Universal Questions

[jencav5]

I posted this on another board-and then found this one-so I'm re-posting here as well, as it seems it may be more appropriate!

I am getting ready to book the HRH for 11/12/05-11/15/05. They seem to have a pretty decent internet rate of $199. I am also looking at buying theme park tickets. They have this deal where you pay $99.95 for 2 days, both parks and get 4 days, plus if you purchase by 9/5/05 you get a coupon book. You only get 1 coupon book per transaction, so you would have to purchase the tickets separately to get more than 1 book. This would work for free if you did the electronic pick-up (rather than mail). Has anyone seen or used one of these coupon books? I'm wondering if it would be worth it to have more than 1, since we'll be there over a 4 day period.

My second question is, since we're staying onsite, will we still want a car? I generally like to be mobile, but it seems that you can walk to the parks here, so I'm wondering if we will just be paying to park the car. This leads to the question of food-is the food at the resorts, parks or citywalk good for kids and adults? We will need to get from the airport to the resort and then back, as well, so if we don't have a car, we will need to hire a service. Any advice, suggestions, "what works for you", etc... would be great! This is actually the last leg of our trip, after WDW & a Disney cruise, just for background! Thanks!

 

[phamton]

About the coupon book (it is good for up to 6 people):

At US there are 15% off coupons for food at Finnegans, Lombards, Capt. Quints and Int'l food fest. At IOA, 15% off at Confisco, Mythos, Comic Strip Cafe and IOA merchandise. At CityWalk, you get all sorts of discounts on food and merchandise, a couple of free beverages. Also, 10% off lunch at Jakes or Island Dining at RPH, a free wine or appetizer at a couple of the PBH restautants, and 15% lunch at the Kitchen/HRH.

 

[macraven]

thats right what phampton said.

i did the internet special at universal and had the tickets and coupon booklet mailed to me this spring.

last years coupon book had a few more items, but i am very satisfied with what is in it this year. i do use them.

 

[Patch'sD]

Second Question,

I have been there three times, Don't really need a car. I would evaluate the car rental vs Limo Service. Also please include Hotel Parking Fee of $ 7.00 per day. You don't need the car. Hotel Food is Pricey, CityWalk and Parks less Pricey. If using Limo Transportation, Negotiate a stop to pick up Soda, Water, and Snacks. You will save a bundle.

Have a great trip and enjoy the parks. Just remember with On-Site FOTL you will be spoiled and never want to wait in lines again.

 

[macraven]

the strip mall at the end of universal dr is great for the snacks.
i had the driver stop there for me.

in the back of publix is a full service deli, great food!


i think i missed something, what was your question?



i rented a car twice. went from airport to disney, disney to hard rock, hrh to airport. i did not like paying the $7/day parking.

it was nice to have a car and use it at disney for some of the parks, and to drive to universal. it was rotten to have a rental car sit in the hrh parking lot for 6 days and never use it. paid $35/day for the rental car + $7/day for parking = $217 and it sat in a parking lot the entire time.

i paid $30 one year and $35 the next when i took a town service car from disney to hrh.

cheaper to use town service than car rental in my opinion

 

[robvia]

I always tell people to rent the car, because then you can visit the grocery store to get snacks. Most limo services will make one stop as a perk for using them. There are some nice restaurants offsite, and you may save some money visiting them. That's why I made my web page with pictures.
http://www.nogodforme.com/directionstopublix.htm
And you can tour I-drive here
http://www.nogodforme.com/touridrive.htm
In your case, you are only staying a few days, so the rental may come out the same as the limo to/from the airport (plus tips).
With the rental, you'll pay $7 a night of parking, plus gas.
It's really a toss up. If you were staying a week, then I'd say go with the Limo, but for a few days, the rental may work out.

 

[macraven]

i would say that makes sense,

keep in mind for a one day car rental of $35, you could use a town car for that same amount. they do stop for a 30 minute grocery stop of your choice.

the pizza place that is down the street does deliver to the lobby of the hrh, have used it before.

when i go to universal it has ranged from a 3 night stay to a 6 night stay.
i am so hooked on US and IOA, i hate to take time out from the parks to leave and eat outside the park area.
i have eaten at city walk and it ususally takes 1 1/2 hours away from the park for me.

when i go in may/june, parks have longer hours. when i go in october for hhn, parks close ioa at 5 and us at 6........
i do stay and scream so i don't want to leave the park to dine elsewhere.


you can't go wrong either way. if you are the type that needs to get away from the park atmosphere and don't want to stay and eat at one of the three hotels or citywalk, then maybe leaving the area for I drive would be good for you. i have done I drive twice but found the traffic there as bad as downtown chicago.

if you are a park enthusiasts and hhn addict, you won't be likely to venture away to the outside world.
only you can decide based on your thoughts and needs of car rental advantage.

i have done it both ways in the last 14 going on 15 trips.
when i had all three of my sons with me, we did the car rental most of the time. the last 6 years, all but two trips have been town service.

 

[jencav5]

Thanks for all the great info! I think I am going to have to make a chart of the rent a car vs. car service and see how it actually works out.

It sounds like we will probably just hang around the hotel & parks, though, as we will be coming from a cruise. Is there any kind of name brand fast food at the City Walk or the park-like McDonalds, etc...? They do have McD;s at Disney, so I wasn't sure about US/IOA. My son is autistic and is a bit harder to please than most kids! Since the parks close so early in November, I thought we might want to run out and get him something like that.

Do they keep the pools heated during November? I think I read the pools are heated seasonally? What does that mean? I'm wondering, because, I, too, would like to stay at the parks as much as possible during the day and then enjoy the pools when the parks close-which seems to be 6pm for November.

 

[macraven]

i have read the pools are heated but i have never been in november.
maybe someone else that knows first hand will reply to your question.

the last time i was at universal was last october.
at that time i don't recall any mcdonalds/fast food joints in the park or at city walk.

check allearsnet for the menus at universal and citywalk. it was updated recently and many are included. that way you can get a better idea of food for your child.

the hot dogs at universal near jaws are really good. think they also have the chicken strips/nuggets.

hopefully some one else will post about the food selections for you for a picky child. all of my kids love to eat, if they like it or not

 

[robvia]

There is no McDonalds in the park. It's 1 block north on the west side of Kirkman. You could almost walk to it from the HRH, about 20 minutes each way. I don't think anyone has ever done it. There is a Burger King directly across from the parking garage behind the Walgreens. I barely hear about people going across Kirkman to the restaurants on the other side, but it can be done. Maybe if you are a jogger, and want a little adventure. On my recent visit to the RPR, I did drive to Chilis to pick up take out. And we ordered pizza in from Flippers, they also have Salad. Scroll down this page to see pictures of Flippers.
http://www.nogodforme.com/IOA072905.htm

 

[macraven]

flippers is the one i used that delivers to the onsite hotels . you have to meet them in the lobby.


you can pick up discount coupons from many places in orlando, grocery store, dennys, car rental places.....its in a little booklet that is free.
youi can also go online and print the coupon for flippers from home.

 

[jencav5]

About the coupon book (it is good for up to 6 people):

At US there are 15% off coupons for food at Finnegans, Lombards, Capt. Quints and Int'l food fest. At IOA, 15% off at Confisco, Mythos, Comic Strip Cafe and IOA merchandise. At CityWalk, you get all sorts of discounts on food and merchandise, a couple of free beverages. Also, 10% off lunch at Jakes or Island Dining at RPH, a free wine or appetizer at a couple of the PBH restautants, and 15% lunch at the Kitchen/HRH.

When you say the coupon book is good for 6 people what does that mean? Is there a coupon for each person or do they limit how much food you can order, etc? I am just wondering if it is worth it to split my ticket order so that I get 2 coupon books. Would you have benefited from having 2 books-so you could get a discount on food/merchandise on different days?

 

[macraven]

it means that the coupon is valid for up to 6 people.

one coupon covers 1 to 6 people

 

[dcookies]

Just a head's up - pay attention to the pool closing time. We were there last weekend, the parks closed at 8:00, the pool at HRH closed at 10:00 Saturday night, 9:00 Sunday. There really wasn't enough time to leave the park, get back to hotel, change, and use the pool. Not to mention getting something to eat. It was really a bummer! I don't know what time they close the pool in November, but you need to check to make sure you set aside the time.