Nov 13, 2008 6:33 pm US/Eastern
A Disney World Vacation For Less
(KDKA)
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Charley Gallay/Getty Images
Money is tight for many people right now so it may seem like a vacation to Disney World is out of the question this winter, but it turns out there are some good deals being offered to lure you to Florida.
So KDKA's David Highfield went to Orlando to hunt down the best bargains.
Of course, the economy is affecting vacation spots just like everything else, and Disney is no exception. In fact, its Chief Executive just announced that hotel bookings "have fallen off considerably."
Len Testa is the co-author of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.
"We've seen rates drop about 13 percent on average for the average hotel room in Orlando," said Testa.
If you go to
Disney's website right now, they have a
buy four, get three free deal. You buy a four night/four day Disney hotel and ticket package and you can stay three more nights and get three more days of park tickets for free.
The deal begins in January, and if that isn't enough, they'll throw in a $200 gift card to spend on food and souvenirs.
Consider their value resorts regularly start at $82 a night, and by staying there you do save on driving and parking. There's free transportation to the parks and a free shuttle to and from the airport.
Also, by staying at a Disney resort, the parks open for you before they do for other visitors.
"You get in ahead of the crowds and enjoy the attractions or extended hours in the evening," says Walt Disney World's Rod Madden.
Now that you know what Disney-owned resorts have to offer, you should know there are plenty of other deals out there. You can get rooms at the
Hotel Royal Plaza, which is actually on Disney property for $89 a night, plus a free breakfast for two.
To put that deal in perspective, that's near the low we saw after Sept. 11, 2001, adjusted for inflation. You can get that deal by taking advantage of a discount offered at the website,
Mousesavers.com.
Testa's other top picks include the
Orlando Vista for an average of $79 a night, and the
Magic Castle for just $34 a night during the off-season.
The interesting thing about the Magic Castle Inn and Suites is that you can't book it through Expedia, Orbitz or Travelocity, you actually have to call the hotel directly and that's why they typically have rooms when other people don't.
Maybe your family needs a little more space, or you want to save money by cooking some of your own meals. Sara Moore, from
All Star Vacation Homes, offers condos and houses including one just three miles from the Disney World entrance.
"A three bedroom condo will sleep up to eight guests and ranging in price from $139 a night to just up to $200 a night for eight people.
As for the rental car, Testa says a regional company can save you money, but if you go with a national company (check
Mousesavers.com) there are discount codes there that could save you up to 30 percent.
If you're a AAA member, you can order park tickets at a discounted rate and so can members of the military. Also, if you register with Disney, you can get into a park for free on your birthday next year.
Meanwhile, the best tip you can have for saving money on food is to not eat in the theme parks for breakfast and dinner. If you stay at a Disney resort, buy a souvenir mug and get free refills.
You can also go to the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau website and print out a "Magic Card" to get discounts on meals at different restaurants and hotels in Central Florida.
For inexpensive souvenirs, go to Mickey's Mart at downtown Disney where everything is $10 or less.
The biggest tip to save money though is avoid the holidays and the summer months, you can visit Disney for significantly less.
The one hitch in getting going may be airfare. However, there are two websites worth checking out including
Airfaredig.com, which is supposed to have deals not advertised anywhere else. There's also
Farecast.com, which tells you the best time to buy a ticket to get the lowest price.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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