Prices--ugh

K

khanna

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jul 29, 2008
We are a large family--6 kids ages 13, 12, 11, 9, 9 and 7. We are hoping to go in October so it will be 9 of us total with my mom (Grandma). The problem is, it is just sooo expensive! I am wondering if there is a way we can save money that maybe I haven't considered? Here is the expense sheet as I have it calculated now:

4 nights at Floriday's--we need a 3 bedroom and a 2 bedroom due to our size (3 bedroom only sleeps 8)
Cost: $1314 with AAA discount--I actually think this is great!

But then the tickets: we will have 3 days to do parks: the 3 park ticket on Sea World website is $109 per person x 7 people, then my husband and daughter only will do Discovery Cove at $518 total for them, add in dining at Sea World and Aquatica that puts total ticket prices at: $1820

So we are at $3134 for room, tickets and 2 days of food--which doesn't seem so bad by itself but then I add....

Stopping at Kennedy Space Center (we have a 7 hour drive down and will spend one night before traveling onto Orlando)--$437 for tickets, Residence Inn Hotel (2 rooms total) with taxes $500

Add in gas, food, rental car, dog boarding and we are at $5861--for 5 nights. But it is 9 people. Is this realistic? It's just sooo much money....ugh. Do you see anywhere we can save? We could just cut out Space center. That's $1000....I really want to be under $5K. Thoughts? Or am I being unreasonable and this is really how much things actually cost. I know we are a big family and that is a lot of it. I wouldn't trade our big family for anything but I am beginning to think I need to consider a camper.....Help!!!!
 
It always ends up cheaper per day when you do longer trips at the same park(s). Are you adding in the all-day dining for SW? That might cause the increase in price. Maybe try not doing it the first day and see how much you actually eat in the park and how much you can save doing meals outside the park.
 
I just priced out two packages on the SW website. One was for 2 adults, and the 7, 7, and 13 year olds. The other was for one adult and the 12, 11 and 9 year olds.

The total for the two was $2968.94. ($1556.36 + 1412.58)

This would include:
  • accommodations for your family in two, 2-bedroom suites (each with two bathrooms and a pull-out couch in addition to the three queen beds between the two bedrooms)
  • breakfast each morning (the buffet there is included with your rate and EXCELLENT)
  • length of stay admission to both SeaWorld & Aquatica
  • one day of all-day dining for all family members at SeaWorld
  • one day of all-day dining for all family members at Aquatica
  • free Quick Queue for all family members at SeaWorld (for each day of your visit)
  • free Reserved Show Seating for all family members at SeaWorld
  • two free "Cups that Care" (one with each package)
Not a whole lot cheaper than your Floridays stay, but the free Quick Queue and reserved show seating, along with the free breakfast, might make it worth considering.

A family of 9 is definitely pricey to travel with, no matter which way you slice it.
 
With a large group, having at least breakfast covered in the hotel bill is great. That only leaves two more meals per person each day.

OP- I noticed you had one daughter and your husband doing DC. Is that something they have both been looking forward to or can you eliminate it?
 


Yes, traveling with large families is expensive. That's probably why my parents only ever took us camping within a 2-3 hour drive for vacations when I was a kid. (But tent camping with 6 kids sounds like a ton of work to me! I think my mom must have been nuts to do that.)

Congrats on taking your family! Look at Gina's package recommendation. $500 for 2 rooms at Residence Inn near KSC sounds pricey to me - we usually found hotel prices in the south were less than the northeast. Perhaps you could find something less for that night? We had 3 kids and my DS was usually content to sleep on a floor or an airbed so we coulld fit in one hotel room.
 
I meant to add to my post above.....specific dates were not noted, so I used checking in on Monday, October 17th and checking out on Friday, October 21st for the purposes of getting an initial price. I do believe, though, that the OP could stay one additional day at no extra charge via this method as the packages offer the 5th night free. Something to keep in mind....perhaps a little longer stay for the same money.
 
Also wondering about park hours in October...if SW closes at 6PM is the dining plan really worth it? Unless you're planning to eat dinner early?

BTW- I smiled when I saw you factoring in dog boarding...that's one of the "expenses" on my list too.
 


rottiemom said:
Also wondering about park hours in October...if SW closes at 6PM is the dining plan really worth it? Unless you're planning to eat dinner early?

BTW- I smiled when I saw you factoring in dog boarding...that's one of the "expenses" on my list too.
Click to expand...
My thoughts exactly. I just added a day to our trip, booked a hotel and plan to do Sea World one day. I instantly thought to get the dining plan but then thought that we get complimentary breakfast at the hotel and the park closes early in October. So we really would only be needing lunch at the park. Definitely not worth the dining plan for me. FYI, I booked our hotel through AAA at a really good rate (I think) but am buying the SW tickets on the SW website since it's cheaper there right now.
 
You talked about AAA price for lodging. It is also available for Sea World and Discovery Cove. In October the dolphin swim package is $202 plus tax. You can do it without the dolphin swim for $138. I know you are trying to save money but you all can go for just a little more than the Sea World and Aquatica tickets you are looking at. It includes 14 days admission to Sea World and Aquatica. For $35 more you can add Busch Gardens. I would do this and save the Space center for another trip.
 
I found on the transportation forum here a huge savings on rental cars through Alamo. You join their insiders club which is free and use product code AS1. It knocked hundreds off my rate.
 
I found the Holiday Inn Orange Lake Resort on 8805 W Irlo Bronson which is near Animal Kingdom. You can get a 3 bedroom villa which sleeps 11 for $203 a night mid October. It has a full kitchen which would save a ton on meals and a washer and dryer and several pools. A week there would be about $1600. Nine of the AAA Discovery Cove non dolphin swim with 14 days Aquatica and Sea World admissions would be a little over $1300. Add Busch Gardens and you're looking at $1560. You can buy a parking pass for the duration for $25 or $30 and you need to buy it before you go.
Another hotel option for large families is Holiday Inn Staybridge Suites. There is one in Lake Buena Vista that has a two bedroom that says it sleeps 8 for $127 a night. It has a great breakfast but not sure if it would be big enough for 9. You could also get a studio and have more room and another bathroom.
 
Belle & Ariel said:
I found the Holiday Inn Orange Lake Resort on 8805 W Irlo Bronson which is near Animal Kingdom. You can get a 3 bedroom villa which sleeps 11 for $203 a night mid October. It has a full kitchen which would save a ton on meals and a washer and dryer and several pools. A week there would be about $1600. Nine of the AAA Discovery Cove non dolphin swim with 14 days Aquatica and Sea World admissions would be a little over $1300. Add Busch Gardens and you're looking at $1560. You can buy a parking pass for the duration for $25 or $30 and you need to buy it before you go.
Another hotel option for large families is Holiday Inn Staybridge Suites. There is one in Lake Buena Vista that has a two bedroom that says it sleeps 8 for $127 a night. It has a great breakfast but not sure if it would be big enough for 9. You could also get a studio and have more room and another bathroom.
Click to expand...
And we stay at orange lake all the time through a reputable owner there. It would probably be even cheaper. If i can help PM me.
 
To save more on lodging post how many beds/bedrooms you want and ask for suggestions regarding home rentals at Windsor Hills on the Orlando Hotels and Attractions forums here. Windsor Hills is a very popular with posters here and homes typically have their own splash pool plus there is a community pool and other amenities. There is a lot of competition for renters, so some very attractive pricing out there. (I love the lodging suggestions you have, but if budget is a concern you can get a lovely home and save some money). Theme Park tickets are always the pricey items and the more people you have the higher the cost for sure. On budget mini trips four night / three days trips we sometimes just purchase one day at SeaWorld (buy the one day ticket online in advance for the discount), get their offer to come back later in the week before we leave the park at the customer service desk -- sometimes free, last time $15 (You can call SeaWorld to check on the current deal), spend our second day swimming and just hanging out at the pool at our resort -- play games -- watch movies, and then go to SeaWorld for a second day on our third day. Our extended family loves having some down time in between two busy theme park days.

It's only when you are going for lots of days that cost per admission per day goes down. So many of us just do three days in Orlando and we just don't get any great discounts.

Cooking in for breakfasts and dinners with a large group like yours can save some money too if you are included to do that. We travel with a group of 10 typically and often do that.
 
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