budget saving tips

[bubba's mom]

I feel the lure of the "Dark Side"

It sucked us in......we're here to stay!

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

If you are looking for a bottled pop go to NBA they have a pop machine for 2.00 each inside near the game area. everywhere else was greater than that.

$3.00 worth of tokens free at NBA when you present you annual pass to the attendant in the game room. (per pass)

If you are staying on property take advantage of the pedicabs. they go to and from citywalk till 2 am.


dinner and a movie. We had a total of 11 of these. I redeemed every one but not all at once. I generally used these meal coupons for my husband and I and purchased the kids meals for my children. At times I used them for my children as well.

Note: the kids meal at Nascar only have a smaller portion of fries with no lettuce and tomato on the hamburgers and the drink is included in the price. kids meal is 5.99 each (don't forget to use annual pass for discounts on what you pay for) visited here twice use total of 5 coupons here.


Do you like the frozen (virgin) drinks or icees . If so pay an extra 1.29 on top of the refill cost and get a refill. I was told it was 2.69 plus tax to refill on icees.

Emack and Bolio. print off the coupons on www.entertainment.com You can print up to 3 per book per year (registered). When we presented them we got our items 100 percent free. I don't know if they did not read them right or what. But I ordered two milk shakes nearly 10 dollars total handed them the coupon and they said no charge not once put twice. Wish I had more than two of those coupons. I only expected one of the shakes for free but if they want to give them away. Yeah for me.

McDonalds on sandlake. www.mcfun.com buy and an adult meal get a kids meal free. two meals for the price of one. 6 dollars yeah me. In the kids meals they are offering build a bear minis. Stock up on these at home and stuff in suitcase great surprise for kids to play with. don't for get your entertainment book coupons for buy one get one free sandwhiches.

Printing boarding passes at Royal Pacific. Go to conceirge and ask for boarding passes to be printed. It is free and is listed as one of the services of the conceirge in their book in the room.

freebies for the kids. my kids got coloring pages and the flowery things that go around your neck.

Make a point of talking to the boat captains to and from citywalk. They have coupons for free drinks at citywalk they can pass out to the kids.

Resist the urge to buy trinkets till the last day of trip and set a limit. If kids know this in advance they will choose their souvinir much more carefully and will not ask as much for things.

Share meals. (except on meal deal) many portions are two big for small appetites.

****SEA WORLD printed Shamu rewards off pass holder website. I got free ice cream bars. no tax absolutely free. random coupon if you open Shamu rewards and no ice cream coupon, click out and click in again. Then print. I printed one for each of my annual passes to seaworld. saved 15.00

****SEA WORLD don't remember the name of the tower thing in the middle of the park but got free ride for each gold seaworld annual pass. Saved 15.00


buying groceries while on vacation. Put your coupon caddy in your luggage with select coupons you know you will use.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I know what your saying macraven, onsite at universal is addictive once you try it its like finding a hidden treasure over and over again.
I'm only a 6 hour drive away so I have a car when we stay, but not having
to drive is just great and as for getting lost...I've never been lost there
I always know I am in Orlando


It did take me about an hour once to go to publix and back

We live 1 hr. & 15 min. away. Technically, we could stay at our own house. For us, it's about relaxation that only the onsite experience provides. Most of all, it's about the "magic" key.

 

[macraven]

tarheel............i wish i lived that close.

i drove only twice to orlando and it took me 22 hours.


ever since, i fly.


driving cuts into my park time.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

We drive two hours to get there, but a giant budget cutter for us is bringing our own alcohol. Sure, we get drinks out (see avatar), but we always bring beers in a cup from our room to the pool instead of buying them there. We're even able to carry our "nightcap" around the hotel with us that we made in our room. For two adults, this saves us about $30 to $50 per day -- heck, sometimes even more if we have a wild hair.

We keep one small suitcase for our breakfast things. We even bring our own industrial Costco coffee maker, strong coffee & flavored non-dairy creamers. This is a major comfort from home, as well as a savings of not having to buy coffee at the hotel -- plus it's a time saver!

I know it was mentioned previously, but there are USO diehards who don't mind staying off site. I had a choice for my upcoming vacation: Six nights in a 1,500 square foot, three-bedroom condo (jacuzzi in the master bedroom) less than a mile away from USO for $299 for the week or six nights at HRH in the cheapest, smallest room available with FL/APH discounts (the coolest hotel in the world, IMO) for $1,200. This is a giant savings and will allow our family to visit USO more often than we would have had we stayed on site.

 

[southjerseymom]

Can we bring cans of beer and soda to the pool from our room instead of buying them there? I know they must ban glass but do they allow you to bring your own cans at the HRH? Thanks

 

[PlutoLuvr]

There's plastic cups in your room that hold a beer or soda perfect! Whenever I see a housekeeper, I always ask for a few extra.

I would think cans would be okay since they're not glass, but we've always just used the cups in the room

Cheers!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

tarheel............i wish i lived that close.

i drove only twice to orlando and it took me 22 hours.


ever since, i fly.


driving cuts into my park time.

22 hours!!! I'd be flying too!!!

 

[TENIA66]

my universal budget tips include:

staying onsite in 2005 gave us front of the line priviledges that cost 35 per person to those who did not...that was $175 savings right there.....

i bought an annual pass for the merchandise discounts 20% most in park places and some restaurants 10 to 15 percent discounts

i purchase tickets from rci, $99 for seven days at that time and you didn't have to be a member, i picked the tickets up from the customer service desk..

offsite purchase, i'm a big fan of the dollar tree, and here's my classic list:

my have to buy list for vacation is:

I BUY

snacks
crackers
dried bananas
dried pineapple
stick sunblock (it won't spill)
empty travel containers
stickers
pens
color pencils (they won't melt in hot car)
ponchos
glosticks
travel covers for toothbrushes
sunglasses
visors
highlighter for marking routes
umbrellas
hair scrunchies
bungee cords
nightlights
flashlights
batteries

 

[bubba's mom]

my universal budget tips include:

my have to buy list for vacation is:

I BUY

snacks
crackers
dried bananas
dried pineapple
stick sunblock (it won't spill)
empty travel containers
stickers
pens
color pencils (they won't melt in hot car)
ponchos
glosticks
travel covers for toothbrushes
sunglasses
visors
highlighter for marking routes
umbrellas
hair scrunchies
bungee cords
nightlights
flashlights
batteries

don't forget the air freshener!

 

[rcraw45425]

Had to laugh hysterically about the air freshener . I usually have one of the small cans from Bath & Body Works tucked away in my suitcase but this time (beach resort, 5 star rated) I said "I won't need this" and left it at home. Well guess what: our $400 a night condo reeked of FRIED SHRIMP! Evidently the previous tenant had fried every seafood imaginable during their stay . I have a very sensitive nose for things like that, I felt like the scent was in my hair, clothing, etc. Guess what I'm packing in MY suitcase? Especially travelling with a four legged child

 

[tarheelmjfan]

don't forget the air freshener!

I don't leave home w/o a B&BW Wallflower, & spray air freshener for immediate relief.

 

[bubba's mom]

Well guess what: our $400 a night condo reeked of FRIED SHRIMP! Evidently the previous tenant had fried every seafood imaginable during their stay

um.....I didn't mean for those kind of odors.......(more like to keep in the bathroom cuz there usually ain't an exhaust fan.... ) ...but, hey....whatever floats your boat....for any and all odors!

 

[rcraw45425]

I know, we have stayed in resort hotel rooms (shhh, it was a Disney property) that gave off a musty, moldy odor WHEN THE FAN WAS TURNED ON! The spray is for whatever we need it for. Even comes in handy for those nasty sneaker odors

 

[RUDisney]

tarheel............i wish i lived that close.

i drove only twice to orlando and it took me 22 hours.


ever since, i fly.


driving cuts into my park time.

Once, when I was 16, we decided to leave at night. My father, convinced that there would be traffic at 3 a.m., refused to go through DC. So, we got stuck when he ran out of gas in either VA or WV at that time of the morning. We waited for 3 hours before a truck driver stopped to help us. It turned our 22 hour drive into 25 hours.

Now that I can make the decisions, we fly, too.

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

flippers is a resturant that has great pizza.

one of the guys that posts a lot has a great deal of info on it.

it might be robiva that has the 411 on it.

he will clue you in if he is the dude i am thinking of that has the info.

i don't live in the area but found flippers thru one of the posts on the forum some years ago.


they deliver to the hotel lobbies.

I was thinking this may be a good Cabana lunch thing - has anyone does this or know if it is allowed?

 

[macraven]

i have seen flippers deliver food to the hrh when i have stayed there.

only thing, they do not go to your room.
the hotel just has them delivery to you in the lobby.

i guess it is a security measure.