Our July 2005 trip budget --- is this reasonable?

[Martinvols]

For those that have been to US (I have never been there), please review this budget and give me your opinions on whether Scenario 1 is achievable. I know Scenario 2 is achievable because we did it this year at Disney! All numbers below include taxes. I am concerned whether Scenario 1 is achievable ----- I have to give it to the Management Group at Loews ----- they have been taught well in MBA school on how to maximize profits!

Scenario 1 - stay at Royal Pacific
10 nights at Royal Pacific ($180/night) $1,800
3 Power Annual Passes @ $117 each 351
1 Regular Annual Pass @ $180 each 180
Annual passes to Sea World for 4
(1 child age 4) 200
Food --- this is an area where we have no
idea how to budget --- we will stop and load
up at grocery store - eat breakfast and snacks
in room 700
Souvenirs & Gas 350

Total Trip Budget for 10 days $3,580

Scenario 2 - stay Off-site
10 nights at Renaissance - Priceline
at $80/night 800
4 Power Annual Passes 475
Sea World Annual Passes 200
Food ---- we will save money staying
off-site 600
Souvenirs & Gas 350
Other incidentals from staying off-site 100

Total trip budget for 10 days $2,525

 

[Motherfletcher]

1 is doable but I think you can do better at RPR than 180. 140 is closer with APH. Since Seaworld is part of the vacation why not stay closer to it for a few of the 10 days and save a little?

 

[Patch'sD]

The big difference is the room cost. 180 Vs 80 or $ 1,000 dollars. $180 rate for the hotel is including taxes and parking so I guess you are planning on $140 per night rate. So the big question is the number of days you go the Universal Theme parks is it worth $ 1,000 for express. I think that you can double, or triple your pleasure with Express for On-Site Guests. Express Plus tickets for a pary of four for four days will run you about $600. Since you only get one ride vs the unlimited after 3:00 PM I would compare it to two Express Pluses at $ 1,200. To me staying on Site with Express is worth it. I don't think that you can get away without spending $ 50.00 per night for dinner at Citywalk, but you will have your own car so a trip to I-Drive and the fast food places will help your budget and get your Dinner costs down to $ 30.00 per night and keep you within your $600 budget.

The Royal Pacific is a great Hotel and would compare to a Disney Deluxe any day of the week, Comparing it to an $80 hotel is doing it a great injustice. Boat Transportation to the parks Vs. Parking in the Garage during your trips to Universal is not counted anywhere in your analysis, nor is relaxing back in the Hotel pool after a nice day in the parks and then deciding at 8:00 PM to go hit MIB for another shot at hitting the goal of 999,999 is priceless. You have a year to go out and shave $ 1,000 off of your expenditures, why not save now and enjoy later.

 

[d4est]

As Motherfletcher said, I would split the stay to cut down on $. Decide how many days you want to visit the parks with FOTL, keeping in mind that you get FOTL on day of check in AND day of check out. Book the RPR for the amount of days you want/need. The remaining days, book through priceline and save. And FYI, you can get a very nice hotel from priceline for $80. ie. Marriot Orlando World Center or the only resort in Universal/Seaworld area, the Renaissance Orlando Resort. Both VERY nice!

 

[highlander447]

Remember food at the RPR is pretty exp depending on taste also drinks etc again more exp as u are paying deluxe prices although u can eat at city walk and use the AP for discount and at the parks also u can eat at I-Drive plenty of good places there and even with cab fare u will still save $$ staying onsite is a great experience but not just for fotl over 10 days u will get to enjoy the resort