Universal questions...discounts?

[jsgrand0]

ok, so I would LIKE to go to Universal during our upcoming "Disney" trip...HOwver, (and I know that's DIsney's plan) I cannot really justify spending like $400 for our family of 4, just for the tickets..and then food also...we are renting a car..so I'm guessing parking too? I have been to IOA, though it was 12 years ago, but I think it would be cool to take my kids there...thing is..I would also like to maybe stay at a UNIVERSAL hotel, to gain the use of their fastpass sytem to guests...guessing it is probably a HUGE difference? SO, that said, I also can't justify spending the difference in hotel cost....To just stay at DISNEY the last 2 days of our vacay would only run approx $250 for both nights at the hotel...and of course the tix are a very small difference because it will be day 6 and 7....

I have been on the Universal website, and am not impressed by the prices...are there discounts out there? I KNOW I will not spend $1000+ MORE just to go to UNIVERSAL the last 2 nights of our vacation..what do you all spend for a couple nights in a UNIVERSAL hotel and park (hopper-type) tickets for 4 people for 2 days? Any way to get a deal?! Thanks for your help!

 

[Planogirl]

You might want to post your question on the Universal forum if you haven't yet. I personally don't know of a way to get any substantial discounts except that like other resorts, sometimes you can find the resorts on sale. The lowest cost passes I know of are offered by undercovertourist.com (they include tax, Universal website price listings don't) but the difference isn't much.

 

[Orlando Vic]

There is a very small ($2.01) AAA discount if you are a non-Florida resident. But, of course, you must be an AAA member. However, for a family of 4, this would be a savings of $8.04/day.

 

[KeroKero]

I worked out the pricing for our upcoming trip, cause we wanted to spend two nights at a Universal Resort ... but I found the pricing insane!! So we're staying on Disney property and just hiring a town car for the two days ($70 roundtrip a day).

We haven't bought park passes or express passes yet, cause we're still up in the air about a second day. Last time we were there, we did both US and IOA in one day - that was before the Wizarding World though. Probably will need the two this year.

 

[Brian Noble]

We usually visit Orlando for about one week at a time. Because of the way pricing works at the main attractions, we either spend a week "at Disney", or we spend a week "at everything else." Everyone charges full price for the first day or two, but discounts after that, so we use that to our advantage.

As for onsite or not at Universal---you can also buy daily express passes (one visit per express attraction) or VIP tickets (unlimited visits per express attraction). So if, like us, you prefer to vacation in condos rather than hotel rooms, you can still come pretty close to approximating the benefits of a Universal hotel. The only thing you don't get is early entry to Potterland, but we found that the evenings were also often a good time to visit the Boy Wizard during peak seasons.

I suppose if this is your one and only trip to Orlando, then mixing in a day at Universal with a Disney trip makes sense. Otherwise, do think about keeping them separate. We were pretty skeptical about a "no Disney trip" before we actually tried it, but we found the Universal Parks and Sea World to be just tons of fun---especially because now that my kids are a little older, they appreciate the more thrilling ride lineup at these parks.

 

[MamaToDavis]

We are also having a hard time trying to figure out how to work everything in. We are going to Orlando the first week of January and have only stayed on site at Disney in past trips, mostly because our boys are still pretty young. But for our upcoming trip DS8 is dying to go to IOA for Harry Potter AND we also want to see the new Legoland. YDS is only 4 couldn't care less. He just wants to go to Disney since this will be his first trip. If it weren't for our little guy, we'd just do a week in Orlando and have plenty to do. But he's been talking about Disney for a good year now and I (I mean he) really wants to go see the Mouse.

 

[Brian Noble]

But he's been talking about Disney for a good year now and I (I mean he) really wants to go see the Mouse.

I suspect it is more you than he. With a four year old, you can talk up the local zoo and it would work.

 

[disneymom06]

My children want to go to universal so I looked into it as well. You can buy an AP for an adult, it is about 250 and then you can get a 15% discount on the rest of the families tickets. With regards to a room, if you have the AP you can hopefully get a room discount and then you get FOTL access for free. The room for one day gets you checkin and checkout day FOTL access. The AP also helps with parking.

It is not great but the cheapest that I have found.

Hope this helps.

PS We haven't gone yet because it is still pricey.

 

[sazzlynn]

I'm not sure if you do Coke points are not, but Universal tickets (1 day passes) are often offerred as one of the rewards on there. The PPs idea about the annual pass was good and could help depending on the number of tickets and days you go, so run the numbers. Other than that, there really aren't any huge discounts for Universal tickets. Sorry =(
As for the Universal hotels, they are really expensive (they get you to pay for the FOTL one way or another) but you can get two days worth of FOTL access with a one night stay. You get it the day you check in and the day you check out. You need your room card in the park, so you have to get one for everyone in your party but your room doesn't have to be ready to check in, also you don't turn in your room cards when you leave so you can use them in the park.

I hope you have a great trip!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

My children want to go to universal so I looked into it as well. You can buy an AP for an adult, it is about 250 and then you can get a 15% discount on the rest of the families tickets. With regards to a room, if you have the AP you can hopefully get a room discount and then you get FOTL access for free. The room for one day gets you checkin and checkout day FOTL access. The AP also helps with parking.

It is not great but the cheapest that I have found.

Hope this helps.

PS We haven't gone yet because it is still pricey.

We had APs at Uni for a few years and yes, their hotel discounts are pretty substantial. Their hotels are all deluxe and, except for Portofino, are an easy walk to the parks & City Walk. Just like Disney, it's slightly higher for Fri & Sat stays.
To get an idea of AP discount, just enter in promo box APH. We squeezed one more trip last Sept out of our APs, just in time to see HP. We're taking a little break since dh was getting pretty 'parked out'.
If coming from Disney, I would hire a car service. There's no need for a car since everything is within walking distance and the hotels charge for parking, our 1 pet peeve.
I looked into the ticket discount for one trip that my parents were coming with us. The discount is off the regular gate price for tickets and not off whatever online promo you might find. Back in those days(pre HP) it was $99 for a 7 consecutive day ticket but the 'gate price' was around $80 for a one day ticket so it made sense to just buy the 7 day.

Also if you belong to AAA, you get 10% off at almost all stores & restaurants in parks, hotels, & City Walk. (except for a few kiosks)

Even if you choose to not buy an AP, the longer you stay, the cheaper the hotel price is per night. The big difference between showing your room key for Express line access vs. buying an Express Pass is the room key can be used unlimited, the Express pass can only be used once per ride. If your kids are like mine & can do Spiderman or MIB 4x in a row, the room key is soooo worth it. We were instantly spoiled and can't visit Universal without a room key. ever.
Hard Rock Hotel is closest & our personal fav!

In all fairness, don't factor food into the cost of visiting Universal. You need to eat while you're visiting WDW too.

 

[Orlando Vic]

I worked out the pricing for our upcoming trip, cause we wanted to spend two nights at a Universal Resort ... but I found the pricing insane!! So we're staying on Disney property and just hiring a town car for the two days ($70 roundtrip a day).

Are you sure you did a thorough search for hotels in the Universal area?

Very easily, I found a $49 rate at a nice hotel! I wouldn't call this rate "insane".
http://www.travelzoo.com/hotels/orlando/-49-Hotel-near-Universal-Theme-Parks-w-Shuttles-Save-55--1064162/?tz_cs=subcat_v0

 

[jsgrand0]

Are you sure you did a thorough search for hotels in the Universal area?

Very easily, I found a $49 rate at a nice hotel! I wouldn't call this rate "insane".
http://www.travelzoo.com/hotels/orlando/-49-Hotel-near-Universal-Theme-Parks-w-Shuttles-Save-55--1064162/?tz_cs=subcat_v0

I think we are both referring to a UNIVERSAL hotel, where you get the extra benefits, such as front of the line access...those rates..well the cheapest I found was a weeknight for $219, a weekend was $249...for my dates in October..

 

[MamaToDavis]

I suspect it is more you than he. With a four year old, you can talk up the local zoo and it would work.

Your suspicions are correct!

 

[DCTooTall]

It might be worth mentioning... but since schools are back in session during your planned trip (based off your counter, guessing late september/early october), You can probably get away without worrying about the FOTL access. Especially if you are planning on doing 2 days at the parks.

that could potentially save you either the daily cost for the ala-carte Express pass for everyone in your group (which are date specific btw), or the need to change to an onsite hotel for the unlimited express for everyone in your party.


As for Discounts.... Usually the best discount that is easily available is having one person get the AP ( currently $229 for a non-resident adult...and also available using the flex-pay for non-residents) and then utilizing the 15% discount for the additional tickets needed for your group. You'll ultimately have to crunch the numbers to see if it makes financial sense for you, but sometimes the extra perks like free parking, food and Merch discounts, onsite hotel discounts, etc... can help tip the scales if the numbers are close enough to the non-AP route to make it a legitimate option.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

It might be worth mentioning... but since schools are back in session during your planned trip (based off your counter, guessing late september/early october), You can probably get away without worrying about the FOTL access. Especially if you are planning on doing 2 days at the parks.

that could potentially save you either the daily cost for the ala-carte Express pass for everyone in your group (which are date specific btw), or the need to change to an onsite hotel for the unlimited express for everyone in your party.


As for Discounts.... Usually the best discount that is easily available is having one person get the AP ( currently $229 for a non-resident adult...and also available using the flex-pay for non-residents) and then utilizing the 15% discount for the additional tickets needed for your group. You'll ultimately have to crunch the numbers to see if it makes financial sense for you, but sometimes the extra perks like free parking, food and Merch discounts, onsite hotel discounts, etc... can help tip the scales if the numbers are close enough to the non-AP route to make it a legitimate option.

Just wanted to add, the free parking perk for AP holders is only for the parks. If you stay onsite and have a car, you still have to pay for parking.