Universal stay - DIY or package booking?

[DLPDreams]

Sorry for all the questions today . But thanks for all the replies .

Hoping to book a 3 night stay at US on our arrival next August. I have been doing dummy pricing for this year and I can't see (at the present time) that I can do it DIY any cheaper really. I have read people saying they've managed DIY and got a better deal - how?

We want a deluxe hotel to get the FOLP & early entry - not really bothered which one - RPR seems to be coming out cheapest.

When I've priced tickets at places like undercover tourist and then priced accom separately RO there isn't a saving. Am I doing anything wrong? For the 4 of us in one room 3 nights with tickets, it's just over £900 booking direct (2014 prices).

Is it best to wait for a cheap RO deal on expedia or the like and just buy tickets first do you think? Is this likely to happen in August? Clearly won't buy tickets until much nearer the date obviously.

 

[Kath2003]

At those prices, I'd wait. It's not getting much more expensive than that!
Also, just so you're aware, RPR isn't exactly a deluxe resort. I mean, it's nice, but it's 4 star at a push....
Is it better value to stay in a better hotel offsite and buy the FOTL passes? The early entry is meh as only HP and Seuss areas are open. Since you can FOTL all the Seuss attractions, it's not really worth a huge amount.
With FOTL passes, you should easily be able to do both parks in 2 days/1 night if you arrive in the morning.
Even without FOTL passes, if you arrive for opening you should be able to do everything with a 5-20 minute wait for the first hour, then a 10-30 minute wait until around noon. We typically get the major rides done before 11am, grab some brunch and then do the smaller attractions, which have shorter waits anyway, at our leisure (and that's during spring break which is much, much busier than August).

 

[DLPDreams]

At those prices, I'd wait. It's not getting much more expensive than that!
Also, just so you're aware, RPR isn't exactly a deluxe resort. I mean, it's nice, but it's 4 star at a push....
Is it better value to stay in a better hotel offsite and buy the FOTL passes? The early entry is meh as only HP and Seuss areas are open. Since you can FOTL all the Seuss attractions, it's not really worth a huge amount.
With FOTL passes, you should easily be able to do both parks in 2 days/1 night if you arrive in the morning.
Even without FOTL passes, if you arrive for opening you should be able to do everything with a 5-20 minute wait for the first hour, then a 10-30 minute wait until around noon. We typically get the major rides done before 11am, grab some brunch and then do the smaller attractions, which have shorter waits anyway, at our leisure (and that's during spring break which is much, much busier than August).

Thank you for the reply

I know, prices are just silly aren't they!! Scary thing is we'll need two rooms as there are 6 of us!

When I say deluxe, that is what Universal rate it as, I am sure it isn't but I think they rate their hotels with the 'full' perks as that iyswim. Also like the look of HRH but wouldn't pay extra to stay there for a few nights.

No, I think we'll need the early entry, hence the reason for staying there (we toyed with booking into WDW and driving it a few days). Our first day we will be up with the larks due to time differences so may as well make the most of it and use early entry (if it's on that day - knowing my luck it won't be!). If I am honest, the main draw for us is Harry Potter and as it's due to expand this summer, I think we'll need the two early entry days to hit those areas first. As we will be there while all the US kids are still off school as well, I think early entry will be important We will do the 'other' bits as we can.

I guess when you break the almost £1000 down, it's 3 nights, 4 people, 4 lots of tickets and FOLP . Didn't price up for the second room with 2 people in, but doubt it will be much cheaper!

I will diary myself to check out hotel only prices nearer this August - I guess this will give me an idea of availability and price. But at the moment, there isn't a lot in it! I did read however, doing a package you are stuck with higher cancellation fees, but not so much with RO booking. But I am hoping that won't be an issue!

 

[chmurf]

you're talking about time difference, does that mean that you're going to US on your first florida day ?

One thing to consider is that staying onsite at USF gives you FOTL from your check in to your check out day.
so if you check in early at the hotel (leaving luggage at bell service) you can get 2 days of FOTL with just one night, or 3 days of FOTL with 2 nights. (granted that you have tickets for all of your park days of course)
also always check your quote when pricing a package, they do not always include tickets for your length of stay. Sometimes they will add a 2 days for 2 nights when you really need 3 days. Go to the "activities" tab and remove + add tickets to suit your needs)

I did the maths for myself a few months ago, buying tickets + unlimited express was quite expensive, and if I added the price of even a cheap offiste accomodation I was just a few dollars cheaper than staying onsite.
You need to do your homework regarding those prices, but staying offsite may not be that much cheaper than staying at RPR

don't get "fooled" by Cabana Bay, which is cheaper, but doesn't give you FOTL, only early entry

RPR is nice but it's a "moderate" (in spirit) at best (at least in my book), as PP said they're pushing it to the deluxe category

we stayed at Portofino Bay, which is the most expensive onsite. Still when I did the maths, I only needed to add $20 a night to stay there RO (with UK 14 days bonus tickets) compared to what I would have paid for an offiste (close to Wet'n'wild) hotel + tickets with unlimited express.
RPR being cheaper, I doubt that staying offsite be cheaper enough to justify losing the oniste perks (pool hopping, boat transportation, early entry, and priority seating at restaurants)

 

[joolz1910]

We are planning to do the same thing - first two nights of our holiday onsite at US with 14 day tickets. I think we will opt for HRH and I am keeping an eye on onsite hotel prices. You can get a 'triple A' discount if you are an AA member and I think you can ask for the discounted price to be applied to your booking if you book directly with US and the price comes down.

Personally, I'm hoping for a glitch

 

[DLPDreams]

you're talking about time difference, does that mean that you're going to US on your first florida day ?

One thing to consider is that staying onsite at USF gives you FOTL from your check in to your check out day.
so if you check in early at the hotel (leaving luggage at bell service) you can get 2 days of FOTL with just one night, or 3 days of FOTL with 2 nights. (granted that you have tickets for all of your park days of course)
also always check your quote when pricing a package, they do not always include tickets for your length of stay. Sometimes they will add a 2 days for 2 nights when you really need 3 days. Go to the "activities" tab and remove + add tickets to suit your needs)

I did the maths for myself a few months ago, buying tickets + unlimited express was quite expensive, and if I added the price of even a cheap offiste accomodation I was just a few dollars cheaper than staying onsite.
You need to do your homework regarding those prices, but staying offsite may not be that much cheaper than staying at RPR

don't get "fooled" by Cabana Bay, which is cheaper, but doesn't give you FOTL, only early entry

RPR is nice but it's a "moderate" (in spirit) at best (at least in my book), as PP said they're pushing it to the deluxe category

we stayed at Portofino Bay, which is the most expensive onsite. Still when I did the maths, I only needed to add $20 a night to stay there RO (with UK 14 days bonus tickets) compared to what I would have paid for an offiste (close to Wet'n'wild) hotel + tickets with unlimited express.
RPR being cheaper, I doubt that staying offsite be cheaper enough to justify losing the oniste perks (pool hopping, boat transportation, early entry, and priority seating at restaurants)

Yes, that is correct. We plan to hire a car, then drive to US and check in, stay there 3 nights (this is all planned at the moment but I guess could change - difficult to be concrete about anything with no direct flights prices released, and no WDW offers yet!).

I realise we will waste most of our first night which does concern me as it's a lot of money, but honestly after all that time getting there, I don't want to book into a cheap hotel for one night, to then move again for another 2 days, to then move again after that

I think some of our arrival time depends on where we fly into - sounds like although Sanford is further out, the immigration/baggage malarky takes much less time, so we may end up there a bit sooner if we do fly there. With MCO, I can't see us getting anything done on the first night. I am thinking it will be around 7.30 pm is before we arrive - but this is just a guesstimate.

I think you've basically reinforced what I thought - there doesn't seem to be much difference between package price and DIY. Only real difference seems to be T&Cs. Although Joolz has hit on one difference - you can get 14 day tickets DIY rather than 2/3 days on package. But honestly, after 2.5 days there, and then heading to WDW for the remainder of our hol (with DC thrown in and a bit of shopping), I can't see us having time to return so it won't be an issue this trip.

I will keep an eye out for tickets in bundle package - the quote I gave earlier was for tickets for each day - so in effect 3 days, although we wouldn't probably use the first night, which is such a shame!

 

[DLPDreams]

We are planning to do the same thing - first two nights of our holiday onsite at US with 14 day tickets. I think we will opt for HRH and I am keeping an eye on onsite hotel prices. You can get a 'triple A' discount if you are an AA member and I think you can ask for the discounted price to be applied to your booking if you book directly with US and the price comes down.

Personally, I'm hoping for a glitch

Hi

I am not an AA member anymore (haven't been for years!). I had read about that though. It's not worth us taking a policy out really as we have cover elsewhere.

I don't think there is much in it - but as you say, you can get 14 day tix if you go DIY. As I said in my reply to chmurf - I can't see us using them again later in the holiday, so it doesn't bother me so much.

Yes - I fear I may be glitch watching too - my whole holiday is turning in a glitch watch !! I suppose worst case, if I can't find a price to suit, we can just extend our WDW accom and drive from there - not ideal as it doesn't include US perks but we'll see.....