Best value for money teaser

[peewakio]

Due to circumstances beyond our control our Florida budget is going to be reduced by about £1k which leaves us in a bit of a quandary. The stretch limos have bit the dust which saves us about £250 all told, and the fancy restaurants every night (well missing 4 out of 14 aint bad) have gone out of the window saving us about another £250. My thoughts are based around just buying the 5 park flexticket which will obviously keep my rollercoater freak boys happy and just have a single 'pay at the gate' day at Disney . I have thought of downgrading from Sunshine first but that would cost a fare few quid between us so that's a no no.
So it looks like Universal, Busch gardens, Wet'N'Wild and Seaworld are taking a hammering this year.
What do you reckon

 

[Goofyish]

If you haven't already got one - I suggest getting a Nationwide credit card to use in Florida. There is not charge for using this card in the US, so the exchange rate is near the bank rate. This would save you quite a bit if you used it for your meals etc.

 

[slinky101]

great thread, my husband lost his job today so, will be watching this thread for money saving tips! ypu will have a great time at universal etc, have a great holiday, you don't need lots of cash to have fun, thats my new mantra!

 

[carolfoy]

Thats a bit of a bummer for you, there are some really good suggestions on the budget board but I thought, how are you getting around when you're there? could you weigh up the cost of public transport vs car hire/insurance/gas/parking? probably not convenient but its athought

 

[vicky1bfc]

fancy restaurants every night (well missing 4 out of 14 aint bad)

Is that you had 14 booked and you have cancelled 4? so does that still leave you 10? Sorry if i have got the wrong end of the stick there.

If it was me i would rather do the parks you have listed as a no,no now than eat at fancy restaurant's.After all you can get some fab meal's without the expense in wdw and around.

 

[peewakio]

Vicky
To be honest we hit Florida every other year but when we do it we do it big. If we really wanted to we could just cut down on one or two extravagancies and hit all of the parks. It's just that something has come up that needs to be paid and I refuse to pay it out of anything other than the holiday budget. The kids will be over the moon as the wife and I like to eat in the best restaurants every night whereas the boys would prefer TGIs and places less formal so we will be spending a fair amount less in restaurants than normal.
The likelihood is that I will bite the bullet at the last minute and order some park hoppers or whatever they are called these days but until then I'll make them all believe that we are not going OTT this year.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Vicky
To be honest we hit Florida every other year but when we do it we do it big. If we really wanted to we could just cut down on one or two extravagancies and hit all of the parks. It's just that something has come up that needs to be paid and I refuse to pay it out of anything other than the holiday budget. The kids will be over the moon as the wife and I like to eat in the best restaurants every night whereas the boys would prefer TGIs and places less formal so we will be spending a fair amount less in restaurants than normal.
The likelihood is that I will bite the bullet at the last minute and order some park hoppers or whatever they are called these days but until then I'll make them all believe that we are not going OTT this year.

Perhaps not a money saving tip for this trip, but have you considered arranging a couple of holidays 12 months apart (and getting annual passes) followed by a break of a couple of years, rather than doing Orlando trips every other year? Annual passes when spread across two holidays are great value for money.

Regards

Rob

 

[Miffy2003]

We've done Florida on a very tight budget and had a fantastic time. I would say, as long as you keep your expectations in line with your budget (if you know what I mean) you will still have a great trip

 

[brer rabbit 28]

I am guessing by the sunshine first comment that you sre going with travel city direct? Maybe you could change your current accomodation for a buget one?You don't mention where you are staying,but accomodation on 192 is excellent value with TCD and still very near the parks.Good luck!

 

[heatherbelle]

I would scrap the sunshine first and go economy. It's only 9 hours after all. Spend the money in the parks, you'll have far more memories of what you did in the park, than sitting in sunshine first for 18 hours.

Also like the last post said, how about down grading your hotel. We're staying in Lake Buena Vista in May and paid 400 for the room, and we get a free breakfast. You can get rooms on I drive for 200 for 14 nights with no breakfast.

I would also eat as cheaply as you can. Have a couple of fancy meals, and then go to Macdonalds. Or get a room like us with a kitchen. At least you can make a sandwhich, or pop in for a take away pizza. Buy some snacks and keep them in the fridge.

Hope it helps

 

[peewakio]

Some really great suggestions.

I would like to scrap sunshine first but cancellation charges are something in the region of £200 or £300 between the four of us so that's not really an option.

The 2 holidays in one year and annual passes is also someting to think about and that would possibly be a winner the the DW.

Thanks again

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

The 2 holidays in one year and annual passes is also someting to think about and that would possibly be a winner the the DW.

Thanks again

This really works for us. Not only do you get complete flexibility to visit the parks whenever and however you want, but you are also entitled to a rnage of discounts such as free parking, occasional discounted rates on on-site accommodation, money off food and souvenirs, etc. Although the first holiday does work out quite expensive, the second trip is much cheaper because you've already paid for your passes.

Regards

Rob

 

[snookhams]

slinky101 - you have my sympathy and I hope DH finds a new job soon, we have just emerged from a 9 month spell without DH having a job ( along story invovling BAA) but is now in paid employment again and enjoying the new job more than the old one a comes home a very happy bunny every day - so be positive there is a better job out there

 

[slinky101]

thanks snnokhams, Dh has a temporary job for the moment, but obviously no holiday pay while we are away, need to cut back a few things, have re jigged itinerary, taken out seaworld, as we hadn't bought those tickets yet, put more water park days in and can now do star wars weekend at MGM, within the disney tickets we have already bought, got 5 day passes for US/Ioa so plenty to do that is already paid for,I know we will manage and have agreat time but the timing of this is the pits, C,est la vie, i suppose!

 

[maureen4200040]

hi

There's no reason you can't do Disney on a budget. I lost my job last year 2 months before i was due to go to Disney. Instead of taking the holiday I changed the date to this September 2005.

I managed to find a temp job in November 04, which was only supposed to last 7 weeks. I've been quite lucky as they kept me on in the job, so with the extra money I get each week, I buy travellers chq's, save for the tips, bus fares, and park tickets etc.

Although my hotel & plane tickets had been paid in full last year, from december 04 I've been saving for all the extra things we need. So far I saved $500 in travellers chq's, and I still have until September to get a extra $1000.00. Which won't be hard as I've started doing overtime every week for the last month. My plan is to have all my holiday money saved by July.

 

[paulh]

would agree with nationwide cc saves you 2.75% on everthing you buy in the usa (you get the interbank rate and no comision charged) tickets universal
2 park annual power pass with some blackout dates cost $119.95 12 months from first use. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Fun Card $61.95 valid January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005.seaworld fun card $61.95 as busch fun card .Busch Gardens Tampa Bay & SeaWorld Orlando Fun Card $119.95
All are the adult prices and you have to add tax think 6% so a combined busch and seaworld funcard would be $127.15 if you use the nationwide cc this would work out to £67.27 at todays exghange rate of $1.89 to £1.00
if you are planing on going again in 12 months the annuals are good last year we went xmas may and aug (may the previous year)we had old annuals for seaworld and busch expired after the may hol got powerpass for universal at xmass used them all trips if you like the water parks think about an annual for there as well as if you are planing on going at least 3 times its cheaper to buy and annual think cost is $99.00 plus tax you can even add disneyquest to this pass think its anouther $20 to $30 you could allays do disney theame parks next time
Paulh