Last minute trip possibilities - savings tips?

[stlLarryC]

I just found out that my company might be sending me to a users conference at the Swan/Dolphin during the last week of June. If so, I may try to bring the family (DW, DD9, DS6) with me by driving down. Problem is that we are on a tight budget this summer since we splurged last June for a week at WDW/Carribean and were saving up for a return trip NEXT summer.

I would be willing to stay at an All Star for $99-$109 a night instead of the Swan or Dolphin to save the company money as well as drive to avoid airfare, taxi, long term parking charges (assuming they would reimbure my gas which would run me about $180).

Assuming those costs would be covered, I'm looking at 4 "After 2:00 PM tickets-2 day" tickets which would run me a total of $235. Would probably stay a few additional days on-site at $100/night and maybe take in Universal for a few days this time (never been there) with their 5 Day pass for the price of 2Days.

Any other last minute hotel discounts or savings offers out there that I'm overlooking? I'm off to check out mousesavers.com next.

Any help would be appreciated. I hope this all pans out for us!
Thanks!

 

[MagicalMom]

Can you tell me more about the "After 2:00 PM tickets-2 day" tickets, I have never heard of them. What are the cost?

 

[stlLarryC]

The cost is $42/day or $75/2day adult or child. It was a link from the company puting on the conference. I guess it is to encourage conventioneers to bring their families along...once the conference activities are over by mid day, the evenings are usually open for the people in attendance.

 

[Traveliz]

The After 2 tickets are most likely available to his convention - and he can buy however many he wants for those traveling with him. I am part of a group with a convention in Downtown Disney in July and the convention tickets available are really nice!

Liz

 

[MELSMICE]

Why not stay at the Swan/Dolphin during the convention & then move to a Budget resort when the convention is over? They have a great pool & it would be a real treat for your family, especially if they will be utilizing the pool during the day while you're at meetings, etc.

Plus, there is a lot to do on the Boardwalk. They could walk to Beaches & Cream for a fun lunch, go the Boardwalk Bakery in the morning for breakfast. There is night time entertainment on the Boardwalk.

I'm sure with a little planning, you'll be able to pull the trip off. I don't know what type of company you work for, but I would imagine they would reimburse you for your gas, especially if they were going to pay for air fare anyway.

Have fun with your family if you all decide to go!!

 

[stlLarryC]

Staying at the Swan/Dolphin is definitely an option but I was trying to save the company a few $$ by staying at a value....beside, my kids really want to stay at an All-Star once we took a tour of it last time down.

On non park days, we like staying withing walking distance of Downtown Disney as well as the strip mall that's across the street (the one with the Taco Bell and the supermarket). We had a really great stay at the Best Western on the Disney property for the night we arrived in Orlando last year.

Also would like to try one of the Universal hotels for a couple of nights to take advantage of their version of FastPass and experience those parks for the first time.

 

[CarolA]

For most companies they will reimburse you travel costs up to the airfare costs. So if the milage reimbursement would be less then the airfare they would pay for the milage. (Ours runs 39 cents a mile or something like that!) I would check your expense reimbursement policy.


Personally, I would stay at the Swan/Dolphin where the conferece is. It will be a lot less hassle on you! You can go to the room during breaks!

Can you use the after 2 PM tickets at any park? (For some reason I thought these were only good at Epcot, but it has been a while since I did a convention at Disney and I did not buy tickets then since I have an AP)

 

[stlLarryC]

Yes, they are good at any of the 4 main parks but you can't hop between parks on any given day.

I can get a room at the Dolphin for $189/night but with the 5 day pass at Universal for $90 and able to get a room at Universal for $169/night, I'm thinking I would rather stay there and commute to the conference so my wife and kids can explore UO during the day and I can join them for late afternoons and evenings. Otherwise, if we stay at WDW, they are basically limited to the Disney Villiage in the AM and would cost more to go the the WDW parks for the after 2:00 PM price.

Plus one of the evening functions at the conference is an private party at one of the Universal sound stages and priority seating on the major rides there.

We want to try OU at least once and I'm thinking this would be the most cost effective.