Budgeting for Future trip

[eeyorethegreat]

Ok veterns of Universal/IOA bear with me this will be long . I am an obsessive planner and as you can see from my ticker I have a good while to wait for my next trip. BUT I am in saving for the trip mode right now and I am trying to get an idea of the costs involved so I know what I need to save to make it all happen. We are BIG Potter fans and are planning our 2010 trip based on the opening of the HP themed area. I figure we will spend at least 2 days at IOA and probably check out Universal as well. After our universal days we will head over to WDW for the rest of our trip. We will likely do the same the following year 2011 as we will have WDW AP so we get two long trips out of the passes. So here are my questions:

1. There will be 7 of us 3 adults, 4 kids. So I will need two rooms. Rooms run around $250 I think so that is $500 a night (cringe) Is the FOTL pass worth all that or would I be better off getting a hotel offsite and taking my chances with the lines knowing that I am not a wait ina line person or should I just accept that staying onsite is the best and save towards that?

2 Considering we will probably make two trips in a years time would I be better off getting an annual pass or should I just buy the tickets for the length of each stay? Are Tickets upgradable like at WDW so if I start out with a couple days on my tickets can I upgrade to more or to an AP before I leave so that I have tickets for the next year?

3 If AP is the way to go (they seem a lot less than WDW AP) can I get a voucher and hold it like I have done with WDW until I am ready to redeem it or does the time start ticking from purchase?

Thanks for input I have been to the Universal site but knowing so little about it I am overwhelmed. And I need to ask these questions now so I can budget out what I need to save (in case it sounds like I am worrying way to early)

 

[Tizzy_Meliss]

1. There will be 7 of us 3 adults, 4 kids. So I will need two rooms. Rooms run around $250 I think so that is $500 a night (cringe) Is the FOTL pass worth all that or would I be better off getting a hotel offsite and taking my chances with the lines knowing that I am not a wait ina line person or should I just accept that staying onsite is the best and save towards that?

I say stay onsite. With Harry Potter opening, I am guessing the parks will be super busy. Try staying at the RPR it will be cheaper. Someone else here can give you better info on the AP, as I am not a AP holder.

 

[macraven]

Ok veterns of Universal/IOA bear with me this will be long . I am an obsessive planner and as you can see from my ticker I have a good while to wait for my next trip. BUT I am in saving for the trip mode right now and I am trying to get an idea of the costs involved so I know what I need to save to make it all happen. We are BIG Potter fans and are planning our 2010 trip based on the opening of the HP themed area. I figure we will spend at least 2 days at IOA and probably check out Universal as well. After our universal days we will head over to WDW for the rest of our trip. We will likely do the same the following year 2011 as we will have WDW AP so we get two long trips out of the passes. So here are my questions:

psssssst: start at disney and then do universal......staying on site at universal hotels allows you the perk of FOTL.
no lengthy waits for rides, shows, attractions...

1. There will be 7 of us 3 adults, 4 kids. So I will need two rooms. Rooms run around $250 I think so that is $500 a night (cringe) Is the FOTL pass worth all that or would I be better off getting a hotel offsite and taking my chances with the lines knowing that I am not a wait ina line person or should I just accept that staying onsite is the best and save towards that?

2 Considering we will probably make two trips in a years time would I be better off getting an annual pass or should I just buy the tickets for the length of each stay? Are Tickets upgradable like at WDW so if I start out with a couple days on my tickets can I upgrade to more or to an AP before I leave so that I have tickets for the next year?

i feel ap 's are worth it.
i renewed mine last week and it was $117.10 since there was a price increase. due to a special for august, i was given an extra 3 months on my renewal date.

if you have 2 rooms, you need 2 adults to have the ap for the discount.
one ap per room for discount.
put 2 adults in one room w/ kids and 1 adult in the other w/kids on the check in info.
what you do for sleeping arrangements will not be an issue.
ask for connecting rooms.
some adults put the kids in one room and the adults in the other and leave the door open between the rooms.
just like disney, there would be an additional charge of $25 per night if more than 2 adults are listed in a room.

ap members can buy discounted tickets for the rest of the group. also, ap members get various discounts through out the year. also, decent room discounts

for the end of august, rooms at rph are going for $143.plus tax on a promo

3 If AP is the way to go (they seem a lot less than WDW AP) can I get a voucher and hold it like I have done with WDW until I am ready to redeem it or does the time start ticking from purchase?
yes, buy the ap now and receive a voucher. the ap does not become valid until the first time you use it. it is then valid for one year.
you will get a day ticket with the voucher for the ap. you have to redeem the ap voucher on your first visit.......you will also get free parking in the garage once you activate your ap.

Thanks for input I have been to the Universal site but knowing so little about it I am overwhelmed. And I need to ask these questions now so I can budget out what I need to save (in case it sounds like I am worrying way to early)

as it is now, very little planning is needed for an universal vacation.
booking a room now at rack rates is normal.
then modify the rate when the discounted rates appear.
universal has a few programs for discounting the rooms.
stay 4 nights and use the super saver promo if it is available.
use your AAA for discounted rooms up to 35% on select dates.
use your AP for discounted rooms on select dates.

only the prefered and premier annual passes qualify for the discounts and free parking.

the power pass has black out dates and no discounts.

the AP and AAA cards will allow you a 10% discount at the parks, hotels, city walk. (good for merch and food discounts in the parks)

 

[eeyorethegreat]

Thanks for the input since we do have some time to save I think I will figure the cost of staying onsite at Universal it sounds like it would be worth it.