29 replies to this topic

[Adelaine Beaumont]

Hello, fellow DMRPers. Macaroni and I have been talking, and we decided that a small DMRP get-together would be quite enjoyable. It would be kinda like a convention..but...not really. We'd all go hang out in Hogsmeade everyday and drink butterbeer! Exciting, right? Right.

So, this would possibly happen the summer of 2012, unless you have other suggestions. We'd all stay in THIS hotel (unless you choose to stay elsewhere) on-site at Universal. At this hotel, we get free transportation to the park AND we can go to WWoHP an hour earlier than it opens.

The cheapest way would be if we roomed together. 4 people to a room, so the cost would split four ways. That's only for people who are okay with rooming with others.
It would be a 2 night, 3 day stay.

$150.99 for a 3 day park pass.
$135.99 for a 2 day park pass.

The hotel rooms are $329.00 per night, which would then be split four ways.
You would pay:
$82.25 per night
So $164.50 per person for both nights.

Your all-together expenses (hotel/pass) are:
$299.50 for 2 nights, 2-day pass.

$315.49 for 2 nights, 3-day pass.

Thoughts?

P.S., for those of you who haven't been -- it is AMAZING. It's legitimately a walk through the wizarding world. It's so worth it and probably better than LeakyCon.

Some pictures to make you want to come more:

      

Edited by Adelaine Beaumont, 16 November 2011 - 10:33 PM.

[Oscar Fox]

I'd be down even though I'm new... If people are okay with. This is also stimulant on travel from and back to Europe, and if I can wear my Ravenclaw uniform every day.

(I just wanna go to WWoHP!)

Edited by Oscar Fox, 15 November 2011 - 08:37 PM.

[Meghan Morris]

We know some of you live out of the U.S.A. but we are hoping that if possible you could visit the states. I am already saving for LeakyCon and maybe this. I am sincerely excited to see who would be able to go. If we need to plan it at another time it might be possible. I think Randi would give you options of whom to room with if preferred. I know this isn't all out like LeakyCon but it would be a fun little get together if you could make it.

[Adelaine Beaumont]

Yes yes yes. Alexi, you should totally come!

Personally, I'd rather do this than LeakyCon. I'd have more fun hanging out in WWoHP with friends than I would going to a convention in Chicago with people I don't know.
And yeah, of course people can choose roommates. You don't have to room with anyone if you don't want, or even stay in the same hotel. That hotel's the cheapest, and rooming makes it even cheaper.

[Elisabet la Barre]

I would if I wasn't saving for yet unnamed con.

[Professor Llwellyn]

I think this is a great idea - i'm in assuming work and air fares allow. We European types could fly over together (from Heathrow?) if people are scared of flying to America on their own. My concerns would be transport if we wanted to go anywhere not served by shuttle (who among us can hire a car?) and who is responsible for anyone under 18. Also a bit concerned about timing given the very high cost of getting in and out of Britain during the Olympics, (27th July-12 Aug, can't remember which day I have tickets for!), what time of year were you thinking of? Plus rooms and parks are busier during August.

[Adelaine Beaumont]

Schools in the south (U.S.) start in August, so I was thinking mid June/early-mid July? That's excluding anywhere from July 1-7 (4th of July prices get extremely high). People who go to school should let me know when they get out/when they go back.

We could all pitch in to rent a van or something. HERE is where we would go for that. Renting for three days shouldn't be too expensive.

As it gets closer (once we choose dates) we could try and plan our flights so that we all arrive and leave around the same times, so that we could just go to and from the airport together. Wednesdays are always the best for plane tickets, so it would probably be Wednesday-Friday. Plus, weekends are super busy in the parks.

Edited by Adelaine Beaumont, 16 November 2011 - 04:42 PM.

[Professor Llwellyn]

Our schools don't finish til mid july and don't go back until September - so come August I suppose the place will be full of Brits. Universities might finish a bit earlier. I'm not sure who this would actually affect anyway. Juneish would suit me fine, how about everyone else? Transport wise, it isn't the cost of hiring a vehicle that worries me, so much as who among you lot can legally hire and drive the thing. But then we might not need it anyway if the shuttle service is decent and we don't want to go off anywhere else

[Alistair Bauldaugh]

As super fantastic of an idea as this is, that's not even half of what the plane ticket over there would cost me... Being in college doesn't help either. I wish you all the best of luck and hope you can take photos. Maybe if you do another in a few years I would be able to come (and bring the kids I hope to have by then   )

[Regis Blake]

Yea I'll go!  Let's make it happen captains!

[Adelaine Beaumont]

Meg, don't you live in Oregon? A ticket would be like $300 depending on the date. Don't say no just yet, everybody save up! I'm overly optimistic sometimes. I've calculated that I'll have to save about $700. $300 for Orlando, $100 for souvenirs, and $200-$300 for a flight.
You should all go to cheapoair.com, it has...well, cheap flights.

Hooray for Tate, you better come! Also, invite Audrey. Save every penny!

As far as driving goes, I'll probably have my license by then (long story short, I got kicked out of driver's ed. before we got to the driving section of the course). If Mac's aunt comes, she could drive. I doubt we'll need to do much driving, though. I'm sure there's a shuttle from the airport to Universal, and I know there's one from the hotel to the park. There's probably a little food store close to the hotel (there was in WDW), we'll probably only need like bread, unless we're eating at the parks every night. And I'm 76% sure there's breakfast at the hotel. And a swimming pool

Edited by Adelaine Beaumont, 16 November 2011 - 10:32 PM.

[Alexander Sowerby]

I'd be interesting, provided I could pay off my student loans, save up money for a car and potentially go to Europe and Orlando...

[Adelaine Beaumont]

Why must you go to Europe? And why do you need a car? I'll pay off your student loans!

Okay so, I'm not sure exactly where you all live, but I just kinda pinpointed the locations. I looked up tickets for the main airports where you're all from, and I found the cheapest tickets for June (July is really high). Prices will go down as it gets closer, you just gotta keep checking.

6/11-6/13

$1327 at Heathrow

$278 Milwaukee

$327 Dallas

$350 Portland, Oregon

$539 Vancouver (Jan, I dunno what part of Canada you're in)

$392 Amarillo

$1725 Melbourne


6/18-6/20

$1327 Heathrow

$295 Milwaukee

$294 Dallas

$375 Portland

$539 Vancouver

$392 Amarillo

Edited by Adelaine Beaumont, 17 November 2011 - 05:49 PM.

[Meghan Morris]

Here's the deal. I was browsing Universal and I came across this little tidbit. It doesn't include airfare and etc. But if there was a "family" of four whom happened to not  be related this may be the best option. If my calculations are correct for 4-Nights, a 3 day pass, live entertainment, and early admission into wwohp you could pay approximately $229.75 each. I am not quite sure if this is possible but if it is, well Randi will figure it out.  

Hope you all get to come (including myself) and hopefully Randi won't mind me borrowing her emote... but hope you all have a magical week!

[Emmanuelle Armand]

I doubt we'll be able to do the "family of 4" thing, that's like cheating. They more than likely check to see that you're related, otherwise people would use that all the time.

[Alexander Sowerby]

I'm near Toronto.

As for Europe, I promised to see my cousins.

[Adelaine Beaumont]

Okay, I think I gave the wrong hotel link the first time. It's THIS hotel.
Here, we get:

-Early admission to WWoHP (before the park opens)
-Universal Express ride access (like a fastpass, to get ahead in the lines at rides)
-Free water taxi/shuttle bus service to both parks and Universal CityWalk
-Priority seating at select restaurants in the parks/CityWalk
-Delivery of merchandise you purchase at parks straight to the hotel room
-Character dining (fun!)
-Wake-up calls from a character! Muahahaha.

Now, we can room 5 people in one room, but that would cost the 5th person $25 per day. The rooms are SUPER nice; flat screen TV, coffee maker/coffee/tea, and a refreshment pantry with snacks, sodas, etc. (for purchase). The pool is awesome, and apparently there's sand?


Jan, Toronto is $478 roundtrip.

Edited by Adelaine Beaumont, 17 November 2011 - 08:25 PM.

[Adelaine Beaumont]

Alright, cheaper rates have been found!
The hotel is the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites about 3 miles from Universal. It's way less expensive than the on-site hotels. It's one of Universal's partner hotels, so it's not great, but it's not bad either. And we'll hardly spend time there anyways. There's no breakfast at the hotel, so we'll have to buy some things, but that's not a big deal for just four nights.

Prices:
$50 per night
$225 for a four night stay. ($56 per person if we have 4 to a room)

There has to be at least one person 21 or older to a room (we can get around that; someone 21 or older will just have to check in).

There is scheduled transportation to and from Universal. We wouldn't have early park admission, but that's no big deal. Another bit of good news is that there IS a shuttle to the airport!

Now for Universal expenses:

For a 1-park pass -
$136 for a 3-day pass
$146 for a 4-day pass

2-park pass -
$151 for a 3-day pass
$156 for a 4-day pass

Total expenses per person (hotel/pass):
$192 w. 1 park/3-day pass
$202 w. 1 park/4-day pass

$207 w. 2 park/3-day pass
$212 w. 2 park/4-day pass

So, what are your thoughts on all this?

Edited by Adelaine Beaumont, 20 November 2011 - 08:43 PM.

[Professor Llwellyn]

Econo lodge? Sounds classy. Or not. I don't really care so long as it's clean, secure, pest free and has workng aircon. Other than me, how many people are over 21? It definitely sounds like a plausible alternative although we might spend a lot of time waiting for the shuttle bus to the park.

In any case I am in awe of your organising skills and determination, don't worry too much about ex LHR flights - I'll make a longer trip and tie it in with something else.

[Adelaine Beaumont]

Thank you I like planning things. There is a working air conditioner, and probably an ironing board as well. I'll be 19 on June 12th. If Mac's aunt comes that'll be one more person over 21, and if I can talk Sarah into driving down, that's another person. Jan and Alexi are both over 21 one, too.