Can anyone crunch these numbers down further for me?

[C.Ann]

Trying yet again to get this trip off the ground - for December of this year.. Would appreciate any input you may have..

This is what I've come up with so far for the dates of Nov. 27th to December 5th:

Airfare - me, grown DD & 5yr. old granddaughter: $658

Comfort Suites Maingate - Suite, full breakfast included - for 8 nights: $479.36 tax included

Disney 5-day Hoppers (2 adults @ $219.52 each and one child at $174 each - IF they are still that price thru AAA): $613.04

MVMCP (based on last yrs. prices - 2 adults 1 child): $104.22

Rental Car - Alamo Intermediate (so far no discount) 9 days: $274.76

Sea World (advance purchase 2 adults 1 child - 1 day): $137.58

Shamu Character Breakfast (2 adults 1 child): $39.85 plus tax

Island of Adventure (2 adults - 1 child - 1 day): $152.85

Food/spending money for just myself plus gas, parking, etc. = $900

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------


Grand Total: $3359.66

--------------------------------------------------------

Is that too much? Not enough?

Thanks all!

 

[mtblujeans]

That looks about right!

That's getting in ALOT of activity!

You might be able to get a slight rental car discount thru Costco membership or AAA - check online.

HAVE FUN!!!

 

[mad4themouse]

C. Ann,
I have an Alamo Coupon from the Entertainment coupon book. It's for a free day with a minimum 5-day rental. It expires 12/31/2004. PM me with an address if you want it.

You can also get 20% off your Sea World tickets (instead of the pre-purchase discount of 10% off0 if join join Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards program. It costs you nothing and you don't even have to be a frequent flier to join. Show you card at the gate and get 20% off thegate price.

 

[Hillbeans]

c.ann - take advantage of the 2nd day free at Sea World, and maybe just get 4 day park hoppers.

The way your schedule is, you have 7 days to visit, and 7 days of parks planned. I'd probably throw in a "rest" day, but that's just me.

Also, you have breakfast at the hotel, so i'd really watch your food budget. Eat big at breakfast and only have a snack for lunch. Get the coupon books at the restaurants on 192 and don't eat at the parks. You can probably cut your food/gas/souvineer budget in half. Gas will only be $30.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by mad4themouse
C. Ann,
I have an Alamo Coupon from the Entertainment coupon book. It's for a free day with a minimum 5-day rental. It expires 12/31/2004. PM me with an address if you want it.

You can also get 20% off your Sea World tickets (instead of the pre-purchase discount of 10% off0 if join join Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards program. It costs you nothing and you don't even have to be a frequent flier to join. Show you card at the gate and get 20% off thegate price.

--------------------------------

Thanks for the tip about the SW discount for Sea World! Do I just sign up on the SW web site?

I forgot all about my Entertainment Book! I have the 2004 sitting right here, but I thought all the coupons expired when the card does on November 1, 2004..

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by Hillbeans
c.ann - take advantage of the 2nd day free at Sea World, and maybe just get 4 day park hoppers.

The way your schedule is, you have 7 days to visit, and 7 days of parks planned. I'd probably throw in a "rest" day, but that's just me.

Also, you have breakfast at the hotel, so i'd really watch your food budget. Eat big at breakfast and only have a snack for lunch. Get the coupon books at the restaurants on 192 and don't eat at the parks. You can probably cut your food/gas/souvineer budget in half. Gas will only be $30.

-----------------------------------

The last time we were in Florida (Sept. of 2001) we didn't get to go to IOA because all of our plans were rearranged due to 9/11 happening while we were down there.. My DD really wants my granddaughter to see IOA and 1 day at Sea World is a MUST for us..

However, I forgot that we'll be spending an evening in MK for the MVMCP, so maybe we can do the 4-day hoppers instead.. We always like to go back to MK the last day, but if we did AK and Epcot on the SAME day, we could still get away with the 4-day hoppers..

I'm sure that I'm WAAAAAAY over on the food/spending/gas budget (I eat like a BIRD and usually only once a day) so I probably CAN cut that in half!

Thanks for the suggestions - and keep them coming please!!

 

[tednvon]

Hi for your car try National at www.nationalcar.com and try Contract ID 5901600.

VERY IMPORTANT!...car rates change by the hour. The best rates may come up about two months before you go. So lock in your Alamo now but start checking National in September and use this code. Also in September search Yahoo or Google for 'national car rental coupons." A 15 or 20 dollar a week off may pop up and put that in the quote under "coupon." And then remember to take the coupon with you or it won't work.

We prefer National because of the rates and they are in the airport. DO NOT use Thrifty in Orlando..horror stories...
Alamo has never been one of my favorites either, so keep and eye on National...they are the best for cars....Dollar has best vans.....and don't take the insurance it is a rip off!!!

I never give up on getting a cheaper rate until a week before the trip. Remember you can cancel as many reservations and rebook at no charge....just remember to "cancel" so you don't get to Orlando with 5 reservations!!!

Good Luck and a little time on the internet can save you some significant $$$$s....Ted

 

[las3888]

Consider renting the smallest, cheapest car you can - you can often find compact or subcompact cars for around $99 or $120 a week at most of the discount rental places...this is where we try to save money is to just get the cheapest car possible - after all it is just transportation. If it is just 3 of you, a little car for 9 days should be okay. Deals and coupons are helpful, and as others have mentioned, best deals are found about 2 months or so in advance. Try travelocity.com or expedia.com to see who has a compact for the cheapest...they are pretty good...

Good luck!

 

[kilee]

Be sure to check mousesavers for rental car discounts. She has some great ones and I'm sure they'll bring that price down. Just from past expierence you should be able to get a midsize car for under $200 w/ Alamo. However, you really should be able to do a compact (it's usually a chevy cavalier w/ MCO Orlando).

Also, for my family of 3 (DH, Me and DS 11)-- I plan $550 per week for food. We usually do 1 meal a day in the parks. Usually 2 of these are sitdowns or charater meals. As well as an additional sit down at a WDW resort. So I definetly think you have enough there. Depending of course on how many souviners you buy.

 

[Doodlebug939]

Here is another idea for your rental car. Because you had mentioned that you have AAA. They have a phone line (1-800-654-3080) that you can make a reservation with a discount. I think maybe 10% but there are other benifits as well. I know I am a lot of help here. But we always use AAA and Hertz to book our auto. Also you get that newsletter magazine thing from AAA every few months and there is coupons or codes in there to get better deals. Hope it helps.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Can you forego a rental car and use the hotel's shuttle?

If you must have a car, then go with an economy (Ford Focus, Dodge Neon) It's only the 3 of you and there should be plenty of room to transport you between the hotel and the parks.

Any chance your airfare will come down in price or that you could fly from another airport?


If it was me and I needed to trim the fat - the first thing to go would be the Shamu Breaksfast, secondly the MVMCP....but that's me, not you.

Otherwise, I think you're on target. Have an awesome time!

 

[Cindy B]

I agree, the first thing I would get rid of would be the Shamu breakfast, and then the MVMCP as well. I actually went to the Christmas party back in 2000 and I was underwhelmed. It was nice to go once, but I won't be back again.

My kids are rides kids, and all they wanted to do were the rides, not the parades, shows, or anything else.

I would also consider the Flex Ticket. I'm not certain of the prices of the Flex ticket, but there is a four park/five park option. These flex tickets are good fro 14 days (you wont use them all but thats ok!), and they are good at Sea World, Wetn Wild, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure (if you go five park, Busch Gardens is included). If I remember correctly, we were considering doing one day trips to SW and IOA./USF. The flex ticket were cheaper than these day trips, and we got unlimited use. If we felt like going to USF for only one or two rides, we did, and then hopped over to IOA. Same with Seaworld, we would go to see a show, and then hop on over to Wet N Wild for a few slides at the end of the day.

Remember also Sea World does have the second day free option if you choose to buy the tickets at the gate or prepurchase.

 

[purplepixie]

If you have AAA IOA and US have discounts for tickets and throughout the parks. I think you can also buy advance tickets at AAA offices

 

[peigirl]

And don't forget to check out the outlet malls for souveniers. I can't remember the name, Character Premier, or something like that, has so much stuff but at a cheaper price than in the parks.

Paula