A Magical 10 Night Trip, The 10th Month and The Orlando Trifecta- PTR - UPDATED 10/2 - Page 3 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Only started this last Friday and only two posts, so you didn't miss much! Will be a great adventure!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I was going to go for the Dolphin, but then everyone else was saying Swan, so I was like "Ok, I must've missed something..." Ok, from here on in, it's safer to say Swolpin...
That was funny with the others! Swolphin works for me!
Quote:
Originally Posted by patclairesmom
I think your upgrade is going to be at the Swan
I never thought of that, but maybe this will be the case. I was thinking a bigger room, upper floor or Epcot view perhaps, but we'll see! I will know October 8th!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
What a great deal on the Dolphin! Never knew they did promos like that!
I'm happy with it and didn't realize this either! Finally, one of you got the name of my hotel right!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Sounds like a great trip in the making! How great that the Patriots were playing and that they won!
I'm not a Patriots fan, but I was rooting for them in regard to my deal at the Dolphin, which worked out rather well for me!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Just found this! Can't wait to see it unfold...and can't wait to see what your upgrade is at the Dolphin! That's awesome!
Glad to have you here! I think you'll enjoy this. I'm interested in what my upgrade will be but I want it to be a surprise and will wait until I check in to find out!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Sunday, February 12th Yesterday, I received an email from JetBlue that they were extending their schedule which included my dates. It was late when I saw this, so I decided to wait until today to check the flights. I checked the NYC airports and I prefer to fly out of Westchester than JFK and avoid LaGuardia at all costs as I dread that airport! Plus, there is so much construction there now.
I first checked flights from these airports to Orlando and they were extremely high. Even though, I’d be using points, I didn’t want to use this many. They were over $250 one way on Thursday, October 5th. I checked the return flights and they were much more reasonable for Saturday, October 14th. It was flight #1694 from Orlando to Westchester and departs at 5:34 pm and arrives at 8:15 pm, which is good as I plan to spend a bit of park time before flying home. Flight was $135 which I felt was good. I purchased an Even More Space Seat in 1A for $45. This fee would be waived with my new Amex card. Under the card you sign up for this online and chose your preferred airline. You receive $100 annually in airline incentives, which include this and baggage fees. A nice incentive as the extra fee on the card is not $100 more than my previous one. I think it’s about $30 more a year.
I used my JetBlue (TrueBlue) points for this purchase as well as a transfer of points from my Amex account, which were converted to TrueBlue points. There is a small transfer fee and the flight taxes and fees, so not too costly. I will keep checking for prices on the outbound flight and hope they come down soon. Hoping, I will have this flight out of Westchester as well as it’s a small airport and much closer at about thirty minutes away. There isn’t much for amenities, but they have a Dunkin Donuts and some other small food options.
Tuesday, February 14th I checked the JetBlue flights once again from the NYC area and they were still nearly as expensive to Orlando. From JFK was $242, which was the cheapest option. Not what I wanted to see! From Westchester, I’d pay $280, which is where I wanted to fly out of, so not exactly encouraging! I just don’t want to use a big chunk of my points if I don’t have to as I’d prefer to save some of these for another flight. It may be perhaps as I’d be flying on a Thursday and going into the Columbus Day weekend!
I decided to try something else by looking at prices the day before for Wednesday, October 4th. They were cheaper and quite a bit and out of Westchester. They had a 6:30 am flight and arrives in Orlando at 9:14 am. It was nearly $150 cheaper than on Thursday at $136. I had to contemplate whether I wanted to extend my vacation by one day. It probably took all of two seconds. Even though, I’d be spending more on my hotel, park tickets and meals, the opportunity was there and I went for it! An extra day away on vacation is always a good thing! I used my points and only paid for the taxes and other small fees. I also chose an Even More Space seat, which is $40 on this flight, but would be covered with my new Amex card. My flights were now booked!
I still had $15 in my incentive fees left, which were automatically used for my bag fees when I booked these flights. I will make sure about this when I check in for my flights in nearly eight months. The total out of pocket cost for the flights will be well under $100, which I’m more than happy with.
I was glad I hadn’t booked my Universal resort stay yet as I’d have to change it, which would be another thing to do. I will keep checking the prices for the Universal resorts and hope they come down a bit as they are more than I want to pay. They’ve gone up some since I last checked. Now that I will be most likely be staying at Universal for a total of four nights (this is the part of my vacation that was extended) the rates should be a bit cheaper with the extra day. These are 20% off the regular rates as three night is only 10% off.
One thing to remember by staying at one of Universal’s deluxe resorts is the Unlimited Express Pass you receive by staying here. It’s an $89 value, so this cost can be subtracted vs the moderate Sapphire Falls resort and the difference is generally not $89, so worth the upgrade to the Royal Pacific and possibly the Hard Rock and Portofino as well, but depends on rates.
Now that I’ll be staying an additional day at the Universal Orlando Resort, I can add additional plans. My original one for three nights was to spend three days at the Universal parks as I think this will be enough. With the additional day, I know how I'll spend this day! I’ve never been to SeaWorld and always wanted to visit this theme park. I can now add SeaWorld to the itinerary and thus experience the Orlando Trifecta with Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld!!!
NEXT: Why Do They Have to Do Things the Hard Way?
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Congrats on the airfare deal and getting an extra day at WDW in the process.
No complaints there and even though more money it's an extra day in Florida! It's actually an extra day in Universal from 3 days to four. I was very happy with the air fare.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Baloo
Signing in to follow along as I don't want miss anythinh!
I hope you don't and thanks for joining the party!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tara O'Hara
Awesome extension for your trip!! We loved Sea World!!! I hope you do too!!
I had to do this with the better airfare and even though more money with the hotel and tickets, it's another day on vacation, which is a great thing! Looking forward to Seaworld and I remember from your TR how much you loved it. I will be surprised if I don't enjoy it there
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Glad it all worked out with the flight and how great you were able to add time to your vacation!
Very happy with the flights and extra days away on vacation is always a good thing!
Quote:
Originally Posted by patclairesmom
Airfare watching is not fun but when you get a great deal it's awesome. Congratulations on your extension going to Sea World.
It is a bit of a pain as I began this back at the end of November, first waiting for JetBlue to release their schedule and then waiting for fares to come down! It took a good couple of months or so and glad it worked out to my benefit and better yet as I was able to extend my vacation a day with the lower fare the day before! Looking forward to Seaworld and experiencing the Orlando Trifecta all on one trip!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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Ok, from here on in, it's safer to say Swolpin... 
Swolphin works for me! 
Finally, one of you got the name of my hotel right! 
]
It was late when I saw this, so I decided to wait until today to check the flights. I checked the NYC airports and I prefer to fly out of Westchester than JFK and avoid LaGuardia at all costs as I dread that airport! 
Plus, there is so much construction there now.
They were over $250 one way on Thursday, October 5th. I checked the return flights and they were much more reasonable for Saturday, October 14th. It was flight #1694 from Orlando to Westchester and departs at 5:34 pm and arrives at 8:15 pm, which is good as I plan to spend a bit of park time before flying home. 
I think it’s about $30 more a year.
Hoping, I will have this flight out of Westchester as well as it’s a small airport and much closer at about thirty minutes away. There isn’t much for amenities, but they have a Dunkin Donuts and some other small food options. 
From JFK was $242, which was the cheapest option. Not what I wanted to see! From Westchester, I’d pay $280, which is where I wanted to fly out of, so not exactly encouraging! I just don’t want to use a big chunk of my points if I don’t have to as I’d prefer to save some of these for another flight. It may be perhaps as I’d be flying on a Thursday and going into the Columbus Day weekend! 
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