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Post by MinnieMom on Feb 25, 2024 16:03:52 GMT -5
2024 is a milestone birthday year for me. What's the best way to celebrate? A trip "home" to Orlando! I have till mid April on my current Universal Orlando AP, so it makes sense to squeeze in a few more days in those parks. I saw a good deal on a Hilton property near UO that I could book for 5 nights with points. That paired nicely just before the 5 nights I already have booked at SSR on DVC points. That takes care of accommodations and park tickets. I want food to be really easy and simple this trip. I'm doing studios, no kitchen, so while I'll likely do very simple breakfasts in the room, all other meals will be out. That may be a first in all the trips we've done - usually I like cooking on vacation. Anyways, now the game is figuring out how to maximize dining value for this trip. Universal is simple. It didn't take much research to see the way to go is the annual passholder $150 dining card for $120. Used with the regular AP discounts, that's most or maybe all of my meals in the Universal parks. The Disney Dining Plan, on the other hand, requires more thought. In all the times we have visited WDW, we only got the dining plan once. And that was for 1 night on a split stay, mostly to get the resort mugs for the following week at a different resort for the rest of that stay. Since the DDP is back, I thought maybe this would be a good trip to get it. So the math is roughly $25 per meal on the quick service plan to break even. I spent way too long today looking at Disney menus and prices to see if that was a good choice. After doing the math, I can either spend the $280 on the DDP and try to get the value by including a drink with every meal or spend $270 without the DDP on a mix of QS meals I love around the resorts and Disney Springs plus two nice dinners at Steakhouse 71 and Trattoria on different nights. That's easy. The dinners are already booked at Steakhouse & Trattoria. I may try another day at Discovery Cove, as I really liked it. But more likely, the Universal time will be enjoying my favorites in those two parks while the Disney time will be revisiting favorites outside the parks. I'm toying with seeing the Cirque show at Disney Springs for the first time, maybe getting a golf cart at Fort Wilderness for a day or two, playing some mini golf and lazing around the pool when I'm not hanging at the different resorts soaking up the atmosphere. With plans like that, I may even come home well rested and relaxed after a Disney trip!  |
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Post by tomandrobin on Feb 26, 2024 9:46:44 GMT -5
Have great trip!
Celebrating milestones at WDW has become a rite of passage in our family.
Not sure if there was a question or vote for the DDP or not, but I am going vote no and go with the flow.
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Post by MinnieMom on Feb 26, 2024 10:58:22 GMT -5
Thanks Tom! I'm looking forward to this trip! Still trying to talk DH into going with me, but he wants to remain here so one of us is always available onsite during construction.
Yes, going with flow for food seems like a much better option than DDP. The changes to the plan are interesting, but just don't really line up for me. If Disney had the equivalent of the Universal AP dining card, I'd 100% do that kind of approach. Instead, I'll look and see if local Sam's club has any Disney gift card deals going and pick up a few of those to create my own alternative.
5 weeks and counting for this trip to begin! Hurray!
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Post by tomandrobin on Feb 26, 2024 11:40:47 GMT -5
Every time there is a Gift Card discount, we pick up a few. Even getting 4% off is better than 0% off. And if you can get an AP or DVC discount, even better.
Maybe he will come in for the weekend. Taking off time will only get harder as you near the end and actually are open.
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Post by jedimom3 on Feb 26, 2024 19:20:03 GMT -5
woohoo! sounds fun. hope you have a wonderful trip!
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Post by Brian5581 on Feb 26, 2024 21:06:26 GMT -5
Relaxing trips always sound good to me…. Enjoy!
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Post by Eeyorelover22 on Feb 27, 2024 15:43:45 GMT -5
Have a great time!!
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Post by MinnieMom on Mar 14, 2024 19:17:21 GMT -5
Every time there is a Gift Card discount, we pick up a few. Even getting 4% off is better than 0% off. And if you can get an AP or DVC discount, even better. Maybe he will come in for the weekend. Taking off time will only get harder as you near the end and actually are open. Great point! I'm trying to talk him into taking the train down for a few days. Maybe....but not holding my breath. woohoo! sounds fun. hope you have a wonderful trip! Thank you! I'm looking forward to sharing updates from this trip with everyone! Relaxing trips always sound good to me…. Enjoy! YES! Not my usual speed, but should be a nice change. Thanks! So I've been thinking about doing something very new this trip. The new Hilton vacation property, complete with a new Conrad, is now open. While that resort is way out of my budget range, with rates for the nights I already have booked at another Hilton property in Orlando in early April starting at $737 at the Conrad, I'm thinking of calling the spa to check their prices. I could see spending a day in a brand new luxury spa as a fantastic add to this solo celebration trip! www.hilton.com/en/hotels/orlcici-conrad-orlando/things-to-do/spa/I'm going to be lazy and direct link some pics from their web site. Pretty!   And if the prices for the spa are as out of reach as their rooms, there's always the spa at the Four Seasons for a day!! |
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Post by MinnieMom on Mar 16, 2024 13:56:07 GMT -5
I'm still fascinated by the new Conrad and the Evermore Resort that just opened. I went to check out possibilities, as I would very much like to try staying here. One of our credit cards includes 1 free night per year, plus a $200 credit for hotel costs twice a year. Now, I'm wondering....if I book nights in July, can I cover one with a free night certificate, then use the $200 towards the cost of the second night? Granted, that's still likely around $400-$500 in cash cost. But that's a lot better than the $1,200+ it would be to just book the room and pay regular rates there! It might be worth it if I could talk a girlfriend into going and splitting that cost with me sometime July-Dec this year. Hum. Don't make me go back to Orlando again!!
Going to check credit card benefits reminded me I still have $125 in credits at Hiltons available through the end of June. Aha! Conrad Spa massage! I just looked and the 80 minute massage is $310. Which is pricey for a massage. But applying the $125 in credits gets it down to $185 plus tip/taxes, so maybe $250 total. Still expensive, but it includes access to some amenities. I can see making more or less a full day out of this. I could have fun exploring a new resort, try a meal here and spend several hours in the spa/water garden.
Okay. Sold! I've booked an 80 minute massage for one of my SSR days on this trip. Then I went hunting on youTube until I found some video on the spa. It looks like a good time!
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Post by MinnieMom on Mar 26, 2024 16:53:42 GMT -5
I'll be in Orlando this time next week! I am getting very, very excited for this trip!
The plan this trip is to relax and unwind. I feel good about the direction of the campground, overall construction pace and the business side of things for now. While it will always be a working vacation as a small business owner, I'm hoping/planning to spend some of that vacation work timing writing and doing other creative work. I would love to walk away from the vacation with a finished draft of the chapter book for Forest Friends and the next illustrated story book! Bonus points if I get even 1 of the other 5 books I'm thinking about writing in some kind of an outline/draft form!!
First 5 nights: Hilton property near Universal. Enjoy UO parks to the max as this AP expires on this trip and will not be renewed. Fun park times!
Last 5 nights: Saratoga, with time spent enjoying all the non-park Disney things I love.
Even our first family trip when DD was a tiny tot, I booked an off-site condo and cooked about half our meals. I am fairly sure this is the first trip I've ever planned to eat out every meal. (Reheated bagels or slicing fruit for breakfast does not count!) I don't know if I will even like this approach, but I kept receipts from the past couple of trips for the grocery run I did to cook for myself while on vacation. I do plan to compare total costs. I'm quite certain I can feed myself for less than eating out, but the differential may not be as high as I assume. I'll know in a few weeks!
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Post by MinnieMom on Mar 30, 2024 11:37:19 GMT -5
I picked up a Disney gift card at Sam's this morning for this trip. Hey, a 4% savings is a 4% savings! I didn't see a way to enter the gift card to my room reservation or Disney account, so I'm guessing I'll need to hand it to front desk when I check in. Does that sound right to those who have used gift cards for a stay before or is there a better way to do it?
Also, I'm happy to have found a way to pre-record my weekly Building Memories update for Standing Pines Resort. I'll record the one for next week on Monday. That will be a collaboration with the illustrator for my Rascal book, which will be fun! That one goes live on Tuesday next week. I'll record the one for the following week, which is another collaboration, Tuesday morning before I leave home. I'll schedule that one to go live the following week. I think I can also write and schedule the blog posts to match these before I leave home. That's great - it takes away another stress point while on vacation!
We do have an issue with the pool build permit. I'm hoping to get it to the point DH can take it and run with it on a scheduled call on Monday morning. But I suspect it will spill over into the trip.
On the fun side, one of my friends now plans to fly in to join me for a couple of nights at the end of the trip. Scheduling is a bit wonky on her end, meaning that she'll fly in Wed evening for a full day on Thursday then fly out on Friday afternoon. I'll pick her up and drop her off at airport, which happily does not conflict with any plans. It does crack me up that's she's basically flying to Orlando to get a massage!
I'm adding a note here to remind myself to check at Universal if renewing AP comes with any extra time/discount and what staff is guessing for potential 3rd park access. I'll update this TR if I hear anything.
I booked dinner one night at Trattoria al Forno. Back when the dining card was available, valet parking was included with meals IIRC. I assume now the best bet is to park at resort, with a note at security I'm there for dinner and a reservation number just in case they ask. Does that sound about right or does anyone else have a better suggestion?
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Post by reblzmom on Mar 30, 2024 15:43:09 GMT -5
Enjoy the trip! We just booked a last minute SSR stay 4/7 - 4/11 to use some points rather than banking them.
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Post by Brian5581 on Mar 30, 2024 19:42:13 GMT -5
Yes on telling parking security you have a dining reservation and giving your name. Some don’t ask, but in my experience most do, especially for evening visits.
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Post by MinnieMom on Mar 31, 2024 17:54:02 GMT -5
Enjoy the trip! We just booked a last minute SSR stay 4/7 - 4/11 to use some points rather than banking them. Cool! I'll be around. Please give a shout if you have time to meet up! I'd love to say hello in person! Yes on telling parking security you have a dining reservation and giving your name. Some don’t ask, but in my experience most do, especially for evening visits. Thanks Brian. Sounds about right. I may try to time it to watch fireworks from the bridge over to the international gate. Or maybe a skyliner ride timed to fireworks. I've never tried that. It could be fun. |
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Post by MinnieMom on Apr 3, 2024 9:53:07 GMT -5
Hello from Orlando!
I almost timed the drive right yesterday. Jacksonville traffic is a challenge - I may extend this stay by one night just to drive back home on a Sat instead of risking Friday rush hour traffic in Jacksonville.
The first five nights I'm in a Hilton Garden Inn near Universal. It's okay. Free breakfast and some evening snacks. I thought I'd get up and bounce into the parks, but wound up doing some work this morning. Looks like the wind is kicking up, so I may well hang another hour in the room before venturing to Universal for Mardi Gras for lunch. I have easy goals today for the park. Buy an AP dining card for Madi Gras ($120 for $150 value, plus can use AP discounts). Have lunch. Check out AP lounge in Islands of Adventure, ask about renewal specials (if any). Maybe have an early dinner in Hogsmeade, maybe enjoy the rides in Suess land that always make me happy. Or maybe simply hang and enjoy Mardi Gras! In any event, after the park I'm thinking maybe a drink at the bar tonight or quick swim for an early night.
Updates and photos to follow either tonight or tomorrow!
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