3 On
Your Side: Orlando Deals
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Disney
World, Sea World, Universal Studios!
Over a million Delaware Valley residents
head to Orlando every year.
But if rising gas and food prices have
you thinking that a trip now is
downright goofy, 3 On Your Side's Jim
Donovan found new ways to save.
They're the latest attractions in
Orlando designed to delight, Toy Story
Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios and
Aquatica, SeaWorld's new water park.
And the newly opened Simpson's ride at
Universal Studios Orlando where even a
trip to Krustyland costs cash. But there
are ways to save, starting with your
rental car.
"They rent probably more rental cars
here than any place else in the
country," said Bob Sehlinger, author of
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney
World 2008. "Their supply is just so
enormous, the rates are always good
here," said Sehlinger.
Bob says you should check out regional
companies like E-Z Rent-A-Car and L&M
Car Rental which can offer cars for as
little as $15 dollars a day. When
renting with national chains, search for
online discounts on sites like
mousesavers.com. I found a discount code
there that cut my Dollar Rent A Car
price in half!
You don't always have to stay at Disney
to enjoy Disney. The Magic Castle Inn,
Home Suite Home East Gate and Buena
Vista Suites are among hotels rated by
the guide's researchers as being tops
for value. "This is where a little bit
of dollar gets a whole lot of room,"
said Sehlinger. Like at the Orlando
Vista where you can get a nice room at a
decent price, often for less than $100 a
night. These hotels have pools, snack
bars, even free shuttle transportation.
But if you want more space, privacy or
want to save cash by cooking many of
your own meals rent a condo or house.
"There's approximately 19,000 vacation
homes in the general Orlando area now,"
said Sehlinger.
Two bedroom condos can start as low as
$100 dollars a night, some three bedroom
units can be booked for as little as
$120!
And then there are the houses. "The
sheets are in place, the towels are in
place, our guest services team is
available to serve you, most condos and
rental homes require at least a four day
stay. Many are in gated communities and
the skies the limit.
The Formosa Castle is a seven bedroom
mansion that sleeps 16 and offers
practically every amenity imaginable. It
starts at $700 a night. A large group
can stay there for as little as $44
dollars per person, per night.
"It is a great bargain," said Mark
Whichard of Orlando's Finest Vacation
Homes.
The Formosa Castle is just one of many
great houses to choose from.
"This house has a 12 seat movie theater,
a pool table, and every bedroom is a
suite. If you put four families in here,
two adults, 2 kids for each family, you
aren't going to be able to take a
vacation like this at any resort complex
or any hotel anywhere," said Whichard.
Another great way to get a deal on
accommodations, whether it be in Orlando
or elsewhere, contact the convention and
visitors bureau to find out what new
hotels have opened up in the past few
months. Many will offer amazing deals
until they can build up their own
clientele.
