Is this too much planning?

[Newbie500]

Some people go on vacation and just wing it. Others plan down to the second. I like to think that I'm somewhere in between but closer to the person who plans. So here's my plan.

I have a reservation at HRH with a check in on a Saturday, check out the following Saturday. I found a flight into MCO but it's way too early for me to get my 2 teenagers to the airport on time. When they were younger, it was no problem getting them up at 3am for a 6am flight. Not anymore. The later flights on Saturday would get us to the resort after 9pm. We have APs but it didn't seem right to pay for the hotel on Saturday just to lose the day and sleep there on Saturday night.

What I discovered when I looked around was a less expensive (very) flight on Friday night arriving at MCO around midnight. I booked that flight and used Hilton points to pay for a room at the Embassy Suites near the airport. The next day we will Uber to the HRH in the morning, leave bags with bell captain, and go to the parks until check in time.

When it's time to return home, I'll check out of the HRH on Saturday morning, leave bags with bell captain, go into the parks, and at the end of our day Uber to the same Embassy Suites, stay the night using points again, and fly out late on Sunday afternoon on another less expensive flight. Apparently not as many people like to fly out of MCO on late Sunday afternoons.

The entire trip goes something like this. Friday afternoon drive to airport. Leave car at long term parking. Take parking shuttle to terminal. Fly to MCO. Get shuttle to Embassy Suites. Check out of Embassy Suites next morning. Uber to HRH. Check in to HRH. Stay the week. Check out of HRH on Saturday. Uber to Embassy. Check in to Embassy. Next morning take hotel shuttle to terminal. Fly out of MCO.

That's all. Believe me. After checking in to HRH on Saturday, there will be no schedules for the entire week until we check out the following Saturday. After all, it is a vacation, isn't it?

 

[TommyJK]

When it comes to saving money in a smart way, as well making the worst part of the trip (the actual travel) sorted out the best way possible (there is nothing worse than tired, cranky kids that could ruin part of the trip), then there is no such thing as too much planning.

 

[escapeartist]

I think it's a great plan! Definately not overplanned!

 

[ChiGirlMom]

Some people go on vacation and just wing it. Others plan down to the second. I like to think that I'm somewhere in between but closer to the person who plans. So here's my plan.

I have a reservation at HRH with a check in on a Saturday, check out the following Saturday. I found a flight into MCO but it's way too early for me to get my 2 teenagers to the airport on time. When they were younger, it was no problem getting them up at 3am for a 6am flight. Not anymore. The later flights on Saturday would get us to the resort after 9pm. We have APs but it didn't seem right to pay for the hotel on Saturday just to lose the day and sleep there on Saturday night.

What I discovered when I looked around was a less expensive (very) flight on Friday night arriving at MCO around midnight. I booked that flight and used Hilton points to pay for a room at the Embassy Suites near the airport. The next day we will Uber to the HRH in the morning, leave bags with bell captain, and go to the parks until check in time.

When it's time to return home, I'll check out of the HRH on Saturday morning, leave bags with bell captain, go into the parks, and at the end of our day Uber to the same Embassy Suites, stay the night using points again, and fly out late on Sunday afternoon on another less expensive flight. Apparently not as many people like to fly out of MCO on late Sunday afternoons.

The entire trip goes something like this. Friday afternoon drive to airport. Leave car at long term parking. Take parking shuttle to terminal. Fly to MCO. Get shuttle to Embassy Suites. Check out of Embassy Suites next morning. Uber to HRH. Check in to HRH. Stay the week. Check out of HRH on Saturday. Uber to Embassy. Check in to Embassy. Next morning take hotel shuttle to terminal. Fly out of MCO.

That's all. Believe me. After checking in to HRH on Saturday, there will be no schedules for the entire week until we check out the following Saturday. After all, it is a vacation, isn't it?

Perfectly reasonable. Better to get to a hotel quickly so you can sleep with late flights.

 

[hhoope01]

That is very similar to what we do. I'll usually fly us in late Friday night and use points to stay at the airport Hyatt (literally in the terminal with no need for a shuttle). And do something similar for the flight home. I have on occasion (when using Hilton points) stayed at the Doubletree across the street from Universal's entrance. It is usually less points to stay there for a night than at the MCO Embassy Suites and the next morning you are already very close to Universal, but the room probably won't be a suite room like at Embassy Suites.

 

[shawthorne44]

As an uber-planner, I think you need a little more planning. Plan out your luggage so you won't have to even open most of it during your non-HRH stays. Maybe use those packing cubes.

 

[nkereina]

This is all necessary logistical planning. I agree with PP that you could even take it a step further by planning your luggage for minimal disruption during that first night stay, which will allow for a quick check-out on Saturday morning so you can get to the parks. Keep in mind that weekend days have been consistently the busiest at Universal for a while now and often reach capacity.

When it's time to return home, I'll check out of the HRH on Saturday morning, leave bags with bell captain, go into the parks, and at the end of our day Uber to the same Embassy Suites, stay the night using points again, and fly out late on Sunday afternoon on another less expensive flight. Apparently not as many people like to fly out of MCO on late Sunday afternoons.

I understand that HRH can be pricey and staying at Embassy Suites on your last night on points will let you save some money, but if it were me, I wouldn't want the hassle. You'll be "homeless" on your last day at Universal and your day will inevitably be cut short so you can get your luggage and get to Embassy Suites. On Sunday, if you were still at Universal, you'd have ample time in the morning to do the parks with your APs, before your late afternoon flight. Staying at Embassy Suites, you'd likely have to check out by 11 or 12, which may mean you have several hours to kill before your flight depending on how late in the afternoon the flight time is.

 

[Newbie500]

When it comes to saving money in a smart way, as well making the worst part of the trip (the actual travel) sorted out the best way possible (there is nothing worse than tired, cranky kids that could ruin part of the trip), then there is no such thing as too much planning.

As an "only" parent I needed reassurance, so thanks!

 

[Newbie500]

That is very similar to what we do. I'll usually fly us in late Friday night and use points to stay at the airport Hyatt (literally in the terminal with no need for a shuttle). And do something similar for the flight home. I have on occasion (when using Hilton points) stayed at the Doubletree across the street from Universal's entrance. It is usually less points to stay there for a night than at the MCO Embassy Suites and the next morning you are already very close to Universal, but the room probably won't be a suite room like at Embassy Suites.

Yeah I need the suite because son and daughter each need their own beds. I don't have enough points yet for Hyatt so I went with Hilton. Good to know about Doubletree though. Thanks!

 

[cfoxga]

We were at UO for 7 nights over Thanksgiving, at three different hotels:

- Night 1 in Gainesville FL. We left after school on a Friday, so we couldn't make it all the way to Orlando. Had about 3 hours left, the next morning.
- Nights 2-4 at HRH (APH rate)
- Nights 5-7 at ESS (APH rate)
- Went to the park for a couple hours on our final day and made the 8 hour drive home

In our case, I couldn't get the APH rate for the last 3 nights, so it forced the second move. While I would have preferred to stay in one hotel the entire time, it wasn't too bad. You have good reasons for the two moves, and I think you will have a great time being at HRH for 7 nights!

The good news is that you have done the "hard part" for planning at UO. With EPs and a long stay, you should be able to just go with the flow...

 

[bobafemme]

We also split our stay with a airport adjacent hotel. It works for my pocketbook so I don't stress on the more indulgent part of the Universal visit.

 

[RamblingMad]

What I like about Universal is the lack of planning.

But I’ll pay up for flights that best fit my schedule. I like sleep.

What you do have to plan for in FL is rain and good shoes to walk around the park. People panic when the rain hits. We just pop open our umbrellas and continue.

 

[Erica Ladd]

I like the idea of splurging for that last Saturday night at HRH and just the one night at Embassy Suites at the beginning

 

[pigletgirl]

Nope, its logistics and with kids/teens, its essential, IMO! We're doing something similar. Flight lands at almost 11p and we're staying in some hotel near the airport. The following morning we are headed to UO and checking in to our resort (Cabana Bay) before hitting the parks!