HenryMystic
Well-Known Member
I'm wincing just at the thought of walking that far in your condition.
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New hotel breaks ground at Universal.
- Thread starter Scuttle
- Start date
I'm wincing just at the thought of walking that far in your condition.
I think that depends where on the property it is and how long it takes to get to the parks. Personally, unless there is some easy transportation to the park or the Express Pass perk, there is no way I'd stay. The Holiday Inn and HyattPlace are reasonably priced and nice, clean and safe hotels that are a 15 minute walk as well (I can't remember, but I think the Hyatt also offers shuttle service to Universal). So if I still had to drive or walk, why would I chose a value hotel at Universal? The odds are it'd still be cheaper to stay at the Holiday Inn or Hyatt. (There's also a Doubletree within walking distance, but I imagine that Universal's value resort would be more similarly priced to the Hyatt and Holiday Inn).
flynnibus
Premium Member
I think this is what captainkidd is trying to say... without the perks it's just another hotel competing with the offproperty hotels and changes nothing.
I disagree because there is a ton to be said for 'branded' offerings especially in a market so heavily focused on packages.
It's going to make a big difference when someone is shopping and finds out they can get a Universal hotel in their budget. Because of the expectation in quality standards, the bundling/discounting, and whatever perks they offer.
It's really no different then why Disney started offering value resorts. The desire to have a value hotel (even tho there are offproperty values) predates the idea of Magical Express.
And who is to say Universal wouldn't start offering coach service from the airport for it's hotels in the future???
Uni can start with the simple early access perks... probably some vacation bundling perks.. and maybe offer discounted Express Pass offerings. Grow into bundled transportation options or partnerships with other parks in the area and you start to have real competitive pressures on staying on property in WDW.
Personally I wasn't wow'd by the Royal Pacific. It's very nice and does a great job of the tropical immersion... but it really is setup to be like a Convention Hotel. The free Express Pass for a party of 5 is what really sealed the deal and made staying in the hotel a no brainer.
That's exactly how they operate.
I agree and was to write something similar.
One more thought: one thing people say over and over again why they love staying on Disney property is that you don't have to deal with the outside world. They like to stay within the resort and not bother with normal life. I think that might be the appeal of the new Universal resort as well - as long as they offer some form of transportation to the parks.
Also, a lot of people seem to like the heavily themed hotels and that is something how this Universal resort might differ from the neighboring Holiday Inn etc. We have seen what they did with the minigolf course. So if this hotel is well themed, I think it will atract a lot of people.
After all, Pop Century does not sell its rooms because of the great on property perks. I am certain that they have plenty of guests who did not fly, so did not use ME and never really make it to EMH.
I get the branding aspect and the perceived guarantee of quality that comes with it, I just feel it will fall flat once people realize that the number one perk that Universal Resorts offer is not included with value resort. Sure one stop shopping and package deals have their appeal but the removal of the unlimited express pass perk is a very big deal. I know I would never stay there if there were comparable, better priced options available.
The big difference is when Disney came up with value resorts they still carried all the same in park perks that the deluxe resorts had. More money got you a better resort, room, etc, but your in park experience did not change. Had Disney eliminated something like EMH from the value resorts there would be a comparison.
I do agree that there are big picture implications with this resort, but they are on about step 5 of a 1000 step journey. I am not ready to call it until they get a little farther in that journey.
flynnibus
Premium Member
Depends on what they build... it may be hard to be 'comparable' if it's more than just a motel (which is what Disney values are). If you build a property that differentiates itself as a hotel... it may not need that EP perk to close the deal. When you start doing bundling.. its even harder for off-property hotels to compete (Free Dining anyone??).
Universal on-site hotels do offer more than just the EP today. The EP is just what makes it a killer deal. Universal is obviously interested in becoming a place people STAY instead of a place they VISIT.
Well your comparison here really is just EMH - which Uni could continue to offer for all hotel guests. Not all on-property hotels were equals.. the idea of saying 'in park perks' is just a filter to try to cherry pick the situation. The various hotels didn't offer the same transportation options, or same resort experiences.
The EP option is purely a Financial difference - that means its something that can be modified at whim.
Yes, this is not the 'missing link' - but it is also not a futile effort that would only hurt partner hotels.
In talking to clients about US stays, the free express pass is quite literally always mentioned and a big deal to my clients. Many of them will not even consider an off property hotel because of it. If US does the value resort and this perk is left off I feel it will just fade into the din of off property US resorts. They would be competing on a "price is king" playing field, which is not the best place to be. They will need a very good answer to the question "Why should I stay here?" To overcome even a minor price difference without free EP.
Pioneer Hall
Well-Known Member
I have had an extensive meeting once with a resort marketing manager at UOR. They know the importance of Express Pass to a stay. I have a feeling that in some way, shape, or form, this potential new resort will give its guests some sort of access to the system. It might be more limited than their current deluxe level resorts, but I would imagine that there would be something. I also would expect that both parks will have early entry for resort guests once Harry is in both places. I think that we should probably wait for any sort of official announcement on the resort before we go back and forth on what they may or may not offer their guests.
flynnibus
Premium Member
Of course - because it is such a value. Like I said 'The EP is just what makes it a killer deal'. It's kicking a gift horse in the mouth not too. But that doesn't mean Uni can't come up with other attractive offerings to incite the same 'Uni or nothing' type of thinking.
And Disney has already proven you can beat 'price is king' with Perks.
The hotel EP is not the only tool Uni has potential to use.
mickey2008.1
Well-Known Member
Being a person/family who has never been to UNI, it is starting to appeal to us. The pricing seems very low compared to WDW, assuming GF matches Royal pacific, and hard rock matches POFQ. I dont know because I have not been. But now am very interested. I know the parks are not the same, less theming at UNI I assume. Just this thread has made me look at UNI and their site.
captainkidd
Well-Known Member
It was awful. Absolutely awful. However, it was also my own stupidity. I could have found the boats, and I should have just taken a taxi from Portofino to Walgreens and back.
Needless to say, I will be WELL supplied with Tinactin come July.
Pioneer Hall
Well-Known Member
I think you have things a little off there. Universal has 3 hotels, and each are more or less on the deluxe level but definitely vary on their own scale. Royal Pacific is their least expensive hotel and their least deluxe. I would still put it a step above a Disney moderate, but it isn't the Grand Floridian either. Hard Rock is the step up from there, and offers nicer amenities. Portofino is their nicest and most deluxe resort. If anything was to rival (or possibly surpass) the Grand Floridian at Uni, this would be it.
captainkidd
Well-Known Member
The hotels at Universal are all nice. They're definitely better than any Disney Moderate Resort, and on par with some of the Deluxes. Universal is an awesome 3 nights getaway. We always start our vacations with a few nights at Universal, then go to Disney. Nobody themes parks like Disney, but Universal is incredibly fun. And if you stay at one of the resorts, you basically get VIP service at the parks. I wouldn't go to Universal unless I was staying at one of the on-site resorts.
Agreed! Universal is the perfect long weekend getaway. I can't wait until September when they offer the team member discount for on site. I've got a 3 day weekend in the plans at the portofino already.
disney fan 13
Well-Known Member
Sooo... Does anyone have any pictures of the site?
I'll take my camera to work tomorrow and get a pic from the I-4 exit ramp. I think it's high enough to get a good shot.
I work for Loews not Universal. Loews team members are allowed to stay at any other Loews resort around North America for the TM discount, but not the three Orlando sites. They use to be able to before Potter of course, but since Potter came they only offer it for 2 weeks in mid September when occupancy rates are low.
ParkRumors has an interesting story about a once-proposed 4th resort for Universal:
http://parkrumors.com/universals-silverscreen-resort/
http://parkrumors.com/universals-silverscreen-resort/
Another source at RPR has confirmed the value resort. This person said it won't be a 4 diamond, but will most likely be a 3 diamond. And that Loews WILL manage it. The person also said it will be a "limited" resort. Whatever that means. :shrug: I'm assuming that means limited transportation and express pass. Either way this thing is happening. There's no way all these people could be wrong plus there's actual construction going on to back it up.