Helping a Friend Budget

[HannaBelle]

I have a friend looking to do a short trip with her adult daughter. Just the 2 of them, flying on Wednesday 9/9, a day at Universal, a day at Islands of Adventure, a day at the MK, beach day on Sunday with a late flight home. They would need to rent a car and I would probably recommend they stay off site.

What is your best recommendation for lodging?

She will need flights from the DFW area, a rental car, lodging, park tickets, budget for food and parking.

Here is my preliminary plan:

1-Day Magic Your Way (Magic Kingdom® Park) - $115.95 X 2 = $231.90
2-Day Universal Park-to-Park Ticket - $198.21 X 2 = $396.42
Fox Economy Car (PU @ MCO 9/9 at 10 PM drop off MCO 9/13 at 10 PM) = $60.05
Baymont Inn and Suites Florida Mall - $199.80
2 double beds non-smoking room with free continental breakfast, free wi-fi, fridge & microwave
Food - 4 days X 2 meals per day X 2 people X $10 = $160 + $40 grocery run for snack and water = $200

I need to add airport parking, parking at the parks...what else? $ for souvenirs?

Are Florida beaches free?

What is the best beach that will have bathrooms and showers for them to shower before their flight?

Since the trip is so short, they should be able to pack in carry ons and save the baggage fare. American flights appear to be cheaper than Southwest.

Thank you for the suggestions and recommendations!

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Did your friend choose the hotel? If there is anyway to increase the hotel budget I would recommend staying elsewhere.

That hotel is in a not so great neighborhood. I would also encourage you and your friend to look up reviews before deciding.

You'll also need to add in gas money.

I wish I could help with beaches with showers. I've never noticed any public showers at any beaches.

 

[hsmamato2]

most of it a set price, like park admission- but the hotel, you could look at downtown disney or universal hotels for around 100 a night look at mousesavers site for specials- universal has a cool onsite budget hotel, or a couple that are literally right outside the gates that are pretty cheap.... I think I would stay at universal,since they'll do 2 parks there- and just drive over to disney for the day-

 

[kashzan]

Personally, I think your food budget is very low. If I am reading correctly, you are budgeting 10.00 per meal per person.

 

[kj2mom]

I think Fox is a shuttle/offsite of MCO. Not sure if that matters to your friend but definitely something to be aware of (especially when arriving later in the evening when you just want to get to your destination).

 

[davper]

Food budget is extremely low. QS meals are going to cost about 20 per person. Sit down meals will be twice that. Don't forget snacks and drinks during the day.

I would plan $100 per person per day for food and drink. This includes the hotel room groceries.

 

[HannaBelle]

Did your friend choose the hotel? If there is anyway to increase the hotel budget I would recommend staying elsewhere.

That hotel is in a not so great neighborhood. I would also encourage you and your friend to look up reviews before deciding.

You'll also need to add in gas money.

I wish I could help with beaches with showers. I've never noticed any public showers at any beaches.

I chose the hotel, it was the cheapest three star hotel with free parking, breakfast and wifi. I appreciate the comments, I would hate to send them somewhere sketchy!

 

[HannaBelle]

Food budget is extremely low. QS meals are going to cost about 20 per person. Sit down meals will be twice that. Don't forget snacks and drinks during the day.

I would plan $100 per person per day for food and drink. This includes the hotel room groceries.

Thank you, I will re-visit the food budget!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

$10 per meal? Really think you need to increase that, by quite a bit actually!

 

[kashzan]

I just read the reviews on Trip advisor for Baymont Inn and Suites Florida Mall. Really awful. Bed bugs, non working toilets and broken A/C. Neighborhood not safe at night. Please rethink this as well. Free WIFI , but it does not work.

 

[kashzan]

dup post sorry

 

[Tygerlilly]

I would definitely look into staying at universal studios "budget" hotel. Reviews are awesome, it's newer, and since they are doing two days there its a walk to the park instead of drive (no parking fees for two days or gas).

 

[Crystal824]

I would definitely look into staying at universal studios "budget" hotel. Reviews are awesome, it's newer, and since they are doing two days there its a walk to the park instead of drive (no parking fees for two days or gas).

I agree. They could stay at Cabana Bay for $124 per night. I just looked it up. While that is a bit more than the hotel chosen, they won't have to pay for parking or gas for 2 days of their trip. I hear that this hotel is really nice.

I also think the food cost needs to be increased a bit. However, Universal food costs are not nearly as high as Disney. During our last trip, my family (3 adults and1 child) ate at the Red Oven Pizza Bakery for lunch for $35.00 (much cheaper than Disney). It also depends on what they want to eat. Most QS items for lunch are going to be in the $10 range. If you add on a drink and tax, you are going to be over budget.

 

[kashzan]

I agree that universal is a bit cheaper than Disney for food. However i can not see 10.00 for lunch , and 10.00 for dinner per person is a budget easy to live with. I have never spent less than 20.00 for a dinner at either Disney or Universal. I am not saying it cannot be done, but it will be hard.

 

[sharona]

Try the Hampton Inn off of I drive. Decent rooms, cheap and free breakfast.

 

[scrapquitler]

I agree. They could stay at Cabana Bay for $124 per night. I just looked it up. While that is a bit more than the hotel chosen, they won't have to pay for parking or gas for 2 days of their trip. I hear that this hotel is really nice.

I also think the food cost needs to be increased a bit. However, Universal food costs are not nearly as high as Disney. During our last trip, my family (3 adults and1 child) ate at the Red Oven Pizza Bakery for lunch for $35.00 (much cheaper than Disney). It also depends on what they want to eat. Most QS items are going to be in the $10 range. If you add on a drink and tax, you are going to be over budget.

Thank you for mentioning Cabana Bay. I've been trying to figure out where to stay for our upcoming trip when DD and DH will be visiting Universal while DS and I do WDW. Cabana Bay turns out to be perfect because it's walking distance to US and gets early entry to WWOHP for them, at a reasonable price.

One thing I'm going to point out, as far as I can tell, hotel guests at Cabana Bay have to pay to daily parking fee to park at the hotel. I don't like it, but it is what it is, and I think it's worth mentioning to the OP.

 

[HannaBelle]

Okay, I have revised my budget, increased the food budget, added gas, parking and changed the hotel to Cabana Bay:

1-Day Magic Your Way (Magic Kingdom® Park) - $115.95 X 2 = $231.90

2-Day Universal Park-to-Park Ticket - $198.21 X 2 = $396.42

Fox Economy Car (PU @ MCO 9/9 at 10 PM drop off MCO 9/13 at 10 PM) = $60.05

Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort $509.40

Food - 4 days X 2 meals per day X 2 people 16 meals X $15 = 240 + $40 grocery run for snack and water = $280.00
Eat breakfast in the room, take bottle water to the parks

Parking for 4 Nights @ $12 = $48.00

AA Flights - Depart Flight # 1494 @ 8:10 PM with Return Flight # 212 @ 7:20 PM = $301 X 2 = $602.00

Gas - 18 gallons @ $2.50 a gallon = $45.00

Parking at Disney = $17.00

Grand Total = $2,189.77

Recommended Beach: Wilbur By the Sea Public Beach:
http://newsdaytonabeach.com/volusia-county-opens-toronita-avenue-beach-parking-lot/

I looked at several counter service places and feel like $15 per person per meal will get an average size meal with a drink or bottle of water. I think the could order one of the larger meals and split it if they wanted to.

I am over budget by $189.77! They can look at their hotel options and decided what they want to do. =)

 

[tinker&belle]

You could look at Undercover Tourist and see if you could save a bit on tickets. It would also save them time while they are there.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

You might want to budget in umbrella and chair rentals at the beach. Also parking, depending on which beach you are going. I know we paid at Coco beach, however I didn't research it well enough before we went so I'm sure there are places to park or to rent stuff rather than right on the beach that might be cheaper. I think parking was around $10 and I think it was around $45 for beach rentals for two chairs, umbrella and float boards for the kids.

Also, I just went on Orbitz and plugged in your dates. There is a code you can use and Cabana Bay comes up $432 total. Free cancellation. Might want to check that out and book that asap if that's where they want to stay.

 

[tinker&belle]

Are they going during MNSSHP or MVMCP? Party tickets are much less than regular tickets.