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#1
27th September 2008, 02:31 PM
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Money Saving Tips
With talk of the Credit Crunch on the news, in the papers, and anywhere you look these days, we thought this would be a good time to post some of the money saving tips that we have received from members over the past few months.
Please add your own money saving advice by replying to this post. Theme Park Tickets If buying tickets online, check whether there is an extra charge for using a credit card or for delivery. Many do offer these options for free and buying by credit card does give you extra protection and peace of mind. Look for sellers who offer ‘price match’ – then you know you are getting the best possible deal. If you buy a one day admission ticket to Seaworld call at the ticket window as you leave and you’ll get another one day ticket to return any time within 7 days for free. If you are visiting the theme parks for your annual holiday and two trips fall within a 12 month period look at the prices for an annual pass. It is often cheaper than buying theme park tickets separately for the two trips. You don’t have to buy theme park tickets that include water park entry. The hotel pools are quite adequate for an afternoon of relaxing. When planning to buy theme park tickets check the on-line prices a few months before you plan to buy, then keep checking. Often some sellers will reduce the prices for a limited time. Dining Look for free dining plan offers (this means you practically eat free at Disney for the length of your stay) but check the prices carefully. It can save you money but often you have to stay at certain resorts and buy theme park tickets from Disney. Look out for Coupon booklets displayed in shops and hotels - they don't always look impressive at first glance but they can often offer free kids' meals and 'two for the price of one' deals at certain restaurants, meaning that your total cost can be reduced considerably. Many restaurants and diners offer 'all you can eat' deals - such as breakfast buffets and salad bars which allow you to fill up at a reasonable cost. A large breakfast can set you up for the day. The child portions at the counter service restaurants are often large enough to satisfy an adult’s appetite and they are usually far cheaper than the adult size portions. Think about sharing main meals if you’re not too hungry. Restaurants are only too happy to bring one meal and two plates for sharing. If you don’t finish your meal ask if you can take the rest of it with you. This is quite normal and the food will be boxed up for you. Even unfinished bottles of wine can be taken. Think about buying the meal deal tickets at Universal Studios. For just over $20 you can eat all day at one of the theme parks “Your Meal Deal ticket includes one (1) day of unlimited trips through the food service lines at participating Meal Deal locations. The Meal Deal ticket is valid for Lunch through Dinner. Participating locations are Louie's Italian Restaurant, Mel's Drive-In, Monsters Café and the International Food & Film Festival in Universal Studios Florida OR Circus McGurkus Café Stoo-pendous™, Captain America Diner®, Burger Digs, and Comic Strip Café® in Universal's Islands of Adventure®.” Car Rental & Parking Check the “free hire car” offers before you book. Often the free hire car is expensive to upgrade to a larger one and the insurance also has to be added. Check with rental companies direct to see how much they would charge. Arriving at Universal Studios after 6pm means you don’t have to pay for parking – it’s completely free! You only have to pay for parking once per day at Disney. If you go to one theme park in the morning but then park hop to another one later in the day just show the parking voucher and you don’t pay again. Drinks If you have a freezer in your room or staying in a villa buy small bottles of water (from supermarkets as its lots cheaper than in the theme parks) and put them in the freezer overnight. Take these with you to the theme park and it will slowly melt during the day leaving you with a constant supply of cold fresh water to sip all day. If you are staying at a Disney Resort think about buying the refillable mugs. You can buy them at the food courts and can re-fill as many times as you want with soda, coffee, tea and even hot chocolate. They currently cost just under $13 each. Call at Club Cool at Epcot for a free Coca-Cola. Lots of free samples of Coca-Cola from around the world are on offer. Snacks in the Parks Take a few snacks and soda into the parks with you, they are much cheaper to buy from supermarkets. Discount Vouchers Look for free discount voucher books at supermarkets and hotels etc when you are there. Often they have discounts for entry to attractions and restaurants. Check on line too as often they can be printed off before you go. Stroller Rental If you need to hire a stroller while you are at the theme parks think about buying one when you arrive instead. They cost around $15 a day to rent but can buy one at supermarkets when you arrive for around $20! Official Souvenirs Don’t feel you have to buy your official souvenirs at the theme parks. For example, there are discount shops at Downtown Disney Market Place and Premium Outlets where you can buy official Disney merchandise at reduced prices. The only reason for the reduced prices is that they are end of line merchandise. General At Epcot kids can be entertained for free! Look for Kidcot stations that are located in each country around World Showcase. Kids can start at any Country and will be given an unfinished cardboard mask. At the Kidcot station in each country something will be added, coloured or glued on. By the time a child has travelled around World Showcase, they'll have a free souvenir. 
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#3
28th September 2008, 06:35 PM
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A few more money saving tips!
I think the wonder works one is quite interesting...is this where Disney got the idea?
Cypress Gardens: 6000 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven; 863-324-2111 or cypressgardens.com; all tickets include second day free within six days; Florida resident discount admission for $29.95; $5 admission for all on Fridays (through September). Regular admission is $39.95 plus tax adults, $34.95 plus tax age 60 and older and ages 3-9, free age 2 and younger. SeaWorld Orlando: Off BeachLine Expressway at Interstate 4 southwest of Orlando; 407-351-3600; Pick Two combined pass for Florida residents to any two "Worlds of Discovery" parks ( Aquatica, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld and Adventure Island). Regular admission is $69.95 plus tax general, $59.95 plus tax ages 3-9. Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows: 8267 International Drive, Orlando; 407-363-1985 or, outside area, 1-800-393-1985 or sleuths.com. $12.50 discount for Florida residents (through Tuesday). Regular admission is $49.95 plus tax adults, $23.95 plus tax ages 3-11. Sweet Glides Segway Tours: 915 Outer Road, Suite 200, Orlando; 407-668-7838 or sweetglides.com; $10 off groups of 6-8. Regular admission is $60 age 14 and older. Wet 'n Wild: 6200 International Drive, Orlando; 407-351-1800; Florida resident single-day pass for $29.95 all ages, Splash Pass unlimited admission through 2008 for $41.95 plus tax. Regular price is $41.95 plus tax general, $35.95 plus tax seniors and ages 3-9 ($10 off after 3 p.m.). Wonder Works: next to Pointe Orlando at 9067 International Drive, Orlando; free admission to visitors on their birthday (through 2008). Regular admission is $19.95 plus tax adults, $14.95 ages 4-12 and seniors, free age 3 and younger; 407-351-8800.
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#4
29th September 2008, 12:29 PM
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Eating at Epcot
If you want to eat at the countriesat the World Showcase but don't like the evening meal prices go instead at lunch time, often the prices are less then.
If you want a quick bite go to the electric umbrella and order a kids meal, you can make it more filling by stocking up on the Salad Bar as its serve yourself!
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#5
29th September 2008, 01:40 PM
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If u buy a drink in the parks get it in a souvenir cup as then u only pay for refills and make sure u take it with u if u visit again and u can get the refills on that day 2 as they don't ask or know what day u brought it on.
 hehe
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#6
29th September 2008, 01:45 PM
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Also if your having a starter it maybe best for you to share as there very big and you want to save room 4 Ur main mean and Ur pud hehe. Even the soups in some places are big enough 4 2 2 share. And if u really like the look of a cake but no room 2 eat it get 1 but ask 4 it 2 b boxed up like Doing Florida says this is quite norm and can be done 4 u with no extra charge. So take it home n have a midnight snake lol.
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#7
29th September 2008, 02:40 PM
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Another great tip is to price the holiday on-line and then ring virgin direct to see what price they quote to you as yesterday i saved Ł60 by doing this which paid for the v-room and the credit card charges as when i rang my bank they told me if i paid by a visa debit card there maybe a chance i would not get all the monies back
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#10
2nd October 2008, 11:34 AM
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We usually have to get our desserts boxed up to go when we go to the cheesecake factory - they really dont mind. We take our frozen water bottles to the parks with us and then refill them through the day at the water fountains
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#11
11th October 2008, 06:02 PM
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Budget
One thing I would do is plan a budget before you go and TRY to stick to it. Work out how much you want to spend on food, gifts etc and don't go over that amount. There is so much stuff to buy its hard keeping the wife...sorry I mean wallet under control.
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#12
12th October 2008, 02:44 PM
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Find the main website of all the shops/bars/supermarkets/diners/malls etc etc and join the clubs, most of them have a discount club of some sort.
Tgi, Ponderosa, Buffalo Wings send you a birthday gift voucher. It's strange how my birthday gets changed each year to coincide with the holiday dates. If you ask at customer service at Wynn Dixie you get a discount card to use there and then. Reebok outlets have their own site with a 20% discount voucher. J.C.Penny, Wynn Dixie and Publix have weekly offers on their sites. Happy shopping
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#13
15th October 2008, 02:49 PM
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if you need to get taxis, the yellow cabs are the cheapest, they are on a meter. If you use town cars you will pay more but you will know how much the journey will cost before you leave. Can work out cheaper with town cars if you get stuck for ages in a queue of traffic.
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#14
15th October 2008, 05:03 PM
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If you go to this site; https://www.premiumoutlets.com/vip/ and become a member for free you can find discount coupons for Orlando Premium Outlets to print off and take with you, 'Guess - 25% off your total purchase of $75 or more' my personal favorite
gets used every year lol
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#15
12th March 2009, 08:49 PM
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is it true ,that when l go to sea world ,with a empty can off pepsi cola
you get a 15 % discount on the entrance ,and is that the same at Aquatica R NALD
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#16
12th March 2009, 08:52 PM
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Quote:
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#17
12th March 2009, 08:53 PM
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Quote:
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#18
13th March 2009, 12:42 AM
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another bit to add is with the souvenir cups, i have them for universal and seaworld, and have used the same ones last 2yrs dunning, jus remember to pack them wen u go bk out, they dont question it! another thing is if u visit universal out of peak times (i go in oct) i can usually get eveything done in both parks in one day so u can upgrade the meal deal to both parks for $26.99 and was well worth it for whole day eating, plus there was two of us but only one person got it, that way u go from place to place and can get as much as u like, then share with other person, that way only really costing $13.50 each to eat all day!! bargain lol
__________________
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#19
13th March 2009, 12:15 PM
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Kids eat free card - have a look at http://www.onlineflorida.co.uk/Produ...FYh_3godTWYPog
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