels in orlando and across the country.

the dining plan at the parks varies per promotion.
there is one going on now but i have no idea what promos will be in effect when you plan your UO trip.

just reread your question. if no one else replies to your post, i will return and address your other questions.

glad to hear you will be trying UO.
stay on site for the great perks such as FOTL.

 

[almburr]

Yes we stayed during value season. I dont know if a code was used, I went through a travel agent. I told her how much I wanted to spend and made sure it was in value season, and told her where we wanted to stay. New Q how would i get between parks if we choose to stay at one for a few days and another for a few days? Really dont want to do a rental car. What is FOTL?

 

[macraven]

Yes we stayed during value season. I dont know if a code was used, I went through a travel agent. I told her how much I wanted to spend and made sure it was in value season, and told her where we wanted to stay. New Q how would i get between parks if we choose to stay at one for a few days and another for a few days? Really dont want to do a rental car. What is FOTL?

fotl is front of the line. it is one of the free perks when you stay on site at universal hotels. you by pass the regular lines and enter in a special line marked express pass.

park goers that stay off site can buy the express pass but depending on season it can be from $20 to 50 per person. only bad thing about those passes are you can only use them one time per ride or attraction.

if you have fotl, you can repeat a ride as many time you want with no restrictions.
you can only get fotl by staying on site.

i have rented cars, took busses, the mears shuttle and town car service on my trips. i always do a 3 leg trip. mco to disney. then disney to universal and lastly, universal to mco. last month i used sunray and it cost me $112 for all three trips. i did have a coupon for $8 off.

that is the way i am going from now on. i got a free 30 minute grocery stop which helped out for universal. that stop alone saved me money. i bought soda and water and some snacks that i was able to keep in my room.

i have used mears before from the disney hotel to universal.
it is $13 per person round trip.
i only needed it from disney to universal so that was cheap. i took my luggage with me and was dropped off at the bus area in city walk. had to walk from there to the hotel. i won't do that again thought.

if you take the me bus from mco to disney, you could get a rt fare from a car service for about $72 that would cover your ride from disney to the universal hotel and then from universal to the airport.
it just depends on what you want to spend.

for taxis which i have taken from disney to universal was $25 for that trip.
i did go early before rush hour on I 4 as time in the cab and mileage makes up the charge of using their service.