Wilderness Lodge or Universal hotel in July?

[pigby]

Bought AP's for WDW in October and want to use them again. Have already booked 10 nights in July at POP (we love POP!) and wanted to go to Universal again for the last 4 nights, but the rates are so high for RPR and HRH at the moment (and we don't have AP's for Universal - had Entertainment rate in October, when we stayed at RPR for 4 nights ).

My dilemma is shall we wait for decent Universal rates (we'll have to pay $269 per night at the moment and have to pay for park passes separately, though there is a deal where we would get 2 free tickets for a 4 night stay - we'll get FOTL and it IS July) or just go with a decent Disney hotel - I fancy Wilderness Lodge (access to MK, restaurants,campfire program at FW etc) - DH fancies Coronado Springs. Benefits to a Disney hotel - hopefully AP rate and we already have our park passes.

What would you do?
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[Muushka]

What would I do? Well, being someone who has stayed at Universal hotels many times and WL even more, here is my thinking.

July is hot, I think we all know that. If I had an AP for WDW only and no AP for US, I would seriously consider doing WDW only and saving US for another time. We were at WDW and USF 2 Septembers ago. We held AP for both parks. I was SHOCKED at how much hotter the temp was at USF than at WDW. We did VWL first and then went to HRH. Even though we had FOTL for US, it was so hot that we just spent a lot of time in the room. Also, WL is so cool and woodsy, it would be much cooler there (mentally if not physically). I hope that helps! Have a great time whatever you decide.

Oh dear. I just posted and read that you are from the UK. Hmmmmm.......
Well, that sheds a new light on things, I guess. Well, if you come to the US often, my advice stands. If this is a trip you will take rarely, staying on-site at US may be a good idea because the parks are pretty crowded. $269 is a chunck of change.... Maybe someone else can shed some different light on it for you! Enjoy!

 

[eeyore0062]

OK, what is wrong with this picture? On a Disney board asking Disney fans whether they would choose WL or an Universal resort.......

ummmmm....ok.......let me make that decision now.... oh, it is a hard one....

WILDERNESS LODGE!

Did you think I would say Universal???

 

[zippehsmom]

pigby, I understand your dilemna. We wanted to stay at HRH or RPR in August, but they are not releasing any ENT or Fan club rates. So, we just decided to spend the entire time at DIsney, and I am now going to stay our last 4 nights at AKL. When Disney announced the MYW passes, it kind of sealed it for us, now we can get 10 day passes for cheaper than the 7 day we were gonna get.

I would say that if you are going to be coming back to US relatively soon, I would wait and go to Universal then. Maybe when enough people stay away they'll get the message that they need to offer some discounts.

It's a hard choice I know, I really wanted to go to Universal, but not at those prices.

Good luck on your decision.

zippehsmom

 

[Michelina]

I would actually say Universal. The Royal Pacific Resort is so tropical and beautiful but the FOTL, especially in the summer time can't be beat. You can get rides out of the way more quickly and then get back to the pool (or Margaritaville!) Four days at Universal is plenty of time to do everything you want with lots of breaks in between.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I would not go to US/IOA in the summer WITHOUT FOTL. It's a no brainer, for me. I'm sure you'll get a lower rate in the future, and even if you don't, I still would pay the big bucks.

Remember that you get FOTL for the day you check in, and day you check out. When we went in May for 2 days at US/ IOA (which was plenty of time, BTW, with FOTL. I still took each afternoon off to relax), we only stayed one night at RPR, because rates were high, and then switched to another hotel.

So you COULD just stay nights you needed to at RPR in order to get the advantages (and to stay at that gorgeous hotel!), and stay at POP the other nights, since you like it so much.

FOTL just can't be beat, we won't go without it again =) ESP not in summer heat.

Good luck!

 

[SnowWitch]

If I could get a good rate at the WL hands down WL! We too have stayed at all the US hotels but from reading the US boards it seems discounts will be miniumal this year there. No way would I pay $259 for the RPH and then have to buy passes too. Enjoy the WL!

 

[Grumpy92]

I dont know what US problem with discounts is. I have the worst time getting them for their hotels and then we always seem to get a better deal at WDW. For many of the rates they have offered me we could have stayed at YC/BC or GF.
As an AP holder you wont find a better deal. But then again WL is one of my favorite resorts.
Do keep the heat in mind. Seems the UK guest have a hard time when they visit.