So I've had two nights/3 days of a trip to Orlando planned for almost a year already. Staying at Holiday Inn Vacation Resorts Orange Lake for two nights in January (Sunday/Monday). I just wasn't sure what to do for the rest of the week. We did DW two years ago so originally wanted to try something different (aka cheaper) but in the end decided 2 days at Disney was better than my other options - so just made all the other plans in the last week or two for January 20-25!!
Doing this mostly on points.
Who: Me and DD7
Airfare - booked jetblue with UR points one way - I have points all over the place- including SW but there was ZERO non-stop flights using points on SW, Delta, or AA early in the morning so I booked two one ways - was about 19,700 points - included all fees. Will pay for one checked bag using my BofA travel rewards (see hotel). Going into Tampa and my sister and her DD16 will pick us up at the airport. They are staying with us at Holiday Inn (that as always the original plan).
Going home booked a 1 stop flight on AA - paid less than $25 for fees - paid out of budget for November of (holidays/gifts) -I have a credit card with AA so will get priority boarding and one bag checked free!
other transportation - will need round trip transportation in NJ and to airport in MCO; when changing hotels; and miscellaneous to/from parks or other entertainment - planning on getting a $300 uber/lyft gift certificate and paying with Barclaycard Arrival+ points (have ove $700 points worth).
Hotel: 2 nights in IHG resort - paid for with annual fee - 2nd one posted before 1st one expired so get to use both at once - paid $49 per year so $98 - paid for for a while already.
Moving on to Park Inn Radisson near Disney for 3 nights - 15000 Radisson Rewards points each night. IT has @$16.50 night resort fee which includes free parking and transportation to the parks. I'll pay that with my BofA travel rewards card - I have a bout $85 in points on that card - so between the checked bag and this I'll have wiped out those rewards and will cancel the card.
Tips at both hotels ($5 a day - so $25 from FREE MONEY)
Tickets and Activities: Got 2 2 day MYW tickets.
Undercover tourist tickets were more expensive than DW website for 2 day tickets so I discovered that I could get Disney gift cards with my remaining southwest points. I had the companion pass for 2017 and 2018 and got tremendous value out of it but I have not been able to find flights that worked for me anymore. Also as my daughter is now 7 we don't really qualify for family boarding anymore and I was a little nervous about getting seated separately from her. SO I decided to burn my 40,000 southwest points on Disney cards. I also had $60 of chase disney rewards and I received a $100 disney gift card as a gift. SO our tickets were about $417 which I paid for using these gift cards and I have $140 left on my gift card - which will be used for snacks and free spending in the parks (balloon/facepainging/portraits) etc.
So we are planning on doing quite a bit of non-park disney type stuff that I didn't do on our last trip since we didn't have alot of free and wanted to spend as much time in parks as possible.
Sunday night we are planning on doing the Chip n Dale sing along - will bring our own smores stuff as we have food issues - $5
Monday night a "share" of the Illuminations Fireworks Cruise - came to $74 for the two of us. Paid for out of my "holiday" budget already. Also $15-$20 for tip - (will use FREE MONEY - see below)
Tuesday night - will probably just have a nice dinner ($35 - FREE MONEY) watch fireworks from room/hotel, getting settled and go to bed early so we can be at the parks early.
Also want to ride the monorail and see the different resorts.
Might do movies/ disney springs/ disney 2nd hand shopping/arcade - budget $150 - paying for it out of checking account bonuses (AKA FREE MONEY) - I have $350 set aside in the bank now with another $200 coming right around the time of the trip.
Decided not to do memory maker - we did a share last time- as we are only there for two days and I don't want to spend too much time trying to get my monies worth out of it. I'll just ask them to take a pic with my phone and try the disney chase photo ops.
Food: We don't eat much at Disney but will go out to non-park restaurants and get groceries for the hotel - $200 for whole trip- will come from checking account bonuses (FREE MONEY).
Also have a $190 in cash gifts - not sure if I will use it here or get a badly needed haircut and winter boots - priorities you know!.
I'm too tired to figure out totals on anything - probably cause I am making it too complicated - trying to figure out "value" vs. what I actually paid - might come back later and do it.
But I am sooo excited.