Give me your 2cents please, I am driving myself bonkers!

[tink20]

Okay, I am second guessing my plans.

Current plan: Check into Fairfield Inn Sunday, check out Wed. Go to SW and A.(unlimited tickets)
Have one day of free dining at ea. and unlimited park tickets to both.

Then Wed. drive to St Petersburg, Thurs and Fri drive ourselves to BG (one day of free dining)Unlimited tickets. Sat drive home.

Total package (2 separate packages) $1201



Second option: Stay at Residence Inn (which has a mini kitchen), unlimited SW and BG (one day free dining at ea) Would have to pay one day OOP for A. Ride the free shuttle to BG on Wed and Thur. (so would probably get to park around 1045a or 11a) We will not be doing the big coasters rides. So stay here the whole week Sun-Sat.

Total for package and add on for A: $990


We have never been to any of these parks. Is there anything fun to do in St. Petersburg. The drive from our hotel in St. P. to BG is 40min. We don't care much about going to the beach (we live near the beach and are doing that for spring break)

It will just be myself, DH and DS(11). I think both Fairfield and Residence have free breakfast. If you have any experience with the BG shuttle, would love to hear about it. My DH's favorite thing about WDW, is once we get there, he doesn't have to worry about driving and figuring out where we are going.


Please give me your input. Thanks.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Our family always prefers to stay in one place once we arrive. And the Residence Inn is a great hotel.

So if I was not planning on visiting the beaches or taking in more in the St. Petersburg area than just Busch Gardens, I personally would probably go with option B. Saves money, its less hassle, and still gets in all the things you want to do (with the savings, you could add something else special to your trip like a cabana rental at Aquatica or Dine with Shamu at SeaWorld ).

While I have not had experience with the shuttle to BG myself, I have heard positive feedback on its efficiency from others.

 

[tink20]

Gina, thank you for your 2cents..LOL. I try to make everything as easy as possible for DH. Since I am the planner, when things start going wrong, they all look at me......what do we do? A cabana would be so awesome at Aquatica.....would feel like VIP, its $149 when we will be going, not too bad, since you get a locker, towels, ceiling fan and 12 bottles of water.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

If Aquatica tickets were going to be a stand-alone, add-on purchase for you anyway, and you were considering a cabana rental, it might be worth purchasing one annual pass for your family.

You would get free parking, 10% off any food purchases (including the all-day dining), 10% off any merchandise purchases, 10% off your cabana rental, and more.

http://commerce.4adventure.com/esto...nnual pass benefits&__utmv=-&__utmk=137994032

Right now, passmembers can get 50% off guest admission tickets if your visit falls between March 1st and May 24th (not sure when you are travelling). See the details here:

http://www.aquaticabyseaworld.com/CP/?page=Passport Member Welcome Page

And with your cabana rental, your merchandise savings would double to 20%.

Anyway, just thought I'd toss that out there. You can do the math and see if it might be worthwhile for you .

 

[tink20]

Oh thanks, I will run the numbers.