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.