Orlando Sale: Hotels from $47; Air + 3 nights from $236 - Expires 11/4/08

Last-minute Orlando deals: Hotels from $45, vacations from $245 - Expires - 10/29/08

Stay in Orlando for Cheap. Hotels from C$49 at Expedia.ca! - Expires 11/4/08

Dollar - Save 10% on any vehicle when you purchase a car rental 24-hours in advance and use an American Express.Use Code AX10 . Offer ends 12-31-08

Hotels.com - Summer Deals - Orlando from $28!

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Orlando is famous for its theme parks. Millions of visitors each year travel to central Florida to get away with family and friends. The theme parks aren’t the only thing to do in Orlando. Regional shopping center malls and outlet malls are just as enticing to the visiting crowd. Orlando’s malls are filled with as many tourists as main street USA at the magic kingdom. So when you’re visiting Orlando consider visiting the Mall at Millenia.

The Mall at Millenia

This massive mall is centrally located and is close to major theme parks and hotels. The list of amenities goes on and on for this mall. Valet parking, discounted hotel reservations, gift wrap, and a U.S. post office just to name a few.

The Mall at Millenia has wonderful places to eat. If you are looking for quick and easy food for the family the food court has it all. It’s located in the middle of the malls two wings on the second floor. Plenty of seating can be found although it does fill up during peak season at lunch time. Family friendly, clean bathrooms are also close by. It’s a great place to relax or rendezvous with your party. There are also plenty of upscale restaurants to choose from include the every popular cheesecake factory.

The mall is broken down into two levels of shopping. Let’s say the normal side and the up scale side. If you are facing the food court the right side of the mall has stores like Bath and Body Works, Gap, and Discovery Channel. To the left of the food court you will find stores such as Coach, Jimmy Choo, Tiffany & Co.

The Mall at Millenia has something for everyone. You will be able to stay entertained for hours by yourself or with your family and friends. Orlando has something for everyone, including shoppers.

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Disney Movie Club Discount Codes

764020 - 4 movies at $1.99 ea., 4 to fulfill.

820042 - 4 movies at $1.99 ea., free processing, 4 to fulfill.

Disney Movie Club 4 disney movies for 1.99 each Coupon Code: 890076 No known expiration date
10% OFF coupon code: DONALD

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Author:
Peter Kenny

So you have selected an area - Orlando - entertainment capital of the world and home to Mickey Mouse and all his friends. First thing is to contact some Realtors to show you around some properties. You should look for communities which are centrally located with easy access to all that Orlando has to offer and which welcome homeowners renting out their properties on the short term to holidaymakers.

Better quality furnishings last longer

Having chosen and bought your perfect property abroad, you must then (if it is a brand newly built house) turn your thoughts to furnishing it throughout. You would be well advised to stay neutral and select colors and styles, which will not go out of date too quickly and easily. Also it is not the best idea to pick any hues that are too outlandish or purely to suit your own personal taste. You wish your Orlando vacation villa to appeal to the broadest spectrum possible to ensure interest and repeat bookings for your vacation home, thus turning it into a profitable business venture.

With regards to furniture for the home, the cheapest may not always be the best in the long run. If the furniture is so cheap that it does not last and needs to be replaced regularly then this could prove to be a false economy. You may get longer life out of a slightly higher priced set of furniture.

Be careful when choosing a management company

You will need to turn your thoughts to some form of caretaker or management firm to look after your investment in your absence. Never just settle for the first or only one you speak to. Contact several as their styles (and prices) vary. These people will represent you if you do not live locally so they must be someone you can get along with and trust to look after your vacation rental villa in the manner you would like and expect.

Beware guaranteed rentals

Naturally a burning question on home owner’s lips concerns bookings. A word of warning: - beware companies who "promise" you a set number of "guaranteed" bookings per annum. This promise is rarely upheld. Also do not rely heavily on family and friends to rent your Orlando vacation villa.

The reality is whilst they may seem willing, extended family often look for a bargain and a reduced rental rate from the one you advertise and as you set up your new venture in the vacation rental market you are aiming to achieve maximum exposure in order to optimize your rental potential.

Finally, you want to do all you can to promote your Orlando vacation villa. You can do this through word of mouth, good photographs of your home, a website, advertising and subscribing to websites which display vacation rental properties to those wishing to rent a home in the sun.

If you put in the effort we are sure you will reap the rewards and see your vacation villa fill up with bookings - just remember to keep a couple of weeks for yourselves to enjoy all Orlando has to offer. After all your hard work, you’ll deserve the break!

About the Author
Peter Kenny has been travelling to Florida for the last 20 years and runs two vacation rental sites http://www.reunionresort.us.com and http://www.windsorpalmsflorida.com Please visit for more articles on vacation rentals and ownership.
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Disney Wold Vacation Homes

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10 Reasons to Rent a Disney Wold Vacation Home

Finding Florida vacation rentals that will spaciously accommodate groups and families is much easier than one might expect. In a place like Orlando, one will find a number of options with regard to renting a villa or vacation home as opposed to a hotel or motel room. Due to the fact that hotel rooms can sometimes be a cramped setting, especially for families traveling with children, Florida villas are a wonderful alternative to a hotel stay. However, this is not the only reason why vacationers choose to experience the magic of Orlando, Florida, while staying in an Orlando vacation home. The following list highlights the top 10 reasons why choosing an Orlando villa over a hotel room might just be the best bet for your vacation:

1. More Spacious - Hotel rooms usually only provide one or two rooms in which to move about. Since Orlando vacations typically last 5 or 6 days due to the enormous amount of activities that are present within this entertaining city, the spacious rooms within Orlando villas allow groups and families to relax in a larger, more comfortable area. This will enable everyone to enjoy their vacation just a little bit more.

2. Kitchen Amenities - When choosing a place to stay for a week’s vacation, individuals like to have various amenities available to them, including a kitchen. Some people don’t like to have to eat out for every meal and by staying in an Orlando rental home or villa; one has access to kitchen amenities in which to cook some of the meals throughout the vacation and save money.

3. Private Pools - Hotels usually provide a number of swimming pools and Jacuzzis for the guests. However, most Florida villas that are for rent in the Orlando area come with their own private swimming pools and often Jacuzzis as well. Why cram into a packed public swimming pool when swimming in a pool with only friends and family members around can be a viable option.

4. Wireless Internet Connection with PC - Due to the large quantity of internet users around today, having wireless internet connection at one’s fingertips is almost a necessity these days. In many Orlando vacation homes there will be wireless internet access and a computer in which to surf the World Wide Web. Although a number of hotels currently offer this type of internet connection as well, you will frequently find that occasional fees and disconnections may occur. Since you are staying in a Florida vacation rental home, it is almost like being in your own home where internet connections are lost less frequently. Also, it is very rare in which to find a hotel that offers computers in which to access the web. Usually, you need to bring your own laptop in order to take advantage of this internet access.

5. More Economical - Because Orlando, Florida is a large tourist attraction, hotels can be a bit on the pricey side if you are looking for space and numerous amenities. When an individual rents an Orlando villa, one can choose the size of vacation home that is needed to accommodate the family. It is much less expensive to rent a single home for one week as opposed to a number of rooms for a certain amount per night.

6. More Peaceful - When staying in hotels, there is usually a lot of outside noises that one has to contend with. Either people stomping up above or noisy guests in the hallway. By booking a Florida vacation rental in Orlando, there will only be the noises of those that were brought along on the trip.

7. Additional Bathrooms - Waiting in line for the bathroom can be a real drag. By renting a Florida villa, there will almost always be more than one bathroom available to the renters. With a hotel room, bathroom lines are almost inevitable, unless the vacation is a vacation for one.

8. Washing Machines and Dryers - One of the more accommodating aspects of renting an Orlando villa as opposed to staying at a hotel is the availability of washers and dryers on the premises. No need to search for a laundromat when washers and dryers are included amenities.

9. Access to a Garage and a Close Parking Spot - Since hotel parking is often set a good distance away from the hotel itself, individuals staying at these types of resorts usually find themselves having to hike back and forth from the room to the car. When carrying luggage and other packages, this can sometimes get tiresome. With an Orlando villa rental, the car will be a few steps away from the front door thereby making any lugging of items nonexistent.

10. Home Away from Home - With hotel accommodations, although many hotels offer wonderful amenities, there is still no way to make it seem less like a hotel and more like a home. When renting a Florida villa in Orlando, the accommodations feel more homey and relaxing than any hotel possibly could. When a family can enjoy the entertainment and events in a place like Orlando, Florida and come "home" to relax afterwards, this is a great thing.

There is nothing wrong with staying in a hotel from time to time if you are stopping over in a city for one night or if there is no Orlando vacation villa available. After all, where else will you get to have your bed made and not have to do laundry every day? However, there are times when a vacation is much more relaxing and comfortable when it can be completed in a makeshift home environment. For these reasons, Orlando villa rentals are great options to consider when looking into a trip to Orlando, Florida. So, get online and start looking for Orlando villa rentals in order to find the one to make your vacation as comfortable as possible.

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Animal Kingdom Tickets on Sale Now

Animal Kingdom at Disney World

The Animal Kingdom at Disney World is the latest addition to Disney’s theme parks at it’s Florida resort. Opened to the public in 1989, the Animal Kingdom at Disney World is a treat with it’s picturesque beauty inspired by the African Savannah and wildlife reserve. Guests to the Animal Kingdom at Disney World will be immersed in the beauty of the environment, which took its inspiration from nature’s spectacular settings, as well as Africa’s cultural splendor.

They are also treated to a variety of experiences, from an introduction to the ancient animals and reptiles that dominated the Earth 65,000,000 years ago, to close encounters with recent wildlife. The Animal Kingdom boasts a collection of more than 200 mammals, including the tiger, hippopotamus, giraffe, gazelles, sacred ibis, ostrich, and exotic birds. It also houses creepy crawly insects. All of the above roaming on a 33-acre recreation of their habitats.

The Animal Kingdom Lodge

The Animal Kingdom Lodge at Disney World is a magnificent six-story resort with 1,293 rooms that has a horseshoe design, much like an African village kraal. Guests can walk along a rock outcropping, with 24-hour viewing to streams and roaming animals.

The lobby is reflective of a national park-like setting complete with a huge stone fireplace that stands 82 feet tall. Chandeliers with teepee designed tops, totem poles and hand carved decoration are just a few of it’s other subtle nuances. In the lobby is a hot spring that flows outside of the building, dropping as a waterfall to a swimming area with hot and cold spas. At the edge of Bay Lake is a rocky outcrop where a geothermal geyser erupts every hour.

Recreation and Amenities – rentals for boat and bike, a playground, a game room, laundry and child care.

Dining – Guests have the choice of dining in the full-service restaurants, the lounge or a snack bar.

Facilities – 750 square feet of space for meetings including a boardroom/meeting room in this Walt Disney World resort.

Access to the theme parks is via motor coach or a watercraft.

Animal Kingdom Rides

• Kilimanjaro Safaris – an open-air expedition to the animal filled Savannah.
• DINOSAUR – travel 65 million years back and rescue the beasts.
• Festival of the Lion King – a Broadway like musical of entertainment, humor, magic and pageantry.
• It’s Tough to be a Bug! – Big laughs in this “bug” show with friendly insects.
• Kali River Rapids – this is a "getting wet" raft adventure into an Asian rain forest.
• Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade – an island street party, where Disney characters pay tribute to their animal friends.

Animal Kingdom Tickets on Sale Now

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Internet Scams are everywhere and the travel industry is no exception.

I’m sure you have seen adds all over the web for Free Tickets to Disney World or Disney World Tickets at Half Price. I can tell you right now that NOTHING is for Free. Anyone offering you Free Disney Tickets wants something in return.

Timeshare Companies use this tactic to get you in and tour their Timeshare Property. This is usually started with a timeshare presentation that could take a few hours and can be very time consuming, plus at the end you have to deal with the sales person trying to force this onto you so he can make his
commission. These Scams does not only happen in Orlando. They occur throughout the Travel Industry. Remember, is a deal sounds "Too Good to be True " then watch out!

If you are in the market for Timeshare, then there are reputable companies in Orlando such as Disney Vacation Club, Marriott Vacation Club and Orange Lake Resorts just to name a few.

If you end up in a timeshare presentation and they do not want you to take some time and think it over, then just walk away from the deal. Sometimes these deals seems to be very good and you feel good because you are on vacation and having fun.

Don’t respond to emails and phone calls that tells you that you have won a free Disney Vacation. Remember, there is no such thing as a Free Vacation. This is one of the other Scams that timeshare companies use to get you onto their property for a presentation. Either via email or making a cold call to tell you that you have won a Disney World Vacation. They will put you up for a night in one of the cheap hotels and then get you to come and sit through the timeshare presentation the next day.

Always make sure you look at all the fine print when you have a reservation. Some of the cheap deals have restrictions which can make it impossible to travel certain times of the year. Also remember that anyone can put up a nice looking website. We ONLY deal with the Reputable companies like

Priceline
Expedia
Hotels.com

and Car Rentals Companies like

Budget.com
Dollar Car Rentals

Some of the Airlines like United Airlines have direct Deals to Orlando on their web site.

Check out our Current Hot Deals pages for current and ongoing savings.

If unfortunately you got scammed, you can contact the Better Business Bureau for help.

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Gatorland is another one of Orlando’s attractions that top visitors to do lists. This 110-acre family owned Alligator Themed Park has been open for business since 1949 and there’s enough to see and do here to take up a good half day (more if you want).

Activities at Gatorland:

• See big alligators
• Take a Floridian wildlife train ride
• Visit a bird aviary and sanctuary
• Check out a “breeding marsh”
• Enjoy a petting zoo with your little ones
• Do a nature walk
• Visit a Gator gift shop
• And best of all - - 4 great shows

According to the Gatorland website, Gatorland started out as the dream of a man named Owen Godwin, Sr.

He built an alligator pit in the backyard of his home in the 1930’s and put a female alligator in it with her babies. He and the Mrs. would host visitors and sell homemade gator souvenirs while letting them see the gators.

Godwin apparently really enjoyed doing this. He planned for a bigger attraction that would show off more of Florida’s wildlife. In 1947, after the war, he bought 16 acres of property near Kissimmee. Since this was the dawn of 20th century American highway tourism, more and more families were visiting Florida.

With the help of a few investors his idea caught on. Now, thousands visit this park each year. As a matter of fact, Gatorland claims to be “central Florida’s first major attraction”. It now features all kinds of reptiles and Florida wildlife.

The 4 main shows at Gatorland include:

• The “Gator Jumparoo Show” - featuring the alligators’ ability to jump out of the water in search of food.
• The “Gator wrestlin’ Show” - with a 6-8 foot gator being subdued, put to sleep, then re-awakened.
• “Jungle Crocs” - detailing 4 types of crocodiles and their environment.
• The “Upclose Animal Encounters Show” – filled with differing animals from around the world - - including some dangerous snakes.

Gatorland is open everyday, rain or shine, from 9am to 5pm. It’s on Hwy 441 near Kissimmee. Tickets range from $19.95 for adults (ages 13 and over) and kids (ages 3-12) are currently $9.95.

Gatorland Tickets - Save Time & Money

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Aquatica in Orlando

800-327-2424 or (407) 351-3600

Aquatica in Orlando is Sea Worlds latest Water Park and opened in March 2008. The main entrance to the park is just off International drive.

Aquatica takes this water rides to a new level, inviting guests to play in, over, and under the water. The park is over 60 acres with lush landscaping. Aquatica is the first water park that also incorporate live animals like Commerson’s Dolphins, Macaws and a colorful assortment of tropical fish on display. You don’t even have to travel to a beach.

The 80,000 square feet of beach area with 15,000 sq ft Duel Wave Pools is a dream for any beach lover. The two wave pools is a world first and they can be operated independently or together.

Aquatica signature attraction plunge riders in clear tubes running though a tank of Commerson’s Dolphins are fast, agile swimmers which will make them the perfect inhabitants for this lively park. Stand and watch the staff feed the dolphins just before sunset.

Aquatica Attractions

1. Dolphin Plunge - 48″
2. Tassie’s Twisters
3. Loggerhead Lane
4. Roa’s Rapids
5. Walhalla Waters - 42″
6. HooRoo Run - 42″
7. Walkabout Waters - 36″
8. Taumata Racer - 42″
9. Kata’s Kookaburra Cove
10. Cutback Cove
11. Big Surf Shores
12. Whanau Way

Aquatica Animals

1. Commerson’s Dolphin Exhibit
2. Fish Grotto

Aquatica Shopping

1. Sunnies n’ Such
2. Kiwi Trader
3. Adaptations
4. Beachies

Aquatica Dinning

1. Banana Beach Cookout
2. Mango Market
3. Waterstone Grill

Aquatica Tickets On Sale Now

Aquatica Video

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Do it Yourself

The best rates and fares are available online. It will take some time to do the research but the cheapest way to save costs is to book each component separately ie. Car Rentals , Accommodations, Flights and even Theme Park Tickets etc.

Plan well in advance. Making a last minute reservations can cost you a lot of money and it is also stressful to get all that planed in a short period of time.

Stay Away from websites that advertise 2 tickets for the price of one or very discounted tickets. These are all timeshare companies and they pull you in with discount tickets to come and listen to a timeshare presentation for you to buy timeshare. There are different tickets. Use out guide to find out Which Theme Park Ticket is right for you.

Some airlines have good deals when you get a credit card from them. They either offer a few thousand air miles or some of them even offer 3-5% cash back. This percentage might sound low but it all adds up between the flights and accommodation and food and theme park tickets. Some Airlines also offer Gift Certificates.

United Airlines Currently has an offer of up to $200 for a Gift Certificate and FunJet have some great deals to Florida. As of March 11,2008 Priceline Permanently eliminated ALL Priceline bookings fees on domestic & international published airfare. New Hotel $100 Bonus Cash Promotion . Book any one of over 20,000 participating hotels and get $100 Bonus Cash to use on a future 4 or more night vacation package! Sale ends March 23, 2008

With the high gas prices at the moment at lot of great card companies offer gas credit cards with either a $25 gift certificate or 3-5% cash back. I’m busy doing research on the better ones out there.

Also book your shuttle from the airport to the resort way before the time. You pay more when you just arrive without a pre-paid ticket.

New Hotel $100 Bonus Cash Promotion. Sale Ends March 23,2008

Accommodation Deals

Go Off Season

You will be amazed at how much cheaper flight and accommodations is when the kids are back at school. You can save more than 50% during the low season. Sign up for newsletters from some of your favorite airlines and hotel groups. They constantly send out new deals. The arks are also less crowded during low season and short lines.

Who wants to go to Disney when the kids are at school? Well, it might be a way to get a cheap vacation if you are bargain hunting. Here is a Calendar of Best Times to visit the Theme Parks.

Book and Disney World Vacation Home

Instead of spending money on a hotel room why not book a Luxury Vacation Home. These homes are very affordable and most of them are close to Disney World. Use this guide to help you find the best deals on a Disney World Vacation Home. Also look my Post on Disney World Vacation Homes .

Spend less on Food

Food and drinks are expensive in the parks. If you are staying in a Villa, you can always pack some food for the day. Buy water and soft drinks before the time and take them in with the food. On hot days you can freeze the drinks and take them frozen with you in a cooler. You can also go back to the villa for lunch and come back refreshed to the park if you do not want to carry a lot of food and drinks with you.

If you want to eat inside the park, look out for restaurants that allow kids to eat free. Look out for coupons to use at the big chain restaurants like Mc Donald’s. Money saving coupon books are available in the local supermarkets. They also contain coupons to some of the other parks and dinner shows.

Spend time Planning an Itinerary

Spend some time planning an itinerary before you buy tickets to the parks. To pick the right tickets all depends on how you want to spend your days. Check all your options. Things like Florida Resident and Civil/Military Service and Corporate discounts can be an additional saving.

There is a travel agent in the Walmart at 4444 W. Vine in Kissimmee. They offer Discounted tickets with about 5% off the normal price but they might not carry every type of ticket.

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Epcot Center in Florida , Disney’s second park, is certainly one of the best and the most popular theme parks in the world. Millions of visitors from all over the globe come and visit Epcot Center in Florida every year and with Epcot’s blend of education and entertainment make it an enjoyable experience for guests of all ages.

The park is nearly 300 acres big and opened in 1982. Epcot Center in Florida consists of two sections, Future World and World Showcase. Future World opens at 9am and closes around 7pm.World Showcase opens at 11am and stays open until 9pm. Make sure you are there at 9pm when Illuminations of light show starts. This is truly the “grand-finale” before the park close.

There is so much to see at Epcot that I suggest if you can to spend 2 days in Epcot. You can walk the park at a more leisurely pace and see everything. Epcot Center in Florida is twice the size of Magic Kingdom so make sure you bring comfortable shoes with for all the walking. Plan to spend your day in Future World and then move on to World Showcase.

Future World’s most populare attractions are, Mission Space, Soarin and Test Track. Soarin is the newest ride and is always packed, so make sure you get a Fast Pass for Soarin and then go to the other attractions and come back later with your fast pass. Spaceship Earth is the first thing you will see when you enter the park. It is the Big Golf Ball that can be seen from miles away. Spaceship Earth takes you through the history of communication from the past into the future.

World Showcase consists of different countries where you can experience the food and shopping for each country. World Showcase feature countries as Japan, England, Canada, Mexico, Norway and China. Some countries feature movies or rides, while others are mostly shops and recreations of popular tourist attractions such as the Eiffel Tower. During the day performers are performing outside of China and Paris.

I love Germany. It is like stepping into an authentic German Village with bear and bratwurst. Diners will be treated to dances and yodelers straight from Germany. Entertainment in the Germany section includes a strolling band and a trio of singers.

Illuminations of Light are always a highlight for me to end the day at a great place like Epcot Center in Florida.

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Epcot Map

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