Buy 2 Get 2 days free deal

[inspectorgadget]

The Buy 2 Get 2 days free deal must be purchased by 4/27/21 and can be used through 12/17/21. My family is visiting in September. Do you think there will be a better deal later this year or should I go ahead and buy my tickets?

 

[shawthorne44]

Buy now. Universal is busy and many people are switching from Disney to Universal. So, there will be less reason for deals.
Both Disney and Universal will get super busy as 'revenge travel' licks in.

 

[inspectorgadget]

Buy now. Universal is busy and many people are switching from Disney to Universal. So, there will be less reason for deals.
Both Disney and Universal will get super busy as 'revenge travel' licks in.

Thank you, that is good advice.

 

[asuburbanman]

The price for an AP is not much more I discovered. Plus you get discounts on the hotel (I got a 50% discount for my dates) and food/merch (depending on the level)

 

[inspectorgadget]

I just did the math. For 6 of us (4 teens and 2 adults, so basically 6 adults), if I buy the 2/2 deal just one park per day (which is fine with us), it would be $1437. If I bought the lowest level of annual pass, it would be $1948. We won't need the hotel discount as we always stay offsite so we can have a full kitchen and washer/dryer and we always eat quick service. Every vacation we take is a "budget" vacation because 6 people get expensive to feed and entertain. But the biggest factor is that I'm not sure we could get down there as much as we would like.

 

[AJA]

I think prices will only go up from here.

I booked Cabana Bay (family suite) for the end of Sept 2021 back in the Fall of 2020 using the Savvy Traveler promo code. If I try to book those exact same nights using the exact same promo code it is 20-30% higher!

We are visiting next month too and I am purchasing our Passes this week and not just for the extra 3 month promo, I’m afraid the AP might go up soon.

Editing to add the $$ price increase on my room. (I know AP prices are not out for this Sept yet) comparing the same Savvy Traveler promo code: the price I paid last Fall to reserve 8 nights at CB (Family Suite) late Sept 2021 dates $118 per night, today that same room is $154!

 

[shawthorne44]

If you get there and decide that you wished you'd bought the pass instead, you could upgrade as long as you do that before the ticket is done with.

One thought is that you could do another trip 11 months later and the 'tickets' for that trip would cost $511 (upgrade cost).

Or you might decide that Universal is one-and-done.

 

[inspectorgadget]

If you get there and decide that you wished you'd bought the pass instead, you could upgrade as long as you do that before the ticket is done with.

One thought is that you could do another trip 11 months later and the 'tickets' for that trip would cost $511 (upgrade cost).

Or you might decide that Universal is one-and-done.

That is a good point, I had not thought of that.

 

[inspectorgadget]

I think prices will only go up from here.

I booked Cabana Bay (family suite) for the end of Sept 2021 back in the Fall of 2020 using the Savvy Traveler promo code. If I try to book those exact same nights using the exact same promo code it is 20-30% higher!

We are visiting next month too and I am purchasing our Passes this week and not just for the extra 3 month promo, I’m afraid the AP might go up soon.

Editing to add the $$ price increase on my room. (I know AP prices are not out for this Sept yet) comparing the same Savvy Traveler promo code: the price I paid last Fall to reserve 8 nights at CB (Family Suite) late Sept 2021 dates $118 per night, today that same room is $154!

Thank you! That is exactly why I posted my original question. Evidence that prices are indeed rising is why I will purchase my tickets soon.

 

[shawthorne44]

When mentioned "6 people get expensive to feed", I had an idea. I don't know how the numbers would work for you since you'd need to get two rooms. But, the Drury Inn has free hot breakfast and free hot dinner and a self-serve soda fountain. So, your grocery budget would be a lot less. My DH can really eat and they didn't have a problem with him getting seconds or thirds. We went in August and we joked that we get the hotel room for free because we paid less than we would have to feed DH. (August was when they were begging for people to visit) We did like it seems you do. Filled up at Breakfast and Dinner. It also includes two alcohol drinks per adult. I drink but not on vacation, since the last thing I need is to get dehydrated.

The Covid version is breakfast of scrambled eggs (not overcooked), bacon, sausage, oatmeal, biscuits and gravy. The dinner changed but was usually something like pasta in a white sausage with optional chicken strips, a soup and salad. If your trip is after Covid stuff is lifted there will be more options. Like Make-Your-Own sliders for dinner. And make your own waffles. Popcorn and hot dog rollers out all the time.

You wouldn't have a private washer/dryer, but they do have them.

If getting a house works out better for you, I'd book that now too for the same reason. We are doing Disney in Jan 2022. The house we booked is at least 50% booked through Nov 2022. With several months (like all of Summer 2022) booked sold.

 

[shawthorne44]

If you think that there is a decent chance you'll want a pass, you should make one of them a Preferred Pass. I assume you are driving to the parks, which means paying for parking at $25/day. The price difference between seasonal and preferred when I bought them was around $100. So, at 4 days you break even just with parking. If you buy any merch there is Preferred discounts too.

Since you are on a budget, with people that can eat, know that the Snacks and Beverages are combined into one bucket in the Q.S. dining plan. They want you to buy bottles of water with your Bev credit. But with one QS dining plan, you can get the combo version of the entree with comes with a bonus item, and say a Butterbeer and a Pink Lard Donut with your Snack credits.

 

[inspectorgadget]

When mentioned "6 people get expensive to feed", I had an idea. I don't know how the numbers would work for you since you'd need to get two rooms. But, the Drury Inn has free hot breakfast and free hot dinner and a self-serve soda fountain. So, your grocery budget would be a lot less. My DH can really eat and they didn't have a problem with him getting seconds or thirds. We went in August and we joked that we get the hotel room for free because we paid less than we would have to feed DH. (August was when they were begging for people to visit) We did like it seems you do. Filled up at Breakfast and Dinner. It also includes two alcohol drinks per adult. I drink but not on vacation, since the last thing I need is to get dehydrated.

The Covid version is breakfast of scrambled eggs (not overcooked), bacon, sausage, oatmeal, biscuits and gravy. The dinner changed but was usually something like pasta in a white sausage with optional chicken strips, a soup and salad. If your trip is after Covid stuff is lifted there will be more options. Like Make-Your-Own sliders for dinner. And make your own waffles. Popcorn and hot dog rollers out all the time.

You wouldn't have a private washer/dryer, but they do have them.

If getting a house works out better for you, I'd book that now too for the same reason. We are doing Disney in Jan 2022. The house we booked is at least 50% booked through Nov 2022. With several months (like all of Summer 2022) booked sold.

We always stay at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. It's a family favorite, have been going there for years and I get great deals through third-party company. I could have rented a house for a little more but my family wants to stay at BC. They say it feels like a vacation when we go there, they like the resort feel. I booked WBC for September a few weeks ago, now just have to purchase tickets.

You bring up a very good point about booking immediately. We booked our beach house for this summer months ago. Now that same house is completely booked up all summer. And we booked Spring Break housing just in time. Everything in that area is now booked. It's obvious everyone wants to travel after being cooped up.

 

[shawthorne44]

We always stay at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. It's a family favorite, have been going there for years and I get great deals through third-party company. I could have rented a house for a little more but my family wants to stay at BC. They say it feels like a vacation when we go there, they like the resort feel. I booked WBC for September a few weeks ago, now just have to purchase tickets.

You bring up a very good point about booking immediately. We booked our beach house for this summer months ago. Now that same house is completely booked up all summer. And we booked Spring Break housing just in time. Everything in that area is now booked. It's obvious everyone wants to travel after being cooped up.

WBC is/was on the short list for our JAN 2022 Disney trip.