Universal Experts I need your help!

[wilkeliza]

Hi all.

So we really want to add a 2 days at Universal to our September Orlando trip. We would come in Saturday and check out of a Universal hotel on a Monday. We would be in the parks Sunday and Monday.

Now I have tried crunching the numbers and Universal does not make it easy. We want express pass and 2 day tickets. I guess we would do park to park because Hogwarts Express is a must do.

So I need some advice. I think staying at Portofino Bay with tickets bought separately is cheapest but can't be sure. Also is there something I'm missing because as a package it is more expensive then buying each portion independent of itself. Is that normal for Universal?

Also is there anywhere besides Universal I should be looking for cheaper rates? Does expedia and travelocity bookings still include ExpressPass?

Thank you for your help and guidance.

 

[macraven]

I find booking room only then buying tickets will be the safest way and you can come out ahead based on where you buy park tickets

Packages are rules and there are $ penalties when you make changes to a package

 

[wilkeliza]

I find booking room only then buying tickets will be the safest way and you can come out ahead based on where you buy park tickets

Packages are rules and there are $ penalties when you make changes to a package

Thanks @macraven. I do see I come out ahead by like 50 bucks booking tickets separately. Also booking room at Royal Pacific saves almost 150 since it is only 50 more a night but Express Pass would cost us about 120 a day. So we end up with about 200 in savings. Also staying at Universal instead of Disney is saving about a grand.

 

[kdawg954]

If you book 3rd party you still get the Express Pass benefits because you would still be staying at the resort.

I would also book seperately (resort from tickets).

The time of year you are going is low season, so you would be getting the best rates on the room.

 

[macraven]

What are the September dates dor the darkside stay?

Agree that most of September have great rates as long as you avoid Labor Day weekend and Hhn dates for the stay

Op only has a Saturday and Sunday listed for the hotel

If the stay will be during Hhn, there will be a time where the onsite hotels will require a Friday stay if you need a Saturday stay

This usually happens by September

 

[AmberK24]

Royal Pacific still offers unlimited Express & is typically the cheapest of the three hotels that includes that.

 

[wilkeliza]

What are the September dates dor the darkside stay?

Agree that most of September have great rates as long as you avoid Labor Day weekend and Hhn dates for the stay

Op only has a Saturday and Sunday listed for the hotel

If the stay will be during Hhn, there will be a time where the onsite hotels will require a Friday stay if you need a Saturday stay

This usually happens by September

Just missing HHN. We are staying 10-12. I sww the Christian rock concerts are 9 and 10 so also glad to miss those since they shorten park hours.

 

[tinydancer09]

I'm on my phone right now so I'm not actually crunching the numbers... Has anyone done the annual pass discount route? Sometimes it can be cheaper to do one power pass annual pass(instead of 2 day) and get the hotel savings.

I'm showing $408 total for standard queen for 2 people your dates RPR with annual pass discount or $571 for same without.

2 day ticket is how much? And annual power pass is $260 plus tax.

You don't have to have the AP at check in but at some point before check out. Also, these rates are limited so if you like that idea you'll need to call them and get the APH rate. You can't assume that you'll just get it when you show up with APH without reserving that rate. You only need one AP for the rate. All other people can get the cheaper ticket. Note prices do change when you go above 2 people so my rates might be a little different

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm on my phone right now so I'm not actually crunching the numbers... Has anyone done the annual pass discount route? Sometimes it can be cheaper to do one power pass annual pass(instead of 2 day) and get the hotel savings.

I'm showing $408 total for standard queen for 2 people your dates RPR with annual pass discount or $571 for same without.

2 day ticket is how much? And annual power pass is $260 plus tax.

You don't have to have the AP at check in but at some point before check out. Also, these rates are limited so if you like that idea you'll need to call them and get the APH rate. You can't assume that you'll just get it when you show up with APH without reserving that rate. You only need one AP for the rate. All other people can get the cheaper ticket. Note prices do change when you go above 2 people so my rates might be a little different

Only 2 people. Does the annual power pass have date restrictions?

 

[macraven]

Yes
Power pass has black out dates which you can find on the UO site and the quick access sticky

 

[tinydancer09]

Only 2 people. Does the annual power pass have date restrictions?

they do and I went to go look them up and it appears they don't have next years posted. Historically they have black outs for a spring break week, summer at one or both parks. And for the holidays in the fall/winter. It's peak times only and I persoablly use it as a guide when not to go.


Edit: oh, by holidays I mean turkey day, Christmas, and New Years. Though I'm not positive about turkey day.... Maybe that's just my Disney one.