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You will never catch me booking a ghost room.
Not a haunted one, though that’s a no for me, too.
I’m talking about hotel rooms some theme park goers book and pay for to access valuable guest privileges, without intending to stay there.
Many destinations offer perks to guests staying on property, ranging from free limited-time water park access at Walt Disney World to complimentary TimeSaver passes at Dollywood to extra park hours at HersheyPark and others.
One of the biggest benefits is at Universal Orlando Resort, where guests of certain hotels get free Unlimited Express passes for two theme parks. It’s this latter perk that inspires some guests to book ghost rooms, but they’re still overpaying.
What are the benefits of staying at a Universal hotel?
Universal Orlando Resort’s Hard Rock Hotel recently completed a $40 million renovation.
All Universal Orlando hotel guests get early park entry to select parks, free resort transportation, resort-wide charging privileges, and free delivery of park purchases to their hotel.
Additionally, guests staying at Loews Royal Pacific, Loews Portofino Bay and Hard Rock Hotel get free Unlimited Express passes to cut waits at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. Normally, these passes cost upwards of $149.99 per person, per day. Like hotel rates, Express pass prices vary by date and demand.
At last check, one night at Loews Royal Pacific would cost $562 for a family with two kids and two adults sharing a room on Nov. 12. That stay would give them two days of Express Unlimited passes, because they’re valid on check-in and check-out dates. If the family was staying off property and paying for Unlimited Express out of pocket, two-day passes for those same dates would cost just under $1160. That’s nearly $600 more than the hotel room.
Is there a free part of Universal? Yes, and here’s what’s included
Universal’s Aventura Hotel and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort can be seen in the skyline from Loews Royal Pacific Resort.
Don’t double pay
The savings are clear, but why pay for a room and pay to stay elsewhere? You’d save even more just staying at the hotel with the perks.
As a frequent but frugal theme park goer, I’d never pay for two hotel rooms, only to leave one empty.
One exception may be for Orlando-area locals, who don’t actually need a place to stay, but even then, why not make it a staycation? I’ve stayed at every level of Universal Orlando hotel and wouldn’t hesitate to return to any of them.
If you’re paying for it, at least use the room for a midday break. A quick nap, dip in the pool or simply a shower can be glorious amid the Florida heat and humidity.
There doesn’t appear to be any policy against ghost rooms in Universal’s hotels’ terms and conditions online; however, USA TODAY has reached out to the resort for comment.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Don’t waste your money on ghost rooms. Do this instead.
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