Universal Resorts vs. Nick Hotel???

[hmhs]

I'm so confused on where to stay this summer when we come to Orlando & I need help!! It will be me, hubby & our 5 yr old son. We are not doing WDW at all bc we've done only that the last two years and want to do Universal, Islands of Adventure, Sea World & maybe a water park instead (may not do water park if hotel has a great set up)

I'm trying to book our trip for the 2nd week of July and was pretty much set on the Nickelodeon Hotel... but now I'm thinking maybe we should stay at one of the Universal Resorts. I like the idea that you can go back to your room during the day and get the FOTL pass too. However, the Nick seems like something my son would just love..... but maybe he would love the Universal hotels too- they look very kid friendly also.

What do you think??? Which of the Universal Resorts would be best for a 5 yr old boy?

Also, I can get a deal on Travelocity (at the moment) for the Nick for about $150 a night... seems like Universal Resorts are much more money- is it worth it??

Need advice please!!!! Thanks so much

 

[bas71873]

I'm so confused on where to stay this summer when we come to Orlando & I need help!! It will be me, hubby & our 5 yr old son. We are not doing WDW at all bc we've done only that the last two years and want to do Universal, Islands of Adventure, Sea World & maybe a water park instead (may not do water park if hotel has a great set up)

I'm trying to book our trip for the 2nd week of July and was pretty much set on the Nickelodeon Hotel... but now I'm thinking maybe we should stay at one of the Universal Resorts. I like the idea that you can go back to your room during the day and get the FOTL pass too. However, the Nick seems like something my son would just love..... but maybe he would love the Universal hotels too- they look very kid friendly also.

What do you think??? Which of the Universal Resorts would be best for a 5 yr old boy?

Also, I can get a deal on Travelocity (at the moment) for the Nick for about $150 a night... seems like Universal Resorts are much more money- is it worth it??

Need advice please!!!! Thanks so much

Ditto here. We are doing an all US/IOA/SW vaca in late August. DH, me and DD6. After a lot of reading, I decided to stay on site at HRH because they have a pool with a slide and DD loves a slide AND we plan to have lots of down time vs. our usual commando vaca's at WDW. Plus, we are flying and therefore won't be renting a car, so I wanted to be on property so we can come and go as we please and also be able to use the FOTL pass. I got a great Supersaver rate for a club level room and we are very excited about our trip. I have 7 nights, queen club level for around $1600.

I do think the Nick Hotel looks awesome, but for the reasons I mentioned above, plus the close proximity to the other on-site hotels and resturants, staying on site just seemed to good to pass up.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[hmhs]

I didn't realize only the Hard Rock had a water slide... that's important to us too. I was really thinking the Pacific themed one looked better for kids- plus I think we'd use beach area. I guess I need to investigate a little more... I wish the web site had better pictures of the pool areas.

 

[francie57]

The HRH is great. That is the only place we stay. They do have slides and they also have a side of the pool that is sand so you would have that also. If you are a member of AAA they offer discounts on the rooms and tickets. We book a room only reservation and then buy the tickets at AAA before we leave to get the discount.

 

[Bluer101]

We always stay at RPR and our son is now turning 7 and he loves RPR. We also love pool hopping to HRH for the use of the slide, but like staying at RPR. RPR pool is very nice with the large childs play area and the biggest pool of all three resorts.

 

[Bluer101]

Also, I can get a deal on Travelocity (at the moment) for the Nick for about $150 a night... seems like Universal Resorts are much more money- is it worth it??

Need advice please!!!! Thanks so much

I just got through looking at rates for RPR for the second week of July (granted I don't know your exact dates) and with no discount its around $211 plus taxes a night. Now if you have AAA. an annual pass, or Florida resident it drops almost to $150-$170. Now even for $211 thats worth it just for FOTL and the convience of being right on property.

 

[macraven]

there are some trip reports that discuss the families' stay at the nick hotel.

some have pictures with those trippies.


from what i can remember was the report of one family that stayed there and planned to do universal in the daytime.

they said there was a lot of activities at the nick hotel where it could keep their kids entertained the entire time. the kids loved it.

i think it cut into their park time though.

if you get the hotel for $150 at nick, i believe there are other fees involved besides the parking fee if you have a car with you.


if you want to do the parks, sw, uo, w & w, etc, you might not want to stay at the nick hotel. apparently it is structured to be a full resort for vacationers. i'm told kids do love it there.

 

[melissac]

We stayed at nick for one night and that was enough for us. We were very glad to leave and go to OKW. It was too many people, too close to others and too over the top loud and obnoxious. I would stay at a US hotel. we are staying at HRR in Oct. and will never return to Nick again.

 

[CEO]

If you're staying for a whole week, why not break it up and do both?

I've done the Nick and all three of the Uni hotels and think any 5-year-old would be tickled to be at ANY of the four. The Nick hotel certainly has a lot more activities during the day. Between the character greetings, the organized pool activities, and other things going on in the foodcourt, your kid can probably spend a whole day without leaving the resort. The pool complexes (there are more than one) have fun waterplay areas, though they aren't exactly waterpark quality (but the 5 y.o. may not even notice).

I would do the Nick Hotel first, then do the Uni Hotel. You get the FOTL keys even if the room isn't ready so there's plenty to do. As cool as the Nick Hotel is, a week may be TOO much, and you'll be kicking yourself when you hit USF or IOA and see the long summer lines.

So, my advice: Hit Nick Hotel for 3-4 days, and in that time hit Sea World and anything you want to hit other than UO. Then just migrate over to RPR (yes, it has no slide, but the waterplay area is better -- the hotel is also $10-$30 a night cheaper a night).

 

[tlinus]

If you're staying for a whole week, why not break it up and do both?

I've done the Nick and all three of the Uni hotels and think any 5-year-old would be tickled to be at ANY of the four. The Nick hotel certainly has a lot more activities during the day. Between the character greetings, the organized pool activities, and other things going on in the foodcourt, your kid can probably spend a whole day without leaving the resort. The pool complexes (there are more than one) have fun waterplay areas, though they aren't exactly waterpark quality (but the 5 y.o. may not even notice).

I would do the Nick Hotel first, then do the Uni Hotel. You get the FOTL keys even if the room isn't ready so there's plenty to do. As cool as the Nick Hotel is, a week may be TOO much, and you'll be kicking yourself when you hit USF or IOA and see the long summer lines.

So, my advice: Hit Nick Hotel for 3-4 days, and in that time hit Sea World and anything you want to hit other than UO. Then just migrate over to RPR (yes, it has no slide, but the waterplay area is better -- the hotel is also $10-$30 a night cheaper a night).

I agree 100%

(except we always stay at the Hard Rock)