Disney World. Universal Studios. Sea World. These theme parks only bring one place to mind: Orlando, Florida. This popular vacation destination boasts more theme parks than you could ever hope to visit during one trip alone and therefore endless ways to fill your time.
4) Visiting a theme park? Choose wisely. Orlando is undeniably skilled at one thing- breaking the bank of those who visit. A day spent at just ONE theme park of the many can easily top $100 for the ticket alone. The numbers an entire family would spend at the Disney World Resort would cause me to cringe on the spot. Prior to my trip, I naively assumed that a ticket to Disney World meant a ticket to all of Disney World. However, my $99 ticket only permitted entry into the Magic Kingdom, which is essentially the Disney Land equivalent. A five-day ticket, allowing a visit to a different Disney park per day, is around $300. The longer you stay, however, the cheaper the ticket is per day. For a ten-day stay, the ticket is &354. It is important to note that many of the tickets do not allow "park hopping" (that is, going from one park to another in the same day. Therefore, if you plan to just visit one park in Disney Land, be sure to do substantial research on your options to find the one that best suits your needs.
5) Check the weather for the day you plan to visit a park. Especially if you do during the rainy season in summer, it is almost guaranteed to rain or storm for at least a small part of the day. Be prepared by bringing a cheap poncho or umbrella to theme parks (or be prepared to pay through the nose once inside). If you don't end up needing the rain-repellents, most parks have lockers for rent for a small fee. Thankfully, as these weather events are the norm in Orlando, the main attractions are prepared for storms and rarely close down.
Who should go?
Due to the high costs of transportation and theme park entry fees, I would not recommend Orlando for the budget traveller. Orlando offers the perfect destination for families, however.
Know Before You Go:
1) Are there rotten eggs in the water? One of the first things I noticed upon arriving at my hotel in Orlando was the strange taste of the water. I figured it was just that one particular faucet, but at the end of the weekend realized that drinking fountains, faucets and most other sources of water all produced H2O with the same, sulfur-like taste. If you want to save money on water at theme parks, you will likely have to deal with the rotten-egg taste of the water. Don't worry, it is harmless- the cause simply occurs due to hydrogen-sulfide in the water throughout Florida.
2) Public transportation? What's that? Be ready to drop substantial dollars on cab fares, as they are often the only option to get from point A to B in Orlando. When booking a hotel or resort, be sure to check that they offer a shuttle service to the park or parks you plan on attending- otherwise, it is highly likely that you will have to take a cab.
3) Resort stays aren't all they're cracked up to be... The second I saw the Groupon offering an Orlando resort stay for around $100 a night when it is generally $300, I jumped on the deal. However, I wish someone had warned me about just how isolated resorts are. Also, despite the low fare per evening, since there were no other dining options in walking distance, we were forced to eat at the overpriced restaurants on the resort grounds.
4) Visiting a theme park? Choose wisely. Orlando is undeniably skilled at one thing- breaking the bank of those who visit. A day spent at just ONE theme park of the many can easily top $100 for the ticket alone. The numbers an entire family would spend at the Disney World Resort would cause me to cringe on the spot. Prior to my trip, I naively assumed that a ticket to Disney World meant a ticket to all of Disney World. However, my $99 ticket only permitted entry into the Magic Kingdom, which is essentially the Disney Land equivalent. A five-day ticket, allowing a visit to a different Disney park per day, is around $300. The longer you stay, however, the cheaper the ticket is per day. For a ten-day stay, the ticket is &354. It is important to note that many of the tickets do not allow "park hopping" (that is, going from one park to another in the same day. Therefore, if you plan to just visit one park in Disney Land, be sure to do substantial research on your options to find the one that best suits your needs.
5) Check the weather for the day you plan to visit a park. Especially if you do during the rainy season in summer, it is almost guaranteed to rain or storm for at least a small part of the day. Be prepared by bringing a cheap poncho or umbrella to theme parks (or be prepared to pay through the nose once inside). If you don't end up needing the rain-repellents, most parks have lockers for rent for a small fee. Thankfully, as these weather events are the norm in Orlando, the main attractions are prepared for storms and rarely close down.
Who should go?
Due to the high costs of transportation and theme park entry fees, I would not recommend Orlando for the budget traveller. Orlando offers the perfect destination for families, however.
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