Super Excited about upcoming trip

[meghuneyntyson]

I am so glad I found this board.

I am a single mother from Texas. Every year for Spring Break, I take my son (now age 8) somewhere - just the two of us. We've been to New Orleans, to Sea World in San Antonio (three times) and just to nearby Houston for a week and enjoyed floor seats at a Houston Rockets game.

This year, I decided to take it up a few notches and book a 5 night trip with flight to Universal Studios. I think I am more excited than my son.

I think I overdid it - but oh well. We got the 2 day park to park pass with 3rd day free with Unlimited Express Passes (we are staying at a partner hotel right across from the parks but not onsite). We also are going to do the movie and a meal deal as well as the badly reviewed Lombard's dinner and seating to the Cinematic (Un) Spectacular Show. I threw in a 1 day eating plan for both of us as well. Whew! It cost a pretty penny but I usually just go all out and then the next time, I know what to leave out of the plans.

Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm looking forward to reading everything I can before we go!

 

[damo]

Sounds like fun! Was it a lot cheaper to stay offsite and buy the unlimited express pass than to stay onsite?

 

[meghuneyntyson]

Thanks for responding, damo! And yes it was! Staying onsite for 5 nights was a good $1,000 more expensive than the package I booked WITH regular Express Passes and 2 day park to park with 3rd day free. I actually accidentally added regular Express Passes for two days instead of three. I called in to Universal and told them my mistake, I was able to upgrade to 3 days of Unlimited Express Pass for just $66 and some cents. I was shocked at how cheap it was. Again, even with that upgrade it was still at about $1,000 cheaper than staying on site.

 

[damo]

Thanks for responding, damo! And yes it was! Staying onsite for 5 nights was a good $1,000 more expensive than the package I booked WITH regular Express Passes and 2 day park to park with 3rd day free. I actually accidentally added regular Express Passes for two days instead of three. I called in to Universal and told them my mistake, I was able to upgrade to 3 days of Unlimited Express Pass for just $66 and some cents. I was shocked at how cheap it was. Again, even with that upgrade it was still at about $1,000 cheaper than staying on site.

Sounds like a good deal! Which hotel did you choose?

 

[meghuneyntyson]

We got a suite at the Holiday Inn and Suites across from Universal. As much as I love my kid, I can't do any longer than a 1 night trip with him in a regular hotel room. I MUST have my own space or I may end up on an episode of Snapped!

 

[momofboyz3]

Hi There! Congrats on booking your trip, how exciting. I too am a single mom (single moms rock)! I have 3 boys and last year took them to WDW for the first time. This year I am planning a week at Universal Studios and curious which hotel you booked, if u don't mind sharing?? I am kind of hooked on the idea of staying onsite though (decisions, decisions).

 

[damo]

We got a suite at the Holiday Inn and Suites across from Universal. As much as I love my kid, I can't do any longer than a 1 night trip with him in a regular hotel room. I MUST have my own space or I may end up on an episode of Snapped!

My kids stayed there and said it was quite nice! They ate at the TGIFs a couple of times too and enjoyed it.

 

[meghuneyntyson]

Hey momofboyz3!! I decided on getting a suite at Holiday Inn and Suites Across from Universal. I honestly was DETERMINED to stay onsite as well until I started doing my research.

The cost was about $1,000 cheaper for us even with us getting a suite. I can imagine you would need the extra room as well with 4 of you guys! I read lots of reviews of the hotel before deciding and was pretty comfortable with my choice.

Kids eat free at the connecting TGIFriday's with an adult meal. There are fridges and microwaves in the rooms and the walk over to Universal wasn't too long, according to reviews.

 

[meghuneyntyson]

My kids stayed there and said it was quite nice! They ate at the TGIFs a couple of times too and enjoyed it.

Thank you for telling me that! I am pretty comfortable with my choice but I'd originally just KNOWN I was going to stay onsite at Universal. A little itty bitty part of me is mad about not doing it - but the perks of HI and Suites just really outweighed staying onsite to me.

 

[momofboyz3]

That looks sooooooo tempting and to save $1000 that's a lot of money. Hmmmmm

 

[meghuneyntyson]

That looks sooooooo tempting and to save $1000 that's a lot of money. Hmmmmm

I tried to PM you with details, but I don't have enough posts yet! lol IMO, It really is worth looking into. Especially for the extra room, microwave and fridge in the room, etc.

 

[momofboyz3]

Awww ~ that's nice of you I just googled it and you are right it's a great deal. But, I love the idea of staying onsite. We r going over the summer right when the diagon alley is due to open so we need that extra morning hour.

 

[meghuneyntyson]

Awww ~ that's nice of you I just googled it and you are right it's a great deal. But, I love the idea of staying onsite. We r going over the summer right when the diagon alley is due to open so we need that extra morning hour.

You guys are going to have a blast! Also, since HI and Suites is a partner hotel - we get that extra hour as well!

 

[momofboyz3]

You guys are going to have a blast! Also, since HI and Suites is a partner hotel - we get that extra hour as well!

I did not know that!!!!!!! I need to do more research! Thank you so much

 

[meghuneyntyson]

I did not know that!!!!!!! I need to do more research! Thank you so much

Single moms have to stick together!!

 

[rowan555]

Since you're from San Antonio, can you answer an off topic question for me? Isn't there a Six Flags in San Antonio? I'm already thinking ahead for my mom/daughter trip next year, and I was thinking perhaps we'd do Sea World/Six Flags in San Antonio instead of a third trip to Orlando. Have you been to Six Flags there? If so, how are the lines during off season periods? I'm looking at the express pass options and they are PRICEY! But we're spoiled from our Universal trip and can't see doing parks without some sort of front of the line type pass.

 

[damo]

Awww ~ that's nice of you I just googled it and you are right it's a great deal. But, I love the idea of staying onsite. We r going over the summer right when the diagon alley is due to open so we need that extra morning hour.

If you are going in the summer, I think staying onsite has some extra added perks. It isn't nearly as far to walk to get back to the hotel and swim. It is really, really hot walking in the summer and even though the Holiday Inn is close, it isn't really close enough for comfort.

There also might not be as much of a price difference in the summer as there would be during spring break. Prices are pretty high during spring break even with an AP discount.

If you plan on going to the parks more than 3 days but are staying 5 and you have more than 2 people, your price differences are going to be a lot lower than someone staying 5 nights but only doing the parks 3 days and only needing to pay for the express pass for 2 people for 3 days instead of 5 people for 5 days.

You've really got to do the math.

 

[meghuneyntyson]

Since you're from San Antonio, can you answer an off topic question for me? Isn't there a Six Flags in San Antonio? I'm already thinking ahead for my mom/daughter trip next year, and I was thinking perhaps we'd do Sea World/Six Flags in San Antonio instead of a third trip to Orlando. Have you been to Six Flags there? If so, how are the lines during off season periods? I'm looking at the express pass options and they are PRICEY! But we're spoiled from our Universal trip and can't see doing parks without some sort of front of the line type pass.

Rowan, I'm from Texas but not from San Antonio. I'm located about 6 hours away. And I have not been to that Six Flags (Fiesta Texas) in YEARS! I am partial to theme parks that have passes where you can skip the line (yes, I'm spoiled). Six Flags has that thing called Flash Pass where the Platinum (which is high as heck) makes your wait shorter, but it technically isn't skipping the lines.

My ex-husband (my son's father) lives in SA though. My son goes to visit him and they go to Fiesta Texas. But I personally am not quite sure about the lines and the business of the theme park.

And Damo, you are right. The summer is a different ball game.

 

[keri125]

Hello! I am a single mother too with a 9 year old boy. We are going to Universal (hopefully) in November - just a mother/son trip. I am so excited! We had a family reunion in 2010 at WDW but this is the first time I will be traveling with just the two of us, on a trip that I planned all by myself. We normally don't really have the funds to travel (although we try to do a lot of local trips) but I came into some inheritance money and thought I would treat the two of us. I'm planning on staying onsite - I like the idea of saving money but having everything right there is a big draw for me since it will just be the two of us. My son is a HUGE Harry Potter fan (I'm talking obsessed!) and I just think he is the perfect age to appreciate WWoHP. Like you said, OP, I think I am almost more excited than he is as well! Do you guys know how far out we can book rooms? I am looking at going in early November, around the 5th. Looks like I should be able to book, right? GO SINGLE MOMS!!! (Ignore my countdown bar, haven't removed it from when we went in 2010! LOL)

 

[glocon]

I just wanted to throw this out there- if you stay at an onsite resort for one night, you get two days of unlimited express pass and two days of early entry (check in and check out days).