Universal Discounts

[Zooey72]

I am unsure how the entire promo thing works with Universal. I should, since tech. my company owns it now . (I work for comcast). At any rate, I have (thanks to these boards) a bit of a Disney guru when it comes to what is available and how to get the best deal. I am clueless when it comes to universal. I know from my past vacations at Disney only a fool would go and do a quick booking w/o seeing what is available. Problem is, I don't know where to look. We are thinking of going in Sept. because that is when we have traditionaly gone to Disney and the lines are not bad and there is free dining. I am thinking with the lack of volume, that Universal would be offering some great deals too at that time to get people to come.

Well, first question is what do you think the best deal would be to take.

Second would be, I know they have a dining plan - is it worth the money compared to Disney

3rd, and I don't really expect anyone to know this but I figured I would give it a shot. I was told today that now that we have aquired NBC that all comcast employees get 30% off tickets. Does that stack with other promos or is it one or the other? No one at my work seems to know much about it.

Thanks for any help you can provide

 

[IdesOmarch]

You may ask the lady that just started a new Universal newbie thread up top, or will probably be right under this one now. She apparently got the Portifino for 145 for 3 nights, I have never heard of it being that cheap. You may ask her what her source was, not sure if she has something that is only available to employees or if that was AAA or what not.

 

[Bourquefam]

I'm the newbie and we've discovered that I poorly communicated my rate. Alas, I will NOT be staying at Portofino for $145 for 3 nights. Dang, that would have been nice though.

I will be subscribing to this thread as I (obviously) am in desperate need of help! I, too, can plan a Disney trip for myself or anyone and know how to get the best deals---but Universal? I don't even know which hotel is closest or has the best pool or where to go to get the best deal.

Oooh, here's a question. I read on a thread that it's sometimes cheaper to book hotel only, then buy tickets through undercovertourist. I just want to be absolutely SURE that we'd still qualify for early entry and FOTL if we did it that way. Anybody ever did this before? How did it work?

Thanks!!!!!

 

[Procrastinate]

FOTL has absolutely nothing to do with where you buy your tickets. I always buy through AAA. The ticket gets you entry to the park, but it is your room key that gets you early entry and FOTL.

 

[IdesOmarch]

Yes my bad, I misunderstood what she was talking about. Sorry for the confusion, no $50 a day rate for Portifino sorry. false alarm.

 

[Bourquefam]

IdesOmarch is cracking me up!

Thanks for the info about FOTL! I just ended up booking it all through Universal. Portofino Bay Hotel---here we come!!!! Um, in a few more months.

 

[elbodans]

I'm the newbie and we've discovered that I poorly communicated my rate. Alas, I will NOT be staying at Portofino for $145 for 3 nights. Dang, that would have been nice though.

I will be subscribing to this thread as I (obviously) am in desperate need of help! I, too, can plan a Disney trip for myself or anyone and know how to get the best deals---but Universal? I don't even know which hotel is closest or has the best pool or where to go to get the best deal.

Oooh, here's a question. I read on a thread that it's sometimes cheaper to book hotel only, then buy tickets through undercovertourist. I just want to be absolutely SURE that we'd still qualify for early entry and FOTL if we did it that way. Anybody ever did this before? How did it work?

Thanks!!!!!

will you be staying there for three nights for $145/night? because i'd still like THAT deal. we're paying $253 per night before taxes/fees and i keep looking for better deals--i've had zero luck.

 

[IdesOmarch]

No I think what she was saying was that there was only a 145 difference between a 3 night stay at Portifino and a 3 night stay at Royal Pacific.

 

[Metro West]

Second would be, I know they have a dining plan - is it worth the money compared to Disney

3rd, and I don't really expect anyone to know this but I figured I would give it a shot. I was told today that now that we have aquired NBC that all comcast employees get 30% off tickets. Does that stack with other promos or is it one or the other? No one at my work seems to know much about it.

Thanks for any help you can provide

The meal deal isn't that great unless you have people in your party that like to eat a lot and depending on when you're visiting, the parks close early and two big meals so close together would not make sense. Also...there are much better restaurants that are not on the meal deal that you should try.

You won't find too many deals right now because of the popularity of WWoHP Universal isn't do a lot in the way of deals and I really don't think it will change any time soon.

Yes my bad, I misunderstood what she was talking about. Sorry for the confusion, no $50 a day rate for Portifino sorry. false alarm.

IdesOmarch is cracking me up!

Thanks for the info about FOTL! I just ended up booking it all through Universal. Portofino Bay Hotel---here we come!!!! Um, in a few more months.

OK you two...no drinking allowed on this board!

 

[macraven]

i have been doing the motherland since 1974 and the darkside since 1993..... or was it 1992........



i'm blonde, i forget things........


there is a promo out that is called, stay more, save more.
the longer you stay past 3 nights on site, the greater the discount.

only a certain % of rooms are available for that deal.

i booked a couple of weeks ago for a week stay in October.
my room rate is cheaper than the aph or aaa rate.
but, i am staying 8 days so the greater discounts are fantastic...

if you do not plan to stay but 2 nights, contact any AAA office to see what rate they can find for you.
also, use the website for booking the on site hotels (on the UO site)
for an idea of what the rates are for the specific rooms and hotels.

what i recommend is to call UO reservations and talk directly to a TM.
(team member)
you will receive the best information that way.

i started to book weeks ago with the aph/or/aaa rate and was told of the SMSM promo.
at the time i booked, rph only had 12 rooms left for the dates i wanted for that deal.

just saying that when the allocated amount of rooms for a promo is gone, no more SMSM deal.......

just call and talk to a reservationist at UO.
you will find more info on what is current and what to expect.
i find that new info is usually discussed in their friday meetings at the hotel.
you can usually find deals posted on the site the day or 2 after that.

i don't do packages.
i did it one time as it was a great deal and cheaper in the long run for me.

all other times, i book room only.
i only do the meal deal if i am staying onsite for 8 days.
that is the day i waddle through the parks and eat all day long.

i picture take, shop and people watch on 'stuff my face day'.

i bring my old dueling dragon reusable mug with me to the park that day and get discounted soda drinks in it.

yes, you can bring back any universal mug each trip and get the discount rate for refills...

someone mentioned september.
that is a great month.
i have gone in september twice and stayed onsite.
it is what is called the low/value season.
(cheapest rates for some dates in september.)

i go annually in early-mid october now due to the HHN event at UO.
the first week does not have large crowds on the weekdays.

 

[bumbershoot]

You absolutely get FOTL and IOA early entry when booking room-only through Loews and when buying tickets from a discounter. It's how we did our December visit!


I'm looking into a September visit, and the three weekends I'm looking at all have the stay more save more rate. Royal Pacific 2 queen standard room at 175.20/night (need to add in taxes though) with a 4 night stay, approx 197/night for a 3 night stay. That's what I'm finding, at least.


For you, find out what the ticket discount is and how you get it. Also check out places like undercovertourist and maple leaf tickets. Check the Loews Hotels website for the room only rates (they don't have AP rates out yet for September; June has just been spotted for those rates, though); they will give you all the best rates. When I check my various dates, I see stay more save more, seasonal, and a B&B rate.

Then go to the Universal site, use the dates you're thinking of, and check out what the costs are for the packages. Be sure to change your tickets to what you would actually want to buy (it really lowballs the number of days you might want to go to the parks, I've noticed), keep or delete the trip insurance, get the total price, and compare it all! I have a notebook dedicated for this now.

Best of luck!