Is it really this expensive??

[sksjasams]

I started pricing out a trip for March 2016. We had cancelled a trip a while back and still have a credit through the agent for a week at WBC and plenty of SW points for our flights.
Instead of doing Disney, I started pricing out a trip to UO/IOA and SW .

According to OI, March 21-22 would be moderately busy. These are the prices I'm coming up with:

3 2-day single park tickets bought thru UT discount link $479.19
I then started looking at the options of adding EP and FOTL...
3 regular EP for 2 days $575.07 or 3 FOTL for 2 days $718.83 Yikes!
So then I priced out RPR for one night instead $471.38

Do I have this right?? the least expensive option would be $950.57 for 2 days at Universal?
That sure seems like a lot...

If we did the q-Bot thing instead - assuming $34.99/day per person for two days plus tax = $223.59
So just tickets and the q-Bots would be $702.78. Seems like the cheapest option, but gosh that seems like a lot of money to spend for two days. Is there a cheaper way to do this that I don't know about?

Thanks for your help!

 

[damo]

Cheaper just to spend your entire vacation in one place. When you start hopping from park to park it gets very expensive.

Your price for RPR for one night is very high. You can get good deals through cheaptickets, orbitz, etc. Normal prices for RPR are closer to the mid 200s.

 

[codimouse]

I got three 2 day adult park to park tickets with 1 free day (so 3 days) from Undercover Tourist for $591.

With 3 days I do not use the Express Pass.

 

[macraven]

Prices will be high March 2016 due to spring break and Easter on the 27 th

 

[RMulieri]

Prices will be high March 2016 due to spring break and Easter on the 27 th

YUP...that isn't going to be cheap and discounts may be scarce.Express passes may also go up between now and then( they go up with the projected crowds )

 

[bumbershoot]

Prices will be high March 2016 due to spring break and Easter on the 27 th

Yep. We're seeing that. We have a cruise on the 20th and we get back on the 27th, and on either end Universal is massively expensive.

 

[thr33boys]

For our family of 5, it is costing us $1540 plus another 25% in exchange fees for 2 nights at HRH and 2 day park to park tickets. This is also takes into account a 25% off cheaptickets promo code that was out last month.

 

[damo]

Did a little checking around at costs at that same time at WDW. Prices are sky high all over the place. Wilderness Lodge is $484/night (before taxes) and even though that is a deluxe, it isn't within walking distance to any park so still not comparable to the Royal Pacific. Yacht Club is $583 which is more comparable to Royal Pacific because of proximity to the parks.

 

[johde]

Right now, OI seems to be the odd man out on crowd projections. Touring plans is projecting busy (but not crazy). Universal is pricing the 2 park once per ride Express Pass at $99.99 which I put in the "busy" category.

One thing to remember that you didn't price in, if you don't have Park to Park tickets you can't ride the Hogwarts Express. If you are HP fans, It's definitely worth it.

My suggestions, since you want Express, I'd stay onsite at the deluxe hotels. Keep checking Orbitz, Travelocity etc for discount codes although most of the codes are for 2+ nights minimum. Also, check Universal's website with the APH code. You could save enough money to justify getting 1 annual Pass for the hotel discounts and 10% off food and Merchandise.

Option 2 on tickets, in the original post you mentioned wanting to goto Sea World. It may be worth comparing the price of the Orlando Flex Ticket to individual tickets. Depending on your plans it could be cheaper or it could be more expensive but it's worth checking out.

On Express Passes, If you don't stay onsite and get Unlimited Express with your stay, I'd consider only getting 2 park Express Passes for 1 day of your trip and getting park to park. On the first day, focus primarily on HP and shows where express pass won't be a help anyways (you can also hit several of the high capacity rides morning and evening). On day 2, when you have the 2 park express pass you can hit all the rides that normally have long lines.

 

[sksjasams]

Thank you all for your input and suggestions! I knew it was a spring break week and that would affect prices, but I guess I never thought they would be that high..
Thank you johde, for pointing out we would need park to park - I hadn't thought of that!
I guess I will keep my eye open for deals.
Thanks again!!