Value resorts at Universal?

[CurlyJo224]

Does Universal have anything like the value resorts at Disney? I've gotten spoiled by Disney to staying on property, but the only rates I'm seeing at Universal are pretty high. Am I just going to have to find something close to the parks, but off property?

 

[Bluer101]

Nope, the only one that is a normally a little cheaper is Royal Pacific. I'm glad Universal does not have any value resorts. Its just the right amount of people with unlimited express to give you a wonderful onsite experience, treated like a VIP.

 

[damo]

The only value hotels are off property. There are some good deals to be found in the Major Blvd. area. There are no perks like early entry or express line access with these hotels unless you purchase a package through the universalorlando.com website and then you can get early entry.

 

[CurlyJo224]

Nope, the only one that is a normally a little cheaper is Royal Pacific. I'm glad Universal does not have any value resorts. Its just the right amount of people with unlimited express to give you a wonderful onsite experience, treated like a VIP.

That's all well and good if you can afford those. I sure can't.

I guess that's where Disney has the advantage, IMO.

 

[bumbershoot]

From your ticker, you have awhile to plan, so be sure to read the rate/date threads, to see the sorts of discounts on the hotels you can perhaps get for your dates.

I've seen someone post a rate of $139 for Royal Pacific (cannot remember what rate or what date)...that's less than what I paid for Caribbean Beach in December, and while I've usually seen Value prices lower than that (though I haven't checked for those in around 2 years), it's not THAT much higher. And since just one night gives you two days of the Express Pass Plus (about as close as "front of the line" as a normal person can get IMO) and Early Entry to Wizarding World of Harry Potter, it can be seen as WELL worth it!

 

[LUVIOA]

The onsite hotels have all the priveleges and convenience to the parks that the deluxe have at Disney. You can't expect to be walking distance to both parks from all 3 hotels and pay a value price for it. All the the disney values are far away from the parks and require bus transportation. You do get what you pay for at UO. It does keep the express pass special by not having a ton of hotels with the same priveleges. You can stay at an offsite hotel for a value price and it would require the same amount of transport that you need at disney, probably closer.

 

[Harry Potter]

I agree that you get what you pay for.

TBH, I thought RPR was a budget resort, anyway.

To be within a 10minute walk or waterway taxi from CityWalk and the 2 theme parks (including IOA, which is where it's at nowadays in the theme park industry) is just heaven for me, and I am prepared to pay whatever they charge me.

Disney have some good resorts, but I don't want a 10 mile bus journey to Typhoon Lagoon whenever I want a swim.

 

[francie57]

I agree with a pp, since you have over a year until your trip, I would save the extra money and spend one night on-site. You would get two days unlimited express plus the early admission to IOA and it is definitely worth every penny. If you are a AAA member, they offer room discounts and also by showing your card you get a 10% discount at the park restaurants, stores, and most of the restaurants at City Walk, except Emerils, and may one other high price place.

 

[damo]

The offsite value hotels at Universal are just as close to the parks as the onsite value hotels at Disney, if not closer. There are offsite value hotels within walking distance to both parks. Disney's got nothing over Universal there.

 

[Bluer101]

That's all well and good if you can afford those. I sure can't.

I guess that's where Disney has the advantage, IMO.

I did not see that your trip is over a year way. The rate are going to be high until a few months before. The highest I have paid at RPR was for a one night stay in December for $269. The rest of the time the average is right around $150-$179 a night. From what I researched on Disney values (we thought of trying this May trip) the cheapest was right around $105-$120 per night. So for an extra $30-$50 a night I would rather stay in a better resort with better perks.

Just hang in there and keep checking all of your options. I will tell you this is is worth the $$$ to stay onsite at Universal, but not at the rack rate.

 

[CurlyJo224]

The ticker is for our Disney trip next year. We're doing Universal this October instead of Disney. I suppose I could make a ticker for that one. (The way we do Disney, we can't fit any other parks in.)

I'll try to find something close, but off property. We're trying not to spend quite so much on this vacation as on our Disney trips.

 

[brenda1966]

I have found the room rates at US hotels to be high around Halloween time, I guess it's because of their halloween parties. So, expect over $200 for a room. Having been last year, I do think it is worth it for FOTL and early entry. That's a huge perk and worth the extra cost, IMO. But if you're on a budget you can surely find a cheaper room. Enjoy!

 

[damo]

Check out the Doubletree or Hyatt Place. They are offsite but within a 15 minute walk of the parks and about the same price as the values at Disney. Much nicer though.

 

[dd50]

Have you looked at the partner hotels on the Universal site. If you get the room and tickets it is considered a package and you get in one hour early. The Double Tree is within walking distance.

 

[macraven]

Does Universal have anything like the value resorts at Disney? I've gotten spoiled by Disney to staying on property, but the only rates I'm seeing at Universal are pretty high. Am I just going to have to find something close to the parks, but off property?

i used to think disney had cheap value rates but not anymore.

the room i am staying at on my next trip at the values there, will be $125 a night plus tax for friday and saturday.

compare that to the room at rph at universal that will cost me $28 more....


i get a lot more for my money at rph.
and no way would i call that a value resort.