Good to hear! I’ve been once but it was years ago. I didn’t mind it back then, so I’m glad it’s still good! Honestly, their prices are really reasonable for being theme park adjacent.
2 Likes
Yay! Okay this sells me on it… plus my 4 year old will think it’s awesome.
3 Likes
You’re such a pro at this!!
2 Likes
Not only did it have chocolate bars but there were Reese’s too!!
2 Likes
It’s what my DW wanted. However, she’s lactose intolerant. She can handle a “little” dairy sparingly. She chose to get something else later. It sounds fun, but wasn’t sure if the parts were store bought candy or house made.
1 Like
I was wondering if there was trick to this that I’m missing. I check the rates regularly for the week I’m planning on attending (in addition to everytime you mention saving money) and nothing ever changes.
Are you having luck because your stay is longer, closer to happening, you have some magical powers, …
2 Likes
I literally check every day at least once often multiple times in a day
I do have an AP, so I am able to get thise rates too!
For the value resorts I can typically find a great rate by booking well in advance.
For moderates, you have to have a 5+ nughtstay for a good discount and 7+ days for a great discount.
Oh! And you have to hold your WWOHP interactive wand in your left hand before starting the search! 
4 Likes
I’m with you, I never see price changes. I’ve watched Aventura for a long stay for probably 12 months. 
It must just be the AP rates.
2 Likes
My previous rate was “savvy travelers discount”
Tell me where you want to stay and dates. I’ll add it to my watch list! A best low price rate would be helpful too
1 Like
Also that Lowes direct booking link you gave me helps too!
I appreciate that Larry! Yeah, it’s the Savy Traveler rate. It’s the Kids Suite, so I doubt they will drop because there’s only 13 of those rooms in the whole hotel.
Also, I expect to cancel the room only reservation. The Prime Value hotel package will most likely be extended again, which is a good deal.
3 Likes
Yeah…good luck with that!!!
1 Like
I did “a Larry” this week when, upon securing a big raise at work … I immediately re-checked my Universal dates and switched my split stay to all 3 nights at my preferred hotel (using the AP rate that was now lower than last time I checked). I can’t wait! 3 nights/4 park days with my 12-year old in August (following 2 park days at Disney, which we are only doing so I can take him on Cosmic Rewind, because otherwise I agree about how much easier Universal is now). And… I’ll keep checking those rates in case they go down even more!
7 Likes
I love that we call celebrating a life event by going to Universal a “Larry”!!
7 Likes
I’m not celebrating anything, but I am looking forward to possible winter dates. I am able to find $85 rates at Dockside for all the Grinchmas dates I want.
I do wonder if Pop Warner going to SeaWorld was not expected by UOR? Before that announcement I couldn’t get a decent rate at UOR for any dates in December. (Plus, OIM is having nights then too. I think Universal “excepted” to be fuller)
If I could find a low airfare I’d be 100% set. I’m going to go ahead and book hotel rooms for December. This way I whenever flights go back on sale I can have the hotels settled. It really helps that the hotel deposit is easily refundable
I’ll be keeping my eyes open better rates at the other hotels as well. I’m not going to shun Dockside just because I’m staying at the moderates every so often. If I can stay at Dockside for two trips for the price of Aventura once, I’ll stay at Dockside.
My possible December / Grinchmas / Birthday trip
(I saw Sapphire Falls for $177/night! I’m so tempted!! However, the final total is a little more than double the Dockside total. If I wasn’t going solo, it would make more sense)
I have reached the point where my future trips are limited by PTO rather than hotel rates. I do get three weeks of PTO annually, so I can’t complain. I wish it was more!! (If I can get the job done with five weeks of PTO why shouldn’t I??!!?? )
I am looking at February 2024. I can find $95 rates, but only for 6 nights. I I have PTO for 4 days away. I may be able to juggle the dates to see if anything works!
I even started looking at HHN for 2024!! (I really don’t want to be at work today!)
Because I start my AP on Sept. 14th this year, I could go to the first week or more of HHN33! (We’ll see! )
9 Likes
I’m feeling really good about Grinchmas plans! One of the biggest “theme park lessons” I learned in 2022 was don’t skip something! IME - Maybe you’ll get back to it or find time later, but more often than not you miss it. By planning for December when I see the low rates I’m leaving the option available. I’d be so disappointed, if I didn’t reserve it today, to come back next week and see Dockside back to $130/night.
I’m still trying to stick to two trips, but life seems to keep favoring me with opportunities. Why skip Grinchmas for Mardi Gras? If I can go in December I should seize the chance! Who knows if, by waiting, I can even go in February? Maybe the rates will be higher or I’ll be unavailable. Conversely, I could wait and then fortune could strike again and I have the $$ / time where I “could’ve” done both December & February, but waited.
What I’m trying to say is unless something happens Grinchmas is a GO! (Thank the heavens that Pop Warner left!)
I’m going to go with the attitude it will be my second and potential last trip of the AP. However, well see what happens!
My mother in law lamented my vacations at our BBQ yesterday. She’s in her 80s and pretty well off financially, but she never spends any of it or does anything. What good does money do if you don’t use it. (responsibly, of course!!)
Now, with December coming into focus I’m debating the add-ons. I’ll definitely do the Grinch Breakfast, if offered. I could do a night of OIM or even a MVMCP, Jollywood Nights or After Hours at WDW. I noticed those WDW events go on sale tomorrow. I’m not as hyped about going to MVMCP as I am MNSSHP. (I’ve done MVMCP before as a birthday trip.)
I’m reading my thoughts about OIM from my last trip. I wish it was either a little less expensive or another hour or so longer. I’m telling myself that when I was there it was about the night time experience & food more than rides. (I confess a guaranteed Pteranodon Flyers ride would make me book it!)
I still think OIM should figure a why to make Fliers a purchasable add-on!! That’s one of my Universal “hot takes”!
(Heck…I’d buy an Express Pass from Universal if it allowed an adult to ride Pteranodon Fliers solo!)
What does OIM really offer me? I’ll do all the rides in the day & I’ve eaten most things. (But it sure was fun!)
If I did a WDW add-on instead, I think the only option is DHS. SW:GE is the ONLY thing at Disney DW even cares about seeing on her next visit to either WDW or DLR. So, I wouldn’t even want to go into the land without her! That means the only new thing for me is MMRR. (However, that’s now at DLR where our next Disney trip is planned) The rest of the park is great & ToT was my former favorite ride in Orlando… It’s not out of the question to go, there just may not be enough for me at WDW to give up a UOR day on a short trip. However, a night at WDW would be “free” with points (minus an Uber) versus OIM
It’s still fun to think about on a day when everyone else at my office is on vacation!
7 Likes
Since I’m in “planning mode” at my desk I remembered that the parks will close early the weekend I’m there for OIM both nights.
I’ll either have to take an earlier flight on Friday (using PTO I wasn’t planning to do) or attend some event on Friday night in order to “do anything” that evening. I can always explore CityWalk or even do something like Pirates Dinner Adventure! 
I don’t think I have the self control to go to Jollywood Nights and not peek at SW:GE and MMRR, so that’s out!
As much as I keep trying to talk myself into it, $255 it too much for one night of OIM.
The flight I want to go on arrives by 4pm. I should be checked into my room & ready to have fun by 5:30pm… There is a MVMCP that Friday night. I could be there before the event starts. I’d miss the early entry, but I’d get to go to a theme park until 12am for the price of a roundtrip Uber…
I’ll definitely wait until after HHN to decide if I want to go back to Magic Kingdom. I’d love to go to Epcot after hours, but people say the queues are brutal and the walking is too much. Plus, I don’t see it currently offered in December. I’ve done AK After Hours & LOVED it, but they haven’t done that in a long time…
5 Likes
I just saw on the other thread your Grinchmas trip will overlap mine. I am only there for the weekend, arriving the 1st.
3 Likes
Awesome!!!
Once I get plane tickets purchased I’ll be 100% confirmed. I’m looking every day for flights! I’m hoping to see some around / after Labor Day
3 Likes
I did mine completely on points but arriving very late on the 1st.
1 Like