Struggling to decide-extras at Disney or other??? Help Wanted :)

[calablovedisney]

I'm not exactly sure where to post this since I think it overlaps a few possibilities so this board seems to cover most. (sorry if it's better elsewhere) I am struggling with a decision about our trip. In the past we have done Universal for the first 2 nights and I have done really well with discounts. So, for this trip we thought we would do 1 night and 2 days there and then off to Disney for the rest. But, I am not getting any of the same discounts, or even close to the past. So, Universal would cost us $1400 for 1 night and four 2 day park to park passes. We arrive around 4 so we would have only a day and 1/2 there, but that is enough time for us to do what we want, which is why we stay on their property at a resort that includes express passes. My family is no help with the decision-they are staying flexible and dh has been so back and forth!
We are doing a split stay-AKL and POR and I could just add another AKL night and plan to do a couple of unique experiences at Disney instead. (Maybe safari at AKL, or Trek at AK if available-or any other tour that you all might recommend). Maybe a special dinner- we are celebrating a HS graduation, 18th & Sweet 16 bdays, and our 20th anniversary this trip so any suggestions would be great as well! We even thought of driving to a beach for a day as my 2 dds really want to see a Florida beach. We are there 6/27-7/7 so not sure if driving is a crazy idea around the 4th of July.

so, what would you do? Any advice or thoughts? I am so torn and need to confirm as my FP window opens up tomorrow or Saturday, depending on my first night!

 

[Traver Freeman]

It's been ages since I've been to Universal. Would love to go sometime, but that is a hefty price-tag for 1 1/2 days. Just speaking personally, I'd rather add a few days to your Disney vacation as the park tickets are super cheap after a 5-day ticket.

What to do, though, is up to you. There's also sorts of fun, yet expensive, things to do if you still plan to spend the $1,400. We are doing a dessert party for the first time this upcoming trip. We wanted to do a tour, but our son is too young. There are so many types and variations on tours, so you would have endless possibilities there.

There's some sort of Pirate boat thing they takes you out on Seven Seas Lagoon, gives you a nice view of the fireworks, and gives you dessert after. I thought about this, but we went with the in-park dessert party instead.

There's a carriage ride at POR you can pay for. Just trying to think of other things for you to do, but you can certainly consider those if you'd rather stay at Disney the whole time.

Maybe ask your kid what they'd rather do?

 

[720L]

I'm pretty sure you have to be 18 for the tours at Disney. Have you stayed at AKL before? They have 2 sit-down restaurants, Jiko & Boma. My kids would be excited just for the extra night at AKL.(and they are 15 & 18) They love hanging out at the resort.....the animal viewing area, the bonfire, the Smores, the pool, cultural safaris...it's our favorite resort.

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm pretty sure you have to be 18 for the tours at Disney. Have you stayed at AKL before? They have 2 sit-down restaurants, Jiko & Boma. My kids would be excited just for the extra night at AKL.(and they are 15 & 18) They love hanging out at the resort.....the animal viewing area, the bonfire, the Smores, the pool, cultural safaris...it's our favorite resort.

16 for most tours. Some experiences are available for those under 16 years of age, but there are not many of those.

OP- that is a lot of money for 1 1/2 days. I am biased so I probably would add extra time onto our Disney stay, and then add an extra. We liked the sunrise safari when that was offered. My DD and her family dined with an imaginer, and they loved that experience. I stayed with my DGD when the rest took a Keys to the Kingdom tour. Well worth it was the feedback.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

$1400 is a lot to spend for just one night at US and since you've already been there a few times, I would vote for staying at WDW the whole time and doing something extra.

Your children are old enough to do all of the tours at AK. We did the Wild Africa Tour when my DS was 8 and we had a great time! I would take a look at the list of tours and see what appeals to your family most!

 

[DVCMinnie2532]

I'm curious, what if that universal night was paid with airline miles and you could not do that for your additional night at Disney ? Which do you think you would pick in that case? Universal or Disney for that one night?

 

[keepswimming76]

If it were me it would depend on how badly I wanted to go to Universal. If you have been before and plan on going again maybe just do another night at AKL and something special like you suggest (beach or tour). Or if it is more economical than staying on Universal property, add a day at AKL but still go to Universal? Since you have been there before you could tour without the express passes maybe?

 

[calablovedisney]

I'm curious, what if that universal night was paid with airline miles and you could not do that for your additional night at Disney ? Which do you think you would pick in that case? Universal or Disney for that one night?

I'm not exactly sure I understand the full question, but I think you mean if the night was paid for, which would we choose? Still not sure as the park tickets alone are so much money. Now, if the park tickets were paid for, I would go with Universal! the hotel room is negligible in the comparison.


Thank you to everyone for your opinions. At this point, we have decided to skip Universal and looking into the Wayama Safari at AKL, maybe La Nouba (did this once, but so long ago my dds don't remember it and I would love to see it again). Hoop Dee Doo(although also did this quite a while ago as well). I am a bit sad about skipping Harry Potter this time, but this will give us a slower pace at Disney and I feel good about that. You all helped me a lot as I needed outside perspective on this one!

 

[cel_disney]

OP - I feel your pain. I don't get much planning help from our family either.

We are DVC and do plenty of Disney trips but this year we HAVE to do HP in the fall and the tickets are SOO expensive! I can't believe it's about $270 for a 2 day 2 park ticket! We are also facing the $1400 price tag so I am trying to decide what Disney extras NOT to do to fit it in!

for Disney events - If there is a desert party at DHS, we would recommend that. We really enjoyed it. We have also enjoyed the after dark at MK and club Villian at DHS but not sure if they are going on during your visit.

If you have not been to seaworld - I would definitely suggest you consider a day there instead. Costs are much less than universal for one day and they have some really great coasters there plus the fantastic animal exhibits.

 

[TJDisneymama]

since you won't arrive 'til 4:00 pm, what about just doing 1 day park-to-park passes for the following day? Spend the first night at City walk and your resort. That should save you some $$

 

[SaintsManiac]

I had sticker shock when I added Universal to our trip. It's about $1200 for 3 of us to stay 3 nights and do the parks 2 days. That doesn't include food! Yikes! I'm an HP fanatic, so I don't have a choice

 

[calablovedisney]

I had sticker shock when I added Universal to our trip. It's about $1200 for 3 of us to stay 3 nights and do the parks 2 days. That doesn't include food! Yikes! I'm an HP fanatic, so I don't have a choice

Yes me too! We are struggling since we decided not to do it, especially since there was another HP weekend on tv the last 2 days!! But, we have been twice already. However, still time to change my mind! ahh!!!!

since you won't arrive 'til 4:00 pm, what about just doing 1 day park-to-park passes for the following day? Spend the first night at City walk and your resort. That should save you some $$

I hadn't really considered this, so just did the math. It will be $1138.98 to do the one day, one night, which is certainly better. The hotel is just so expensive as well. Last time I could book on Orbitz with their discount code, but they no longer accept the Orbitz code. The one day price does line up a bit more with what I am considering adding to Disney, which is the Wanyama Safari at AKL, and maybe La Nouba. I was thinking Keys to the Kingdom Tour-I would love it, but dh is not interested in that one. The Safari is pricey-roughly $800 for 4 of us, but different and it gets great reviews, but now much closer to the HP cost if we do 1 day. Guess I have a bit more to consider.

 

[TJDisneymama]

Yes me too! We are struggling since we decided not to do it, especially since there was another HP weekend on tv the last 2 days!! But, we have been twice already. However, still time to change my mind! ahh!!!!



I hadn't really considered this, so just did the math. It will be $1138.98 to do the one day, one night, which is certainly better. The hotel is just so expensive as well. Last time I could book on Orbitz with their discount code, but they no longer accept the Orbitz code. The one day price does line up a bit more with what I am considering adding to Disney, which is the Wanyama Safari at AKL, and maybe La Nouba. I was thinking Keys to the Kingdom Tour-I would love it, but dh is not interested in that one. The Safari is pricey-roughly $800 for 4 of us, but different and it gets great reviews, but now much closer to the HP cost if we do 1 day. Guess I have a bit more to consider.

that's still a lot of $ for 1.5 days......

 

[vicb]

We even thought of driving to a beach for a day as my 2 dds really want to see a Florida beach. We are there 6/27-7/7 so not sure if driving is a crazy idea around the 4th of July.

so, what would you do? Any advice or thoughts? I am so torn and need to confirm as my FP window opens up tomorrow or Saturday, depending on my first night!

I picked up on the beach comment. If you have never been to a FL beach I would consider going with that for 2 days. The Space Coast is just under an hour drive from Orlando Airport. The beaches are nice there, low key and you have Kennedy Space Center if that appeals to your group. Just a thought