Posts Tagged ‘Orlando hotels’

5 Ways to Save on your Orlando Vacation

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

There are plenty of ways you can save money on your Orlando vacation — even before you arrive in Florida. Saving money on your biggest ticket items, including accommodations, food and theme park tickets will help you trim your vacation budget without missing out on any fun.

  1. Accommodations: Where you stay has a big impact on your vacation budget. Consider all of your options, including resorts and rental homes to see what features are most important to you. You may find that one category or another serves your needs well at a price you can afford.
  2. Schedule: Plan your trip for the off-season and save big on your room and on packages. Off season for an Orlando vacation usually means fall or winter travel. Visiting in the off season has additional perks as well–you’ll see fewer crowds and spend less time waiting in line.
  3. Package Deals: No matter when you visit, look for packages that offer a resort room with theme park tickets. While a package won’t always be a bargain, they are worth exploring as you plan your trip.
  4. Budget Dining: You can still enjoy some of the area’s best restaurants when you travel on a budget. Choose lunch over dinner and you’ll enjoy the same menu at a reduced rate when you visit a table service dining location. Book a vacation home or condo and you’ll be able to cook up meals for the whole family in a fully equipped kitchen.
  5. Save on Souvenirs: Picking up a memento or two of your trip is a good idea; blowing your budget on mouse ears isn’t. Select inexpensive but meaningful souvenirs, particularly for kids. Pressed pennies at Disney World can be had for just 51 cents each, and are fun to make — and character autographs are free. Be creative, set a souvenir budget for each family member, and stick to it to avoid over-spending on your vacation.

Shrek the Halls Preparations Begin at the Gaylord Palms

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

The calander may say “October”, but artisans and sculptors are already hard at work crafting the intricate decor for the Gaylord Palm’s annual ICE! festival. The theme for this year’s Christmas event is “Shrek the Halls”, but you’ll see plenty of other Dreamworks characters on hand, including the penguins of Madagascar and characters from Kung Fu Panda.

Shrek the Halls

Visit theGaylord Palms this holiday season for the annual ICE! fest.

Sculptors are hard at work converting over two million pounds of ice to a frozen wonderland of Dreamworks themed fun. The icy playground will take about a month to complete, and features clear, white and colorful sculptures, attractions and slides, all protected from the Orlando sun.

ICE! is an annual holiday event with a different theme each year. This year’s “Shrek the Halls/Dreamworks” focus promises to be family friendly and a fun addition to any Orlando vacation. In addition to ice sculptures and slides, the Christmas at the Gaylord Palms includes Santa visits, a Kung Fu Panda snow playground, live entertainment and character greetings, and a gingerbread decorating area hosted by “Gingy” from the Shrek films.

You do not have to stay at the Gaylord Palms to enjoy ICE! or the Christmas events. The events are scheduled to run from November 16,2011- January 2,2012, and tickets are required.

“Shrek the Halls” and ICE! are well worth a visit, particularly if you are in town for the holidays, and want to visit with some rarely seen Dreamworks characters.

Fall Orlando Vacation Tips

Monday, October 10th, 2011

If you are heading to our area for an Orlando vacation, we’ve assembled some helpful information to let you get a head start on your packing and itinerary planning. Knowing what to bring can save you some space in your suitcase (and excess baggage fees if you are flying), while hitting the right theme park on the right days can dramatically cut the amount of time you spend waiting in line:

Weather: If an Orlando vacation is in your forecast for October or November, plan on enjoying comfortable temperatures, but pack a lightweight jacket just in case. You may want to keep an eye on the tropics as well. Though it may feel like summer has passed, hurricane season is still in effect in fall.

Events: The Orlando theme parks are bursting with fall events, from the fun and festive Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney’s Magic Kingdom to a special Harry Potter film celebration at Universal. If you are in town during the fall, check out the event schedules for each park you plan on visiting so you won’t miss out on the fun.

Crowds: Expect the theme parks to be less crowded than usual, meaning you should be able to enjoy more rides and attractions per day. It is still a good idea to arrive when the park opens; or arrive late in the day to take advantage of evening hours, but even the middle parts of the day will be manageable at Sea World, Universal and Disney World.

Itinerary Tips: Plan to visit the Disney theme parks on days with Extra Magic Hours if you are staying on Disney property. Avoid the Extra Magic Hours park of the day if you are staying offsite; the park will be packed with onsite guests by the time you are allowed in.

Consider these tips as you pack and plan for your fall trip and you’ll be able to add plenty of seasonal fun onto your Orlando vacation.

Podcast – Leave the Stress at Home in 5 Easy Steps

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

[podcast]http://www.orlandovacation.com/podcasts/leave-the-stress-at-home-in-5-easy-steps.mp3[/podcast]

Podcast – 7 Useful Tips to Help Plan Your Orlando Vacation

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

[podcast]http://www.orlandovacation.com/podcasts/7-useful-tips-to-help-plan-your-orlando-vacation.mp3[/podcast]

Video – Why You Should Purchase A Disney Vacation Package

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

[podcast format="video"]http://www.orlandovacation.com/podcasts/advantages-of-purchasing-a-disney-package-deal.mp4[/podcast]

Video – 5 Easy Steps To Leave That Stress At Home

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

[podcast format="video"]http://www.orlandovacation.com/podcasts/leave-the-stress-at-home-in-5-easy-steps.mp4[/podcast]

Video – Plan Your Orlando Vacation With These 7 Tips

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

[podcast format="video"]http://www.orlandovacation.com/podcasts/7-useful-tips-to-help-plan-your-orlando-vacation.mp4[/podcast]

Podcast – Advantages of Staying in Orlando

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

[podcast]http://www.orlandovacation.com/podcasts/the-advantages-of-staying-in-orlando.mp3[/podcast]

Podcast – High Class Orlando Hotels on a Budget

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

[podcast]http://www.orlandovacation.com/podcasts/finding-high-class-hotels-with-moderate-budgets.mp3[/podcast]