A family of five shares their $8,600 spending on a six-day trip to Disney World and Universal Studios, detailing major expenses and money-saving strategies.
Washington DC, United States Jul 25, 2026 ALN: When I started planning a family vacation to Orlando, I knew we wanted to have the full theme park experience — staying at a Universal hotel, visiting the new Epic Universe, adding a Disney day, and enjoying the food and attractions along the way. Orlando, Florida, has long been a premier destination for families seeking adventure, entertainment, and a break from everyday life. With its world-renowned theme parks, including Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, it attracts millions of visitors each year. The planning process for such a trip can be daunting, as the options are plentiful and the costs can escalate quickly.
The result was a six-day vacation that cost $8,620 — and required some careful planning to make the most of our money. A trip of this magnitude often requires balancing desires with budgetary constraints, especially when traveling with a family. The final price tag for our six-day vacation may sound like a lot— and it was. But we also saved money in a few important ways, which is a crucial consideration in family travel budgeting.
Here's exactly where our money went.
The first major decision was how to get from Cleveland to Orlando. The choice between flying and driving is one many families face when planning a vacation. For our family, we opted to fly, which allowed us to maximize our time in the parks. We spent $1,451 on Frontier Airlines flights for our family of five. While flying can often be more expensive than driving, the savings in time can be invaluable, especially for families with busy schedules.
We could have driven, but the trip would have taken about 15.5 hours each way. That would have meant losing two full days of vacation time just to sit in the car. The convenience of air travel, along with the prospect of arriving fresh and ready to enjoy the parks, made the cost worthwhile for us. Additionally, we spent $84 to park at Cleveland Hopkins Airport for six days. This is a common expense that travelers need to consider, as parking at airports can add to the overall cost of flying.
We also decided not to rent a car in Orlando and instead used Uber to get around when necessary. This decision was influenced by the desire to avoid the hassle of navigating an unfamiliar city and the cost of parking at various attractions. Relying on rideshare services can often be more economical and convenient, particularly when staying at a hotel close to the parks.
Our biggest expense was $4,948 for our Universal hotel stay and four-day park-to-park tickets. Universal Studios has become a major player in the theme park industry, especially with the addition of new attractions and parks. Staying on-site at Universal's Terra Luna Resort, one of the newest hotels, provided us with several advantages, including early access to the parks.
Terra Luna is considered a Prime Value hotel, and it shares a space-themed design with its sister property, Stella Nova. The hotel's biggest advantage is its location. Since we wanted to spend a lot of time at Epic Universe, staying close to that park was important. Proximity to the attractions can significantly enhance the overall experience, allowing for more time spent enjoying the rides and less time commuting.
Terra Luna guests receive early park admission, which allows us to enter Epic Universe one hour before regular guests each day. This perk is invaluable during peak seasons, as it often means shorter wait times for popular attractions. The complimentary shuttle ride got us to Epic in less than five minutes, and buses arrived frequently, making transportation seamless and stress-free.
One challenge with Terra Luna is that the hotel offers only standard rooms that accommodate up to four people, so our party of five needed to book two rooms. Initially, paying for two rooms seemed like a big expense, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made. The additional space allowed us to spread out, providing privacy for the adults and a comfortable environment for the kids. Connecting rooms made it easy to spend time together, which is essential for family bonding during vacations.
Our four-day park-to-park tickets included Epic Universe, Universal Studios Florida, and Islands of Adventure. Before the trip, we considered buying Express Passes to skip the lines at Epic, which can be a tempting option for families looking to maximize their time. However, we were able to experience everything without spending the extra money on these passes.
Having four days gave us the flexibility to wait for the best times to ride each attraction. We ended up riding every ride at Epic Universe, and the longest wait we had was 45 minutes. This experience highlighted the importance of planning and timing, especially during July, one of the busiest vacation periods of the year. With careful management of our time, we were able to enjoy the parks without feeling rushed.
We added one day at Disney's Hollywood Studios for $926 in tickets. The decision to include a day at Disney was a highlight for our family, as Disney parks are often synonymous with magical experiences. Because we only had one day at Disney, we purchased Lightning Lane passes for $250. These passes allowed us to reserve a time for popular attractions such as Rise of the Resistance and schedule times for up to three other attractions throughout the day.
The strategy worked well. We rode almost everything we wanted except Slinky Dog Dash, which was delayed during our reserved time and never reopened that day. This experience underscored the importance of flexibility and adaptability when planning a theme park visit, as unexpected situations can arise.
Food is one area where we decided not to cut back. Part of the fun of going to Universal and Disney parks is trying the themed meals and snacks. We spent $767 on food and drinks, eating at restaurants including Cowfish, Toadstool Cafe, The Three Broomsticks, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, Krusty Burger, Lard Lad, Café L'air De La Sirène, and Le Gobelet Noir. Each of these dining experiences offered a unique taste of the parks, enhancing our overall experience.
One trick we used was ordering kids' meals when they made sense. This allowed us to save some money while still enjoying the diverse culinary offerings available at the parks. Many restaurants offer generous portions for kids, which can be a smart choice for families looking to manage their food budgets without sacrificing quality.
When it came to souvenirs, we spent only $37 on three chocolate frogs for our kids. This conscious decision to limit souvenir spending is a common strategy among families visiting theme parks. Our children saved up their own money to purchase the souvenirs they wanted, including shirts, treats, and stuffed animals. This approach not only helped manage expenses but also encouraged our kids to value their purchases and make thoughtful decisions about what they wanted to take home as memories from the trip.
Although the total trip cost was $8,620, we received $1,920 back in travel reimbursements through credit card points. Our final out-of-pocket trip cost was around $6,700. Utilizing credit card rewards can significantly impact the overall cost of travel, making it easier for families to enjoy experiences that might otherwise be out of reach.
A special booking promotion also helped lower our meal costs. Each of our two hotel rooms included a $300 Universal hotel dining credit, giving us $600 to spend on meals at Terra Luna. This dining credit was extremely convenient and kept our overall food costs down. We used it for daily breakfast, as well as other meals, snacks, and adult beverages at the hotel. Taking advantage of promotions and credits can lead to substantial savings, especially during a trip where dining can be a significant expense.
An $8,620 vacation is a big expense, but the memories we made were worth every penny. Family vacations are often seen as investments in experiences rather than mere expenditures. By saving where we could, using rewards strategically, and prioritizing the experiences that mattered most, we were able to enjoy the Orlando trip we wanted without overspending — and create memories our family will cherish for years. As we reflect on our time in Orlando, we recognize that the effort put into planning and budgeting was instrumental in making our trip enjoyable and fulfilling. The joy of experiencing the parks together, the laughter shared over meals, and the excitement of rides are the moments that will stay with us long after the trip has ended.
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