Thinking of staying Onsite for one night

PrincessNelly_NJ

PrincessNelly_NJ

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Hi,
I have never stayed on-site at Universal and was curious:
  1. Which is better Hard Rock or Portofino Bay ($60 more than HR)?
  2. Do either of those hotels put a hold on your card when checking in?
  3. Does anyone know the cheapest way to get there from MCO?
  4. We are booking via Expedia, do we still qualify for the express pass? If you purchase tickets to HHN, does your express pass work for that event too?
 
Last edited:
R

roodlesnouter

Active Member
PrincessNelly_NJ, post: 6187936, member: 88204"]Hi,
I have never stayed on-site at Universal and was curious:
  1. Which is better Hard Rock or Portofino Bay ($60 more than HR)?
I prefer Royal Pacific, a little cheaper too
  1. Do either of those hotels put a hold on your card when checking in?
Only if you want to charge to room, you can decline this.
  1. Does anyone know the cheapest way to get there from MCO?
Hire car maybe
  1. We are booking via Expedia, do we still qualify for the express pass? If you purchase tickets to HHN, does your express pass work for that event too?
Yes to express no to HHN you would need to purchase HHN ticket with express
 
PrincessNelly_NJ

PrincessNelly_NJ

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
roodlesnouter said:
PrincessNelly_NJ, post: 6187936, member: 88204"]Hi,
I have never stayed on-site at Universal and was curious:
  1. Which is better Hard Rock or Portofino Bay ($60 more than HR)?
I prefer Royal Pacific, a little cheaper too
  1. Do either of those hotels put a hold on your card when checking in?
Only if you want to charge to room, you can decline this.
  1. Does anyone know the cheapest way to get there from MCO?
Hire car maybe
  1. We are booking via Expedia, do we still qualify for the express pass? If you purchase tickets to HHN, does your express pass work for that event too?
Yes to express no to HHN you would need to purchase HHN ticket with express
Click to expand...
Thank you!
I wanted to stay at Royal Pacific but it has no availability for our dates in October! Must be pretty popular!
 
R

roodlesnouter

Active Member
Your welcome. Shame about RPR I love it there but you can't go wrong with any of the loews Universal resort hotels.

I did my first HHN last year and am returning this year, had a great time and met some fab people. HHN express is quite pricey but probably worth it if you only have one night. whatever you do, have fun.
 
KingdomofDreams

KingdomofDreams

Well-Known Member
Love Hard Rock! We stayed at RPR once. It's not bad. It's the least expensive of the 3 that offer early unlimited EP so that's probably why it's booked. We're staying at Portofino this trip. It'll be our first stay there. They had a great AP rate for our dates later this month - $219 for garden view - so I jumped on that.
 
DonaldDoleWhip

DonaldDoleWhip

Well-Known Member
KingdomofDreams said:
Love Hard Rock! We stayed at RPR once. It's not bad. It's the least expensive of the 3 that offer early unlimited EP so that's probably why it's booked. We're staying at Portofino this trip. It'll be our first stay there. They had a great AP rate for our dates later this month - $219 for garden view - so I jumped on that.
Click to expand...
We also have Portofino booked, since it was the only one showing an AP discount for our dates (making it the cheapest one). I walked around the grounds and it looks nice (and apparently it has the largest standard rooms), although it's a bit further from the parks than the other two.

For location, I'd probably prefer Hard Rock, but it sounds like all 3 are good choices. :)
 
FigmentFreak

FigmentFreak

Well-Known Member
PrincessNelly_NJ said:
Hi,
I have never stayed on-site at Universal and was curious:
  1. Which is better Hard Rock or Portofino Bay ($60 more than HR)? I prefer HR for the short walk to Studios, but I do love portofino.
  2. Do either of those hotels put a hold on your card when checking in? only if you want to room charge
  3. Does anyone know the cheapest way to get there from MCO? If you can rent from Hertz cheap - there is a Hertz desk at Portofino. My last trip this was cheaper than taxi or mears shuttle
  4. We are booking via Expedia, do we still qualify for the express pass? If you purchase tickets to HHN, does your express pass work for that event too? YES YES YES as long as you're staying at the hotel you get express.
Click to expand...
 
PrincessNelly_NJ

PrincessNelly_NJ

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
KingdomofDreams said:
Love Hard Rock! We stayed at RPR once. It's not bad. It's the least expensive of the 3 that offer early unlimited EP so that's probably why it's booked. We're staying at Portofino this trip. It'll be our first stay there. They had a great AP rate for our dates later this month - $219 for garden view - so I jumped on that.
Click to expand...
mmm... that is pretty good.
Looking at the website, the cost of the annual pass (power pass) and any room under $240 a night is actually cheaper than what we will be paying just for the room its self!
Maybe I should take advantage of that?
 
KingdomofDreams

KingdomofDreams

Well-Known Member
It's always worth investigating and running the numbers. Be sure to check the blockout dates for the Power Pass against your travel dates though. If it's not a blockout period and they're offering a resort APH discount significant enough to make it worthwhile, you can come out way ahead on the deal.
 
PrincessNelly_NJ

PrincessNelly_NJ

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
KingdomofDreams said:
It's always worth investigating and running the numbers. Be sure to check the blockout dates for the Power Pass against your travel dates though. If it's not a blockout period and they're offering a resort APH discount significant enough to make it worthwhile, you can come out way ahead on the deal.
Click to expand...
I see the blackout dates. None fall in October. But is it possible they would change that calendar or is it set in stone?
I guess I cant see the APH room discounts until after I buy the pass, huh?
 
KingdomofDreams

KingdomofDreams

Well-Known Member
PrincessNelly_NJ said:
Ahh kinda obvious:facepalm: thanks.
sadly no discounts for my dates! Oh well.
Click to expand...

I'd keep checking frequently right up until your visit. You can go ahead and secure a reservation to ensure you have a room, but then if an AP discount shows up, you can grab it. When I first started looking for our stay there were no AP discounts available. About a month later I checked one day and there it was.
 
danpam1024

danpam1024

Well-Known Member
just got back from a week at HRH- can't wait to go back- fingers crossed hubby will surprise me for my birthday. Stayed at CBBR and PBR and we prefer HRH by far- it's become our home away from home :) have fun!
 
danpam1024

danpam1024

Well-Known Member
KingdomofDreams said:
I'd keep checking frequently right up until your visit. You can go ahead and secure a reservation to ensure you have a room, but then if an AP discount shows up, you can grab it. When I first started looking for our stay there were no AP discounts available. About a month later I checked one day and there it was.
Click to expand...
sometimes there is a minimum stay (2 nights) with APH discounts- especially during peak events (HHN)
 
IAmFloridaBorn

IAmFloridaBorn

Well-Known Member
PrincessNelly_NJ said:
Hi,
I have never stayed on-site at Universal and was curious:
  1. Which is better Hard Rock or Portofino Bay ($60 more than HR)?
  2. Do either of those hotels put a hold on your card when checking in?
  3. Does anyone know the cheapest way to get there from MCO?
  4. We are booking via Expedia, do we still qualify for the express pass? If you purchase tickets to HHN, does your express pass work for that event too?
Click to expand...
4. I think HHN express pass is separate fare as is the event . I have an AP, while I get a free HHN ticket I still ave to pay for HHN express.

3.Cheapest way from OIA is bus but it definitely isn't the fastest way. You'd only need $2 per person and ask for a transfer
Board Link 111 toward Florida Mall. Get off at Florida Mall board Link 37 and it will take you to UOR.
Board Link 42 towards Florida Mall. Get off at Florida Mall board Link 37, it will take you to UOR.
Board Link 42 and stay on Link 42 until you get to 4 Points by Sheraton right before Wet N Wild. Get off at Sheraton and wait for Link 37 to UOR.

Bus wise , those are your three best options. There are about 7-10 bus and train options but we'll stick with these. Only $2 and a transfer.
Each Option 1 will take you about 1 hour - 1 hour 20 minutes.

You could also catch a cab to UOR but that will be about $20-$30!( I would never catch the cab in Orlando)
Not many people are keen on catching the bus here but I can assure you it is cheap and works with the right information.

2.Cant answer number 2.

1.Since it's your first time do Hard Rock. Easy :)
Royal is second, Portifino is 3rd.
 

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