Need your best ideas

[mom24girlz]

My husband and I are trying to bless another family with a 3 or 4 day Orlando getaway. It doesn't have to be Disney. This family consists of a single mother and 3 children (ages 8 - 13). The family has NEVER been on a vacation. The children have literally never stayed in a hotel, been to a theme park, or anything like that. This is a wonderful family and their mom provides them with lots of great local experiences, but they've never had the money to go away and enjoy a vacation.

Transportation won't cost much because they live about 90 minutes from Orlando. So I need budget ideas for lodging, entertainment, and dining. We are able to spend about $700, but not much more.

Any ideas?

 

[HM]

This sounds very familiar. Have you asked about this previously? There was a long thread about just this thing late last year (I think that's when it was).

 

[mom24girlz]

No, I didn't but I will try to see if I can find that one.

 

[verleniahall]

For hotels, maybe try priceline and a name your own price? Or do the express offers, choose a high star, and pick an area. That is what we did on our trip to WDW last year.

My next question would be woudl the family accept this gift. I know some families would feel very uncomfortable with the idea of someone paying for a vacation that they could not afford usually. Are they close friends? Aqantances?

 

[3Gsandme]

I don't believe this poster has. Perhaps another?

Would Tampa be an option? It would be a little south of $400 for two days at Busch Gardens for four people ($340). Looking at Kayak, there are some decent chains around Busch Gardens that are less than $100 (La Quinta, for instance, seems to run about $79 and while it's not palatial, they're usually clean and have free breakfast).

 

[goalierich]

My husband and I are trying to bless another family with a 3 or 4 day Orlando getaway. It doesn't have to be Disney. This family consists of a single mother and 3 children (ages 8 - 13). The family has NEVER been on a vacation. The children have literally never stayed in a hotel, been to a theme park, or anything like that. This is a wonderful family and their mom provides them with lots of great local experiences, but they've never had the money to go away and enjoy a vacation.

Transportation won't cost much because they live about 90 minutes from Orlando. So I need budget ideas for lodging, entertainment, and dining. We are able to spend about $700, but not much more.

Any ideas?

Depending on when to do, this to get a "sample of Disney" a WDW Value resort you can get around $100 per night, plus tickets to either BB or TL waterparks, which still should leave some funds for a decent meal at DTD

CoCo Key water park is another option, or possibly a weekend at hotel at/ near the beach.

Anyways, glad that you are able to help out with this family,and whatever you choose, I am sure they will appreciate it very much. Take care.

 

[Kbee]

Does it have to be more than 1 night? I'd get them a room at a Value and 1-day MK tickets, and add the QS dining plan. They live close enough that they can drive down early, spend the day in MK, then the next day at the resort pool and DTD then home.

 

[TnTWalter]

why Orlando? Do you live there? If so how about Busch Garden and water park tickets with a hotel for a couple nights. That would be fun!

If they don't live in Orlando, how about a theme park within a couple hours drive. For example, we live 2 hours from Cincy where there's Kings Island and Great Wolf Lodge [with attached waterpark] right next door. That would be awesome.

 

[havaneselover]

I'm a single mom to two. If she's never been on vacation with the kids I would recommend something that might not be super stressful like Disney. Or maybe she has a relative or friend who could go with her. Busch Gardens, Sea World, etc. are less overwhelming IMO.

 

[Happyjen27]

I would vote pretty heartily against Disney actually. I would suggest maybe airboat tour, gatorland and a hotel with a pool. Priceline can be good, as long as the hotel has the inventory to accommodate a room change to allow for 4 guests rather than 2. Try to find a hotel with free breakfast. I just came back from a trip with my kids to the middle of nowhere, and it was fantastic just to be away, and have a hotel pool to enjoy. Keep it simple.

 

[mom24girlz]

Thank you. I did think about Busch Gardens (the kids have never been, but the mom went with her school when she was in 8th grade) because they live about 25 minutes from there and Florida residents can pay for 1 day and get a fun pass that let's them go back for the rest of the year at no cost. I just wasn't sure they would feel like it was a vacation being so close to home. I was also thinking of maybe just doing a hotel like Nick where the entertainment is all on site.

 

[havaneselover]

What about Legoland?

Also there are some nice, not too expensive Marriotts by Seaworld. We stayed at one a few years ago and they are really nice and have some perks for visiting the parks. I dont recall the details but it was a good deal at the time.