by Patrick Lynch

Florida is known as the sunshine state, a place where visitors are guaranteed to get sunburned if they don’t adequately protect themselves from the rigors of the sun. It is also home to some of the best theme parks on the planet. In fact, those who decide to venture to Florida will have great difficulty figuring out where they should visit. One city worth mentioning is of course Orlando, which is home to Disney World and Universal Studios. If a family could only visit two places in the whole state, they would be top of the list. Disney World of course is known as the theme park that kids all over the world love most and Universal Studios Vacations Packages make the movie-making company an affordable destination for families.

The main objective for the average family on vacation is to have the time of their lives, but to stay within their budget. It is no secret that entrance to Disney World could be construed as expensive and certainly the merchandise could leave deep holes in your vacation budget. However, it is possible to find top quality Disney World hotels for very affordable prices. There are actually three main price levels, each of which are self-explanatory. These range from value resorts to moderate resorts to the much sought after luxury resorts. Value resort rooms can be had from just $79 a night while the exquisite luxury resort rooms start at around $200 a night.

Should you decide to see what all the fuss is about regarding Universal Studios, it is not too far from Disney World though the traffic will obviously have a part to play in getting there. If you feel that Disney World hotels are too far from Universal Studios, there are some great hotels in the area like the Hard Rock Hotel and the Royal Pacific Resort. If these hotels sound plush it’s because they are, if they sound expensive then you’re mistaken. With a Universal Studios Vacation Package, accommodation to either of the aforementioned hotels comes as part of the deal.

One thing that the Universal Studios theme park has in common with Disney World is the amazing amount of things to do. If for some reason you are not interested in the famous movie studio, there is the option to go to Sea World, Busch Gardens or the Islands of Adventure. The Universal Studios Vacation Package also enables families to enter all the separate theme parks on the compound for a significantly reduced price. Another benefit of buying a package is the fact you will get to bypass the lengthy queues to each park and every ride.

When you decide to visit Orlando, Florida, your main problem will be deciding where you wish to stay as well as trying to figure out how you will squeeze in all the attractions on offer. Thanks to the discounts provided by Disney World hotels and accommodation included in the Universal Studios Vacation Package, you may well be able to afford two visits to the amazing state of Florida.

Patrick Lynch has a passion for great vacations and writing. With four years of creative writing experience and graduated in National University of Ireland Galway, he shares bits and pieces of advices on getting the most out of Orlando Vacations.

by Patrick Lynch

Many families plan their Disney World vacations months in advance where others go so far as to book a year away. Some great discount deals can be found if you plan and book for something in the future. Still a few people like to be a little more spontaneous and keep an eye out for that last minute cancellation or deal that may come up giving you only hours to plan, pack and get out the door. No matter what type of family you are, you will want to make sure that you have thought to consider at least the basics for your trip.

Look for savings wherever you can

Book ahead and often save more than 15%. Find a package deal and you can save not only on flights but on hotel costs and car rentals, and many times even the admission price to the Disney World theme parks. When looking for a hotel, look for one that offers a kitchen section so you can save hundreds of dollars on eating out or ordering in for your family. Even if mom is on vacation and not up to cooking, buying sweet rolls, cold cuts and salads, eggs, bacon and other easy to make foods will still save a ton of cash. It has been estimated that the average family of four who go on vacation will spend $170 a day on food eating out. By purchasing simple grocery items you can put together in your hotel room, you can save your family $40-$75 a day which can be used for other stuff.

When planning your adventures at the theme parks you will want to know what the charges are for each park, which ones are included in each package, and if there are any additional charges such as parking that are not included. Knowing this information will enable you to look for any discounts, deals or specials for combining rates and packages.

Set Your Priorities

While it is a nice thought to be able to get to every part of the Disney World park, the reality is with the vast size of the park sections and the time it takes for you to roam about and enjoy things, you will probably only have time to visit a few areas. Talk it over with your children. If your husband and you don’t care where you go, take a vote to see which part of the park is the most favored. For smaller children, Disney Magic Kingdom may be a perfect spot, for older kids who are into Science, maybe the Epcot Center would hold the most interest.

For those who love animals, activities and rides, there is Animal Kingdom, and for those movie buffs or aspiring movie directors, there is Hollywood Studios. There is also the water park for those daring to be wet and wild all day long. The downtown Disney area is a great place for mom and dad to take a break and hang out. Grabbing a bite at a restaurant or walking around hand in hand taking in the landscape while they eat ice cream on giant hand made waffle cones. Remember that the number one important thing to accomplish on this trip is to have a fun time with your family so you can share lasting memories for years to come.

Take the Time to Build Memories

For most families, Disney World vacations are something that happen only once in their childhood. For some, this means traveling to another country other than their own, for others it means the chance to visit grandparents on the other side of the country while exploring something new. Taking the time to get to know your family, spend as much time as you can playing, chatting, checking out the country around you, taking pictures, and talking to other people you meet, will allow you to create lasting memories you will cherish all while strengthening the family bond.

Patrick Lynch has a passion for great vacations and writing. With four years of creative writing experience and graduated in National University of Ireland Galway, he shares bits and pieces of advices on getting the most out of Orlando Vacations.

By Patrick Lynch

Come vacation time, if you have decided to book a trip to Orlando to see Disney World, the difficulties in procuring accommodation ensure that most people are happy to get their hands on any sort of room key. The basic choices for a vacationing family in Orlando consist of rental homes or hotels. Each has their proponents and critics and it is clear there are pluses and minuses for both forms of accommodation. Those in favor of Disney World hotels will state that their proximity to the theme park makes them the perfect location while those who prefer Orlando vacation rentals believe hotels are far too expensive for an average family to stay in.

Advantages of Disney Hotels

Certainly, there is no doubt that Disney World hotels provide guests with an unmatched location as they are virtually next door to the legendary theme park. Those who stay in one of these hotels do not have to worry about parking their car in the resort nor will they have to contend with heavy traffic. There are bus fleets that operate everyday and bring residents of the hotel to and from the park. Even though it is possible to get a vacation home within a few miles of Disney World, there is no comparison in terms of ease of getting to the park. It may not take that long to get to the home of fun but it will not be easy to find adequate parking spaces despite the best efforts of the theme park’s staff.

Advantages of Vacation Rental

On the other hand, it is said that Disney World hotels are expensive. Actually, there are not nearly as expensive as you might think. Thanks to the three different price ranges, value, moderate and luxury, there are rooms to fit everyone’s budget with $79 rooms a possibility during low season. It has to be said, though that Orlando vacation rentals are even better value. Although the cost of the accommodation may be in a similar range, having your own home for the duration of your vacation is guaranteed to save you money on food and beverages. When you think about it, staying in a hotel involves having to eat out a lot. With vacation homes, you can buy and prepare your own food which works out to be much cheaper.

Disney Hotels or Vacation Rental?

So which option is better in terms of entertainment? Disney World hotels certainly offer plenty to keep residents amused as they are completely family orientated. There are rides and arcade games in the resort not to mention the easy access to the theme park itself. Although vacation homes are not as close, it is possible for you to watch DVDs or television in the comfort of your own home. Also, most vacation homes are luxurious and have their own swimming pool.

When you look at the information above it is difficult to separate hotels in the Disney World resort from vacation homes. The hotel room gives you easy access to the park while the vacation homes work out cheaper and have their own swimming pool. So while the bad news is that it is difficult to separate them, the good news is that wherever you end up, a great vacation is guaranteed.

Patrick Lynch has a passion for great vacations and writing. With four years of creative writing experience and graduated in National University of Ireland Galway, he shares bits and pieces of advices on getting the most out of Orlando Vacations.

Would you rather be trapped in Disney World for 48 hours or drive a semi-truck down the Death Road?

This poll is not as straightforward as it might seem. So, some people could be choosing between two options that they would want to do, while others are choosing the lesser of two evils. Which is it for you?

In case you aren’t familiar with the death road, check out this article about a group that biked down it.

Vote in the poll and let us know what you think in the comments section below.

OR

Everyone loves a trip to a good theme park. Whether you are there for the rides, the shows, or just the experience, a theme park is reason enough to travel to a destination. Travelated has rounded up our top 5 favorite theme parks, no particular order.

• Disney World (Orlando, FL) – Quite possibly the most well known park in the world, Disney World is actually a collection of smaller “parks”, including the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach. At the Magic Kingdom, you can experience all classic attractions and character you have known forever. Epcot allows you to experience the culture and cuisine of nations all over the world, all in one place. The Animal Kingdom is the world’s largest animal-themed park, where you can go on safaris with the animals. Hollywood Studios give you a behind the scenes look at where movies come to life. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are both water parks that the whole family can enjoy. There are many ways to purchase tickets, with discounts as you purchase extended length tickets. For example, a one day adult ticket cost $79, while a 10 day adult ticket costs $24.30 per day. The Park Hopper pass, which is extra, allows you to get into any park, any day, with extended hours just for Park Hopper pass holders. There is so much to do, there is no wonder why this is the most famous park in the world.




• Busch Gardens (Tampa, FL) – Offering rides, shows, and animal attractions, Busch Gardens offers the plenty of options to please even the pickiest theme park attendee. The rides include roller coasters, adventure “safaris”, and water themed rides. The shows include animal-based, music-based, and comedy shows. The real attraction at Busch Gardens are the animals.  You can go on a Sunrise Safari, where you will get very personal with giraffes by hand-feeding them. You could even enjoy the Tiger and Orangutan Keeper Experience, where you get to take part in an orangutan training session, and then test your strength against a tiger. There are many options to get up close and personal with the animals, and they are opportunities that you will not get anywhere else.
• LegoLand (Carlsbad, CA) – Everyone loves Legos. Imagine going to a place where almost everything is made of Legos. They have rides based on the toy sets that you or your child has probably put together in the past.  It is also filled with miniature version of major landmarks, all built with Legos. What would a Lego theme park be without the opportunity to build your own Legos creation? Of course, building your own Lego masterpiece is available. Obviously, this park is catered to kids, but those of all ages can have fun at LegoLand.
• Sea World (Orlando, FL) – We all know about the world famous killer whales, but Sea World has so much more to offer. They have other famous shows, roller coasters, other rides, and exhibits. For a little extra, you can visit Discovery Cove. This is an all inclusive day-long experience. You can swim with dolphins, and explore tropical reefs and exotic fish. You can also relax on their white sand beaches, and enjoy first class dining.  It is an opportunity that you will not get anywhere else.
• Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH) – Home of the world’s tallest, fastest, longest roller coasters, Cedar Point is a thrill seekers paradise. Located on the shore of Lake Erie, the view achieved while riding the coasters are second to none in world. The have 17 roller coasters, more than any other park in the world. In addition to their famous roller coasters, they have water rides, spinning rides, carousels, and tranquil rides for the less adventurous. If you like roller coasters, or are even just a thrill-seeker in general, you have to go the Cedar Point.