You are going to Disney World!
You've been talking about it, now it's time to do it! Whether you go every year, or this trip will be your first, an Orlando vacation is one you will never forget.
There is so much to see and do in the area that Orlando vacation planning can be a bit overwhelming. This lens is here to give you some insider information about some of Orlando's best kept secrets and to insure your vacation is the trip of your dreams.
First you will need a place to stay
Why you should consider skipping the hotel
Usually going on vacation means cramming your family into a tiny hotel room. In Orlando, there is a better choice. For about the same price as a hotel (and often less, especially for large groups) you can rent a whole house.In Orlando, vacation rentals are often close to the major attractions and the privacy can't be beat.
Not sure if an Orlando vacation rental is right for you? Check out this article at Independent Traveler.com to learn more about what you gain and what you give up.
Renting from Dream Homes
Big beautiful homes from a small company looking after every detail personally
If you've decided to make hotel rooms a memory, you won't find a better company to take care of your Orlando vacation rental needs than Florida Dream Homes! This family owned and operated business has been renting homes to families like yours for over 10 years. Their vacation rentals are right beside Disney and offer you and your family space and privacy like you can only dream of in a hotel. Most homes have private pools, and they all have fully equipped kitchens, TVs with DVD players, a washer and dryer, and all kinds of small touches that make it feel like home.After a long day at the park, don't go back to a hotel room, go back to your Dream Home.
Book your Orlando vacation rental today!
Looking for an Orlando Vacation Rental?
see what Florida Dream Homes has to offer
The following are just some of the video tours available. Vote for your favorite! To see the rest of the homes, visit the YouTube Channel!
Get your tickets now!
Your Florida Vacation is only a click away
What should we do when we get there?
check out these suggestions from a native
Lance Around Orlando is a blog dedicated to helping you make the most of your Florida vacation. From reviews of the big shows to insider info on the sometimes overlooked attractions, it's a must-read for anyone headed for Central Florida.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byTo Disney, or not to Disney
it really is a question!
The first big question to answer when planning a trip to Orlando is whether you will visit the world's most famous Mouse. For some this may be a silly question--Why would you go to Orlando, and skip Walt Disney World?It depends on who you are.
First time visitors to Orlando should definitely do Disney. The parks get a lot of hype, but there's a reason-- the Disney Parks are some of the most amazing places on earth. If you like amusement parks you won't find better ones than the 4 Disney offers in Orlando. (Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom).
But the experience will cost you. If you buy your ticket's directly from Disney's website, a five day pass to all the parks will put you back $260 per person.
If you decide Disney is for you (and it is absolutely money well spent) remember discount tickets are available through most Orlando vacation rental home companies.
For those on a budget, or those who've been to the parks recently, you should know it's possible to have a great time in Orlando and never see a mouse.
The Unofficial Guide to Disney
The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2009 (Unofficial Guides)
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Are you going to Disney World? Then don't leave home with out the unofficial guide. This book is the next best thing to having your own personal tour guide!
You mean to tell me there is more to Orlando than Disney?
sure there is, just don't tell Mikey, ok?
Disney World is amazing, but if you visit Orlando and never step outside its gates, you will have missed a lot. The rest of this lens is dedicated to some of the other great stuff you can do on your Orlando vacation. Want to see more? Visit the Dream Homes Local Area Guide. More Ideas for your Dream Vacation
Because there is more to Orlando than the Mouse
The Other Orlando, 4th Edition: What to Do When You've Done Disney and Universal
Amazon Price: $14.35 (as of 07/13/2009)
Universal Orlando, 2007 Edition: The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Theme Park Adventure
Amazon Price: $15.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
Lonely Planet Orlando & Central Florida (Lonely Planet Orlando and Central Florida)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Off the beaten path
for the more adventurous among you
- G-Force Amusement, LLC: Top Fuel Ride
- It's time to race. You manage one last deep breath and then the light switches to green and you're off. Surge over 100 miles per hour down the straightaway. Hang on and let G-Force take you for the ride of your life. "Get In, Sit Down, Shut Up and Hang On". Receive a $3 discount coupon at check in.
- Howl At The Moon | Dueling Piano Bar | Live Entertainment
- The World's greatest rock n roll dueling piano bar with live music 7 nights a week. HOWL is part concert, part piano bar; all centered around two baby grand pianos. Receive a discount coupon for FREE admission for 2 before 10:00pm at check in.
- Historic Bok Sanctuary
- Historic Bok Sanctuary offers visitors Florida's most abundant opportunities for aesthetic, cultural and personal enrichment. The lush landscapes of the Olmsted gardens, the majesty and music of the carillon tower and the splendor of Pinewood Estate create an experience that inspires all who visit.
- Orlando Science Center
- Offering cinedome films, planetarium, an observatory, traveling exhibits and summer camp for the young, and young at heart.
- Kennedy Space Center
- Your Florida vacation is not complete without a trip to Kennedy Space Center. Just minutes from popular Orlando vacation destinations, NASA's launch headquarters is a kid friendly vacation spot. It's the only place on Earth where you can tour launch areas.
- Chef Anne Mooney, A Personal Chef Service
- Do you love the idea of a kitchen in your vacation home but dread the idea of cooking? Anne Mooney, Personal Chef is just the answer! Whether it's a dinner for two or a breakfast for the entire family, let Anne prepare it for you. Be sure to mention you are a Dream Homes guest when you call.
Now that you've seen the options it's time to put it all together
also known as budgeting (your time and your money)
There is so much to see and do in Orlando that unless you plan to move there, you will probably need to make some choices about what you plan to do on this trip. The Orlando Sentinel offers some great planning and budgeting tools to help you decide what to do on this trip and what to save for next time.Budget Planner
Park hours and prices
Distance Calculator
Ride Height Calculator
Please note: The budget planning tool assumes you will be staying in a hotel and eating all of your meals in restaurants. If you've decided on a vacation rental, these assumptions may not be true. However, the tool breaks your decisions down by price as well as category, so just choose the lodging and meal categories that most closely correspond to your expected expenses.
Planning a trip with a Group?
try Groople!
Groople is a new site dedicated to taking the pain out of planning a trip for large (or even small) groups. The downside is they don't support the rental of Vacation Homes (which are great for group travel) but if you've decided that a hotel is the right choice for you and your group, Try Grouple! What makes Groople special?
Check out the Groople blog and find out
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byA word about travel insurance
Do you need it?
Vacations are exciting, but no matter how diligent your planning, the unexpected sometimes happens. Airline tickets are often not refundable, luggage gets lost, and accidents can happen to even the most careful among us. An easy and affordable way to protect your family is though travel insurance. Insuremytrip.com offers a great overview of all the options available to make sure you and your trip are protected. Your turn
We want to hear from you! Share your favorite vacation stories, or tips on making the most of a trip to Florida.
orlandoforever wrote...
True, so many people think Orlando is just Disney World. There is truly a lot more.
Posted May 19, 2009
Christopher_Scott wrote...
I love Orlando, and wish I could go there more. Great lens and thanks for adding it to A Day of Hope headquarters. Keep up the hard work.
Posted October 14, 2007
ebizsalez wrote...
another awesome lens about Disney!. Thank you.
bigsaveontravel
Posted October 13, 2007
mister_info wrote...
Great Lens! 5 Stars - for Disneyland tips visit http://www.disneylandsecrets.com
Posted October 05, 2007
