What Would You Do? Trip Planning in advance :)

[chimo2u]

Good day all I am happily dreaming about the next time I get back to WDW and US/IOA in general....As it stands my son and his girlfriend (grade 9) are set to graduate in 3 yrs. They both want to come with me next time, so will be planning a Graduation Trip in 2014....DS's gf is already giving me $30 per month to set aside and save for her portion of the trip, so when we go she will be able to contribute to the room/food/tickets...
I know things can change in Highschool....so I am putting aside her money with the date and amount she gives me so if anything drastic changes (and they aren't even friends anymore by then) I can give back what she's given me....hopefully they will continue to at least be great friends over the next 3 yrs.

We have been to WDW 3 times....twice at AKL Club Level, and my last trip with just DS and I was at BC CL and Hard Rock Hotel Club Level.....we didn't LOVE BC, and are thinking of trying the POLY next trip as there are 3 of us and we each need a bed..... On the Universal Side, I am contemplating either Hard Rock again or PBH for the larger rooms/more space....I don't know if HRH has a roll away cot available or not? either hotel we will most definitely choose Club Level....Hard Rock Hotel actually sent me a letter from the Manager to contact her directly due to a room issue on our last stay and she will help "make it better" next time.....I never asked for anything, just filled out the survey after our trip, and the letter was sent directly to me.
I am trying to decide whether to take up the manager on that offer, or try PBH just for the larger rooms?

Ok...now that you have some background info, here is where I could use some serious help and opinions.....
This trip, we would love to include WDW, Universal/IOA, SeaWorld AND Busch Gardens....we have never been to Busch Gardens yet, and Sea world was very rushed the day we went. How would you recommend booking the area/hotel....ie) when staying at the POLY, we could do a Sea World day, or move over to IOA/Universal area hotel and go to Sea World/Busch Gardens from there. I think it might be better to put the Univerdal/SeaWorld/Busch Garden portion of the trip to the end after WDW, and I seem to remember SeaWorld being close to Universal?? as well, isn't there a shuttle to Busch Gardens from SeaWorld?....obviously, it would most likely be the best value for us to get a FLEX pass since we want to go to all 3 places? (Universal/SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.)....I would really like to keep the hotel change to only 2 places....I really don't want to stay offsite anywhere as it will be just me and the 2 teens. Thanks for any advice you can give me on planning this graduation trip! I am just so excited to be able to share it one more time with my son and his friend ...and I know 3 yrs. will be here before we know it!

PS: ETA -- I am thinking it would be smart to purchase those Flex Tickets anytime within the next yr. or so, as they are NON-Expiring, right?? and by doing that I would avoid any price increases?? I won't purchase Disney Tix early, as I always do a package with Dining...
Thanks again for your thoughts and help!

Marie

 

[chimo2u]

Has no one done all those parks on a previous trip? ( WDW, universal, sea world and busch gardens?) and have an opinion about where to stay or how to make it work easiest? Ie) stay at WDW first, then move to universal and from there head over to bush gardens/ sea world? Is BG/SW close to Universal?
Thanks for any ideas to make this work with minimum hassle/ moving around

 

[damo]

Has no one done all those parks on a previous trip? ( WDW, universal, sea world and busch gardens?) and have an opinion about where to stay or how to make it work easiest? Ie) stay at WDW first, then move to universal and from there head over to bush gardens/ sea world? Is BG/SW close to Universal?
Thanks for any ideas to make this work with minimum hassle/ moving around

Busch Gardens is in Tampa. SeaWorld is a 5 minute drive from Universal. Staying at Universal while doing SeaWorld/Universal/Busch Gardens works since there is transportation to those three parks from the Universal resorts.

 

[drag n' fly]

We stayed at the Embassy Suites when we went to Busch Gardens. Their is a free shuttle to and from the park...very close. We loved BG. Much more relaxing than Disney. Have only done SW San Diego so cannot comment there.
I would not want to commute from the park to Orlando. It is a one hour drive on a good day.

Stay onsite for SW and USO and at least peruse the offer they are willing to give you.

Poly c/l is $$$ and imo you should enjoy Poly and the parks if you want to spring for c/l.

 

[chimo2u]

We stayed at the Embassy Suites when we went to Busch Gardens. Their is a free shuttle to and from the park...very close. We loved BG. Much more relaxing than Disney. Have only done SW San Diego so cannot comment there.
I would not want to commute from the park to Orlando. It is a one hour drive on a good day.

Stay onsite for SW and USO and at least peruse the offer they are willing to give you.

Poly c/l is $$$ and imo you should enjoy Poly and the parks if you want to spring for c/l.

thanks Dragonfly I definitely love Disney Parks and always love staying club level when there. We haven't had a chance to try Poly Or their Club Level yet, so would like to try that resort next. I will look into staying at Universal for the end of our trip and plan BG or SW for that part of the trip good to know there are transportation options from the resorts at Universal

 

[francie57]

HRH does have roll away beds. We had requested one years ago and got one, don't remember what the extra cost was though.

 

[chimo2u]

So, is flex pass the way to go if we want to try universal/ IOA/ sea world/ and BG ? It seems to be the most economical... Thoughts?

 

[macraven]

if we were talking about going this year or soon after, it would be a decent deal.

the trip you are planning for is kind of in the future.
your son is in 9th grade and the trip is planned for when he graduates.


i don't think anyone knows how ticket prices will be at that point right now.
that flex ticket program could be revamped between now and then, or a different system could be into play.

why don't you buy tickets now for the places you want to go to and then hold on to them until the trip happens?

the way ticket prices are increasing, you would probably come out with a savings.

jmo.

 

[chimo2u]

Thanks Macraven That's kind of what I was thinking of doing...buying tickets now and holding onto them for Fall 2014.

I know it's 3 yrs away....but it will come fast, and I can plan lots in the meantime Actually.....the more I think of it, I think we might just add on a day at Discovery Cove, which will give us Busch Garden tickets ....and we will stay at Universal HRH or PBH for the second half of our trip....that should be central to both Universal/IOA/Discovery Cove and then we can just hop the shuttle to BG when the time comes.....those are the plans for now, but as you said things can change, so will keep an open mind!
Thanks for your advice

 

[macraven]

buy tickets now if you are okay with their prices.
they will be honored for when the time comes to use them.

if you change your mind and decide to go earlier before your son graduates from high school, or later, you have the tickets now, and at a good price.
things always goes up, not down.


enjoy planning your trip!

 

[chimo2u]

buy tickets now if you are okay with their prices.
they will be honored for when the time comes to use them.

if you change your mind and decide to go earlier before your son graduates from high school, or later, you have the tickets now, and at a good price.
things always goes up, not down.


enjoy planning your trip!

Thanks too bad we can't buy Discovery cove tickets now, they are a great deal....I paid much more when we went in 2010. My son really wants to do Discovery Cove, so I think that will be something to think about, it will give us our bush garden tickets too. If we do that, it probably won't be best to buy a flex pass? universal tickets separately would probably be our best bet?

 

[cieslack]

I don't wish to be insensitive, but please have a contingency plan that covers the likely event that your son and his girlfriend are not together when he graduates. I see angry parents on your doorstep demanding her money back. Very few relationships make it through high school so don't count on them being different. Maybe plan on taking your son and a generic other person to be determined closer to the event.

 

[dimimi]

I don't wish to be insensitive, but please have a contingency plan that covers the likely event that your son and his girlfriend are not together when he graduates. I see angry parents on your doorstep demanding her money back. Very few relationships make it through high school so don't count on them being different. Maybe plan on taking your son and a generic other person to be determined closer to the event.

I agree. My son and his girlfriend just broke up after over a year....heading off to college....no fights, etc., just decided to be friends. I think you are planning way too far in advance. Also, in my opinion, they are pretty young to be making planning 3 years away with each other. (But who knows, it may work out and be a great time.) I'd hate to see the kids feel pressured to stay together as they mature and maybe grow apart...when they have this trip planned...just a thought.

 

[jking6]

It's true that they may not be together in a few years. But they may still be good friends.
My son and his ex girlfriend were together for 5 years, split up she got married to a family friend, my son got married and now has a little girl.
We did do a trip to Canada after they broke up and we are all still good friends.
So I wish them good luck and happy planning.

 

[PMcOuntry]

I highly reccmmend Universal even if you only go for Harry Potter (like I did). I also recommend Discovery Cove (you can swim w/the dolphins!) and any dolphin package gives you a free pass to either SeaWorld of Busch Gardens or the water park (forget the name). It's a great deal and an experience you'll never forget!

 

[chimo2u]

I don't wish to be insensitive, but please have a contingency plan that covers the likely event that your son and his girlfriend are not together when he graduates. I see angry parents on your doorstep demanding her money back. Very few relationships make it through high school so don't count on them being different. Maybe plan on taking your son and a generic other person to be determined closer to the event.

No Worries....had that all covered from the very beginning...I am keeping a seperate account with dates and amounts of any money given....in the event they aren't talking to each other by then, all money she has given goes straight back to her....so no worries about "angry parents" being on my doorstep. besides she'll be an adult and can make her own decision about whether or not to come by then....and if she decides to not come, then it will be a trip with just my son and I and perhaps his best friend. My son and his gf are pretty mature about their relationship, and have stated that they will know when / if to call it quits, but they are agreeing to stay friends no matter what.....such a mature and positive way to look at it, I think. In any event, that scenario has definitely been covered, hoping for the best but prepared for the worst
Thx

 

[chimo2u]

I agree. My son and his girlfriend just broke up after over a year....heading off to college....no fights, etc., just decided to be friends. I think you are planning way too far in advance. Also, in my opinion, they are pretty young to be making planning 3 years away with each other. (But who knows, it may work out and be a great time.) I'd hate to see the kids feel pressured to stay together as they mature and maybe grow apart...when they have this trip planned...just a thought.

Totally agree with you.... If they stay together and remain friends, great for them....no hard plans are being made yet, just saving money on all our parts.....as stated, the break up scenario was the first thing to cross my mind when they came to me and said they wanted to start saving for the trip....I put his gf's money in a seperate area and it will be returned if the breakup occurs and the kids decide they do not want a holiday together We are all just pretty much dreaming and saving right now

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I highly reccmmend Universal even if you only go for Harry Potter (like I did). I also recommend Discovery Cove (you can swim w/the dolphins!) and any dolphin package gives you a free pass to either SeaWorld of Busch Gardens or the water park (forget the name). It's a great deal and an experience you'll never forget!

This is what we are planning to do. I am in the beginning stages of it because I just got the OK from DH. I'm not even sure when we are going yet. My children are wanting to go to Discovery Cove and it has been years since we have been to Sea world so I like the idea of a free pass to that.

 

[edamethyst]

You can do Discovery cove which gives you 7 free days at Sea World and for a few more dollars you can add Busch Gardens also. Don't know if you have Costco's where you live but they have a pass that is $149 for 3 days at Universal/IOA and its a park to park pass and they are good until December 2014 so grab them if you can. HRH has a big room, its called the Deluxe Queen that gives you 2 double beds and a couch that folds out into a double bed. They are 500 sq. feet so very big and perfect for what you need. I would do disney first then go to HRH and do Sea World from there to take advantage of their free shuttle. Sounds like a great trip...hope it all works out.

 

[chimo2u]

You can do Discovery cove which gives you 7 free days at Sea World and for a few more dollars you can add Busch Gardens also. Don't know if you have Costco's where you live but they have a pass that is $149 for 3 days at Universal/IOA and its a park to park pass and they are good until December 2014 so grab them if you can. HRH has a big room, its called the Deluxe Queen that gives you 2 double beds and a couch that folds out into a double bed. They are 500 sq. feet so very big and perfect for what you need. I would do disney first then go to HRH and do Sea World from there to take advantage of their free shuttle. Sounds like a great trip...hope it all works out.

Thank you I like your plan....just what I am hoping for I do have Costco here, but unfortunately...they don't sell the Universal tickets, I tried online too, and no luck. I would love to buy that pass, so I will have to ask my Aunt who lives in Indiana to look, maybe she'll be able to locate it....otherwise, I am guessing we have to buy the Under cover Tourist passes, which will probably be the cheapest way to go....Thanks for the tip on Discovery Cove, and adding Busch Gardens for only a little more....last time we went to DC, we chose the SeaWorld option, but only spent 1 very busy day there and in no way did everything we could have....that would be nice to be able to add on a day at SW and Busch gardens....if the price is right , I will look into it!