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[nw6675]

Do you tend to stay at the same hotel each trip or mix it up? Last 3 trips have been at YC/BC, so that’s the dilemma with the 2nd half. Currently, we’re booked at GDT for the 2nd half but I’m being tempted to either go back to YC or maybe do a monorail resort for the 2nd half. Mmmm

Great. Now I'm wishing we had YC CL part of my trip, too.

 

[nw6675]

Ok, not for $2100 for 2 nights. Lol! May have to follow John's lead and look at UO. DD has never been. Right now we have a cool Airbnb on a farm by St. Augustine for two nights on our way down.

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

Catching up ...

Probably going to be the most helpful if we do a second Europe trip next year not sure how much the points will be for Japan next year but just keep on building!

This makes me realize: I loooove credit card points and travel hacking. I'm not a churner and definitely more of a hobbyist than some folks, but I've definitely shifted into spending more on travel because I'll earn more points. It's basically an investment in a future trip / my ability to fly to and from Japan in first class. I mean, travel is always a good idea, so you could argue this is actually a positive, quality of life increasing mindset.

At Islands of Adventure Confisco Grill or Mythos are the only way to go. You can get reservations usually a couple days ahead for lunchtime. The Today cafe at Universal is my go to there. Nice sandwiches.

Yeah we usually do sit downs as we cannot stomach the non Wizarding World quick services. I wasn't super impressed with Finnegan's over in USF but I'm considering trying Mythos soon!

As for the Easter convo, I don't really celebrate the holiday so I won't be doing anything special for dinner, as in like cooking anything. We (me, my sister and some of her friends) are going to have dinner at Vivo at Universal City Walk that night though. None of us have ever been and the menu looked nice.

On the topic of MK food, agree that Harbour House is the best in the park, or Skipper Canteen if I am doing a table service meal, but when Kona Cafe is right across the lagoon, well, I'd prefer to pop over there whenever possible.

And on the topic of Universal Food, I tend to default to the Wizarding World spots, but Today Cafe and honestly Simpsons have decent options as well.

@Smugpugmug, my sister works at Vivo!

 

[EllieJedi]

Great. Now I'm wishing we had YC CL part of my trip, too.

This thread maybe doesn’t belong on the budget thread. So enabling.

 

[focusondisney]

Do you tend to stay at the same hotel each trip or mix it up? Last 3 trips have been at YC/BC, so that’s the dilemma with the 2nd half. Currently, we’re booked at GDT for the 2nd half but I’m being tempted to either go back to YC or maybe do a monorail resort for the 2nd half. Mmmm

We’ve been going to WDW for 30 years, we started out doing moderate resorts, then started mixing in a deluxe for a night or 2 at the end of the week. Last 15-20 years has been almost all YC CL, sometimes split with another resort or CL. We’re trying to branch out now that we’re retired & CL discounts are not always available. I just booked this trip 2 weeks ago, we did 2 nights WL regular room with AP rate & 3 nights Dolphin with a senior rate. In July we’re trying Poly CL for the first time split with a BWI deluxe CL. We’re liking all the resorts so far, so we might just keep doing the split stays, depending on discounts & how long our trip is.

 

[nw6675]

This thread maybe doesn’t belong on the budget thread. So enabling.

Well, I did say we wouldn't be adding it for $2100. That's self constraining budgeting, right?

 

[nw6675]

Totally random as usual...I literally just had to yell at my Shih Tzu through our security cam intercom to go potty in the rain. At least she listens. Only one in the fam who does!!

 

[Smugpugmug]

Catching up ...



This makes me realize: I loooove credit card points and travel hacking. I'm not a churner and definitely more of a hobbyist than some folks, but I've definitely shifted into spending more on travel because I'll earn more points. It's basically an investment in a future trip / my ability to fly to and from Japan in first class. I mean, travel is always a good idea, so you could argue this is actually a positive, quality of life increasing mindset.





On the topic of MK food, agree that Harbour House is the best in the park, or Skipper Canteen if I am doing a table service meal, but when Kona Cafe is right across the lagoon, well, I'd prefer to pop over there whenever possible.

And on the topic of Universal Food, I tend to default to the Wizarding World spots, but Today Cafe and honestly Simpsons have decent options as well.

@Smugpugmug, my sister works at Vivo!

That's so cool! Anything she would recommend or not recommend? I was eyeing the Lamb Ragu....

I try to go to the Wizarding World spots too but those lines are insane. The breakfast at Three Broomsticks is surprising good for quick service breakfast food. The hot Butterbeer is also awesome.

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

Well, I did say we wouldn't be adding it for $2100. That's self constraining budgeting, right?

I think that is admirable self-control!

I tend to apply the Disney math / Becky Bloomwood from Shopaholic (the books not the movie) school of budgeting. For example, for a girls trip this year, I told my friend we should get tickets through the current Undercover Tourist "adult at child price" deal .... and use Rakuten cashback, which is basically saving even more money.

See? On topic for budget board.

That's so cool! Anything she would recommend or not recommend? I was eyeing the Lamb Ragu....

I try to go to the Wizarding World spots too but those lines are insane. The breakfast at Three Broomsticks is surprising good for quick service breakfast food. The hot Butterbeer is also awesome.

Any of the pastas, especially the squid ink if you like seafood, are a good bet! I think you'll enjoy the lamb ragu.

 

[john7994]

@john7994 (or anyone) Have you done a VIP tour? It's on my bucket list so may try to get one for our fall trip. We are definitely going to try for a private fireworks cruise at EPCOT.

Our last one was in January at WDW with our niece, nephew, their spouses and two other couples that we travel with to Disney. We did the Epcot private fireworks cruise on that same trip as well. Vastly different budgets for each of those - both Disney Bucket List items.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Oh forgot about the wild turkeys conversation! We used to have several that frequented the bottom of the hill at the entrance to the neighborhood. My husband's grandmother's place also has wild turkeys that like to chill about. Kinda cool to see though....from afar

 

[john7994]

Do you tend to stay at the same hotel each trip or mix it up? Last 3 trips have been at YC/BC, so that’s the dilemma with the 2nd half. Currently, we’re booked at GDT for the 2nd half but I’m being tempted to either go back to YC or maybe do a monorail resort for the 2nd half. Mmmm

We did a split stay VGF/BLT - since then its been one resort per stay - but our trips are the 4-6 day variety for the most part - if we did a 10 day - we might consider a split stay again. Lately, I have been favoring Saratoga and the Treehouses - we have several golfers in the family - and it just makes for a more well rounded trip with 8-10 people.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Many of us who worked at CBS affiliates when it went on the air can't believe it ever. When it went on the air in 2000 I sure didn't think it would be around long. My scripts on any stories on the show almost always included the line..."and once again Jeff Probst was not voted off the Island"

Yeah it is surprising that it is on but I actually still really like it even with the flaws. Call it a show I have literally grown up with it being around lol

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

At Islands of Adventure Confisco Grill or Mythos are the only way to go. You can get reservations usually a couple days ahead for lunchtime. The Today cafe at Universal is my go to there. Nice sandwiches.

Mythos is good. We ate there in 2011 but then skipped it in 2017 but then went back in 2022. Another place I'd recommend is Toothsome which is in CityWalk in between the two parks but super easy to get into. Ate there in 2017 and then ate there on my birthday in 2022. Toothsome typically need further out reservations made but for Mythos we made one 1 day in advance in 2022 as the day we originally walked up for they were closed to walk up and had no reservations.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

This makes me realize: I loooove credit card points and travel hacking. I'm not a churner and definitely more of a hobbyist than some folks, but I've definitely shifted into spending more on travel because I'll earn more points. It's basically an investment in a future trip / my ability to fly to and from Japan in first class. I mean, travel is always a good idea, so you could argue this is actually a positive, quality of life increasing mindset.

Right!?

Okay another "trick" that may have annoyed the OP I do SWA RR Shopping although primarily for Petsmart. Just did it today for my cat's food. In addition to that Petsmart was having a 10X the points weekend. It's just a free rewards program but it pays to use it, cash in the "treats" for money off. And with the SWA RR Shopping well I'm getting points for making purchases I would make anyhow, maybe not a ton of points, but they are passive one.

Today Cafe

This became our spot last May. Went there multiple times for coffee, lunch, dessert.

 

[CinderEmma94]

Yeah we usually do sit downs as we cannot stomach the non Wizarding World quick services. I wasn't super impressed with Finnegan's over in USF but I'm considering trying Mythos soon!

As for the Easter convo, I don't really celebrate the holiday so I won't be doing anything special for dinner, as in like cooking anything. We (me, my sister and some of her friends) are going to have dinner at Vivo at Universal City Walk that night though. None of us have ever been and the menu looked nice.

Vivo is so good! I would go out of my way to go there over other Italian restaurants personally. Especially certain chain “Italian” restaurants

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

For Easter we don't really celebrate it.

My father-in-law's wife however goes way overboard on many holidays. I believe last year for Easter the egg count was 500 (between inside and outside) for 3 kids. What happened to being more simple about things? This year's event is tomorrow guess we'll see how it goes. Is it too hard to ask for a more simple affair? *sigh*

Food isn't really traditional for it though, it changes each year.

 

[john7994]

Ok, not for $2100 for 2 nights. Lol! May have to follow John's lead and look at UO. DD has never been. Right now we have a cool Airbnb on a farm by St. Augustine for two nights on our way down.

Lol - we considered staying at Portofino for the last two nights and decided to just stick with our DVC points and original booking versus paying cash for rooms on what would have been maybe two days at UO - when all I really care about is the wizarding world tbh - just couldn't stretch UO for two days just on that alone. Clearly, others can and do because of all the thrill rides at UO - but those aren't really something I do tbh.

 

[john7994]

For Easter we don't really celebrate it.

My father-in-law's wife however goes way overboard on many holidays. I believe last year for Easter the egg count was 500 (between inside and outside) for 3 kids. What happened to being more simple about things? This year's event is tomorrow guess we'll see how it goes. Is it too hard to ask for a more simple affair? *sigh*

Food isn't really traditional for it though, it changes each year.

Easter: The Hunt Never Ends ... I call movie rights!

 

[Smugpugmug]

Vivo is so good! I would go out of my way to go there over other Italian restaurants personally. Especially certain chain “Italian” restaurants

Sounds great! It was a choice between Cowfish (all of us have eaten there multiple times), Bigfire and Vivo and we all voted on Vivo. Italian food sounded good before we go get thrown upside down on Velocicoaster lol