Vacations and Cruises
You’ve just about had enough with all this hype about Disney and Orlando, and this winter the snow bank can battle itself for a couple weeks! You’re off to the sunshine state (well done you)! That vacation down south is now within reach, and you are just moments away from sunshine every day, a couple rounds of golf here and there, a few beers by the pool each night, and a bunch of happy kids off to talk to a mouse about a duck. Doesn’t get much better than that, does it?!
As you head off towards the sun though, here are a few ideas that may help make for a more enjoyable retreat from what often seems like an endless winter.
Enjoy your vacation, and welcome to Florida!
Rob Bulger – Owner/Operator: The Florida Canuck
Staying at a Disney property: There is certainly no experience quite like Disney for the little ones, but as most of you are already aware, it can be hugely expensive. If, however, it is just another part of the experience (and a must for the family), I would suggest Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. The hotel offers some awesome theme rooms (Little Mermaid, Cars, Lion King, Finding Nemo), and is also surprisingly moderately priced. Some great value is offered in other amenities as well, such as free Wifi & free parking, bus transportation to any of the Disney parks, resorts, downtown Disney etc. Also included is Disney’s Magical Express: Complimentary Transportation to and from Orlando International airport.
Off site hotels near Disney: There are literally 100’s of hotels and resorts within the Orlando/Kissimmee area to choose from, but short of renting your own house or going five star all the way, one of my favorite places to stay and definitely one of the more economical choices, is Fantasy World Resort in Kissimmee. These 2 story townhome villas each sleep up to six people, have full kitchens and a washer/dryer combo. Also moderately priced, the amenities really give the property a whole lot to offer any family looking to experience Orlando while having their own spacious "home away from home". Amenities include:
3 pools and 3 hot tubs, lazy river and (2) five story water slides (must be 48"' to ride)
Kid's splash pad, children's playground, pool bar/lobby/lounge, lighted tennis courts
18 hole mini golf, floating driving range, fitness center with sauna and steam room
Kid's activity center, wireless internet in every villa, business center
Scheduled transportation to Walt Disney World®, Universal Studios Orlando & Sea World
Free shuttle to Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, weekly housekeeping
Charcoal grills and picnic tables throughout the resort - gas grills located poolside
Deeply discounted tickets to Fantasy Surf
Buying your park tickets:
You can buy park tickets at numerous locations around the Orlando area (even discounted sometimes). A word of caution though: there are a million online ticket scams waiting for the next victim. If you don’t want to pay the price at the park (which is usually not that much more), doing a little bit of research and checking reviews before hand, is always a good idea when going rogue. A great spot that I go to sometimes for tickets (the prices vary), is VisitOrlando.com. They are all over the internet and located right on International Drive. Check out their site and pricing though, some tickets are less expensive but, oddly enough, some are more expensive.
*If you are staying at a Disney property but want to fit in a day at Universal Studios as well, this ticket might be a good choice for you, since it includes transfers to and from the park.
Snacks & water at the park:
For quite some time, you were not allowed to take snacks and water into many of the parks, but those restrictions have now been lifted, and both Disney and Universal are once again backpack friendly. You will still have it searched of course, but they are not looking for your consumables and will not take them.
Shopping tips: Don’t buy your souvenirs at the parks folks! I know this is a hard one for some, but whether you are looking at the tag in a shop downtown or at a gift shop on site, China is spelled the same, just that one will cost you much more than the other! There are many discount souvenir shops, including at the numerous outlet malls you'll find in the area.
Do you have a Target Store card? If so, you can always buy Disney Gift Cards that spend just the same as money at all of the Disney parks including Disney Cruise Line as well. When you purchase a Disney gift card with your Target card (normally $25, $50, &100), you will get 5 % discount on the Disney gift card.
Things to do on a budget
Resort Hop: If you are staying at a Disney property, why not go and check out some of the other Disney properties and see what is offered there as well. With the free transportation back and forth, this can be a great way to take everything in. Some spots like Disney’s Board Walk, could easily fill an evening with its own entertainment.
Universal City Walk: If you are not staying there, there is an admission fee, but it is not much more than a cover charge, and will give you access to more night entertainment than you are liable to take in.
My favorite park picks: If you’re not as much into the bigger roller coasters and tend to get a little claustrophobic in the larger crowds, but still like to see new things and have that theme park experience, you might want to try out Lego Land or Epcot. Even when they are full, they don’t seem to provide that same overwhelming “Get me out of here now” feel to them. Legoland is also a great choice if you are keeping the budget down. It costs much less than many of the other bigger parks and is geared towards kids 12 and under.
Florida vacations for Canadians
