what would you do?

[wwessing]

Ok - I need to know what you old pro's would do. . . here's the scenario.

Family (me, dh, dd15, dd11, dd8) planning a trip for spring break 08 (yeah, yeah, I know, plenty of time but the OCD kicks in and I need to make ressies and buy tickets soon). Checking in (on-site a must) Friday, March 21st (btw - Easter is March 23) and checking out Friday, march 28th. HRH is our preference (location to US and, of course, coolness factor) but this is not carved in stone (me whining . . . but I really waaaannnaa stay at hrh). Motivating a change from hrh would be a really great rate on an awesome room at one of the others. We would REALLY like to book a queen deluxe at hrh, but the current rate of $439 is a bit over the top (COME ON, IT'S JUST A STINKIN BED. .. . I want to rent it, not buy it!). I know the rates will change for 2008, but we are using the current rates figuring they won't change that much and we need something close to accurate for financial planning. We are going to purchase the $85 tix soon so as not to miss out on that deal. I am open to purchasing one ap if you all think that would net us some better discounts (I believe ap's are $179, so I would be spending like $94 more to get the ap). We are AAA members and have Loews First card (alas. . .blue level only). I have discovered in my research that there are few, if any, discounts available during spring break times. Also not counting on upgrades at that time either. So I am wondering if an ap will ALWAYS net me a good discount, even during spring break? Are ap discounts much better than AAA? Is it actually worth spending the extra $94 to rack up discounts because we likely will only use the pass for the one week?

If this matters, we will also be going to SW and BGT (they now offer $85 tix exactly as US does, but likely we will only spend one day at each of those parks)

I am wondering if anyone knows what is the busiest check-in/check-out day at the resorts? As I write this, I am think about perhaps staying off-site and going to the SW/BGT parks before checking into an on-site hotel, but I don't want to try to check in on a really busy day (could be I'm crazy but I'm thinking if we beat the crowd we stand a chance at a better room assignment. However, I don't know how this really works)

If this matters, we will also be going to SW and BGT (they now offer $85 tix exactly as US does, but likely we will only spend one day at each of those parks)

So, being in my shoes, (actually barefooted at this writing) what would you do?

Thanks for your time and input.

 

[damo]

I probably wouldn't do anything yet other than perhaps gettting the tickets. I doubt very much that annual pass or AAA will give you discounts during Easter week, so I wouldn't count on that at all. I think if you really want to go during Easter week, you are just going to have to pay up and forget about it. I would probably book in the fall and then just watch for a lower rate.

Looking at rates for Easter week this year, I see that Royal Pacific is $287 -- super savings rate for a non-view room(lowest rate with no APH available and AAA giving a very small discount). $437 for deluxe at hard rock doesn't seem much off the mark comparatively. Those rates are high and I would expect them to be similar for next year.

 

[wwessing]

I probably wouldn't do anything yet other than perhaps gettting the tickets. I doubt very much that annual pass or AAA will give you discounts during Easter week, so I wouldn't count on that at all. I think if you really want to go during Easter week, you are just going to have to pay up and forget about it. I would probably book in the fall and then just watch for a lower rate.

Looking at rates for Easter week this year, I see that Royal Pacific is $287 -- super savings rate for a non-view room(lowest rate with no APH available and AAA giving a very small discount). $437 for deluxe at hard rock doesn't seem much off the mark comparatively. Those rates are high and I would expect them to be similar for next year.

Damo - while this is what I expected to hear, can't you whip out some of that mummy dust or something and give me an answer I WANT to hear?? Aren't you, after all, the Northern Queen of All Universal????

So seriously, it's not that we necessarily WANT to go during easter week, but my dh (mr. bigshot foreman no crews can run without you) can not take a week off work May-bad winter weather. So, that leaves us with going when the kids are out of school in the spring, which sucks huge. Ssssllllluuuurrrrrppp - that is me sucking up those ridiculously high rates because we have told our kids we are going and we don't have a choice. IMHO, staying offsite is NOT a choice, especially during such a busy time.

I wonder, however, why you say you would not book until fall (other than you are not afflicted with OCD, such as myself ). I'm also feeling like the ap would perhaps be wasted expense since I would only be purchasing it for hotel discounts which are not, most likely, going to be available.

I'm going to have to stop reading any thread where there might be folks talking about their great rates cuz I get very jealous!

 

[damo]

I agree that staying onsite is the best way to go at that time. When you are lucky enough to be married to Mr. Bigshot, there are some other concessions that must be made!!!

I've never booked more than a few months in advance. Remember that they will charge you for your first night. I have never had an issue that the good rates were all gone. It seems in my experience that the good rates don't show up until a few weeks before the vacation. However, I don't go in the busy times, so there may be a good reason for you to book way in advance.

Checking on the website, there is no vacancy at Hard Rock for Easter this year but there is still vacancy at the other two hotels.

 

[macraven]

i always book 10 months out. just how i am.


you asked the busiest day for check in.
that would be saturday followed by friday afternoons.

checking in on a weekday is the fastest, but check in on friday before 11 am is also fine.

i have the aaa and ap. for the dates i go, the aaa has been the best deal for me. the ap rates can drop 4 weeks before my stay time period, and one year it beat the aaa rate.

i have found that the aaa rates are posted more further out than the ap ones.
you can book with aaa discount and then modify to the ap rates if they are cheaper for you.

if you check in and it is a busy time, ask the front desk clerk to put you on a list to be relocated when the room you want is available. i have switched rooms before at the hrh. piece of cake, easy to do.

many people use the express check out at hrh so i wouldn't think knowing which day is busiest checking out would be a factor.

about discounts during spring break....... i only know what i read on the threads and what my employee friends say about that high season time.

i never go during spring break. i can't relax with wall to wall people
unless it is at hhn......

 

[wwessing]

As I sit here reading these threads, I can kick myself for complaining and whining about the prices. First and foremost, we are very, very fortunate that we are able to take our family to enjoy such a wonderful vacation in the first place. If I don't like the prices, then I shouldn't stay (ooohhhh, gosh that was tough to say). There is nothing to be done about the time we have to go and when you go during spring break you pay the piper.

So, with that out of the way, I will just book the room we want, be exceptionally glad that we are going to be able to do so and watch closely for any discounts or cheaper rates I might be fortunate enough to find. We are just hard working joe's like everybody else and have already been saving and planning for about 9 months for this vacation. We have another year to save and will need every week of it! I read in another thread not long ago something that made sense. It was along the lines of . . . if you can't afford to stay than you shouldn't. . . . so I'm really past the price issue now and Mr. Bigshot will just have to get past it too since it's totally his fault we have to go at this time and I can say that since he won't be reading this board!

We thought about staying offsite one or two nights to accomodate our visits to SW and BGT, but we still want the "magic" of Universal and the end of the day instead of a regular old hotel.

I don't think I will purchase an ap, since I do have AAA and it just doesn't look like the extra bucks will pay off for us. If I book way in advance and a better rate comes along I can change to that rate, right?

Anything else I should know about, be doing or watching for?

 

[damo]

Mr. Bigshot won't care how much you've paid when he gets in the express lanes!!!

 

[wwessing]

Mr. Bigshot won't care how much you've paid when he gets in the express lanes!!!

OMG - are you married to my husband too?!?! That's so what I think he'll say!