Orlando, Florida on a modest budget? It can be done! You can NOT break the bank and still have a fabulous time with your family and even bring home some great souvenirs.
First of all, you must do some planning ahead of time in the form of web shopping. Check out the web's fifty percent off restaurant certificates: here you will find some of the best dining around town including everything from new trendy restaurants to local pizzerias. (Once you arrive check for early bird specials at restaurants and save even more with your dining certificates!) Also the entertainment book for the Orlando area is well worth the cost. Don't forget to check your favorite restaurant chains websites as well, because discounts can often be found there by signing up for their email club. Pizza, Sub and fast food chains often have coupons you can print directly from their websites.
Now, do a little more web shopping for accommodations. Skip the hotel/motel route and look at reserving a vacation rental home. You will usually find find much nicer accommodations (from one bedroom up to 5, multiple baths, kitchen, pools, etc.) often for LESS than the cost of a hotel room. The best time of year to go is May or September/October. Rates are better, crowds are smaller, and humidity is lower For your accommodations, staying somewhere with access to a pool is a must and be sure to designate one day as a pool day, so that you and your family can relax for FREE.
On your arrival, hit the local grocery store for bottled water, your favorite bottled drinks and snacks some breakfast favorites,and evening snacks like popcorn and your favorite ice cream (if you are driving to Orlando and have the room in your vehicle buy these on sale before you leave home). Most of the theme parks will let you bring in a bottle of water (think 1.5 L bottles frozen to last most of the day) and some snacks (apples, grapes, bananas, raisins, individually wrapped snacks, etc. think fun and healthy!) but will not let you bring in coolers. Pick up a bottle strap souvenir once inside the park and use it each day for everyone's water.
Try not to eat in the park's eateries--they can truly break your budget! Eat a big breakfast, take along some snacks and water, and eat another meal in the evening on your way back to your home away from home. (Of course you can save even more by cooking dinner one or two nights) Go back to the park after dinner if you like-- with more snacks or head back to your home base for a special ice cream treat in your room! If you find that you need to eat in the park one day go for the sandwich restaurants. Portions are usually large and you can halve the sandwiches and share sides.
No vacation is complete without souveniers, but don't think that you have to dip into savings for your mouse ears and giant foam fingers. Hit the outlet malls outside the theme parks in Orlando for rock bottom deals on authentic Disney and Universal merchandise. (Disney's Character Premier at Orlando Premium Outlets on Vineland Avenue is less than 5 miles from Downtown Disney) These items are way below the prices at the parks! (a $49.99 hoodie for $10.00 or a $20.00 t-shirt for $4.00). And don't forget to spend a day or afternoon just walking around Downtown Disney (grab a free sample of Ghirardelli chocolate) or Universal City Walk --another FREE day if you can resist buying the wonderful goodies all around!
SAVE BIG and still LIVE IT UP in Orlando!
This tidbit of real travel advice was brought to you by L Crawford.
There is no reason to put off your pilgrimage to Mouse-Mecca with affordable, luxurious Orlando vacation rentals available. Book a house or condo for less than the price of hotel, and use the rest of your cash to outfit the family in ears, glow-necklaces, and churros. Book your stay today at Zonder.com!