Universal for 1 night in January - which hotel? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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We have already booked our trip to WDW for January. In looking at the flights, leaving the day before we had intended will save us significant $$. So I am thinking of doing that, and staying 1 night at Universal. We were going to go to Universal for a day anyway for WWHP, but figure would be good if we can get in early the day of check-out.
It will be me, DH, Ds (11), DS(11), DS2(3). I had been thinking Hard ROck, though I really don't know anything about the Universal Hotels. And it will be only 1 night, so not a huge issue, but which hotel should we book?
Are they all around the same price? Any other considerations? We will probably go with a standard room since only 1 night.
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Royal Pacific is a little cheaper than Hard Rock, but not by much. Portofino Bay is the most expensive of the 3 Universal resorts. I like the Hard Rock because it is the closest to the parks. Universal is practially in its back yard! Royal Pacific is beautiful too, but it's a tad further away. It is closer to IOA than US.
We loved the Hard Rock!! It is the closest to the parks, and it has a great pool. With two boys (11 and 6 at the time) we felt the theme would be the best. We haven't stayed at any of the other Universal resorts, but we thought the HR was so perfect that we plan to book it for our next trip. Also, a pool/theme park view is not too much more expensive - definitely worth it!
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I think all the Universal hotels are lovely and you can't go wrong with any. RPR was built to be the lowest priced so the rooms are smaller than the other two (about the same as the less expensive deluxes at WDW) so I would probably not choose that one with 5.
I decided to go with the Hard Rock. I think my older kids (and DH ) will like the theme, and close proximity to the park is great. We got the pool view (as one of you suggested) as it wasn't much more $, and I don't think we will be at Universal anytime soon, so wanted to have a nice view. I am hoping to have a AAA rate applied as it gets closer - the agent said we can have it applied if available (I guess as with WDW room only?).
When I booked ours, I am thinking that the AAA rate was available for the garden view only. HOWEVER - keep your eyes open for discounts as your date gets closer; it seems like Universal almost always has some type of room discount available.
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) will like the theme, and close proximity to the park is great. We got the pool view (as one of you suggested) as it wasn't much more $, and I don't think we will be at Universal anytime soon, so wanted to have a nice view. I am hoping to have a AAA rate applied as it gets closer - the agent said we can have it applied if available (I guess as with WDW room only?).
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