Everybody's doin' it.
I decided for my Orlando trip that I'd budget two grand, including food, rooms, planes, theme park tickets, etc. Given my taste for four-diamond or better hotels, I figured I'd have to allow myself that much to do it in true J-Pizzie style.
So far I don't think there's a problem in terms of the dollar amount. I'm at about $1,100 with the flights, four nights at Universal's Royal Pacific with tickets. The trick is the Disney leg of the trip. We only really need three whole days there because I don't see going to the studio park for more than Rock-n-Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. The thing is, the last in-park day would be the transition day to Universal, so I don't know where we'd drop our crap without having a car. Plus I hate the idea of buying the park hopper nonsense when we'd probably only use it one day. And the last snafu is that Animal Kingdom Lodge appears booked for the cheaper rooms.
I'm half tempted to stay at Universal all week and either get a car or take a cab to the nearest Disney point with transportation (which is probably Downtown Disney).
Gotta figure it out by Monday so that it's just done.
I recently heard "through the grapevine" that Disney employees can get you rooms for 50% off. It was offered to us, but we're of course staying in a diff hotel with my dad. I know you know a few WDW employees, use it dammit! Doesn't Cath really want to stay at the AK Lodge?
Oh, and I wanted to let you know that there is a new ticket available for BGA/SW. It's $85 for both as much as you want for 7 days (even if it is only a day at each) with FREE transportation from Orlando to BGA included. Just food for thought.
Oh, and for transit you should really consider Lynx. www.golynx.com . I know you criticize me for voting to do public transit, but for your needs it would get you from Universal to Disney and Vice Versa on the same line in a matter of a few stops.
On a side note, I have to mention that my expenses so far are about 1/100th of yours. But of course, you're old and have money :).
I told him we don't have a dilemma, that we could just leave our stuff at whatever dsney hotel we stay at, and just come back in the evening and take a cab or whatever. My only problem with this vacation is that it cannot come FAST enough! This will be my first vacation to orlando when I will ride stuff!
Expense is not an issue when you just want to not worry about anything...
Does that just come with age or with money or both? I know I've slowly grown into that mentality over the years, but in that time I've gotten both older and richer. Not sure which is responsible for the change in attitude.
Still think we're just going to do the vacation house when we go...some of them are pretty friggin' sweet.
My head giggled when you mentioned the car bit. Then I remembered that two enthusiasts I worked with at CP in '05 and myself slept at a rest area for a couple hours on the way back to Sandusky after a late night at Kings Island. I don't think this scenario was exactly what you were referring to, but I've come pretty close. ;)
I agree with Kara - Lynx is great! Sure, there is the stigma of using "public transportation" while on vacation, but the routes between Universal and Disney (the Ticket & Transportation Center) run pretty much like shuttles.
Even leaving out cost, after using Lynx for a day you'll laugh at all those unknowing fools getting hauled back to I-Drive and Universal properties in those cabs, vans and tour buses. Talk about getting taken for a ride...
And vacation or not, it ALWAYS feels great to save money by doing something the "smart way," though after a while you get so good at it you'll feel bad for the tourists getting screwed time and again.
Lynx is a great secret Disney and Universal don't want you to know about.
No one was dissing public transportation... we were dissing inconvenience. Kara wants to take a 90 minute bus ride each way from where she's staying, and I wouldn't do that. I mean, if I'm going to be staying on-property, why do I need to take a bus at all unless it's run by the rat?