Universal during Easter...

[*Fantasia*]

Hi everyone,

Planning to take my kids DS 6 and DD 4 to Universal during Easter. Planning to stay on site (HRH). Will I regret going there at that time? Is it going to be like WDW during Easter where it is crazy-crowded? Well...so I heard! Planning to be there April 19-25 (well somewhere around there). I thought spending our Easter and my birthday in Orlando would be nice.

I think I may wanna skip WDW all together, but just do Universal and Sea World.

Would it matter which park to go which day?? I'm not planning to rent a car, but is there a shuttle bus that can take us to Sea World for a fee or do I call the yellow cab? Never been to Universal Florida...so this is all new to me. Thanks for any infos.

Anyone here going during Easter? And if so, are you staying on site and how much? any discounts? Thanks...

 

[pathubia]

We're staying at the RPH April 19 - 22. We got a standard room for $110. entertainement rate. My sister booked the same dates a couple of days later for $150 per night.

Hopefully with our room keys the crowds wont be too bad.

Patty

 

[h20jag]

What kind of Park passes do you have? (Don't forget about your Express deal on-site!)
You might wanna call HRH and see if they're doing anything special at hotel for kids the 20th. Maybe skip the parks that day.
Then again, Sundays can be good non-crowded days.
There is a shuttle from all Loews hotels there to Sea World (also ask HRH on phone about times).
Your weekdays should'nt be too bad at UO with your magic keys.
Have a great time!
Jim

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thanks for the infos. Thank goodness!! This is good...I don't have to worry about how to get to Sea World. I'm not going to rent a car, I am soley going to rely on Mears and Universal transportations. This will save me some $$.

Now...I just gotta get that rate!

 

[Lola1]

My husband and 3 kids plan on staying at the HRH April 17-25. We got a great deal for the club level, $206.00/night. Used the Hotelkingdom's 4th night free deal. Hoping they might do an Easter egg hunt like last year, they weren't sure when I spoke with them a few weeks ago. Maybe there are some new updates?

 

[mom23guys2]

We'll be at RPR from April 18 to 22 before going to Disney. We got an entertainment rate for a waterview room for $125 but I think they are all sold out of that rate. They still had $169 promotional rates for the HRH at that time last weekend when I called.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Well...I called...they are sold out for my dates! They gave me a couple of #s to call, for April 18-22 it's $198 and April 23 it's $149 and they said that this is with AAA discount. I even called the # which they do the package deal and they said that they are sold out for those dates.

Now I went to Expedia.com Checked out RPR w/ air and it's $1,900 for the three of us. Is this a good deal? or maybe I should go to AAA office and see if they can do better? This is for April 19 thru 24. Hmmm....wonderfing if I should just book it. My chances are getting pretty slim the closer I get to that date!!

 

[Cora]

I just booked last week thru my Travel Agent using Southwest Vacations for 4/25 - 4/29 (4 nites). We are 2 adults and 1 child (9yrs). We are paying $2,100 for 4 nites at RPH, airfare from Providence, RI, all taxes, etc., buy 2 get 1 free passes and cancellation insurance that allows us to cancel up to 2 hours before for ANY reason! Considering this is last minute, I thought the package wasn't too bad. I tried to do it on my own, but the airfare was ridiculous and the flight times, # of stops absurd.

If I were you I would compare your Expedia quote against Southwest Vacations (www.swavacations.com), Orbitz and Travelocity.

Good Luck!

Cora

 

[*Fantasia*]

I had a hard time booking Expedia so I ended up book through Orbitz. For 5 nights April 18-23 it $990. It's $198 waterview per nite. And our air is $964. So it came out to be $1,984. This is the best I can do for those dates.

I went ahead and got the "5 consecutive days" pass that I purchased thru Universal official website. The only thing is that we are only going to be there for 4 full days. I think I'll just use it for my trip in June and just buy a 2 day pass and the 3rd day free. I'll change my hotel to on-site for my next trip in June and stay for 7 nites. How does this sound?

Thanks for sharing your inputs and infos! I can't wait!

 

[cinamin27]

*Fantasia*

First of all, I wanted to say pre-happy b-day. Easter is my b-day weekend too & I also planned an Easter/B-day vacation. Smashmouth was the only band I really wanted to see for the Mardi Gras celebration so it all worked out for me. My daughter & I are not staying onsite, we are staying at Cypress Point in a 2 bdrm villa. We also plan to visit a Disney water park & Seaworld during a couple days & Universal on Saturday for the Mardigras Celebration. we will be in orlando from 4/18 thru 4/21.

2nd I wanted to say since you are planning 2 trips this year, I was thinking that it may be more beneficial to you to purchase the annual pass that is on special now for only $149.95. it looks like it may work out cheaper than the 5 consecutive days then purchaseing 2 additional days with 1 free for your later trip. (I couldnt find the price for the 2 + 1 free on Universal's site). If you already purchased the 5 day pass, I bet you can upgrade it to the annual pass by only having to pay the difference. The annual pass will come in handy for your 7 day trip in June, even if you dont want to visit the parks every day of your 7 day vacation in June, the annual pass will definately help with giving 20% discount on food at City Walk & 10-15% discounts in the park for gifts, food & such. Also, if you plan to rent a car in June, the pass will give you free parking at the parks (although I've read there are parking fees to stay at the onsite hotels).

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thanks cinamin27! And happy advance birthday to you too!

Still trying to get a better rate on our resort. I hope I can upgrade my "5 consecutive days" pass to annual pass. I did purchased the pass already thru their website and I have to do the "e-machine" or whatever you call it. I guess I supppose I can do that when we get there. I don't know we'll see what happens. I just hate to waste that 5th day. And unfortunately I booked my air first then I found out about that 5 days pass, and now I can't change my dates to add one more day.

Oh well...next time I'll get the hotel reserved first and then see if they have any special discounts going on before reserving the air. I don't know...all I know is that we're going...cause there is no refunds on our air tickets.

Again...thanks for everyones input!

 

[h20jag]

Universal is great at upgrading passes, I wouldn't worry about that at all.
You should be able to have Concierge at HRH handle it for you on your check-in day. The more you do there, the less at the parks.
Jim

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thanks H20jag. I'm glad to know that I can upgrade it at the hotel.