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Orlando on the Cheap

Ways to Save Cash in Orlando

By Carol Muse Evans

A  vacation to Orlando, Florida, can be pricey, especially if you plan several days in the Disney and/or Universal theme parks. Even SeaWorld daily prices are expensive, running as much as one day in the Disney parks. However, there are some ways to save money on your trip to Central Florida:

  • Join the DISNEY CLUB at http://www.disneyclub.com and save on Disney hotel accommodations, multi-day theme park passes, restaurants and gift purchases. Call 800-654-6347. Cost to join is $39.95, but some companies offer a discount. Check with your employer first.

  •  Pick up a free ORLANDO MAGIC CARD from the Orlando Convention and Visitors’ Bureau or request one by mail and save at participating restaurants and attractions in the Orlando area.

  •  Drive to Orlando and visit the official DISNEY WELCOME CENTER right off I-4 at the Ocala exit. The only Disney “clearing house” for rooms inside the Disney complex, the representatives here can get you accommodations in the Disney complex anywhere from 10 percent and up off, depending on availability and the season. You must appear in person and pay at the Welcome Center, and it is first come, first serve. The center is open daily until 6 p.m. EST.

  • Visit the Orlando CVB’s OFFICIAL VISITOR CENTER on International Drive, open daily 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST, and check out its “black book” of area hotels offering up to 75 percent off on rates on a first come, first serve basis. You must visit in person to get these non-published rates, and you have to ask. The center also offers discount ticket sales on many attractions, including Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld.

  • Purchase “SECRETS TO AN AFFORDABLE DISNEY VACATION,” an online book by John and Donna Gross for $29.95. Visit http://www.affordabledisney.com for more information. When you buy, you’re a member for life, getting frequent e-mail updates plus access to the online book. You also receive a coupon good for $100 in accommodations.

  •  Consider visiting Disney World in the “off season,” or what is considered “value season.” This excludes summer. Value season (least crowded, as well) tends to be the second week of January through the first week of February, the week after Labor Day until Thanksgiving and the Week after Thanksgiving through the week before Christmas.  Expect smaller crowds during these times as well as lower hotel rates. Be wary of Disney “packages” and do your own vacation planning. Or, at least, itemize your plan versus the package offerings and price, comparing “apples to apples.” For example, one such package Disney recently offered cost $3,775 for a family of four. It included six nights at a mid-priced hotels on site, unlimited admission to theme parks, a souvenir pin and two magical wish features, such as a photo with Mickey. If you break this down, lodging at the same hotel would be $800 for six nights for four people, unlimited hopper passes for four, about $1,200. If you take out the pins and wishes, you’d spend $2,000 – a savings of $1,775!

  •  Consider staying off-site, whether you’re seeing Disney World, Universal Studios or both. You can save dollars on lodging, but the big savings will come in meal prices. While you may still need to have lunch or dinner inside the parks, many hotels offer free continental or buffet breakfasts for the whole family, and others, such as Holiday Inn, allow kids to eat free at other meals. In addition, many hotels have kitchenettes or at least refrigerator and microwave, allowing you to bring along snacks or even sandwich fixings to pack a lunch.  For example, the Holiday Inn Kids’ Suites (877-387-KIDS or www.hifamilysuites.com) is only five minutes from the Disney main gate, offers a full buffet breakfast, suites feature microwave and refrigerator, and kids eat free in the restaurants, all starting at around $129. Traveling without children? You can stay in a building here without children in a special adult-style suite. The Marriott Village at Little Lake Bryan (877-682-8552 or www.marriottvillage.com) features deluxe continental breakfast, refrigerator and microwave and offers three different hotels from which to choose: the value-priced Fairfield Inn, the mid-range Springhill Suites or the more upscale Marriott, all in a gated community just minutes from Disney World’s gates.

  •  When booking your hotel, ask for the room rate BEFORE you tell them about your club, AAA membership discount, etc. Ask about “specials,” as well, and watch for coupons in travel magazines, brochures and online.

  • Check out the internet for specials on passes and more. Some limitations apply. Or, purchase your Universal tickets online at http://www.universalstudiosorlando.com and save $5 on each ticket.

  • Do your homework. Spend some time in books and on the Internet searching for specials, deals, dollars off coupons and more before planning your Orlando vacation. Use some search engines and visit the sites of the places you plan to visit. Check out park opening and closing times, special events, etc. and be prepared in case of early closings or long lines.

Carol Muse Evans is a Birmingham-based freelance writer, specializing in family travel.carolmuseevans@alabamawriters.com. by Carol Muse Evans.

Copyright 2002 Carol Muse Evans. This work and its are protected by copyright and may be used only for personal non-commercial purposes. All other rights are reserved, and commercial use is prohibited without permission of the author.

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