I am looking for a cheap way to stay in Orlando. Hotels have gotten so expensive there, I dont know how anyone outside of the upper-class can afford them. I go to Disney World about once a year, so Im considering getting a timeshare because it seems most cost-effective. Ive been checking for other alternatives, but Im wary of timeshare predators in a huge market like that. Any advice? What are some ideas to save money staying out there.
PS: I have two kids too, so hostels are out.
Reply to this A few years ago my mother went to see a timeshare presentation knowing that she would get a week free lodging in a time share just outside the gates of Disney World, just for listening. You may be able to find something like that. Otherwise, do an internet search on hotels in the little towns in surrounding area and, if you don't mind spending some time on the net, you will find relative bargains... Good luck.
Reply to this I wouldn't even mess with timeshares. I'm really against the timeshare market because I watched my parents get screwed by one for years before they actually did anything about it. Don't waste your money OR your time. If you need any further convincing just google "timeshare scam" and see the gigs and gigs of pages that pop up. Even industry sites like the
Timeshare Consumer Group admit all the problems involved with timeshare. It's a shady industry, why get involved?
Reply to this There are so many cheap alternatives. An affordable Disney vacation is very possible without taking the big leap into purchasing a time share. First way to cut back on the cost is to go on Disney's off season. Yes they do have an off season! Prices of hotels drop dramatically. Also, stay outside of the park. There are many nice hotels that shuttle you back and forth from the park, that are off the Disney grounds. Go to any travel website and look up hotels in the Orlando Disney vicinity. Good Luck, Sue
Reply to this To do Disney cheaply, you could go when they offer "free dining" that saves a lot of money. For the past three years they've offered free dining during late August and September (maybe into October, I'm not sure). This year you had to book a package before June something to qualify for it.
Another alternative is to stay off site. People have gotten cheap condos (like $250 a week) by using skyauction.com. I went and stayed offsite at a 3 bedroom townhouse in June last year and only paid $500 for the week. We found that by renting from www.vrbo.com. Emerald Island and Windsor Hills are the names of developments that are very close to Disney property. We stayed at Emerald Island. When we stayed offsite, we took a soft sided cooler into the park every day with our lunch to save money on food. They would check the cooler at the gate but they never refused to let it in. We were able to do that at WDW, Seaworld and Universal.
There are websites devoted to Disney bargains like mousesavers.com and disboards.com.
I've never seen a great deal on tickets other than the timeshares and my vacation time is worth more than that so I don't bother with them.
Reply to this Have you thought about a Vacation home rental. This can be a great way to stay. Saves money on lodging and eating, you can eat dinner and breakfast at home.
Reply to this I haven't stayed in Orlando this past year but I did twice last year and found sort of an interesting combination between a timeshare, hotel, apartment, suite, whatever. It was a place called Floridays;
Floridays Orlando Vacation Rentals. In the past we'd stayed at the Disney Caribbean Resort but found it expensive and hokey. Floridays is a reasonably large facility (on 20 acres) and they just rent 2 and three bedroom suites/condos. They are actually owned by individuals (I gather) who put them back into a rental program when they aren't there. But what was nice about it beyond being right on International Drive in the center of things, was that it offered so many hotel type features in a setting that felt more like home. Every unit has a big kitchen, dining room, balcony, etc. and our unit came with virtually everything (pots and pans and silverware, etc.) so that I could really use it like a home. My whole family felt more like we were at home yet had some pretty nice features (like two pools for the kids) that we don't have in our place in Sarasota. All the units were new, had flatscreen tvs in all the rooms, and also internet. Several nights we cooked in to save money, several others we ate out. We were there during peak time and paid around $230 a night, but I gathered from talking with the concierge that at less busy times they are as low as $170. Considering the fact that there were six of us we felt we got a good deal and it fit with our budget. The place was well maintained and run, there was an onsite convenience type deli, food service, a bar, game-room for the kids,, fitness center, etc. All in all I rate the place very highly and just found it a nice alternative to the theme park resort hotels at a fair price. They were also about to start work on an on-site water park although I don't yet know if this is complete.
Reply to this I agree with finding a vacation rental. It saves a tremendous amount of money on accomodationas well
as dining expenses. Try
Vacation Rentals Reply to this Look at
Oak Plantation Resort (I have no affiliation with them). they have like townhomes but it is a resort with a lazy river pool - close to the attractions. We live in Daytona Beach but stay there when we want to spend a few days in Orlando. Of course, you could stay at the beach and drive to Orlando. More fun IMHO. 😊
Reply to this Ten years ago I stayed at the Days Inn on Irlo Bronson Parkway in Kissimmee, FL (not far from the park). I paid $75 a night for a suite with 3 queen beds, a full kitchen and a small dining room. I just went looking for them again, and it looks like their rates haven't changed a lot since 1997.
That's typical of the deals you can find online. As others have suggested, don't stay at or in the park; rooms will be cheaper if you put a little distance between you and Mickey. Consider places that will give you a free breakfast or a kitchen; you can eat cheaply for breakfast with some milk and Cheerios. Make supper your big meal of the day at one of the buffets in the area, and eat lightly in the park (if at all; the food there can be outrageously high).
If you're a member of any kind of hotel loyalty program (like Marriott Rewards or Holiday Inn's Priority Club), try to find inexpensive hotel properties where you can earn some points on your stays. And also look into getting an affinity credit card so you can earn some points from routine purchases at other times. By judiciously using those methods, my wife and I can usually squeeze out a free or nearly-free trip every third or fourth year.
Reply to this There's rather a lot of promotional links in the posts preceding mine. Could you advise me why those posts are allowed whilst mine are not? I would like to be a useful contributor to this forum - I have tried to provide valuable, useful information in each post and would be happy to adjust my posting style accordingly.
Thanks,
James.
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