Super Budget Summer Road Trip To Florida...hotels? restaurants?

[SandraC]

Hi All ~ We are starting to plan a BUDGET summer road trip from Toronto to Florida.

We are looking for nice, family hotels near Disney and/or Universal Studios with a pool....and INEXPENSIVE and restaurants too....

Any suggestions?

Blessings, Sandra

 

[dmthoma76]

Just did a budget trip to Universal, I used bookit.com for the hotel. My son and I stayed at the Quality Inn International on sand lake rd. Right next to the largest McDonald's in Orlando. Lot's of kid's eat fee coupons to be found (internet,hotel, etc) kids also eat free at this hotel. 56.00 a night with bookit, military stays half price. (warning you are in Orlando no 1.00 menu and no value meals cheaper than 9.00) THIS McDonald's also sells pizza, meatball sandwiches, and other exotic food along with the burgers and fries.

Not many people eating at the hotel though and I will tell you why...The food was not so great and was only a bargain if you had LOTS of kids to feed.
Example : One night I thought I would try it just me and my son how much could the dinner buffet be for just me? Try 17.99 with tip I paid 20.00 when right across the street the night before at The Golden Corral I paid 20.00 for much better food.

So you have a McDonald's,Denny's,IHOP,Golden Corral and many more within walking distance so the hotel dining was pretty empty.

Also the hotel has free shuttles to Universal and Sea World, this is not a hotel to stay at if you want to go to Disney, unless you have a car, we didn't. We used the trolley, taxi, or free shuttles. Taxi when we were just so hot and tired at the parks we just wanted to get back fast...12.00 was the most I paid,one night it was 6.60 to get back from Universal (depends on traffic).

Also within walking distance was Ripley's believe it or not which was something my son wanted to do. We went there the first night because it was too late to go to a park. It was fascinating for him but pricey,31.00 for a mother and 8 year old and that was WITH coupons.

They had two pools at the hotel and we enjoyed them nothing big or fancy but nice...room was clean with fridge and microwave, wireless internet in the lobby. Options available in lobby for trips to Kennedy Space Center, and other tours, Disney tickets, Universal, Sea World if you hadn't got them already no sales pitch involved. I had already gotten mine on-line Universal 7-days for 79.00, Sea World and Aquatica 7 days for the both of us 143.00.

I-Trolley runs up and down the street taking you anywhere on International drive for 1.00 (12 and under free) Wonderworks, Sizzler, Mini-golf, all just a trolley away. We rode it to Sea World one day, and rode it home.

~Donna

 

[donaldduck352]

Just did a budget trip to Universal, I used bookit.com for the hotel. My son and I stayed at the Quality Inn International on sand lake rd. Right next to the largest McDonald's in Orlando. Lot's of kid's eat fee coupons to be found (internet,hotel, etc) kids also eat free at this hotel. 56.00 a night with bookit, military stays half price. (warning you are in Orlando no 1.00 menu and no value meals cheaper than 9.00) THIS McDonald's also sells pizza, meatball sandwiches, and other exotic food along with the burgers and fries.

Not many people eating at the hotel though and I will tell you why...The food was not so great and was only a bargain if you had LOTS of kids to feed.
Example : One night I thought I would try it just me and my son how much could the dinner buffet be for just me? Try 17.99 with tip I paid 20.00 when right across the street the night before at The Golden Corral I paid 20.00 for much better food.

So you have a McDonald's,Denny's,IHOP,Golden Corral and many more within walking distance so the hotel dining was pretty empty.

Also the hotel has free shuttles to Universal and Sea World, this is not a hotel to stay at if you want to go to Disney, unless you have a car, we didn't. We used the trolley, taxi, or free shuttles. Taxi when we were just so hot and tired at the parks we just wanted to get back fast...12.00 was the most I paid,one night it was 6.60 to get back from Universal (depends on traffic).

Also within walking distance was Ripley's believe it or not which was something my son wanted to do. We went there the first night because it was too late to go to a park. It was fascinating for him but pricey,31.00 for a mother and 8 year old and that was WITH coupons.

They had two pools at the hotel and we enjoyed them nothing big or fancy but nice...room was clean with fridge and microwave, wireless internet in the lobby. Options available in lobby for trips to Kennedy Space Center, and other tours, Disney tickets, Universal, Sea World if you hadn't got them already no sales pitch involved. I had already gotten mine on-line Universal 7-days for 79.00, Sea World and Aquatica 7 days for the both of us 143.00.

I-Trolley runs up and down the street taking you anywhere on International drive for 1.00 (12 and under free) Wonderworks, Sizzler, Mini-golf, all just a trolley away. We rode it to Sea World one day, and rode it home.

~Donna

Thanks for the info
Alot of peeps will find this real helpful,incuding me.

 

[turning40withMickey]

I think you did a great job as a reviewer, dmthoma!

If it is a road trip and you have a car, why not check out condos or home rentals? I like VRBO.com which is vacation rental by owner. We got a three bedroom, two bath condo for 50 bucks a night, no additional taxes or anything!

I got online tickets for SeaWorld and Universal like dmthoma, great deals!

Budget food: CiCi's Pizza buffet, salad, soup, pizza, and cinnamon rolls for dessert, runs about six bucks a person for all you can eat, and there are lots of pizza choices. Worthwhile with kids!

I use lots of coupons, Ponderosa, Golden Corral, TGI Fridays, other chain restaurants like that will be reasonable for vacation, while not exactly gourmet food.

Good luck!

 

[dioxide45]

(warning you are in Orlando no 1.00 menu and no value meals cheaper than 9.00)

So the free kids meals with coupon aren't really free, they are just packaging the cost in to the adult meals.

 

[MomofKatie]

We use Hotwire.com for our budget trips. DD and I got 3 nights at Extended Stay Deluxe LBV for $31/night in May. It was a very nice all suite hotel less than 2 miles from DTD in a very nice area- lots of midscale hotels, great restaurants, and shopping very close (the Crossroads shopping ctr was within walking distance). We had a full kitchen in the room, and the rooms had indoor corridors- it wasn't a motel-type place. There was a nice basic pool, spa, weight room, and FREE continental breakfast each morning.

We have used Hotwire several times, and have been happy with our accomodations each time- we have paid around $30-40/night for 2 1/2-3 star properties.

 

[Bea]

I don't know if this is "budget" or not but we are staying at cypress pointe for $76.00 cdn a night . It is a 2 bedroom with a kitchen so will cut down on the price of eating.

We have driven a few times from Nova Scotia and Ontario. I am sure you will enjoy the drive. There are so many rest stops and welcome centres that have picnic tables so packing lunches/breakfast is an option.

Enjoy your planning.

 

[dmthoma76]

So the free kids meals with coupon aren't really free, they are just packaging the cost in to the adult meals.

Not only that if you use the free coupon the kid does not get a toy! And they were doing speed racer cars! How cruel!

~Donna

 

[iloveokw]

Can't give you advice on hotels but we eat alot of meals off site and enjoy:

Sweet Tomatoes (near Universal)
Cici's - LBV
Cracker Barrel - many locations
Orlando Ale House - big menu, good food, very reasonable

I would book a hotel with free breakfast. If you had a micro and fridge (or even a kitchen) you could save lots of $$$. We often share food between the three of us in the theme parks. Make sure you buy and take your own water. A really budget trip - you could pack a lunch/dinner in a cooler in your car and leave the parks to eat.