Great "Cheap Holidays & Excursions" Hunt: Orlando

MSE_Jenny · 30 June 2009 at 12:05PM

What’s this about? The weak pound means buying things abroad costs up to 30% more. To help, we're launching a Great ‘Cheap Holidays & Excursions’ Hunt, tapping the massive collective resource of all MoneySavers. Did you find a bargain way to book outings, or cut costs on places to go?

We've split this into popular holiday destinations. This discussion is specifically to talk about tips for attractions & days out in:

Orlando

If you want to discuss other excursions for other destinations, please go to the appropriate discussion below.

If you’ve got a suggestion/tip

Simply click reply and add your suggestion, though its worth scanning down first to check it's not been duplicated.

Related Great 'Cheap Holidays & Excursions' Hunt Discussions

Majorca
Costa Del Sol (Torremolinos, Malaga, Marbella etc)
Ibiza
Canary Islands
Greek Islands
Southern Turkey (inc. Antalya)
Phuket
Costa Blanca (inc. Benidorm)
French Riviera
Algarve
Cyprus

Related guides:

Cheap Package Holidays
Cheap Flights
Cheap Hotels

fife1975 · 1 July 2009 at 9:19AM

We went to Orlando, Florida in 2007. We didn't use the car we could have had. Instead we used the bus service. They look like little trams. They are $1 a ride, or you can pay something like $16 dollars for 14 days unlimited use. They also did tickets for 7 days unlimited use. But, as we were there for 2 weeks it was ideal. We stayed on international drive, the stops are every couple of hundred yards or so and it is a very easy service to use. The drivers were very friendly too! Told us what buses to catch to get to Disney, and stops at Seaworld.
This saved us an extortionate insurance payments once we got there.

I would recommend anyone staying on international drive to use this service!

morph2008 · 1 July 2009 at 9:45AM

we always book everything from the flights to the accommodation ourselves, scouring all the comparision sites for flights and cars and checking on ebay for villas. last year we had 3 week holiday in a four bedroom villa, 4 people and 2 cars, flights with virgin for £650 each. book the flights as late as you can and check daily as the prices can change significantly and try to be flexible with the dates. for instance at the min you can have a flight to orlando on the 14th sept for 527, yet in you fly 3 days later you can get it for 407

DavidP24 · 1 July 2009 at 9:47AM

If you are going to hire a car via the Internet BEWARE, the web pages often say you are fully covered but when you arrive they stitch you for an insurance fee that for me was DOUBLE my car rental. This was with Alamo, I complained and the lady cursed in Spanish that she was fed up with the company ripping people off and expecting her to deal with it.

I responded that I felt worse as I was the one having to pay!

wils+co · 1 July 2009 at 9:49AM

*The local Sunday paper (The Sentinal) contains a trees worth of vouchers. If you have the time and energy to go through them you can find money off groceries, craft supplies etc which is especially great if you self catering

*Pick up voucher booklets in supermarkets and in buffet type restaurants like Ponderosa - we saved money on our Kenedy Space Centre tickets and on several meals.

*Register for e-mails from companies, and restaurants such as TGI Fridays, Texas De Brazil, Yankee Candle etc. who often send discount e-mails or 'free item' e-mails for joining up.

*If you go to a mall ask at Guest services for a voucher book. Orlando Premium Outlets also has a 'Shopper Club' you can join for free which gives you access to additional money off coupons - it was almost embarrasing the amount we saved in Timberland (though this was in the heady days of $2/£!)

*Disney are currently doing a promotion where you get a free days entry (or a gift card to that value) on your Birthday - take ID. Also pick up a birthday badge in a Disney Park for a days worth of attention (My daughter also got a free ice-cream one year)

DavidP24 · 1 July 2009 at 9:50AM

morph2008 wrote: »

we always book everything from the flights to the accommodation ourselves, scouring all the comparision sites for flights and cars and checking on ebay for villas. last year we had 3 week holiday in a four bedroom villa, 4 people and 2 cars, flights with virgin for £650 each. book the flights as late as you can and check daily as the prices can change significantly and try to be flexible with the dates. for instance at the min you can have a flight to orlando on the 14th sept for 527, yet in you fly 3 days later you can get it for 407

Yes do be aware of this with flights, I was due to go with Virgin then they put the price UP by £200, I was going to accept it but then checked on BA and found a flight for £12 cheaper than my original Virgin ticket = RESULT!

Have a few US dollar notes available as you have to pay for trolleys and the machine needs dollars to release them.

wils+co · 1 July 2009 at 9:59AM

Come and join the 'experts' (some of whom practically live in Florida!) on the UK boards of the Disboards Forums - there is a wealth of knowledge on all aspects of trip planning and many of us also are moneysavers so we like to save a few cents where we can!

As i'm a newbee I can't post a link but it's easy to find and there is a trip planning board within the DisUK Section which is probably particually useful

(I'm assuming I'm OK to post this as it's a free site - sorry if I've misunderstood the rules

)

pinkstacey · 1 July 2009 at 10:00AM

Hire a car from netlfights, about £100 per week inc all insurances imaginable, petrol is crazy cheap too. Yes you can use the buses and will be cheaper but you will spend half your holiday on public transport, offset the time you save and flexibility the car will save you money. Buy a cool box and stick it in the boat of your car and fill with ice in the mornings, most hotels have them for free and you can add drinks and your lunch to it.

The best tip is to get a coupon book, they are everywhere and save you loads of $'s. And only tip the waiters if YOU want too.

If you planning on going make sure you keep an eye out on flight prices on various sites, there are always offers, at the minute £286 and loads of dates to choose from.

Take a bottle of water into the parks and then refill with the chilled water coolers.

fowler2u · 1 July 2009 at 10:33AM

NEED CAR HIRE ????
Try 1stfororlando.com.
I have used this company for the last 5 years, NO ONE has ever been able to beat their prices !!!!!.
They use all the usual hire companies but somehow offer fantastically low prices, based in airport too for easy pick up.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

MrsGreen_3 · 1 July 2009 at 10:41AM

We went to florida in May this year and loved it. We hired privately a 2 bed bungalow villa and the space was ample. We were worried it was gonna be two small for two adults and 2 children but it was huge (not like england!!!) It was 700.00 for 15 nights and we were glad we did not waste money on a posh 3 bed house villa like we wanted originally (at about £1200-1500) = more money for spending (wisely of course). It was well maintained and very very very close to everything. Wish we could afford to go again next year!!!!

MrsGreen_3 · 1 July 2009 at 10:51AM

Oh and (with reference to the earlier posts we took a cheap buggy to save renting them in the park...miles cheaper and it held our cool bags coz our daughter didn't want to sit in it most of the time!!! We always took snacks into the park that we bought from Wallmart!!! When its hot and theres a queue for food you would be grateful!!!! It saved us wasting money on sancks at the overpriced snack bars at disney!!! We also (as we had a villa) froze water in the freezer and took them with us. We got asked all the time where we baought them from...ha ha...Wallmart $2.63 fro 12 500ml bottles!!! They also sell a HUGE variety of gifts from disney better than any of the outlets so as for pressies and tshirts, cuddly toys, keyrings even the swap badges they are my first stop!!!! (much cheaper if your bringin pressies back for other people and they will never Know!!!!)

Plus don't buy the disney water spray fans. $15.00dollars in the parks...£6.00 dollars from wallmart!!! Waterproof sunblock - $4.00 per bottle cheaper than disney or any waterpark and really stays on!!!! You can also buy all swimming cozzies and bikinis for kids that have the SPF50 in them at Wallmart. My daughter got a Real disney one with factor 50 (tinkerbell) for $10.00 (i'm sure it was although I can't exactly remember!!) Great for all us white brits!!!!

Great "Cheap Holidays & Excursions" Hunt: Orlando

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