Trip Report | Henry’s 11th Birthday in Orlando
Overview
One of my favorite things about points and miles is being able to create experiences and memories or our kids that might otherwise feel out of reach.
For our son’s 11th birthday earlier this year, he had one very specific request: he wanted to see the Lakers play again, just like he did for his 10th birthday. This time, my husband and son headed to Orlando for a weekend getaway to watch the Lakers take on the Orlando Magic.
The Details
The guys flew on Southwest Airlines using Southwest points, which is one of our favorite ways to keep family travel affordable and flexible. They stayed for two nights at Disney’s Saratoga Springs using our family’s Disney Vacation Club points.
The trip itself was pretty simple, but honestly, those are sometimes the best kind of trips! They spent one afternoon exploring Disney Springs, grabbing food, walking around, and soaking in the beautiful March weather in Orlando. Another day, they spent at the resort fitness center and outdoor pool. Then came the big event: Lakers game night.
And what a game it was!
The Lakers pulled off an exciting win in what felt like a buzzer-beater kind of finish, and Henry was absolutely thrilled. Between the energy in the arena, seeing his favorite players in person, and getting that one-on-one time with his dad, it turned into one of those core memory weekends that I’m sure he’ll remember for a long time.
That’s the magic of points and miles! If we had needed to pay cash for flights, hotel accommodations, NBA tickets, meals, and spending money all at once, this might not have been a weekend we could justify doing.
Points & Miles Breakdown
Accommodations:
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa: Booked a 1 bedroom for 2 nights using our family’s Disney Vacation Club points. Cash price would have been $1,880 ($980/night).
Flights:
Southwest Airlines: Paid 40,000 points per person, roundtrip - kind of steep for Southwest, but it was spring break season. Total taxes and fees were $22.40 ($11.20/person). The cash price would have been $1,400 ($700/person)!
Total Savings:
By using points and miles, we saved a total of $3,280 on this boys’ weekend. How could you say no to that?!
Earning Points
We accumulate Hyatt points mainly by transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt, and we accumulate Southwest points mainly by opening Southwest credit cards through Chase.
If you are interested in learning more about racking up points and miles to take a memorable trip with your family, let me know! I’d love to help strategize credit card welcome bonuses with you and I’m happy to answer any questions.
