To be stressed to the hills over a surprise holiday

[Alfiemoon1]

My sister has paid for us to go to Florida in August as a Christmas present the flights Vila and car hire are all paid for. I am stressed as I am really struggling to save up for park tickets etc which is almost as much as the holiday on top of that I have my son moving to high school his uniform is over £300 bus pass £100 dd is doing duke of ed which is £250 ds trip £155 so this year we probably wouldn't have gone abroad. I am stressed I keep bursting into tears rowing with the hubby who refuses to make any cut backs so we can save money. To top it off my mum and sister are calling me ungrateful as I have mentioned I am worried about the money. Iam not but I am resentful of being put under this stress if she insisted on being elaborate and paying for a holiday why not a cheaper all inclusive instead of something that is going to cost me a fortune or ask me first instead of surprising me in front of the kids so I couldn't say no. Anyway any get rich quick schemes or free things to do in Florida so she hasn't wasted thousands on the flights and villa lol

[SestraClone]

It cost me £17 for my daughter to do bronze DoE. Didnt realise others were charged hundreds

[Alfiemoon1]

Did she not go on any camping trips sestra

[AmyGMumsnet]

Hi all

Can we please remind folks not to trollhunt on threads. If you have any concerns please hit the report button and we'll be very happy to take a look for you.

Thanks!

[Alfiemoon1]

Thank u Amy I have no idea why anyone thought this was a fake post and was quite upset this morning by some of the replies X

[whois]

I'd ask if oyu sister/mum can buy the kids park tickets to one park and one water park - and do free things the rest of the time (like play in the villa pool)

[OhStacey]

Ok deep breaths.

First of all get your ESTAs sorted first.

Next what ticket has your sister got? It's no good saying he tlegoland etc if they just have Disney. Also Legoland wouldn't be great with teens.

I would get Disney OR flexitixkets which includes universal. But not both. As I'm sure you know they are now adults for tickets.

I hate to suggest credit card but it might have to be.

Once you have tickets there are loads of ways to save money. Such as taking sandwiches to the park, getting free ice water in any of the burger places etc. Also I would give the kids say £50 each at the start and say that's souviners.

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm pretty sure you can't take food into the parks, the bags are searched before you're allowed in. It's not in the park's best interests for you to take your own food.

[Alfiemoon1]

My sister hasn't bought any tickets she isn't going yes the kids are now adult tickets. I didn't think u could take food in either

[UsainWho]

I think your kids could be a wee bit too old for Disney. At 16 and 11 I think they'd much prefer universal, and maybe pay to go into Hollywood Studios if they're particularly Star Wars daft. It's a heinous crime to say that Magic Kingdom isn't that amazing, but I really wasn't massively fussed for it, rides were quite tame and I just thought it was v similar to disney Paris. Epcot I did't like, Animal Kingdom was good but we only spent a morning there. We reckon if we got back when my two are bigger then we would definitely not be paying £1.2k for Disney tickets.

If you get a Universal pass, you can get into their waterpark too, plus you could add on sea world.

[UsainWho]

Can take in any food you want, no problem whatsoever, we only bought disney food once and packed lunches the rest of the time. Also, difference in price between kids and adults is minuscule, like a tenner!

[MissMoo22]

Could you sell the Orlando holiday and book a cheaper all inclusive in it's place? I have no idea how selling holidays works but often see people advertising them. I'm sure your sister would be a bit miffed but if you explained the circumstances and are using the money from the sale of that holiday for another one then she should get over it quickly enough.

[MissElizaBennettsBookmark]

Just to say that my DS is doing DoE with school and the cost to us is £210. Some organisations do subsidise the cost to members but not this school who think all their parents are rolling in cash...

[OhStacey]

How old are sisters kids?

You need to talk to her as buying tickets in the UK will be cheaper than in the states as they sell tickets here that last 2 weeks.

I would go for the 6 park flex ticket

This gets you access to universal and islands. 2 water parks, Seaworld and Busch gardens which is over near Tampa

Yes that is still going to cost you £1000 but then that's it for tickets.

Go to the supermarket and buy food for breakfast and lunch or go to buffet for breakfast. For dinner try cece pizza and sweet tomatoes. Both dirt cheap and great for teenagers.

If they are like most kids they will mostly want to be in the pool. Things like takeaway pizza are cheaper than at home. Also things like fresh chicken and bread from walmarts which is cheap and popular.

I used to work in tourism in Orlando and go every year so will advise as much as I can. But there is little way round ticket costs :(

[Goingtobeawesome]

DH says we've paid not much, if anything. It's a mystery.

[Alfiemoon1]

My sister doesn't have kids and she isn't going with us she has just paid for me dh and our kids to go

[OhStacey]

Oh ok sorry I was confused.

Ok loads of free stuff in Orlando

orlandoinformer.com/universal/20-ideas-free-inexpensive-entertainment-around-orlando

Also the beaches on the east and west are very very different.

If you still want tickets on a budget.

www.orlandoattractiontickets.co.uk/Ticket/Universal-3-Park-Bonus-Tickets

This has universal / islands of adventure for £165 each. They last for 14 days so you can unlimited times over 14 days. I could easily go to all 3 twice each especially with the heat in August you won't want to be there all day. That's half the holiday.

One thing I do want to mention is parking at parks as it is expensive now £15 a day. So just keep that in mind when budgeting.

[OhStacey]

Also take a look on the the dibb website.

Figure out what your budget is and loads of people on there will help keep to it. Lots of people on there have very very tight budgets

[ohdearme1958]

DH says we've paid not much, if anything. It's a mystery

Its not really. Its just what it is. The variable cost of the DOE award scheme.

[SparklesandBangs]

OP tickets are expensive and would your DC enjoy them if you could afford it? Sometimes the multipack ticket bought in the UK is better value than anything over there. Would you be able to consider a 0%credit card with a long payment date?

[Alfiemoon1]

Problem is I love Disney myself so I want go even if the kids don't lol X

[OhStacey]

Ha I'm the same. It's hard because 1 day tickets are so expensive.

Did you see they have done loads to Disney springs ? Previously downtown Disney.

Also go to the boardwalk hotel wander round and get an ice cream from beeches and cream.

I do still think ther is enough at Disney for teens myself but it really is Disney or universal if on a budget.

You could go to a timeshare talk. But you have to be very strong and say no a lot before getting your free tickets.

Don't buy discounted tickets on the 192 with part days left. Very dodgy ground.

[JapaneseSlipper]

OP, I know the thread has moved on, but you have expressed uncertainty about why people questioned the truth of your thread.

I would say that the horse had a lot to do with it. From your later posts, it seems possible that you live in a rural location, where horse ownership is possibly more common, and less expensive than it would be in more urban areas.

From where I live, ownership of a horse would be impossibly expensive. I appreciate that it may not be where you are. But that, and the combination of the gift of flights for an entire family to the US, makes for what sounds like a staggeringly generous gift - so generous that it almost defies belief.

I do not doubt that you are telling the truth, but I admit that for a moment there, it seemed so crazily lavish that I did pause.

Hope that answers your question.

[NicknameUsed]

Currently sat at the airport waiting for our flight to Orlando. DD is 16 and I will let you know whether she enjoys Disney.

[Alfiemoon1]

My sister doesn't have her own kids so spoils mine although this year she has excelled herself lol. She is hopeless with money so as soon as the overtime started rolling in she bought our lavish gifts herself a new car etc. I had always said no to dd having a horse but when we got messed about with our loan horse and that ended unbeknown to us my sister bought dd horse. Typical of my sister she didn't think it through and put her at a cheap yard with no facilities that was £150 per inc straw and hay. That was unsuitable so we have moved but it is now £240 pm plus straw. if my sister hasn't done much overtime and the horse needs something I chip in so that is what I meant by it costs me money.
My sister is just incredibly generous but has a habit of things going tits up because she doesn't think things through and money seems to burn a hole in her pocket

[Dozer]

Your sister is not generous, she has been inconsiderate at best.

A horse! irresponsible. Your big mistakes were accepting these unwanted gifts at all. Why did you?