Any advice appreciated

[20togo]

I've reserved 4 nights in the Royal Pacific next march. The price is pretty expensive but the attraction of getting to the front of the line/queues was too hard to resist. I could only reserve by making a phone call, I could not reserve on line.

However, I notice for this years bookings [2008] if you reserve four nights it includes two passes for entry into the parks, US and IOA. This 'deal' is not included in next years prices!

Has anyone got any ideas when the 2009 prices are likely to be bookable on line and is it likely they will include the passes. If so, I suppose I could cancel my current booking and re-book to get the entry tickets.

Also, I've not yet paid a deposit for my resevation. Is this likely to be a problem?

Cheers for any help and advice.

[tiggerfan144]

Do you really need 4 days. As you said its pretty expensive and it wont take all that long to do both parks. Have you joined the loews website you can book universal hotels through them. If you join you get to pick a freebie of your choice could be a basket of fruit or a bottle of wine with the added bonus of MAYBE a free upgrade. Still dont think you can book too far in advance even with them though

[tonymc]

I was told by Universal that on-line bookings would not be released until September, but I did make a reservation for Easter 2009 over the phone two weeks ago.

With regard to the length of your stay, someone on another thread suggested splitting your stay into one night stays, as you then get the benefit of 2 days Front of Line for each night as opposed to 3 days with 2 nights etc. Perhaps have a nigh at the beginning and the end of your holiday to reduce the cost?

[tiggerfan144]

Yes because a 4 night stay will get you 5 days front of line pass but 2 seperate days stay will get you 4 days and that would be quite a saving having 2 days less at the hotel

[20togo]

Thanks for your replies.

I've already got booked 16 nights at Bahama Bay so I really don't want to be messing around with my bookings with them, especially after I've paid a deposit.

Because there's six of us in my party, I've had to book two rooms at the RPR so it's doubly expensive. As I also don't want to move twice during my stay, I've chosen to go to RPR first so that as such we can al be together and relax more at Bahama Bay.

I've done four nights at RPR because that will be my first port of call [probably late evening] so I'll then get 3 full days at US and IOA plus any part of the fourth day we want before relocating.

Does any-one know if these free passes into the parks were included last year in the price? I know from their website that 4 nights this year is the minimum in order to get them.

I guess I'll have to wait til September and see what offers are on then.

Also Tonymc have you paid a deposit yet when making your phone reservation for next year.

[tonymc]

Thanks for your replies.

Also Tonymc have you paid a deposit yet when making your phone reservation for next year.

Hi,

They charge the first night stay as a deposit, so payment in full for me in advance. However, it does have the advantage of a good exchange rate at the moment, so swings and roundabouts I guess :)

[Bozza]

Posted via Mobile Device

You can't have enough nights in the Universal hotels, IMO. Sure the FOTL access is great, but the hotels are such great resorts as well.

I'm looking at 3 or 4 night this year out of what would be an 11 night stay in Orlando.

[colufan]

Have just returned today from a superb two week stay at the Bahama Bay, couldn't fault the place - excellent.

We also did one night at RPR and my DH is now a convert to staying on site and 'flashing' the FOTL pass - he loved this especially when he and the DD's went on The Simpsons - 70min standby - FOTL 10mins tops!!!!!

Would definitely do both resorts again 10/10.:spin::spin:

[john2303]

we normally just spend the one night in universal - this gives us 2 days to do IOA & Studios.

[Matts Mom]

Are you a member of the AA in this country?

The AA and their American counterpart the AAA have an agreement that gets you discounts off rooms at the Universal hotels. The discounts aren't released untill a few months before you stay, but it's worth checking on a regular basis.

[Bozza]

The base level Annual Pass at Universal is only $50 or so more than the multi-day ticket you are likely to be buying anyway. I'm going to get a new annual pass (my last one expired and I didn't renew) and it will save us around $400 in total when comparing the standard listed prices for a hotel compared to those that can be got with the APH discount for our 4 night stay.

All I have to do is decide whether we return to the RPR, which we liked, HRH which was the highlight of our last trip or give PBH a try.