What am I doing wrong?

[Claire-Bear]

When people talk about using their AAA cards to get discounts in-park, do they require proof of ID too? My dad is an AAA member so if I could get some little discounts in-park that would be great (he doesn't go to the parks).

 

[poeticdiabetic]

I would have to agree with the above posters. You really can do US/IOA for much, much less than what you're planning for.

For background, we're a family of four that would normally stay at the value resorts at WDW. We are price conscious and decided to take a trip to US/IOA for 5 days last year. We did some cost-saving things last year that I would like to share:

Hotwire. We stayed off-site and booked a room on Hotwire. It was the Comfort Inn up the street from Wet'nWild and US/IOA. We paid $28 a night for the room.

Food. We ate a lot at Citywalk's food court. We had our fill at the Whopper Bar (our favorite) and we paid about $7 per person there for lunch. We ate at buffets like Ponderosa and Golden Corral for about $10 per adult. We even tried the all-you-can-eat deal at US one da, but we wouldn't do it again. (Just not for us... too much food.) So for a family of four, with growing boys that eat a lot; we ate and was full for less than $75 a day.


Tickets? Can't help you there. The tickets were cheaper last year, but we're buying our from Maple Leaf and picking them up in Kissimmee. For 5 days, we did everything we could possibly do at US/IOA multiple times, so for 10 days, you would have to do other parks and experiences, I guess.

So if you look for the cheapest room on Hotwire, eat off-site or at Citywalk and save on gas- you can probably reduce you final bill.

 

[pta-mom]

do you do alot of tableservice? because 1500 is alot of money for food. Really? You think that's a lot? I actually thought I was under guessing!! This would be for fourteen nights (including travel) at $25 per day per person + $100 extra. There would be only a couple table services in that but I figured we would eat breakfast most days at our resort and than eat lunch, dinner out, mostly CS meals. It seems like a lot of money to me too but I really don't think it would be much less unless I start cooking the meals!


Also, I would invest in atleats on AP (around 140 no blackout dates in AUG at all) for UO, you will get almost 50% off your room rate alot of times, plus you get discounts on food and merch and other park tickets (in the park and at citywalk) then the other 200 to 300 you were going to spend on one of the orlando flex passes just buy a 3 park AP for Seaworld, Busch, and Aquatica. (199.95). SO for the price of one orlando flex ticket you can get an AP for US/IOA and an AP for Seaworld, Busch, and Aquatica. (if you want to add Adventure island its 239.95 for the 4 parks AP)


If you want to list all of the parks you will be going to I will help you try to find the better rates instead of the flex pass. It really is possible. (right now at wet and wild you buy one day admission ($52) get the rest of the year free and the same at Busch Gardens you can get the funcard (pass good until end of year) for the price of one day addmission.

Just list the parks your going to and your ages and I'll work on it for you.

What an awesome offer! Thanks! Maybe I am just lost as to where to look but it seems to me the best deal was at MapleLeaf Tickets for $1117. This include unlimited admission for fourteen days to Busch Gardens, US, IOA, SeaWorld, Aquatica and Wet and Wild. We would really only do Busch once in our trip but would like to go.

I don't really understand the AP pass. Can ONE person have it? Does it save elsewhere? We would really only use it this one trip so is it worth it? We're Canadian, can we even buy it?

My kids are 12 & 14.

If you have the time & wish to figure it out, I would really appreciate it! I've become very good and getting cheap DW trips but this one has me stumped!

 

[Metro West]

I don't really understand the AP pass. Can ONE person have it? Does it save elsewhere? We would really only use it this one trip so is it worth it? We're Canadian, can we even buy it?

Only one person needs to have the AP in order to take advantage of the discounts. I would recommend the Preferred AP since it gives you discounts off park merchandise, hotel rates, food and free parking...after your first visit. This is very nice if you're staying offsite. The non-resident Preferred AP is $229.99 plus tax and is good from the date of activation...not purchase...and has no blackout dates.

 

[damo]

What an awesome offer! Thanks! Maybe I am just lost as to where to look but it seems to me the best deal was at MapleLeaf Tickets for $1117. This include unlimited admission for fourteen days to Busch Gardens, US, IOA, SeaWorld, Aquatica and Wet and Wild. We would really only do Busch once in our trip but would like to go.

I don't really understand the AP pass. Can ONE person have it? Does it save elsewhere? We would really only use it this one trip so is it worth it? We're Canadian, can we even buy it?

My kids are 12 & 14.

If you have the time & wish to figure it out, I would really appreciate it! I've become very good and getting cheap DW trips but this one has me stumped!

We're Canadian and the whole family has APs. They are only $149/year renewal rate and since we come down to Universal at least twice a year, it really pays off. We have gotten really good hotel rates, usually under $150, and we get other discounts as well. We've had them for about 5 years now and if you are planning to visit at least once a year for a few days, it is well worth it. The initial outlay is $229 but after that it is quite cheap.

 

[Purseval]

Only one person needs to have the AP in order to take advantage of the discounts. I would recommend the Preferred AP since it gives you discounts off park merchandise, hotel rates, food and free parking...after your first visit. This is very nice if you're staying offsite. The non-resident Preferred AP is $229.99 plus tax and is good from the date of activation...not purchase...and has no blackout dates.

I would also think that one PAP with free parking every day would be less money than a one of your multi-day passes plus paying for parking every day except one (your PAP does no good when you stay onsite, you still have to pay to park)

 

[pta-mom]

We're Canadian and the whole family has APs. They are only $149/year renewal rate and since we come down to Universal at least twice a year, it really pays off. We have gotten really good hotel rates, usually under $150, and we get other discounts as well. We've had them for about 5 years now and if you are planning to visit at least once a year for a few days, it is well worth it. The initial outlay is $229 but after that it is quite cheap.

I'm still not really seeing how this is a deal for us though, even with some free parking and a reduced hotel bill. We seriously are going THIS year and have no plans to return in all likelyhood. And the Flex Ticket we found was for fourteen days for six different parks/waterparks for $280. If I have to pay $229 just for US/IOA, I than also have to pay extra for Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, Aquatica and Wet and Wild....and that is going to be more than any money I saved on hotel and parking with a AP.

I really think the big difference is that many who visit US are there to do US....and not all the other places but we are really planning to do it all and that is what is costing us I think.

 

[Hummingbird]

What an awesome offer! Thanks! Maybe I am just lost as to where to look but it seems to me the best deal was at MapleLeaf Tickets for $1117. This include unlimited admission for fourteen days to Busch Gardens, US, IOA, SeaWorld, Aquatica and Wet and Wild. We would really only do Busch once in our trip but would like to go.

I don't really understand the AP pass. Can ONE person have it? Does it save elsewhere? We would really only use it this one trip so is it worth it? We're Canadian, can we even buy it?

My kids are 12 & 14.

If you have the time & wish to figure it out, I would really appreciate it! I've become very good and getting cheap DW trips but this one has me stumped!

I ahvent forgotten a bout you! Work has jsut been kicking my butt, but Im going to the parks this weekend (Seaworld & Busch sat and sun and then UO on Monday so i'll pick up some brochures from guest services and find out about pricing for you)

 

[Metro West]

I'm still not really seeing how this is a deal for us though, even with some free parking and a reduced hotel bill. We seriously are going THIS year and have no plans to return in all likelyhood. And the Flex Ticket we found was for fourteen days for six different parks/waterparks for $280. If I have to pay $229 just for US/IOA, I than also have to pay extra for Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, Aquatica and Wet and Wild....and that is going to be more than any money I saved on hotel and parking with a AP.

I really think the big difference is that many who visit US are there to do US....and not all the other places but we are really planning to do it all and that is what is costing us I think.

Since you probably won't be returning, I would just stick with Orlando Flex tickets that's good for 14 days as an AP wouldn't really do you a lot of good by the sound of it. You would save a bit on food/merchandise and parking but that would be it.