biggest rip off in florida and tips to aviod it

[nutsaboutorlando]

hi guys ive been talking about the express passes in universal and what a rip off they are on top off your admission ,and it got me thinking in these days of the credit crunch if there are any other things you guys would consider as a rip off and ways round them like restaraunts ,attactions, dinner shows ,transportetc ,my tip is anybody going for the first time and intending on going to the welcome meeting is dont buy the tansport to dinner shows off the reps ,on my first trip to orlando there was 10 of us that went and we booked a night at arabian nights and asked the reps about getting there they said we would have to book with mears because there is no public transport that way so we paid $10 per person round trip ,but when we got there started talking to a couple that were staying at our hotel that we had met the day before and they had caught the lynx bus there costing $2.50 for both of them so you could imagine how we all felt paying 100 dollars for us all when it could of cost 15 dollars round trip for all of us because we would not of paid for the kids b ecause of their ages,never saw the rep again but spoke to another didnt even get an explanation why had told us there was no other transport that way but we all learn the hard way sometimes:cry:so for our next trip i made sure i was armed and ready with the brits guide , so come on guys and gals are there any things you think people should aviod.

[ELAINE]

My only warning would be to check what you are signing for on the car hire forms... i think they take advantage of the fact that you are shattered after a long flight and add on all sorts of extras, we were charged $516 for a "free" upgrade and for an additional driver that we didn't need or ask for. Because we had signed without checking the amount we didn't have a leg to stand on trying to get it back; we were expecting a bill for $40(ish) for the breakdown cover so the $516 was a shock:eek: Other than that we found that in Florida you got what you paid for... the more you paid the more (or better service) you got. :happy-thumb

[dmrevis]

I was gonna suggest Mears before i read the original post! While maybe no a rip off, they are certainly unnessesary if you do just a little reasearch before you travel. For a first timer they may be ok for one or two trips but certainly after that you should be wising up!
I've never used mears again since our first trip and we discovered Lynx. Sure, mears get you there faster (sometimes) but id rather pay less than al 1/4 of the price and use Lynx.

[Catlady]

If you are driving keep an eye out for the cheapest petrol stations. Racetrack can be cheaper, they are on the 192, also we found the Hess petrol stations on the road leading towards Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk was a few cents cheaper earlier this year.;)

[UK Deb]

Whilst I agree that it's worth gathering as much information as possible (from forums like this and guide books such as A Brit's Guide) in order to save money, I'm not sure I entirely go along with the "rip-off" assessment.

The charge for using Universal Express (be it directly, or by providing it as a perk for resort guests) seems like a legitimate way to increase revenue, particularly when you consider the very reasonable cost of a day at one of their parks compared with a Disney park (our two year PAPs with no blackouts cost $179 whereas we had to shell out around $350 each for a one year WDW AP and that includes a $100 per pass DVC discount).

Likewise, I don't consider $10 excessive for the Mears transportation. It's not comparable with the Lynx service and so I wouldn't expect the cost to be similar. Your beef is with the dishonest rep who robbed you of making a choice.

I pay far less for my trips by booking everything DIY than those who book packages, but I don't think the tour operators could be accused of ripping anyone off. It's all about being armed with sufficient information to be able to make choices.

[LeonieM]

Regarding petrol stations, I was recommended the one about a mile into the Disney 'estate' when entered via the Crossroads 'entrance'. I can't remember whether it's a Hess or not, but it was a good 4c cheaper per gallon back in 2006.

[Susan Veness]

I would have to agree with Deb on this one. If you have a choice, you can't be ripped off. But business are in business to make money, and if they can do so by offering special services not everyone has to accept, that seems fair to me.

LYNX will be much cheaper, but Mears (or a car) will get you there much quicker. You get to choose which option works best on any given day. The Universal Express Plus pass is an option, not a requirement, and it is a godsend (well worth the extra cost) at certain times of the year and for certain touring styles.

On the other hand, I would consider the price of food and drinks inside any theme park a bit of a rip-off, since technically you are not allowed to bring your own meals and are at the mercy of the park. You do have the choice of leaving and returning after a meal, but that isn't realistic, especially with children.

My tips for avoiding the higher cost of dining in the restaurants are:
-book one or two full service meals during your trip, so that you can experience the finer dining and not feel deprived in any way.
-eat your main meal around 3pm, just before the lunch menu ends. Sizes are more reasonable and the price is lower for the same thing (or roughly so) offered at dinner time.
-Make wise choices about where you dine and what you eat. Places like Sunshine Season Food Fair at Epcot have healthy, filling side dishes that add up to a great meal, instead of ordering a full meal.
-Bring your own water bottles and refill them using the water fountains.

[Tiggers Friend]

Regarding petrol stations, I was recommended the one about a mile into the Disney 'estate' when entered via the Crossroads 'entrance'. I can't remember whether it's a Hess or not, but it was a good 4c cheaper per gallon back in 2006.

Yep that's the Hess station. There is one on the east bound side and one on the west bound.

[emoclay]

I would definately agree with the post about car hires we were offered an upgrade to a full size car which we took as the luggage wouldn't fit in the mid size we had booked. We were told that it would be and extra $120 and were then given an SUV 'for the same price as a full size' and indeed they threw in a 'free' car seat out of kindness!! Since coming home I have been hit with an extra £220 (Over $400) on my credit card, but we signed the form and were stupid enough to believe what the guy from Alamo had told us so we didn't have a leg to stand on. BEWARE:angry:

[Susan Veness]

emoclay, you certainly do have a leg to stand on. The price for your hire car should be on the form you signed, including the rate for the upgrade. If the rate you've been charged isn't the rate on the form you signed, you've got all the evidence you need to take it up with the car hire company and get that extra money refunded.

[Simon Veness]

On the subject of meals, while most restaurants aren't exactly a ripoff (especially the buffet options like CiCi's Pizza and Sweet Tomatoes), they DO often serve WAY more food than most people can eat. Therefore, one solution is to ask to split a main course between two people. This often provides a good meal for two at half the cost (as long as you remember to tip your server as if you'd both had a main course, because they will usually have gone to the trouble of splitting the meal onto 2 plates for you).

[Tiggers Friend]

I would definately agree with the post about car hires we were offered an upgrade to a full size car which we took as the luggage wouldn't fit in the mid size we had booked. We were told that it would be and extra $120 and were then given an SUV 'for the same price as a full size' and indeed they threw in a 'free' car seat out of kindness!! Since coming home I have been hit with an extra £220 (Over $400) on my credit card, but we signed the form and were stupid enough to believe what the guy from Alamo had told us so we didn't have a leg to stand on. BEWARE:angry:

The two words I rehearse as I approach the car rental desk is "No Thanks". :laughing:

[Catlady]

Thats exactly what my hubby does as well.
Also best to put on your "don't mess with me" face too...:laughing: