NWR: HELP....Orlando, Fl vacation???

So me and FH want to take a trip after my finals are over for a few days. He had suggested Atlantic City, but I suggested we go to Orlando so that we can get our money's worth and have something to show for it!!
(TRUST ME- I'm not hitting no slot machine anytime soon!!!)

How expensive are the amusement parks? Can you ladies PLEASSSSEEE suggest what places are the most affordable?
We are definitely going to rent a car, but I suggested that we just rent it when we get down to Fl.- it seems like expedia is a rip off with the car rental aspect!!

universal is great and they have islands of adventure which has roller coasters if you like that sort of thing.

they have other fun things in orlando too that are fun touristy things.

ripley's believe it or not. the medieval knights dinner shows. comedy dinner shows. water parks.

it can be done without getting too expensive for sure.

Last May FH and i went to Disney for 4 days 5 nights... we stayed at the Saratoga Springs Resort, got park hopper tickets for all 4 days ( we went to multiple parks on 2 days) plus had all our meals and it cost us a little over 2K... i know it sounds expensive but it was SOO worth it... (it was FHs first trip to Disney) if you stay in Disney you dont need to rent a car since there is transportation to all areas of Disney..

This year we looked up a trip to Universal (we really wanted to go to the Harry Potter Theme Park grand opening and it was gonna cost us close to 3K with all meals and everything included.

There is so much to do in Orlando though. If you stay at one of the hotels on the outskirts of Disney or Universal you can experiance the parks and also go see sea world and soo many other things. Orlando has to offer....

Sorry for the long post but Fh and i had such a great time last year we were seriously contemplating going back this year.. even with trying to save $ for the wedding...

Thanks Ladies!!
Do you suggest buying the tickets before getting down to florida or is it much more less expensive to get them beforehand?

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Posted by FutureMrsPanuch

Last May FH and i went to Disney for 4 days 5 nights... we stayed at the Saratoga Springs Resort, got park hopper tickets for all 4 days ( we went to multiple parks on 2 days) plus had all our meals and it cost us a little over 2K... i know it sounds expensive but it was SOO worth it... (it was FHs first trip to Disney) if you stay in Disney you dont need to rent a car since there is transportation to all areas of Disney..

This year we looked up a trip to Universal (we really wanted to go to the Harry Potter Theme Park grand opening and it was gonna cost us close to 3K with all meals and everything included.

There is so much to do in Orlando though. If you stay at one of the hotels on the outskirts of Disney or Universal you can experiance the parks and also go see sea world and soo many other things. Orlando has to offer....

Sorry for the long post but Fh and i had such a great time last year we were seriously contemplating going back this year.. even with trying to save $ for the wedding...

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Lauren, did you guys also get engaged in Florida?
FH has never been there. Me and my family use to go there every year when we were young. Sooooo many yrs ago!!! My sister told me that the parks can range around 100pp- !!!
We're only gonna go for 4 days and 3 nights! I wanna make sure that we hit the 'must see' spots...but at the most inexpensive ones!!! lol.
We're definitely gonna stay on the outskirts though....much cheaper!!

Walt Disney -->this is where they did the fireworks show every night, right?
Universal Studios
MGM Studios-->is Mgm still as popular or even worth going?

Thanks.

Its definatly less expensive if you get everything before hand... if you plan on making it a Disney trip book everything as a package with them.. flight, hotel, themepark tickets.. even if you want a rent a car they will add it in your package... We booked everything together and we definatly got a steal. i think they are running a promotion now too.. i think you can also get tickets for other parks (outside of Disney) through them as well( im not sure abt this) but i would def. look into it.

Yup they do fireworks everynight in all the theme parks.. except for Animal Kingdom. each night we spent in Disney we went to a different Theme parks fireworks show.. they are all different and all amazing...

We got engaged a couple of months before but when we booked we told them we had just got engaged and when we got there they gave us pins to wear and everyone was congratulating us and stuff... it was really cool. I think if you look at my profile youll see a pic of us from there last year... Fh couldnt stop talking about the fun we had..

MGM is now actually Disneys Hollywood Studios.. its pretty much the same park but i guess their contract with MGM ran out and they now just call it Hollywood Studios... it was FH favorite park,..

Universal is awesome too i havent been there in years and a lot of the rides that were there years ago (i used to go every year w. my fam too) arent there any more.. no more earthquake or king kong.. but theyve added some new ones... Islands of Adventure.. the other Universal park has huge roller coasters and other types of rides too, but IMO the biggest bang for your buck would be to go to disney....

DISCOVERY COVE and SEAWORLD!!!!!! I know you wanted affordable options, but I had to suggest Discovery Cove. It's so amazing. It can be a little expensive but in my opinion it's SO worth it. It's bascially a man made 'island' owned by Busch, so if you go there, you get free passes to Seaworld too!

You can lay on the beach, swim with the dolphins, snorkel, etc etc and everything is all inclusive with the price. FH took me here for my birthday a few years ago and I fell in love and can't wait to go back! Not to mention that we went to Seaworld about 5 times for free because we went there!!!

Good luck and have fun whatever you decide!

all the prices are on the internet for the theme parks. and you can buy in advance for a discount. also, if you have AAA you can get discounts

if you def want to rent a car (if you stay at disney hotel, there is enough transportation and they even pick u up from airport for free), check out hotwire. i never had an issue w them and ive gotten great deals!

also double check your current car insurance. you probably dont need to buy insurance at the rental company, even tho they try to push it on you

have fun!

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Posted by FutureMcBride

DISCOVERY COVE and SEAWORLD!!!!!! I know you wanted affordable options, but I had to suggest Discovery Cove. It's so amazing. It can be a little expensive but in my opinion it's SO worth it. It's bascially a man made 'island' owned by Busch, so if you go there, you get free passes to Seaworld too!

You can lay on the beach, swim with the dolphins, snorkel, etc etc and everything is all inclusive with the price. FH took me here for my birthday a few years ago and I fell in love and can't wait to go back! Not to mention that we went to Seaworld about 5 times for free because we went there!!!

Good luck and have fun whatever you decide!

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OHHHH WOW!!!! Thks!! I think I may have convinced FH about doing Florida instead of A.C.!!! I think Mr. Trump doesn't need anymore $$!!

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Posted by FutureMrsPanuch

Its definatly less expensive if you get everything before hand... if you plan on making it a Disney trip book everything as a package with them.. flight, hotel, themepark tickets.. even if you want a rent a car they will add it in your package... We booked everything together and we definatly got a steal. i think they are running a promotion now too.. i think you can also get tickets for other parks (outside of Disney) through them as well( im not sure abt this) but i would def. look into it.

Yup they do fireworks everynight in all the theme parks.. except for Animal Kingdom. each night we spent in Disney we went to a different Theme parks fireworks show.. they are all different and all amazing...

We got engaged a couple of months before but when we booked we told them we had just got engaged and when we got there they gave us pins to wear and everyone was congratulating us and stuff... it was really cool. I think if you look at my profile youll see a pic of us from there last year... Fh couldnt stop talking about the fun we had..

MGM is now actually Disneys Hollywood Studios.. its pretty much the same park but i guess their contract with MGM ran out and they now just call it Hollywood Studios... it was FH favorite park,..

Universal is awesome too i havent been there in years and a lot of the rides that were there years ago (i used to go every year w. my fam too) arent there any more.. no more earthquake or king kong.. but theyve added some new ones... Islands of Adventure.. the other Universal park has huge roller coasters and other types of rides too, but IMO the biggest bang for your buck would be to go to disney....

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Thanks Lauren. I'm gonna run my itinerary w/ you before I go...lol.

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Posted by azailia

the parks are around 65 a ticket.

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Sounds good!!

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Posted by little j

all the prices are on the internet for the theme parks. and you can buy in advance for a discount. also, if you have AAA you can get discounts

if you def want to rent a car (if you stay at disney hotel, there is enough transportation and they even pick u up from airport for free), check out hotwire. i never had an issue w them and ive gotten great deals!

also double check your current car insurance. you probably dont need to buy insurance at the rental company, even tho they try to push it on you

have fun!

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My mom mentioned the AAA discounts!! Gotta look into that! Thks!