I know you guys live for this.

[Mom21]

I usually do well on my own, but there are so many factors in this vacation. I need to save money. Only thing not negotiable are the Seaworld and universal hotels. Everything else if you can find it cheaper I would appreciate it.

Cast: Me and my 12yo (adult) daughter. We are Florida residents and AAA members

Itinerary

9/17 Arrive at Residence Inn at Seaworld--La Nouba that night

9/18 Seaworld

9/19 Aquatica with a cabana and all day cookout at Banana Beach

9/20 1/2 day Seaworld/move to Universal

9/20 Check into Royal Pacific and do Citywalk

9/21 Universal

9/22 Islands of Adventure

9/23 Move to Disney

9/23 Polynesian for free dining with 3 day base tickets as I have 2 left from last year--All moderates and values are taken Dinner at T-Rex

9/24 Magic Kingdom

9/25 Epcot

9/26 Animal Kingdom

9/27 DHS/Drive home

Now the budget. Please if you know of anyway to get things cheaper I appreciate it.

Seaworld:
Residence Inn $334.12-$50 return rewards certificate
Tickets for all 3 days $179.90
Food: 250
Total= $714.02

Universal:
Royal Pacific 3 nights $435.38 (Yeah Florida Resident rate)
Ticket $99 (I have a free ticket and can get one for dd at this rate)
Food: $350

Total for Universal $884.38

Disney is 4 nights hotel at Poly (less than $200 more than Wilderness??), free dining, and 3 day base tickets 2051.38
Tips + any extra food $400

Total

Seaworld $686.65
Universal $ 884.38
Disney $2451.38
T-Rex Have $50 in gift card so $10 for tip (can dd and I eat there for that if I get a beer or two)
La Nouba $234
hotel tips $55 (I leave $5 per night for the 2 of us)
Souv $100
Bellman tips $60
gas I have enough gift card to cover this
Misc $200

Grand Total $4681.41

Help!!

Except for Residence Inn (has free breakfast) she will eat in the room. I don't usually eat breakfast. Our first day at Seaworld we will have dinner in the room as it has a full kitchen. At Aquatica I will have her eat before we leave and then have snack in the room. Packing all snacks

Have I forgotten anything? I'd like to get it under $4000 but I see no way

OOPS Forgot to add the cabana so add $100 for almost $4800

 

[MissMichelle]

Personally I would downgrade from the Poly. You would save quite a bit right there by just even dropping to a moderate. Thats my only suggestion---but it all sounds like a fun filled trip! I wish I was doing WDW, Seaworld and Universal!

 

[Mom21]

Personally I would downgrade from the Poly. You would save quite a bit right there by just even dropping to a moderate. Thats my only suggestion---but it all sounds like a fun filled trip! I wish I was doing WDW, Seaworld and Universal!

I wish! All values and moderates are filled for free dining. Poly was less than $200 more than Wilderness. While we love Wilderness, we've never stayed at Poly

 

[LISMYLIFE]

I would change to a value at Disney and drop the free dining. You could add the dining plan, or pay out of pocket. This would save you about $900! Have fun whatever you decide.

 

[Mom21]

I would change to a value at Disney and drop the free dining. You could add the dining plan, or pay out of pocket. This would save you about $900! Have fun whatever you decide.

Sorry. left out a lot of stuff. Dropping the dining plan (we don't eat that much anyway) there were no rooms at all at value or moderates. Room only for Poly (no tickets or dining) was only $300 less so would cost more. I don't get their pricing structure.

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

hmmm, well I think you might have "over budgeted" for food just a bit. You have 400. budgeted for two of you for 7 days in Disney, that's more than 50 bucks a day and you're on the dining plan. I think you might be able to eat cheaper on your Seaworld/Universal days too. Lastly, I think I'd try to call everyday to see if you can switch to a value or a mod.

 

[BrettS]

9/23 Polynesian for free dining with 3 day base tickets as I have 2 left from last year--All moderates and values are taken Dinner at T-Rex

Just a couple of quick notes about tickets... I'm not sure how many days you're going for or how many days you have left on your tickets from last year, but it is never a good deal to use two different tickets for a single trip of more than three days. For example, since you're already buying 3 day tickets for this trip, adding a fourth day to those tickets will only cost you $7 per ticket, and adding additional days after that fourth day will only be $3 per ticket per day. It doesn't make sense to use a left over ticket to save $7 or $10. Instead, pay a little bit more to get enough days on the tickets that you're buying for this trip and save your existing tickets for another shorter trip where you can use only those tickets without purchasing any supplimental tickets.

Alternately, if you have enough days on your existing tickets you could use those for this trip instead. If you wanted to do that, simply switch the tickets that you're getting with your package to 1 day base tickets ($75 for an adult), but don't use them. Use your existing tickets for this whole trip and save the new 1 day tickets for another trip. Unused tickets never expire, so you can hang on to them for as long as you need, then when you're ready to use them you can upgrade them to add as many days and options as you'll need for that trip.

HTH,
Brett

 

[BrettS]

We are Florida residents

One more thing, since I just noticed that you're FL residents. If you do buy tickets for this trip, make sure you're getting the FL resident tickets... There's a pretty decent discount on 3 and 4 day tickets for FL residents.

I don't know for sure if you can get FL resident tickets as part of a package or not, but if not, simply change your package to 1 day base tickets. Then when you get to Disney go to guest services or a ticket window and upgrade those 1 day tickets to the FL resident ticket that you need. You should be able to save a bit of money on tickets that way.

HTH,
Brett

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I agree with Brett on the tickets. Upgrade your three day tickets to five days (if that is what you need) - a 3-day base ticket is 225.78, a five day is 236.43. Save the two days on your old tickets for another time. Since you are FL residents, can you buy a package with one day tickets and upgrade to FL tickets? That should save you a bit over MYW prices. A five day FL resident MYW ticket is less than $200 (plus tax).

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684&page=2

It looks like an awesome trip! If you need to cut back, La Nouba is pretty pricey (but totally worth it, from what I've heard). I haven't been to Aquatica - the cabana seems like a splurge at $100 for just two of you. Do you need to have that?

Our Costco has 3-month Universal tickets for $89. They are not online, though, it seems to be a warehouse only item. I don't know if you have a Costco membership.

I think your Disney food budget is high since you have the dining plan.

 

[Darcy03231]

Did you include tips in your food budget? TS meals at WDW don't include the tip.

 

[ekatiel]

This might be a total pain, but have you thought about switching your days around (like doing Disney first and then Sea World and Universal-- or even sandwiching Disney in between the two)? You might be able to find more hotel availability at Disney this way. Just a thought. . .

 

[ekatiel]

I just checked, and if you can do Disney from the 20th-25th, then ASMo ASSports are both available (for less than $1000!-- including MYW tickets) with free dining. COuld you re-work your schedule to do Sea World first, then Disney and Universal last? --Katie

 

[Ava]

I don't think you'll need $400 for extra food/tips at WDW if you're on the dining plan. Especially since it's just yourself and your 12yo (who will be getting her own adult meals on DDP), you'll probably find that the DDP gives you a lot of food. Especially if you bring breakfast foods and eat breakfast in the room, or share meals at CS to stretch your credits, you probably won't need to buy extra meals OOP.

 

[Mom21]

Well "DUH" to me......LOL. I knew you guys could help. I'm so overwhelmed I couldn't even think. I changed my dates to the 20th-24th and got Coronado Springs (boo-hoo--I was getting excited about the poly) and upgraded my tickets to 4 days (will keep other tickets for next time--good idea--only $15 more for both of us). Saved $927 however, pushed me to a more expensive time for Royal Pacific but only about $200 so still ahead. I think you guys may be right about the food money. I just want to have too much and come home with some than not have enough.

So right now I am at about $4100. And likely won't need the extra for Disney food. Just thinking if tip for each meal is $30 then that is $120 plus I like a beer or two with my meal, and she occasionally will get a signature light up drink (I usually let her have 1 per trip). Water and soda and my "sippy sodas" (as I like to call them) might put us close but we will see.

Wow so only a few minutes and you guys have saved me about $700-$800. Keep the ideas coming. I really feel duh that I didn't think of changing dates. I've been so many times, I really should have known that.

 

[BrettS]

upgraded my tickets to 4 days

Did you check to make sure that you have FL resident 4 day tickets? A base 4 day MYW ticket is $233.24 (including tax) and a base FL resident 4 day ticket is $170.40... a savings of nearly $63 per ticket. Definitely take advantage of your FL resident status

Brett

 

[Mom21]

Did you check to make sure that you have FL resident 4 day tickets? A base 4 day MYW ticket is $233.24 (including tax) and a base FL resident 4 day ticket is $170.40... a savings of nearly $63 per ticket. Definitely take advantage of your FL resident status

Brett

They told me not available with free dining. I wish. Thanks for the other info though. I'm saving my 2-1 day tickets for next year when I get Fl Resident passes again.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

They told me not available with free dining. I wish. Thanks for the other info though. I'm saving my 2-1 day tickets for next year when I get Fl Resident passes again.

Free dining requires the purchase of MYW tickets. However, you can book your package with one day MYW tickets, then upgrade to FL resident tickets after you check in. You are only required to purchase a one day MYW ticket for a package, then you can upgrade once you get there to whatever you need.

 

[robinb]

Can you add the dining offer to a FL Resident Rate? CSR has a FL Resident Rate of only $94 per night or $423 for all 4 nights hotel room only. Add two of the $170 4-day FL Resident Park Hopper and you're up to $763 without the DDP. I priced your stay at CSR with "free dining" to be $1140 ... so you're paying $377 for 4 days of meals.

 

[donaldseeyore]

Can you add the dining offer to a FL Resident Rate? CSR has a FL Resident Rate of only $94 per night or $423 for all 4 nights hotel room only. Add two of the $170 4-day FL Resident Park Hopper and you're up to $763 without the DDP. I priced your stay at CSR with "free dining" to be $1140 ... so you're paying $377 for 4 days of meals.

If you are doing the reg DDP then that difference is more than what you would be paying out of pocket for it.

 

[semo233]

I have not read all of your other responses, but here is my 2 cents
Getting the cost down to your $4,000 goal depends upon what you are willing to compromise on.

La Nouba: You included the most expensive ticket category, but did not include the taxes or service fee. Would you be satisfied with a lower category? A category 2 seat would save you $100.

Sea World: If you stay an entire day, you could probably do it in one. My 12yo is REALLY into animals and we did everything in one full day. That means you would not have to purchase the 3 day ticket. For only $75 pp, you can purchase a 2 park, 2 day ticket, saving $50 for both of you.

Aquatica: Do you really need a cabana? The park hours that day are only 10-5, so I don't think the all day BBQ is worth it either. You could still visit Banana Beach for only $35 for a one time visit for both of you, instead of an all day pass for more than $50. You could still easily eat breakfast and dinner at your hotel. Saving $115

Disney: I thought free dining was only included is stays of 5 nights or more? I just entered your date and ticket information online and got a price, including taxes and the meal plan, at WL for $1803.33, saving almost $150.

I also think your allowances for food are very high, unless you tend to eat at expensive sit down restaurants. Cut what you can ahead of time and then plan on having some fresh fruit, cheese and crackers, etc. in your hotel room.
Once you cut what you can, the rest can be divided up per day as meal and extra money.