Universal on a budget?

[CapHook]

We have done Disney World twice with our kids who are now age 5, 9 and 11. We really want to do Disney one more time but do not have the funds. I see on http://freeuniversaldays.com that we can go to Universal for 5 days for $100 per person. So now we are thinking about doing that. What is a realistic budget for a Universal trip?

Gas for trip from Texas & motels on the road - $300
Universal tickets - $500
Orlando hotel or motel (6 or 7 nights) - $350?
Food - $???

Am I being naive that this can be done for this price?

 

[zippehsmom]

capnhook,

I think that you could do it. The 2 day bonus passes (I think you get like 5 park days with them) are like $99.95 each. The only thing I would splurge on is hotel. I would definitely stay onsite. You can't beat the FOTL. They just released Annual Passholder room discounts for August and my rate is $159 per night at the Royal Pacific. I can never figure out their pricing system for their rooms. Check out your dates on line. You can put in APH under promotional code and if there is an Annual Passholder rate, one will come up. If you are a AAA member there is also a discount. You just put in AAA under promotional code.

Good luck with your trip planning.

zippehsmom

 

[ajksmom]

Universal is alot cheaper than disney. Now that doesn't change the fact that I LOVE WDW!!! Just that UO/IOA is less expensive. We went for the 1st time last summer for 5 nights, on the advice of my fellow DISers stayed on-site at RPR, and had an awesome time. FOTL access had my family feeling like celebrities!!!! With that much time there, you'll actually find time to RELAX... We used AAA for a discount on a club level room and paid 255 per night the last week of june. Could've gotten non-club level and paid 189. Prices were steep but well worth it. Resort is beautiful and again FOTL access...need I say more?
I'm not sure if they are still offered but one thing that helped our budget alot was to buy the Clear Channel Radio 1/2 price gift certificates. (paid $25 for $50 GC) We used them at Nascar Cafe, Hard Rock Cafe, and Pastamore. Maybe NBA City too, I'm not sure.

 

[tinaluis]

When are you planning on going? If you're going during the off-season, FOTL is really not necessary. It's definitely nice, for sure, but the rates at the onsite hotels can be pretty steep. We usually go in the off season (anywhere from late August to early December/mid-January to early May) we've always stayed offsite and have been able to see and do all that we want in about 3 days. (although we usually spend about 7 days there just relaxing and taking in the sights and theming). We have Power Passes ($119 plus tax) and we've been able to spend about 8 days in the park so far with 14 more planned in November. This trip will be our first using Skyauction.com. We got a 2 bedroom unit at Cypress Point Grand Villas (for $520 total for 14 days) and we're really looking forward to being able to spread out this trip and being able to cook some meals too (our family gets very tired of eating out all the time). Good luck to you whatever you decide.
Tina

 

[jfeasel]

For lodging you might want to look into renting a condo. That's what we're doing in late June/ early July. I looked all kinds of condos and they are much cheaper than hotel rooms plus have full kitchen and laundry facilities. There are many places to book through like Resort Quest, All-Star Homes, etc. We booked through disneyareahomes.com and have had wonderful customer support. The condos in the area all have a community pool and many of them have other ammentities too. For a budget, this was the way to go. We're staying for $109 a night in a condo 3.5 miles form Disney, but they have some around Universal as well. By the way, disneyareahomes.com rents by the day so you don't have to commit to a full week.

 

[Aidensmom]

If where you stay is not a big deal for you, you can stay at the Days Inn right across the street from the Universal parking garage and save a lot on your hotel budget. We always stay there when we go to Universal (we only live an hour away, but like to go more than 1 day), but we are not picky about our hotel because we are just there to sleep and use the pool. It is your typical Days Inn, but we have always gotten a room for under $40/night. And you can save parking costs at the park because it is close enough to walk. There is also a Denny's there.

We do like to stay onsite at Disney because of the convenience and the use of transportation, but to us staying onsite at Universal was not worth the price of their resorts.

 

[CapHook]

We are thinking about the last week of July for this Universal Trip. On our Disney trips we stayed onsite, because of 1. Early Entry and 2. Busses.

What are the benifits of staying onsite at Universal? Staying off site but close enough to walk sounds cool to me. Has any one else stayed at the Days Inn Aidensmom suggested. Is it really possible to stay offsite and avoid driving?

 

[tinaluis]

CapHook,
Since you're thinking of going the last week of July (peak season) I think you should stay onsite because of the FOTL (front of the line) privileges you get when staying onsite. In case you're not familiar with FOTL, you go into a special que when you show your hotel key and it's like having a FastPass to every ride. We usually go during the off-season so we'd never consider staying onsite (because our offsite rooms average $35-$50 a night) but since the end of July is peak season, onsite is definitely the way to go. Good luck with your trip planning!
Tina

 

[CapHook]

Thanks tinaluis,

You just posted something that makes sense. I work in Education and summer is the only time we have for vacation. I know better than try to go to Orlando in July. I think it may be too late to get a good rate onsite for Universal.

Think we will save our money and do Disney next year instead.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

It's not too late to get a good rate for late July, but the room is still going to be over $150/night. That doesn't seem very "budget" to me, maybe I'm cheap!

Even without FOTL (which I love), I think your family would still have a good time at Universal. The tickets are cheap, and 5 days would give you plenty of time to see all there is to see in the parks.

I think you could stay within your budget if you stay someplace like the Days Inn. Eat breakfast in your room (maybe sandwiches for lunch too), and have snacks and drinks in your room as well. It sounds like you are driving, so this shouldn't be a problem. There is a Publix just a few blocks from Universal.

 

[msr709]

While staying onsite is a plus because of the FOTL, the OP did say they were on a budget so onsite would NOT be the place to stay. There are several hotels in the area that are within walking distance of USO and 5 days is well enough time to cover both parks twice! In late July the parks are open late, until 10:00. Having a car with you is your best asset. There are tons of restaurants in the area that have all-you-can eat buffets that are a fraction of the prices you find in the parks and at CityWalk. You can definitely do a budget trip to USO. I would suggest you go over to the USO threads on these boards and do a search on offsite hotels and you can get all the information you need. Have a great time.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Universal on a budget? I got one idea- don't go!
We went last year and didn't like it.
I don't mean to insult anyone, just a little fun.

But we did buy the 5 day -$99.95. We only used it for 3 days and it was still worth it.

 

[CapHook]

Well Letsbegoofy has now drawn me back in. I have found there is large universal section here about Univeral so I will research there.

So Myffycat, what was disappointing about Universal that made you only go 3 days?

 

[happygirl]

No offense we went last year and got both parks done in one day, I don't think it worth the money

 

[HappyLawyer]

We have done Disney World twice with our kids who are now age 5, 9 and 11. We really want to do Disney one more time but do not have the funds. I see on http://freeuniversaldays.com that we can go to Universal for 5 days for $100 per person. So now we are thinking about doing that. What is a realistic budget for a Universal trip?

Gas for trip from Texas & motels on the road - $300
Universal tickets - $500
Orlando hotel or motel (6 or 7 nights) - $350?
Food - $???

Am I being naive that this can be done for this price?

try skyauction.com you may save yourself 100 bucks on a villa