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As a leading travel destination, Orlando is home to seven major theme parks in addition to water parks, other thrilling attractions, wacky museums, outdoor adventure, ethnic cuisine, themed dining and designer outlet malls. Whatever your reasons are for choosing to visit Orlando, there are probably some set destinations you have in mind. And no matter what you choose to see, you might want to plan an itinerary and book a vacation package that will meet your needs. Sample itineraries include:
Seven Days of Disney
Guests come from all around the world to experience the magic of Walt Disney World Resort. If you fit into that category, you may opt for this package that provides the ultimate Disney vacation. You will experience seven days’ worth of Disney fun. With a park-hopper option and ticket add-ons you can choose to spend time at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon. Spend as much or as little time as you wish at each park. And to get a full Disney experience you may even choose to stay at a Disney resort where you can get shuttle transportation to the parks as well as a variety of other Disney perks. If you want a break in between park-hopping, visit Downtown Disney where you can see live performances, dine at a variety of themed restaurants, purchase souvenirs at specialty shops or take in the spectacular sights. Whatever you choose to do that is Disney-related, this package will allow you to do it with ease.
Disney and Universal
If you would rather split your seven-day vacation into Disney and Universal park time, this package will better suit you. With this option you can spend time at all of the Disney parks mentioned above as well as being able to see both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. And you can wind down with a leisurely stroll around CityWalk or Downtown Disney. Choose to stay at a Disney or Universal hotel for extra convenience, or choose a more central location like International Drive, which is an attraction in itself. Here you can have lunch with pirates, indoor skydive, take a helicopter tour and ride go-karts all in addition to being near the theme parks.
Ultimate Orlando Vacation
For guests who wish to experience all of Orlando’s major theme parks, this package is for you. Visit all of the Disney and Universal parks as well as SeaWorld Orlando. And mix and match however you wish. Whether you wish to spend a whole day or a half day in each park, or even just show up to the fireworks show at night, you can do it with the park-hopper options. And you can choose to stay at a resort on the property of one of the theme parks or choose a location like International Drive where you are central to all of the parks.
So no matter what you are seeking in Orlando, there is a vacation package that is sure to suit you!
Spending six days in the Orlando can be both fun and a bit of a challenge. With so much to do, how will you create an itinerary? What if the parents want to see one attraction and the kids another? How will you decide what to do? Simple. Do your research. Once you find out which theme parks and attractions exist, it will be much easier to pick and choose what you want to do. Here are some sample vacation packages that you may want to look into:
Six Days at Disney
If you are coming to Orlando solely for the Disney experience, this is a package you will want to check out. With a six-day, park-hopper ticket with Water Park Fun & More options, you will be able to visit all four major Disney theme parks as well as the two water parks. And you can come and go as you please. Start the morning with a nature walk at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, cool off on the water slides at Typhoon Lagoon, and then have a delightful dinner at one of the country’s in the World Showcase at Epcot. Spend another morning having breakfast at Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom, soak in the Florida sun at the Blizzard Beach water park and then see some behind-the-scenes magic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. However you choose to break up the days, you will have the option to see all that Disney has to offer. And if you stay at a Disney resort you will have the chance to experience perks like shuttle service to Disney parks, on-site Disney gift shops and even some character dining options. For the ultimate Disney experience, don’t forget to stop by Downtown Disney too, where you can visit Planet Hollywood for lunch, catch a live performance at House of Blues, buy some Disney souvenirs and then go dancing. This package allows you to do it all.
Disney and Universal
For visitors who would rather break up their vacation a bit and see both Disney and Universal parks, you may prefer a package like this. Mix and match ticket options so that you can see all four Disney parks, the two Disney water parks and Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. A package like this will provide you with endless entertainment. And you can choose to stay at a Universal resort or a Disney resort for convenience. After you spend your days at the theme parks you can also take advantage of the nightlife at Universal’s CityWalk and at Downtown Disney. Each offers a unique variety of fun—specialty shops, fine and casual dining, entertainment and more.
Ultimate Variety
Guests who wish to see all of Orlando’s major theme parks will love this vacation package. With a two-day, two-park admission to the Universal parks, a three-day, park-hopper ticket to all of the Disney parks and one-day admission to SeaWorld, you will experience all of the variety offered at the major parks. Spend a day with Shamu and check out the penguin exhibit and SeaWorld, spend a day at a Disney water park, one going around the world at Epcot and one riding coasters at Islands of Adventure. Mix up each day however you wish. And take advantage of CityWalk and Downtown Disney as well as tourist hotspots like the International Drive area.
So depending on what you prefer to see, there is an Orlando vacation package that is perfect for you.
Planning a five-day Orlando vacation can be somewhat overwhelming. There are so many attractions to choose from and you probably want to please everyone you are traveling with. The good news is that there are plenty of Orlando vacation packages available, and each one appeals to a different guest. Whether you want to spend more time with Mickey than Shamu, get a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood, spend all of your time with animals or be exposed to all of these things, there are vacation packages that will allow you to do it all.
Five-day Disney
No matter how many people are in your party, if you’re booking a five-day trip to Orlando you wish to spend your entire vacation seeing everything there is Disney, this package will sure to please you. With a five-day park-hopper option, you will be granted admission to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Come and go as you please. Spend the morning strolling through trails and stopping by a petting zoo at Animal Kingdom, the afternoon going inside the iconic golf-ball structure at Epcot and the evening seeing the fireworks display at Cinderella Castle. A package like this is perfect for true Disney fans. And you may even opt to stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel too. If this is the case, you will be provided with shuttle service to theme parks and have extra Disney perks like on-site Disney gift shops and character breakfasts. After you’ve spent time at the theme parks and your hotel, you can even stop by Downtown Disney where you can dine, shop, catch a live show or even have a cocktail.
Disney and Universal
For guests who want to divide the five-day trip into Disney and Universal parks, this option might be best for you. Spend three days at the Disney parks listed above—and make it a park-hopper option for the ultimate experience—and then spend two days with two-park admission to Universal Orlando Resort where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at movie magic when you venture to Universal Studios and then ride coasters and see your favorite cartoon characters brought to life at Islands of Adventure. Choose to stay at either a Disney or Universal hotel, or opt for a neutral hotel located in the tourist districts of 192 or International Drive. Each offers an array of fine, casual and themed dining as well as shopping and entertainment experiences that are sure to excite you. And while you’re at the theme parks, be sure to head to CityWalk, at Universal, and Downtown Disney to grab a bit to eat, buy some souvenirs or simply just take in all of the scenery.
Disney and SeaWorld
Maybe Universal just isn’t your thing. There’s always the Disney and SeaWorld package. With such a package you can get a four-day pass with a park-hopper option to all four Disney parks and then spend your fifth day watching animals perform at SeaWorld. This package is perfect for Disney enthusiasts who want to break up their trip a little bit but not stray too far from the Disney experience. By just taking one day to spend at a non-Disney park, you will be getting variety and also still leaving yourself plenty of time to spend at Walt Disney World Resort.
Ultimate Five Days of Fun
For guests who want the most variety, you will probably enjoy this package that allows you to visit all of the major theme parks. Get a three-day, park-hopper Disney ticket that grants admission to all four Disney parks at your leisure, then spend one day with a two-park admission to Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida while you spend the fifth day at SeaWorld.
However you choose to spend your five days, you will definitely be able to see a lot!
If you have four days to spend in the Orlando area, you will probably want to have some kind of itinerary in mind. While four days is a good amount of time to be able to see a variety of attractions, you will want to have an idea of what you are looking for before you book a vacation. To get your wheels turning, here are a few package options. You can opt for one of the packages below, mix and match or incorporate additional smaller attractions, shopping experiences or themed dinners into the mix. Either way, you will be sure to make the most out of your four-day Orlando vacation experience.
Four-day Disney
The ultimate Disney fans will probably want to opt for a package like this. With such a package you can get a ticket to each park for the four days you are in the area or even opt for a park-hopper option that enables you to go in and out of all four parks each day at your leisure. Choose from a park where fairy tales are brought to life at Magic Kingdom, one where you get a behind-the-scenes look into your favorite movies at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a park of technical innovations and a World Showcase at Epcot, or a park full of wildlife at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In addition to the four-day Disney tickets, you can also opt to stay at a Disney resort and take advantage of the transportation and Disney-related perks that come along with it, or you can plan to spend your evenings exploring the shopping, dining and entertainment of Downtown Disney. A package like this is perfect for anyone who is looking for the ultimate Disney experience.
Universal and Disney
To mix it up a bit, you may opt for a package that grants you admission to park-hop at the Disney theme parks for two days and then spend the other two days at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. This package is good for visitors who want a little more variety than just the Disney parks. Choose to stay at a Universal or Disney resort for the ultimate in convenience or stay in a tourist area nearby on 192 or the International Drive area. And spend your evenings dining at the themed restaurants and cafes of CityWalk or Downtown Disney. There you can also shop, see live performances, and even dance and have a few drinks. This package is perfect for the guests who want to spice things up a bit.
SeaWorld and Disney
Perhaps you really want to spend time in Disney. You want to see all of the Disney parks but you also have a soft spot for Shamu. With a package like this, you can see Mickey and Shamu. With a three-day park-hopper Disney ticket, you will be granted admission to all four Disney parks at your leisure. And you can spend your fourth day, or any day in between, watching Shamu and your favorite animals splashing around at SeaWorld.
Ultimate Variety
For guests who want even more of a diverse itinerary, you will probably want a package that includes admission to all of the major theme parks. Such a package will allow you to spend one day seeing aquatic performances at SeaWorld, one day hopping between the two Universal theme parks, and two days hopping between all of the Disney theme parks. This way you are guaranteed a spot at all of the parks.
Remember to also research the areas in which you stay. If you plan on going to only Disney parks, choose accommodations as close to Disney as possible. If you’re going to all of the theme parks, you may instead opt for a resort in a central location. Just be sure to do your research.
Three days may not seem like a lot, but with the right itinerary, you can experience a tremendous amount of thrills and excitement in just three days. Orlando is home to numerous attractions of varying interests. From indoor skydiving, mini golf and go-karts to theme parks, water parks, themed dining and designer outlet stores, Orlando has it all. Here are a few sample itineraries that will give you an idea of how to spend three days in the area.
Three-day Disney
Walt Disney World Resort encompasses four major theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot. With a three-day park-hopper pass you can spend your vacation going between three out of the four parks. Eat lunch at Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom then walk the trails at Animal Kingdom. Explore technological innovations and indulge in worldly cuisine at Epcot, then wind down at the firework show at Hollywood Studios. Mix it up a little and have a good time.
Disney and Universal
With an option like this you can spend two days park-hopping at the Disney theme parks and your other day with a one-day, two-park Universal pass that grants you admission to both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. A different spin on this package is to spend two days at Universal, getting admission to both parks, and one day at one Disney park. This option would be better suited for guests who want to spend less time at Disney of course. And you can spend the evening eating at a themed restaurant in CityWalk or doing some shopping and dining at Downtown Disney. You might even want to catch a show at Cirque du Soleil. Whatever you choose to do, it can be done… even in just three days.
SeaWorld and Disney
If you aren’t interested in the Universal parks but you’d rather see Shamu and Mickey, check out a package that includes one-day admission to SeaWorld and a two-day park-hopper pass allowing you to jump around the Disney parks. This means you will be able to see five parks in three days if you want to. How’s that for making good use of your time?!
Disney, Universal and SeaWorld
A package like this will provide you with a one-day ticket to a Disney Park as well as to a Universal park and to SeaWorld. Such an itinerary is perfect for guests who wish to see as much diversity as possible and get a little bit out of each theme park.
As you’ve probably noticed, it’s quite possible to fit a lot to do into three days’ worth of vacation time. And remember to consider where you stay too. You have the option of staying on theme park property or in a tourist district like International Drive—that is both close to the theme parks and offers a plethora of additional attractions, dining, shopping and entertainment options. And remember to factor transportation too. Many hotels provide shuttles to theme parks, there’s a trolley on International Drive, you can always take your own car, or you can rent a car or get a taxi. However you choose to travel, know that there are plenty of ways to transport yourself into the thrills of Orlando.
 Are you planning a special trip down to Orlando this summer? If so, there is plenty taking place in Disney World for the 2010 summer season. Without a doubt you will find something that is available to you or that interests you even if you have come to Disney World every other year. Disney is the master at providing fun and magical things to do and without a doubt this summer will not be any different.
What is on the list of things to expect from Disney in the summer of 2010? Check out the following options.
- Why not check out Star Wars Weekends happening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? This is one of the best experiences for any Star Wars fan who wants to see live characters and awesome exhibits throughout the park.
- Summer Nightastic also happens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this summer. You will be able to see some amazing lights in the park.
- At Epcot, there is plenty to do and see. The Sounds Like Summer Concert Series is taking place throughout June and July 2010. This features some amazing tribute bands including Bee Gees, Eagles, Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, U2 and Chicago.
- The Summer Nightastic Fireworks Spectacular occurs in the Magic Kingdom this summer in Disney. You will find lots of visual effects, whimsical music and of course fireworks that fill the night time sky.
- If you are a pin collector, the Disney Pin Celebration 2010 0 Trade City, USA occurs in August of 2010 this year. You will find it in the World Showplace in Epcot.
- In addition, do check out the Magic Kingdom in late May for Disney Grad Nites 2010 which is a special celebration with live performances from a variety of stars you may know.
As you can see, there is plenty happening this summer in Disney World. If you are planning your trip, do book in advance as some of these celebrations do sell out. You will want to be sure that you get advanced admission to any of the shows you plan to see and experience.
 Orlando Hotels The Orlando area is home to more than 400 Orlando hotels. Each one offers a range of amenities to ensure a comfortable and convenient stay for each guest.
So what are some of the standard amenities you might be interested in when staying at a Orlando hotel?
Complimentary shuttles. Since so many Orlando hotels are located just minutes away from theme parks, you will find that many of them offer free shuttle transportation. Some Orlando hotels also offer transportation to Orlando International Airport. Be sure to ask about this if you do not have a car with you.
Pools. Most of the hotels have pools. Some even have waterslides. Others have multiple pools and slides. And you’ll even find Jacuzzis. What better way to take in the Florida sun than to swim around the hotel pool?
Internet Services. Complimentary Internet Access and some even offer business centers and meeting rooms~Most Orlando hotels offer in-room broadband access and some provide business centers and even meeting rooms}. If you have some work to finish while you’re on your vacation, it will nott be an issue.
Quality concierge services. A lot of local offer visitors concierge services. If you need assistance booking dinner reservations, finding the best spa or getting advice on which Orlando theme parks to visit, the concierge can help you out.
In-room coffeemakers and ironing boards. Most Orlando hotels offer these amenities, this way you can be sure to start your mornings off free of any stress. In addition to coffeemakers, many of the hotels even provide free coffee to guests.
Cleaning services. This is probably understood. You will find maid service and staff who will help your family with any housekeeping concerns you might have.
Gift shops. At the themed hotels and resorts, you’ll find themed gift shops. But at many of the Orlando area, you will find some kind of souvenirs.
Washers and dryers. Not all of the area hotels have washer and dryer services, but some do. And some are free. This is definitely worth looking into—especially if you’re planning on staying in Orlando for a few days. Also, some Orlando hotels provide dry cleaning services.
Lounge and restaurant. Most hotels in Orlando have a lounge and restaurant. Some even offer happy hours, free cocktail receptions or free breakfasts.
Fitness centers. Whether it is a small gym or a larger fitness center, most Orlando hotels accommodate guests who desire to stay in shape. The facilities are normally free to guests but it does not hurt to check with the Orlando hotel before booking your stay.
Wake-up phone calls. These are usually offered free of charge.
Each Orlando hotel offers unique amenities, but these are just the main ones that you’ll see across the board. If you are looking for something specific, do not forget to inquire about it before getting your reservation.
 Radisson World Gate If you are desiring a break and want to head to Orlando for a family vacation, you may not want to wait too long to book your reservations. Currently the Orlando vacation market is gearing up for high season, and what this equates to for travelers is higher prices.
The same hotel that booked for $42 a night is now booking for $52 a night. You might think that the extra $10 per night is no big deal but this is just the beginning of such increases across the board. Also, keep in mind that the hotel room that you currently book for $52 can undergo another increase as high season continues.
High season is when the Orlando hotel market is busiest, and this is when hotel managers cash in by raising rates when there is increased demand for rooms. High season is what helps keep hotels in business all year round. This is when they make their profit.
I say all that to say this. Book now before the rates go up again and you have to pay even more for your Orlando vacation. The sooner that you book, the more that you will save and that will enable you to spend more at the restaurants, outlet malls and at the Disney parks.
 Universal Studios Orlando Universal Studios in Orlando has rolled out their new ticket-pricing this past Monday. It was created in an effort to take advantage of an expected increase in attendance this Spring, when the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens its gates for the first time in 2010.
The changes included adding new three and four day tickets which were not available before. The price for two day tickets increased but the one day ticket did not have its price changed. The one day ticket currently sells for $79. If you choose the three or four day ticket option, the per day park price drops significantly. With the three day ticket, your day at the park will cost you $42 and if you choose the four day ticket, each day at the park will cost you $34.
Visitors to Universal Studios Orlando will also have the option of going to all the parks on the same exact day. This upgrade is comparable to Walt Disney World’s Park Hopper option which allow park visitors to hop to all of the major Disney theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot Center) all in the same day. The main drawback with Park hopping at Disney World is that their theme parks all take to or 30 minutes to get to so hopping from park to park is quite a task. Those who choose to do so at Universal Studios will be able to visit the various Universal parks much more quickly.
 Tigger When I took my two year old out going daughter to Disney World’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida, I was a little concerned with how she would react to the Disney characters that make appearances in the theme park. After all, she was only two. The characters all are friendly, of course, and they will take the time to pose for family photos and will sign autograph books and memorabilia. At any given time, you can find famous Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Tigger, Captain Hook and a host of other characters throughout all of the Disney parks.
Anyhow, while we were at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios I noticed Tigger not to far from us, and before I could grab my daughter, she ran off to him. She was not intimidated in the least. Once she got to him, she just stood there and looked at him. I think she wanted a hug or to be picked up by him. Her response really surprised me because smaller children can tend to be afraid of the characters especially the Disney villains. Tigger was kind enough to take a picture and sign her autograph book for her. Now, our daughter is a teenager and really does not remember meeting Tigger, but we have a picture, memories, and autograph to prove it.
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