$1250 Budget Trip to Universal Orlando For a Family of Four

AS OF MAY 2008

If you've read my "How Low Can You Go" article about taking a family of four to Walt Disney World on a budget of $1250, you know the money doesn't go very far. Is there a way to visit Orlando on the same amount of money and do more?

Yes. As much as I love Disney, I have to be honest: if you spend your time at Universal Orlando, you'll be able to get more vacation for your limited budget, because Universal's tickets are MUCH cheaper than Disney's. (Currently there's an offer for 7-Day "Unlimited" Universal tickets for $79.99 per person, plus tax and service fee.) With the plan below, you can have a 5-night/5-day vacation at Universal for the same cost as a 3-night/2-day vacation at Disney World!

The lower ticket prices at Universal might cause you to wonder if there's enough to keep you busy for 5 days. There are two theme parks and if you enjoy riding things repeatedly or just taking your time, it's pretty easy to fill 4 or 5 days. In the summer, you can expect pretty long lines for the attractions, plus it's wise to get out of the heat and go to your hotel for a swim in the afternoons, so it's easy to spread the theme park time over 4-5 days. If you go during special events (Mardi Gras or the winter holidays) at Universal, there will be extra parades and entertainment, so there's plenty to do.

However, during slower times of the year, when there are no special events at Universal, you may find you've "been there, done that" after about 3 days. In that case, you may want to consider budgeting for some relatively inexpensive extras like dinner shows, Wet 'n Wild or mini-golf. Or spend another $269 to buy Fun Cards (seasonal passes) to SeaWorld for the family and spend a couple of days there.

If you feel like you just HAVE to visit Disney World while you're in Orlando, consider planning your vacation during a time when the Pirate & Princess Party is going on, and buy tickets in advance to attend that one night. It will cost $174.46 for a family of four, and it's the cheapest way to spend time in Disney's Magic Kingdom. For a bit more money (but still less than a regular 1-Day Ticket), you can attend similar evening parties in Magic Kingdom around Halloween and Christmas time.

Like the Disney World "How Low Can You Go" plan, this plan assumes you live within about 350 miles of Orlando and are willing to drive. If you live further away, you'll have to add on the cost of additional gasoline, or airfare and ground transportation, which will add significantly to the bottom line.

Jump to:

The $1250 Universal Orlando Vacation Budget

5 nights at 2 1/2-star hotel using Priceline*	$210.00
Theme park parking (5 days)	$55.00
"Unlimited" 2-Park Universal Orlando tickets
for 2 adults and 2 children under 10	$345.00
5 breakfasts in room and bottled water	$50.00
5 counter service lunches and 4 counter service dinners	$306.00
Afternoon snacks (5 days)	$65.00
Gasoline	$190.00
Total:	$1221.00

The Plan

First Night

Depending on your driving time, you will need to bring a packed lunch and/or dinner (not included in vacation budget) to eat during your drive to Orlando.

Before you leave, stop at a supermarket and purchase groceries for five days' worth of breakfasts, and enough bottled water for your five days in the theme parks. The easiest approach is to buy breakfast foods that don't require refrigeration, such as peanut butter, bread, donuts, pastries, fruit, granola bars and/or cereal. If you have a cooler, you can bring a few refrigerated items to eat on the way, and possibly milk for your cereal. (You can use the hotel ice machine to restock the ice in your cooler during your vacation.) Your total grocery budget is $50.

Spend your first night at a hotel in Orlando, booked through Priceline's "Name Your Own Price" service. Currently your best bet for a decent hotel at a bargain price is a 2 1/2-star hotel in the Universal/SeaWorld area for $35 or less per night, plus Priceline fees and taxes, so figure $42 per night total. To learn more about using Priceline to book hotels, click here.

If you get to Orlando early enough on this first night, drive down to Disney World, where there are many things you can do for FREE that don't require park admission.

Days 1-5

Eat breakfast in your room and then head over to one of the Universal theme parks.

Eat lunch and dinner at counter service restaurants. Your budget is $34 per meal (on average). Here are some examples of what you could buy for about that much money:

• Lunch at Mel's Drive-In in Universal Studios: two cheeseburgers w/fries @ $5.99, two soft drinks @ $2.39 each, two kids' meals w/drink @ $5.99 each. Total with tax: $30.61.

• Dinner at Monsters Cafe in Universal Studios: Chicken Parmesan w/pasta & breadstick @ $7.99, Southern Fried Chicken (white meat) w/mashed potatoes & biscuit @ $8.49, two soft drinks @ $2.39 each, two kids' meals w/drink @ $5.99 each. Total with tax: $35.40.

• Lunch at Fire-Eaters Grill in Islands of Adventure: two grilled gyros sandwiches w/fries @ $6.99, two soft drinks @ $2.39 each, two kids' meals w/drink @ $5.99 each. Total with tax: $32.74.

• Dinner at Thunder Falls Terrace in Islands of Adventure: Fish & Chips platter @ $7.99, Spaghetti with Meatballs @ $6.99, two soft drinks @ $2.39 each, two kids' meals with sides and beverage @ $5.99 each. Total with tax: $33.80.

(Note that if you're a member of AAA, you can show your card and save 10% at many restaurants in the Universal theme parks. I did not take this potential discount into consideration when making the budget.)

You also have a budget of $13 per day for snacks, which is sufficient to buy one one popcorn, order of churros or bag of chips per person.

Take your prepurchased bottled water (which you can chill on ice in your hotel) with you into the parks, so that you won't have to buy it at $2.75 a bottle.

At park closing, head back to the hotel you booked through Priceline.

Day 5

Since you're driving home, you'll probably have to take off sometime in the afternoon. The cost of dinner that night or any meals on the road is not included in the budget.

Notes

Be aware that when you bid on Priceline for the five hotel nights, you'll be paying in full at the time of booking, and it's non-refundable.

Is it possible to go even lower? Yes. For instance:

• If you skip soft drinks at meals and instead ask for ice water or drink bottled water you bring with you, you'll save around $2.55 (with tax) per beverage.

• You could carry basic meals and snacks into the theme parks, instead of eating in the counter-service restaurants. If you do this, be sure to pack things that won't spoil.

• You could leave the theme parks and eat dinner off-site occasionally. However, even if you eat at fast-food restaurants or very inexpensive sit-down locations like Steak n Shake or Cici's Pizza, you probably won't save any money once you pay for the gas to drive there.

Will this plan work for everyone? Absolutely not. When it comes to vacations, people have very different needs and desires. This plan is not necessarily an ideal one. But if the only way you can go to Orlando is on a strict budget, it might work for you.

Many people will find this plan too bare-bones. Maybe going to the Disney theme parks is more important to you than saving money. Perhaps fabulous resort hotels are an important part of your vacation plans. You might find it's worth the extra money to stay on-site at Universal and get "front of the line" access. (That would be me. Personally I'd much rather save up my money and enjoy a few luxuries on vacation.) For some people, fine dining or lots of souvenirs are things that "make" the whole trip. Only you know exactly what you need and want in a vacation!

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