budget saving tips

[macraven]

in the resort thread someone has posted the link that leads you to the printable coupon.

it expires end of april this year

if you bought your tickets on line, print the coupon for the great savings.

 

[jennydep]

subscribing so I will remember to read when I have more time.

 

[djm99]

second the refillable mugs. $1.25 refills at both parks on sodas, or a free,huge mug of ice water when it's really hot.

Does Universal sell coke or pepsi sodas?

 

[Disbug]

I remember COKE...

 

[missmolly]

Robvia - could you post a link to your site please? We are usaually big budget travelers but we decided to splurdge and stay onsite, meaning we will really have to budget elsewhere. We always bring a cooler and eat breakfast and have snacks in our room, but I bet you have some other great tips we could use.

I also bought 1 AP to sve $63 a night on my room(x 4 nights it well over paid for itself right there) and I basically conciderd the food discounts a bonus. We usually don't do much in th way of souvoneers. Do you think it would be about as cheep to just eat onsite and at citywalk with the AP discounts than to leave and drive to eat outside the park? I kinda thought we wouldn't save enough to make it worth the hassle. Also where is flippers for ordering pizza?

Lastly please forgive me if there are more mistakes than usual in this post. I had hand surg. yesterday on my right hand and am trying to do this left handed and on meds!!!! It is very slow going.

 

[stahshee]

Watch out for those cab companys that drive you in and out of universal. We got ripped off a number of times! They do not have change( bull shulp) They take the long way around ( to run up your meater) when the other cab driver from the same company picked us up the first time and dropped us off then wispers to the new cab driver and all of a sudden we are 10 min longer and more money CROOKS!

 

[macraven]

if you want cheap souveniers, buy the post cards at the shops.

it's easy to pack and can trigger memories of the vacation you took.


also, pins are kewl to collect. i buy them and wear them on my hat.

 

[macraven]

if you are going for multi days to the park and can take about 15-30 minutes out of your plans, do the surveys if you are offered.


last fall i took 2 surveys and received $15 for the soda survey and $7 for the battery survey. you are paid in universal script/money.


the script is good throughout the parks for food, merch, anything you desire to spend it on.

i found the people that do the survey in the area in front of monsters cafe and by the park across from the mummy

 

[Cubiclegirl]

We just got back and used our AAA card many times for a 10% discount on every place we ate in Citywalk and in the parks.

 

[Candice30]

the best tip i have gotten on these boards is shipping supplies to myself. i went to ups.com and typed in the address info and they calculated the cost and when i needed to ship to get the box to me. i informed the resort and they notated it on my reservation. i shipped cereal, bread, peanut butter & jelly, chips, cookies, hot chocolate, paper products like bowls, spoons, napkins, fruit cups, granola bars, and a mini case of water & juice boxes.

we bought milk at the hotel everyday for breakfast and the kids made sandwiches for us to eat in the room or take down to the pool. i had a collapsable cooler that i would pack up and head down to the pool.

it cost me approx. $15 to send a 25 pound box to florida. it saved me so much money and time. we had breakfast & lunch everyday in or from the room. this allowed us to get going in the morning and allowed extra money for slurpees and ice cream which is really what the kids wanted. it also helped me to limit there soda intake.

 

[Seahag]

if you are eating at one of the onsite hotel resturants, they will mark your hotel valet parking ticket & you get a discount. I'm not sure how much, because he told me not to lose it ............... so i did

OH! don't forget about the Loews First card - although not a "discount" card, it can get you perks for your on-site stays
Sign up at the loews hotel website

 

[bkw86]

it has to a mug from inside one of the two parks. you can pick them up from practically any restaurant or kiosk. the inexpensive ones with the handles are the easiest to carry. the more elaborate ones are cool souvenirs, but who wants to carry a spongebob the size of a football around all day?

How much are the mugs?

 

[phamton]

How much are the mugs?

Some are $5.95 and some are $11.95. They both hold the same amount.

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

magic orlando card. you can download this off the internet.

you receive discounts in parts of the park and city walk of 10%


also can receive motel/hotel off site discounts. local resturants and car rentals with it.

if you order for it to be sent to you, it could take a few weeks. included with it are the information books which are the size of a readers digest mag.
there are 2 of those books, they include coupons and codes for discounts that include many local items.

site: magicorlando.com

I went to this website and it was about a hotel and said nothing about book coupons or anything like that

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I went to this website and it was about a hotel and said nothing about book coupons or anything like that

This is the website http://www.orlandoinfo.com/magicard/index.cfm?act=home

I got one years ago and never used it

Just checked it out and dont see any discounts using Magic Card for Universal or City Walk. There was a $5.00 of $20.00 for Hard Rock Cafe. Maybe I'm just missing it.

 

[macraven]

I went to this website and it was about a hotel and said nothing about book coupons or anything like that

those are the guide books that are sent to you to explain and show which places have the discounts with the magic card

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

Thanks! We are planning to go to Hard Rock so that will help a little

 

[Fan2CSkr]

those are the guide books that are sent to you to explain and show which places have the discounts with the magic card

The site you list magicorland.com has nothing to do with the orlando magic card. It also does not contain guide book info or places that are discounted. Its actually a motels website.

Are you familiar with any discounts at Universal using the Magic Card? Do you use it there anywhere? Thanks

 

[macraven]

that is the site where i went last year to get the card and booklets.

let me pull it up on mousesavers for the website in case i typed it in wrong.
thanks for the heads up.
the card and program are valid for off site hotels and resturants and various other items

 

[Snoopymom]

Ga residents can get the FL resident rate if you call.

If you have a car and the price of the resorts is scaring you away, try a villa. Parking and the walk into the parks is covered with moving sidewalks, really quick and easy. If you get there at rope drop, you can easily get away without fotl.

There are lots of direct rental web sites where you put in your days, bedrooms, etc, and the owners e-mail you back with availability and better rates than what are posted, especially if they're trying to fill a slot...your own private pool, a fridge for breakfast and snacks, and our last house had a jacuzzi, a pool table, an air hockey table and Disney themed rooms.