Prick up your mouse ears, have we got some Orlando deals for the whole family. The catch (and isn't there always a catch?) is that most of the holidays fall during the period when the kiddies will still be in school (late spring through early summer). That's probably why these prices are so good. Still, the travel windows straddle the long Memorial Day Weekend (there's one extra day), and grown-up kids who can nip a day or two off the work week to make the most of a Disney dalliance are in for a very affordable getaway.
After sniffing around, we've found particularly good offers from two Florida vacations specialists. Up first is the full-service discount travel outfitter Fare Deals, Ltd. (www.faredeals.com) which has particularly fine prices from the South and Midwest including a base three-night option, costing adult as little as $199, and kids are just $99 (for airfare and hotels).
It’s all in the details
You fly with charter airline Pace, and lodging is at the popular Howard Johnson Maingate Resort West, located only four miles from the main entrance to the Walt Disney World Resort. Needless to say, the hotel sees its fair share of families, and not surprisingly it has amenities for guests of all ages, including an arcade, two playgrounds, heated pool and a “fun park” for kids. As for the decor: well, it's a Hojo, what's more to say? It's not the Ritz, but you'll be spending most of your time in the parks anyway, right?
Gateways included in this offer are Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Louisville, and travel dates are Fridays between Apr. 23 and Jun. 28—one of the most beautiful times of year in Central Florida.
On this one, you have the choice of Fare Deals’ four- or seven-night packages too. We used a sample departure date of Apr. 26 to price out the four-night air-hotel ($269 adult, $119 kids), and the seven-night option, which came out to $319 for adults, and $119 again for kids. Just to be certain we could beat these prices we tried using the above criteria to get a better deal. While we did hone in on a low rate of $34 per night at the Days Inn Orlando Lakeside, the best airfare we could find was $176 round-trip ticket from Baltimore on AirTran (www.airtran.com), which consistently quoted the lowest fare from each of the above-mentioned cities.
The extra good news here is that the three-night offer is good for Friday departures, making this a nice weekend family getaway. (Four-nighters leave on Mondays, and those looking to play or a full week have their choice of either Monday or Friday departures.)
The prices we quoted are based on availability, so it’s a good idea to call as soon as possible if you’re interested in locking in Fare Deals’ low rates. It’s also offering Alamo car rental for $29 per day, if you have plans other than tooting around the Mickey’s stomping grounds. For more information or to make a reservation call 800/347-7006, and if you’re purchasing its Orlando package be sure to ask for reference code: TZ5168.
A different offer from other cities
Established online source for travel specials, eLeisurelink.com, also has an attractive offer for departures from New York City or Chicago for travel before May 30. The $343 special (singles add $79 additional) includes many of same package components as the vacation we just mentioned. This time the round-trip airfare is on Spirit Airlines, and the stay is for five nights at the Howard Johnsons Parkside with its recently remodeled oversiezed rooms or the amenity-loaded Sleep Inn at Maingate (pool, satellite cable TV), conveniently located steps from the Magic Kingdom. The offer also tosses in five days of car rental as well as a free Orlando attractions coupon book, a $500 value. Additional nights run a low $18 per person. Below are the supplements for other US departure cities:
- $49—Washington D.C.
- $49—Atlanta
- $59—Boston
- $149-Dallas
For more information, call eLeisurelink.com at 888/801-8808.
More for your money
For additional Disney savings, check out the expertly (and obsessively) compiled website: www.mousesavers.com.
{Editor's Note: Have you ever been to Orlando? Do you have a money-saving hint, tip, or anecdote that would be helpful to other travelers? We'd love to hear it and possibly reprint it in our letters to the editor column. Simply to send a letter to our editors.}
