Advice on trip planning

[lwdarden]

I could use some advice on planning a Universal studios and maybe Sea World trip late summer. (We've done the 4 WDW parks already) Is is more cost efficient to stay onsite or close enough to US to be shuttled in or stay in a much cheaper offsite chain hotel. I've noticed that many of the chain hotels like Holiday Inns or Radissons offer kids eat free and the rooms are 1/2 or a third cheaper than the onsite hotels. There are so many lodging options, I'm not sure which direction to go. Is is better to rent a car and be able to eat at regular restaurants (not onsite) and stay at a less expensive hotel, or would you spend the same amount on the onsite meal plan? We are going to spend 4 days, 3 nights.
2 adults, 2 kids

Any advice???

 

[Metro West]

Wow...that's a lot to consider. I think..if you're on a budget you may want to look for offsite hotels. Most of the places on I Drive are a reasonable distance from Universal and Sea World and most have shuttle services. I don't think you'll find any specials at the onsite hotels like you can offsite but you would have FOTL access for the entire group during the stay. Depending on when you're going, you may not need to worry about FOTL anyway as the lines aren't that bad..especially during the week. I would check some travel websites and see what rates you can get and go from there. I've never stayed onsite since I live 20 mins away but people have raved about the onsite hotels but they aren't cheap.

 

[justprettynpink]

This is what I did......

Mom of three boys 15/12/10

Poor school teacher....watching her pennies all the way.....

I am a bargain shopper.....

After shopping several online travel sites, I realized that orbitz charges less if you just put in 2 adults rather than 2 adults and 2 children. The hotel that I chose was Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista which does not charge for children or for 4 adults. They charge per room. At the time orbitz offered a 100.00 coupon for at 5+ night stay. I got the room for the week (7 nights) for 305.00. I called the hotel directly to confirm my ressie and changed it from 2 adults to 2 adults and 2 children - no problem. They had free breakfast. (Fruit, cereal, oatmeal, toast and doughnuts.) No protein so we were hungry at 11 for lunch.

I had a five minute drive to US/IOA. I bought a AP so I would not need to pay for parking ($11 per day). I picked up my AP after 6 when parking is free.

We napped every day at the hotel.

I bought the meal deal each day and the meal cup the first day. So food cost us 75.00 each day for 3 adults and one child. Yes, I passed off my 10 year old as a nine year old, but I had to watch my money. They kept asking my 12 year old if he had a kids band on. Regular meal prices ranged from 6.00 to 8.50. My boys ate more than one thing each seating and I did not have to buy drinks the rest of the trip.

I was there in late June w/o FOTL pass. Just get there early and hit the big rides, You can survive w/o FOTL pass. If it gets too crowded eat and take a nap and come back around 5, the crowds are thin then.

The hotel had a free shuttle but it left 9:30 and came back at 4:30. So we did not use it.

Hope this helps!