budget help on jan. trip

[homber]

My budget for a wdw vacation looks much too high but we are doing a lot.Here is my budget for a trip of 4 adults for january 2005. R/T airfare southwest 600.00 Transfers 200.oo 3 nite disney cruise 1200.00 wdw pop century 4 nites 450.00 Dining 800.00 Cash 1000.00 Tix 5 day hoppers 1000.00 Universal hotel 250.00 Universal tix 500.00 Total 6000.00 Can anyone try to help me reduce this trip? It sure sounds expensive

 

[kilee]

What is the $1000 cash for?? Souvineers?? Also, try staying off site at Universal-- that can save a chunk right there, unless it's for FOTL access. It seems a bit steep, but to do a cruise and WDW trip-- it seems in the ball park. If you were only doing one or the other-- it could definelty come down drastically--- even for a one weeks stay.

 

[homber]

the 1000.00 is for sovies,extra food prices odds and ends

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Originally posted by homber
Universal hotel 250.00 Universal tix 500.00 Total 6000.00 Can anyone try to help me reduce this trip? It sure sounds expensive

Can you drop off this part of your vacation? I mean we're talking $750 right there! The Disney cruise sounds wonderful and maybe you can just do that and save Universal for another trip on it's own. I agree with kilee about staying offsite for Universal, it would definitely help in that area if you don't want to eliminate that part of your trip. Could you just stay at the Disney resort when you visit Universal, as your rate at Pop Century seems pretty doable? Have you looked into codes on MOUSESAVERS

That can definitely make a big difference in the price of your hotel room at Pop. You would have to wait til about December or November for January codes, but I can send you a link for the historical chart that tells you when they post those codes if you are interested.

Let me know if I've helped.

Denise

PS
Your $1000 cash seems a bit much. Have you put things down on paper. I have for my trip in 2006 and it makes a BIG difference seeing it all written down.

 

[ajksmom]

homber,


Hi! Sounds like a great trip, can I come?
Rumor has it that Universal is real close to putting the finishing touches on their hotel room discounts for 2005. I assume that you are staying on-site 1 night and the 250 is rack-rate? What resort is it for? Universal offers the following discounts: AP, AAA, Fan Club, and the Entertainment Card. I have also seen military discounts. If you go to the US/IOA part of the DIS, you will find Universal Resorts. Their is a thread there for rates for 2003 and 2004 so you can get a better idea of what your room rate will be with discounts. Also, 500 for tickets is alot of $$$ How many days are you planning on visiting US/IOA? I think that you can get a better price on tickets also. I bought five 5-day passes for 415. incl tax.
I also think the 1000. "cushion" is alot higher than it needs to be.

 

[mad4themouse]

You're airfare sounds great for 4 people. I wouldn't even try to find a better price on it!

$200 for transfers? I'm assuming that this is MCO --> Port Canaveral --> PopC --> Universal Hotel --> MCO? If so, then the price already looks pretty good, considering how much you're moving around. You might want to look into how much a rental car would cost you for the Port Canaveral --> PopC --> Universal --> MCO leg of the trip. It might save you a few dollars.

Don't forget to factor in the cost of tips, alcohol and excursions into your cruise costs. None of those are covered in the cost of the cruise.

The 4 nights at PopC are rack rates. You may be able to get a room-only code for those dates. Keep any eye out in November or early December for January codes. If you belong to AAA, see if you can get a AAA rate for the rooms. Those rates should already be available for booking. But, at least you know that $450 is the maximum amount that you'll spend on that room.

Consider purchasing 4-day PHPs from Ticketmania or one of the other ticket brokers. Depending on when you're arriving/leaving PopC, you may not have time to enjoy the parks on at least one of those days. Sign up for the Mousesavers.com newsletter and get even better prices from Ticketmania than what they offer on their webpages available to the general public. Cost for 4 adult 4-day PHPs = $908 (or less) with tax and shipping.

Buy the "5 Day Bonus Pass" online at Universal. It costs less than the 2-day/2-park pass and allows you 5 consecutive days of visits to the parks. Cost for 4 passes = $404.50 with tax but before shipping. Pay online for your passes and pick them up at Universal and pay only $3.00 for "shipping & handling".

Universal hotels are nice but you really won't need FOTL access at that time of the year. Consider staying offsite. But if you have your heart set on staying at one of Universal's hotels, check them out on hotelkingdom.com. They often have very good prices on there and their cancellation policy is pretty lenient. You might also want to check Entertainment Card rates for January. The Entertainment Card has been known to snag you some very good rates at the Loews hotels. You won't need to have an Entertainment Card in your hand when you book the rate but you will need it when you check in. The 2004 one will not be any good for January, so you'll have to wait until they start selling the 2005 ones in Sept. or Oct.

 

[pjlla]

My thoughts would be this.....$200 for transfers? You may very well be able to get a rental car for less than this. And if you had a rental car you could stay off-site for part or all of your stay, which could save you $$ on your hotel expenses and could save you $$ on your dining expenses. We stayed at a 1 bedroom suite (Homewood Suites Kissimmee) off-site in Jan 2002 and again in Jan 2004 for $59/night both times. That would be less than what you are paying for PC per night, plus you get free bkfst and a kitchenette. Just a thought.

And while I would NEVER suggest spending LESS time at WDW, you have only 4 nights at the PC, but 5 day parks hoppers.... perhaps you could make due with 4 day PH and spend one day at DTD or something like that. It sounds like you have a LOT crammed into just a few days. Maybe one "down" day would be welcomed during this time!

Otherwise I think you budget sounds right on track. But I will assume, barring any emergencies, you would come home with a good chunk of that $1000 misc. money you have budgeted... after all, how many souvenirs or ride photos can you buy!! ....P

 

[Tiggerlover91]

bump