What a Bummer....

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

would love to take the kids to Universal for Spring Break,but if I do guess we'll be standing in long lines,with 3 kids there is just no way we can afford the prices they are asking at these hotels. They are definately not for the family on a budget. It's to bad, sad and strange that it's more affordable to stay on Disney Resorts then here???!!!

 

[MAH4546]

would love to take the kids to Universal for Spring Break,but if I do guess we'll be standing in long lines,with 3 kids there is just no way we can afford the prices they are asking at these hotels. They are definately not for the family on a budget. It's to bad, sad and strange that it's more affordable to stay on Disney Resorts then here???!!!

Universal doesn't have the low-quality equiavlent to ASM, Pop, etc.

The cheapest Universal Resort - the Lowes Pacific - is best comparable to the Polynesian in terms of amenities and atmosphere and "star" rating.

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

Universal doesn't have the low-quality equiavlent to ASM, Pop, etc.

The cheapest Universal Resort - the Lowes Pacific - is best comparable to the Polynesian in terms of amenities and atmosphere and "star" rating.

I know,but that's the problem. Being a family of 5 we just can't afford that, when we stay on Disney Resort, we stay at the values. I know it's because they don't have all the hotels like Disney, but sure do wish it was a little more affordable is all..

 

[MAH4546]

I know,but that's the problem. Being a family of 5 we just can't afford that, when we stay on Disney Resort, we stay at the values. I know it's because they don't have all the hotels like Disney, but sure do wish it was a little more affordable is all..

Agreed, they just don't have the density to build value resorts.

Though if you are a Florida resident, you can sometimes score amazing deals at the resorts. I've stayed at the Pacific for $94/night.

 

[damo]

Being a family of 5 doesn't really make a difference at Universal. 5 fit into all of the hotel rooms.

Ticket prices are under $100 each for 7 days -- about a third of Disney tickets. How much are you spending for ticket prices at Disney? Maybe there is enough of a difference there to make up for the difference in price of the hotel. If you are saving about $150/person that is a $750 savings right there to go towards the hotel costs.

 

[Poohbug]

To fit 5 in a room at Disney you would have to have DVC or deluxe=much more money than the Universal resorts. Or you could stay at POR at a moderate price, which is pretty close to the cost of a US resort. Or you can stay at a value suite or two rooms at a value, again about $175-$200 a night.

Since you can fit 5 in a room at US resorts, it is not too bad. Especially when you consider that the resorts are so much nicer than the cheaper hotels at WDW. Tickets to US are much cheaper than WDW and you don't have to take the buses everywhere. I think food is also more reasonable at US.

I'm sure going over spring break is very expensive. Which is why we don't do it. We only travel on off seasons.

 

[maggieb9975]

Being a family of 5 doesn't really make a difference at Universal. 5 fit into all of the hotel rooms.

Ticket prices are under $100 each for 7 days -- about a third of Disney tickets. How much are you spending for ticket prices at Disney? Maybe there is enough of a difference there to make up for the difference in price of the hotel. If you are saving about $150/person that is a $750 savings right there to go towards the hotel costs.

I agree with Damo! we are doing a 5 day base ticket at Disney and it is $450!! compared to $200 for 7 days at Universal ( 2 adults) park hop as much as we want...

I agree that Universal doesn't have the low end rooms that Disney does but if you compare similar deluxe hotels at Universal vs Disney the Universal hotels ARE cheaper than Disney and you can put 5 in all rooms....and they are beautiful...

We are staying at the Contemporary and Yacht Club for 5 nights and they are $400 per night vs $300 a night at Royal Pacific ...

our costs at Disney...$2450...5 nights and 5 base tickets....
Universal costs are $1700..7 day ticket and 5 nights with Club Level room...so our food costs will also be less at Universal...and we have Front of the line for 6 days!!!

I love both places but I really don't see how some feel Universal costs more ..

 

[Darcy03231]

Here's what I would do (and have done - we have a large family too).

Rent a vacation home or inexpensive hotel. We prefer a vacation home because for about $100/night we have plenty of room to spread out, a full kitchen (which saves on meals) and a washer/dryer.

Book one night at an on-site hotel. This will give you the unlimited express access for two days (check-in/check out days). My kids are teens and prefer the Hard Rock.

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

Here's what I would do (and have done - we have a large family too).

Rent a vacation home or inexpensive hotel. We prefer a vacation home because for about $100/night we have plenty of room to spread out, a full kitchen (which saves on meals) and a washer/dryer.

Book one night at an on-site hotel. This will give you the unlimited express access for two days (check-in/check out days). My kids are teens and prefer the Hard Rock.

I have heard about doing this and it is a option, we are Fla residents,helps sometimes,but not always. As far as us being a family of 5, I didn't mean that as far as fitting into the room, it's just over all expenses,food and such, when it all adds up gets pricey. I'm hoping to work it all out, so far though the only price I can get to pop up for a night we'd be there is $334 for RPH, that's like 3 nights somewhere else for us so hard for the DH to stomach!
By chance can anyone tell me how bad the lines would be the end of March if we didn't stay on site??
Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

 

[mtmbyck]

We did Universal instead of Disney in 2008 over March Break and while Disney parks had 60-90 minute waits, Universal was virtually dead between opening and 11am!! We could not figure out where everyone was!! Not sure if things have changed but lines are NOTHING like Disney in our experience!

 

[tfoster]

We're a family of 6 and I'm right there with you. The combined costs add up soooo quickly when everything is multiplied by 5 or 6. We're looking at staying at HRH, but honestly, the price is difficult to justify, and comparing to Disney deluxes doesn't mean much to us since we don't stay in Disney deluxes. We recently stayed in a FW Cabin which has a pretty expensive rack rate, but we did it in combination with free dining (and free dining for 6 made it a very good deal).

Anyway, when we first started preliminary plans for Universal, I didn't know if it was going to be possible because of the higher cost we'd end up spending. I've received a lot of tips here, though, and it looks like it'll probably work for us.

I generally don't like switching hotels when traveling, but it looks like we'll be staying off-site for the first couple of nights when we visit Seaworld and then transferring over to HRH. That alone will save a lot of money. The thing I have to keep the closest watch on is making sure we stay at HRH long enough to get the super saver rate (assuming one comes out for when we're planning to go). At first, I didn't like having to pay to travel from the airport to the hotel, but now it seems like that stop at the grocery store might be something we take advantage of. We ARE going to get one of the little styrofoam coolers to keep in the bathtub for our drinks, yogurts, etc. We are also going to bring our AAA and American Express card to use for discounts. We'll share meals when possible and won't be eating nearly as many desserts as we did at Disney (ones which we usually didn't finish anyway). I'm counting on a bunch of little things like that to add up and make a difference.

 

[damo]

We did Universal instead of Disney in 2008 over March Break and while Disney parks had 60-90 minute waits, Universal was virtually dead between opening and 11am!! We could not figure out where everyone was!! Not sure if things have changed but lines are NOTHING like Disney in our experience!

Things will soon change with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Those lines are now going to be huge. Even now, people are saying that the lines are getting a lot longer.

 

[tfoster]

Things will soon change with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Those lines are now going to be huge. Even now, people are saying that the lines are getting a lot longer.

Sorry to go off-topic, do you know if the WWHP rides be participating in FOTL?

 

[damo]

Sorry to go off-topic, do you know if the WWHP rides be participating in FOTL?

Usually new rides take several months before they get the express line.

 

[tfoster]

Usually new rides take several months before they get the express line.

That sounds good for us. If we go in December 2010, if Universal stays on schedule, they should have been up and running for over six months by the time we go. Good news for us, yes?

 

[damo]

That sounds good for us. If we go in December 2010, if Universal stays on schedule, they should have been up and running for over six months by the time we go. Good news for us, yes?

I hope so. We're going to go the beginning of Sept. 2010 and are hoping for express too!!!

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

thanks everyone,hopefully I'll get it all worked out. We've usually always done Disney or the mountains,but the oldest DS is getting bored and before he's all grown and may not want to go anymore,I'm hoping to do something he'll like!
I've been pretty good in the past at finding discounts and deals, so I hope to do the same now, all your comments have helped.
So it sounds like I can do a one nighter and get both days for the express lanes and just stay somewhere else cheaper,like others I don't like switching but will be worth it!
Now to start slowly buying gift cards to places to eat. Easier to slowly buy then all at once!
Thanks again all, and keep the info coming I'm sure it will not only help me but others as well!!

 

[francie57]

Are you a AAA member. You can get good discounts with them and you can also get good discounts on the tix and 10 percent off at most restaurants. Not sure of your exact dates but I just tried the Loew's website and put in the 21st of March through the next weekend and with the super saver rate for Rph was about $165 (I put in 2 adults and 3 under 18) and $185 for HRH.

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

Are you a AAA member. You can get good discounts with them and you can also get good discounts on the tix and 10 percent off at most restaurants. Not sure of your exact dates but I just tried the Loew's website and put in the 21st of March through the next weekend and with the super saver rate for Rph was about $165 (I put in 2 adults and 3 under 18) and $185 for HRH.

appreciate it,but I won't be able to stay that long for the super saver rate and even at $165 is to high for us. We're more of a value resort at Disney type peeps.

 

[vbmom40]

Here's what I would do (and have done - we have a large family too).

Rent a vacation home or inexpensive hotel. We prefer a vacation home because for about $100/night we have plenty of room to spread out, a full kitchen (which saves on meals) and a washer/dryer.

Book one night at an on-site hotel. This will give you the unlimited express access for two days (check-in/check out days). My kids are teens and prefer the Hard Rock.

We are going in Late may early June of 2011 with so far 30 people probably more and staying on site with most of them is expensive they are in college but wanted the up front passes and did not want to stand in line. This is an awesome idea.