We booked airline tickets for our entire family to go to Florida next week for three nights. The tickets were just $44.80 after using Southwest Rapids Rewards points and the companion pass I earned from last year. We also used points to get a rental car, which was free compared to taking a taxi or a shuttle service from the airport.
We are going to the Universal theme parks for three days. My youngest daughter is a BIG Harry Potter fan, thus she has been wanting to go for awhile. I did tell her it was possible this summer. I suddenly realized summer was winding down and her sister would be off to college. It was time to squeeze this trip in!
Our three day tickets for four people to park hop at Universal will be $604 with our military discount. We are saving $216 off gate admission with this benefit.
We are staying one night at a Fairfield Inn using Marriott points. The other two nights are going to be VERY pricey, but the benefits will be well worth the cost to our family. We are staying on site at one of the Deluxe resorts which will provide us early admission to the parks as well as an unlimited Express Pass for each of us for all three days. This will save us from waiting in some very long lines. So two nights for four people will cost us $695!! Yes. It is crazy. But since we are saving in so many other areas with reward points this money out of pocket will be in line with what we are willing to pay for this quick trip. A trip I know our girls will remember for a long time. 
We will have some parking fees at the airport and on site at Universal. But the other big expense is going to be food. I'm going to look at some menu prices to see if I can get idea on that cost. It will be in the hundreds of dollars since it is theme park food!!
I made all these crazy plans before I told my girls. But at dinner I said I was working on a surprise and told them the trip plan! They were both excited and did remember I said we would probably go this summer. I'm glad I remembered to make it happen.
Anyone been to the Universal theme parks? Tips for us?
More Airline Tickets for Just $44.80!
July 22nd, 2015 at 02:31 am
July 22nd, 2015 at 03:55 am 1437537307
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July 22nd, 2015 at 10:13 pm 1437603234
Try pricing out the room for universal with just 2 adults (not 4) for some reason, orbitz & cheaptickets will often add on extra person charges ($25 per person/night)... Then, call the hotel and add additional people to the reservation
July 23rd, 2015 at 02:10 am 1437617453
July 23rd, 2015 at 02:56 am 1437620213
The next to last time I was there was when my family was moving from NJ to TX - the summer before my sophomore year of college (in TN.) My parents left my brother and I alone at the hotel with my car, while they went to NJ to house hunt. My brother and I had a blast exploring the parks and riding rides together. (Luckily we had actually started to like each other by then.