Please help plan a low budget Thanksgiving Trip

[skone]

Me and my roomates are wanting to goto Disney World/Universal Studios over thanksgiving break. We are trying to keep the costs down, and I was looking for some tips. We are planning on spending 2 days at universal and 2 days at Disney World. I found some cheap motels ~$40 on hotels.com which are with a couple of miles of Disney World. Does anyone recommend a cheap motel that provides shuttle to both Disney and Universal? Also, is there currently any ticket coupons. My roomate is a AAA member, can I use his card to buy 4 tickets? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[spiceycat]

you are little late - a couple of days ago you could have gotten a value resort on WDW property for $55 plus tax.

anyway that is gone.

you realize the outside transportation is not the best.

the outsite buses generally run only a couple of times in the morning and the same in the evening.

so when you get to the park be prepared to stay for a while.

LaQuinta Lakeside was fairly inexpensive and offer a bus.

the other LaQuinta Maingate is closer to US and WDW but it costs more. It is also newer.

are you going to change hotels?

how are you doing that without a rental car?

You might get upset with Universal policy - they have FOLE for their resort guests - so you who be standing in line a while over there.

here are some sites to find discounts

www.hotelkingdom.com
www.hotelmartusa.com

look at the hotel information before you pick - some only offer transportation to WDW. Also some have a charge per person to use them.

the tickets are expensive.

do you have any WDW tickets from before? they never expire.

here is this site ticket offer

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tickets.htm

here is universal site -I think the 5 days for the price of 2 is still a pretty good deal
http://themeparks.universalstudios....cations.html?__dest=tickets_and_vacations.TOP

 

[skone]

I will probably stay at the same hotel all nights, I have found a few deals that are 20% off each night if you stay 3 nights. The Ramada currently has this deal and offers transportation. We do have a rental car, but I wasnt sure if we could easily drive it. How lond do you think the lines will be over Thanksgiving holidays? Also, I was looking at that 5 day for the price of 2 ticket.

 

[spiceycat]

every year the Thankgiving crowds increase.

WDW has changed Oct and Nov - due to the food/wine festavial and Thanksgiving to regular season.

so you can expect crowds.

that is why I am so sorry that you are too late for the WDW special - that early morning opening is going to great for Thanksgiving.

I would expect long lines in all the parks - but just be patience!

remember that once you get to the parks - you are there for a long time - bring money - or a backpack with food/snacks and water - plus whatever else you might need - sun screen, etc.

thanksgiving week will be fun - on Thanksgiving day (if not before) the parks go to Christmas mode - so everything is all decorated and the parks - not to mention the WDW resorts and DD are just plain wonderland!!!

there is also this ticket place

www.ticketmania.com

sign up here - www.mousesavers.com and sometimes she will give even better discount to ticketmania.

you can find lots of hints on mousesavers to save money.

also look on this site for the budget forum lots of good hints there too.

 

[crazelion]

Please help plan a low budget Thanksgiving Trip
Me and my roomates are wanting to goto Disney World/Universal Studios over thanksgiving break. We are trying to keep the costs down, and I was looking for some tips. We are planning on spending 2 days at universal and 2 days at Disney World. I found some cheap motels ~$40 on hotels.com which are with a couple of miles of Disney World. Does anyone recommend a cheap motel that provides shuttle to both Disney and Universal? Also, is there currently any ticket coupons. My roomate is a AAA member, can I use his card to buy 4 tickets? Any advice would be appreciated.


I would get your roomate to buy the tickets for you at the AAA office. That way you can with him.

Brings trusty AAA going places guide:

Tickets
US and IOA 2 day 2 Park ticket is 91.50 Regular price is 99.95
I also you can get discouts on at food places and shops by show your AAA card at US and IOA.

WDW tickets I have no advice there but buy one day tickets.

Hotels:

I would check hotel websites and look for AAA discount for the hotel. Most hotels have AAA discounts but have look for them.

I also book the hotels on the AAA website for the discount to.

Call WDW resorts to see if anyone cancel there WDW revesations to see get the AAA discounts.

hotelkingdom.com They have good rates to.

http://www.downtowndisneyhotels.com/

I would check tripadvsior.com for hotel reviews.

 

[leebee]

WHAT "5 day for the price of 2" ticket? That would be the answer to my prayers!!!

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by leebee
WHAT "5 day for the price of 2" ticket? That would be the answer to my prayers!!!

The Universal website usually has a deal where you pay the normal price for a 2 day ticket and you get a ticket that can be used for 5 consecutive days. Current price is $94.5, I'm not sure if that includes tax.
https://tickets.universalstudios.com/USRG/us_store_secure2.jsp?merchant=UO

 

[skone]

After talking to some people may main concern is the crowd. If I upgrade every ticket to not wait in a line, its going to be very costly, but I dont want to wait in line for hours at each ride. How much time is conisdered a long time to wait, I have no guess? Thanks.

 

[Local_Girl]

skone,

I get the impression from your posts that you are confusing WDW with Universal. It is Universal that has the 5 for the price of 2 ticket covering their two parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. They also have a front of the line access for those staying in their resorts, as well as something called Express which is similar to WDW's Fastpass system. Both the Express and Fastpass systems allow users to bypass a long standby line. At WDW, Fastpass is free to all and there is no option to purchase the passes nor do WDW resort guests have preference. If you're not an onsite guest at a Universal resort, there is an option to buy the Express passes, but they are also available for free near each attraction, though the number of passes available is limited (at least this has been the case, you may want to check the Universal board for the most up to date info).

 

[spiceycat]

completely depends upon the ride.

you need to do your research now - get park maps - and list the much sees - then limit half of them - if you still have more than 5 for each park try again.

going to 5 Big things in one day is pretty good for on-season.

I am hoping like in the summer - since the parks are opened a little later - that alot of the people will leave and the parks will be easier at night. Of course in the summer the heat takes alot out of people and they get tired easier....

Anyway sorry about Thanksgiving being crowded

 

[spiceycat]

sorry forgot to answer your questions directly the wait will be anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours - it shouldn't be longer - but to wait even 1 hour for a ride you really didn't care that much about is silly.

I am hopping for no more than 30 minutes wait - hoping - not expecting....

 

[skone]

geez, thats crazy. Spiceycat, I noticed you were from Birmingham, im from Tuscalooosa, hello Neighbor

I wasn't getting Universal's 2 for 5 deal confused with WDW, I just wasn't being very clear.

Also, if I understand right, the express pass at each individual ride is available free at US, but people at resorts get preference to others and Disney also has that feature free to all.

 

[Local_Girl]

Sorry Skone...I'm the one who wasn't clear!

Yes, the Universal resort guests are eligible for express access without having to buy the express passes (available for purchase)or rely on the limited express passes available for free at the participating rides/attractions. At WDW, resort and non-resort guests are equally eligible for Fastpasses, and they are free. Anyway, with advanced planning and careful use of fastpass and express passes when available, you should be able to cut your wait times significantly, even during busy times.

I think the 5 for 2 deal at Universal is great...a real bargain if you plan to do both Universal parks more than once.

Good Luck and have a great trip!