8 Ways to Save on Your Orlando Vacation

Orlando, Florida is synonymous with family fun. Home to some of the best theme parks in the world, Orlando offers exciting thrills, close encounters with your favorite cartoon characters and amazing ways to spend your summer days with your family. This summer season money is tight for many families and some are struggling to ensure their families can still have an unforgettable, deserved vacation. Look no further than Orlando, Florida for the one-stop, do-it-all destination you and your family have been searching for. Even though budgets are tight and gas prices are high, Central Florida is a vacation destination offering discounts and cheap things to do in Orlando making it easy for any family to enjoy some summer fun.

Here are 8 ways to save on your Orlando Vacation:

1) Purchase a Go Orlando Card for discounts on over 50 Orlando attractions, including Cypress Gardens, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Kennedy Space Center, Wonderworks and more. Do as much as you like each day for one low, affordable price. The Go Orlando Card is easy to use....simply present the card. Visit as many attractions as you want in a day! Admission to all listed attractions is included with the card. It comes in 1, 2, 3, 5 & 7 day increments and is activated the first time you use it. Days do not have to be used consecutively, and you can take up to 2 weeks to use it.

2) Discover our Orlando Direct Deals page on ReserveOrlando.com. There are great deals on Orlando tickets and discounts for Orlando attractions. A few of the discounted Orlando activities include Pirate’s Dinner Adventure, Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show, Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Tours, Wet ‘n Wild and Arabian Nights Dinner Show to name a few.

3) Orlando vacation packages are another great way to save in Orlando. On ReserveOrlando.com there are packages available featuring Universal Studios, Disney World, Gatorland, Cypress Gardens and Wet ‘n Wild. They are a great way to save money and still have fun!

4) Your won’t find Cheap Disney Tickets anywhere, but you’ll certainly find the best Discount Disney Tickets and Park Hopper Passes on ReserveOrlando.com. There are special deals offering free days at Disney World or you can get a great low price ticket for a 1-3 day pass. The deals are available, are you?

5) Universal Studios Orlando discounts are also available on ReserveOrlando.com. We are proud to offer the some of the best discount Universal Studios tickets around, with deals the whole family will enjoy. Our prices are way lower than gate prices, and offerings include a 2 park unlimited admission pass and a CityWalk Party Pass ticket.

6) There are plenty of Free Things to do in Orlando. Spend some time at Lake Eola Park, visit a museum like the Cornell Fine Arts Museum or explore Old Town, where every Saturday night free rock-n-roll concert and a parade of 300 vintage cars. There are plenty of outdoor activities for families and historical sites to visit, so be sure to check out all of the Free activities in Orlando.

7) Get a Central Florida Play Pass. This 7-day pass features unlimited admission to seven unique and out of the ordinary attractions and museums, including Cypress Gardens, Fantasy of Flight and Bok Tower Gardens. The pass is flexible, you can come and go as much as you like at each location, plus it’s a great value for families!

8) Take a short trip to the beach. Orlando may be in central Florida, but a trip to the beach is just a short drive away. Cocoa Beach is the closest beach to Orlando, with about an hour drive time on SR-528 to the east. Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach are about an hour and a half away, and are located east on I-4. A trip to the beach is cheap, fun and family friendly!

Orlando Celebrates Holiday with Shows, Shopping and Seasonal Spectacles

From festive events to a variety of themed holiday shows and unique shopping experiences, Orlando offers one of the most elaborate and diverse holiday celebrations of any destination in the world. In addition to the well-known theme park activities, visitors can enjoy breathtaking light displays; choral concerts; specialty shopping and shows; guaranteed nightly snow showers; seasonal hotel packages and more throughout November and December.

Here are just a few of the trimmings that make the holidays in Orlando merry and bright:

Holiday Dinner Theater Offerings

Arabian Nights - In this stunning holiday fairytale, 60 magnificent Arabian Nights horses and a cast of more than 40 holiday characters are joined by spectacular pyrotechnics, snow, special sets and breathtaking holiday costumes to create a winter wonderland fit for a prince and princess. The Arabian Nights Holiday Show includes a wide range of seasonal music from Andy Williams, Hilary Duff, Rebecca St. James and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Appearances by toy soldiers, horse-riding elves, gingerbread men and sugarplum fairies add to the holiday cheer.

Pirate's Dinner Adventure - A shipload of yuletide surprises are in store for guests of the Pirate's Christmas Dinner Adventure. Choreographed swordplay, aerial artistry and dynamic duals combine as the cast of pirates engage in a thrilling, heroic effort to save Christmas. All youngsters are invited to participate in the show's March of the Toy Soldiers and more than 150 guests each night find themselves in the middle of the show action. A pre-show Nativity Scene with live barnyard animals and a post-show Buccaneer Bash Dance Party with a live DJ complete the high-seas holiday festivities.

Holiday Music and Theatre

The Plaza Theatre - Internationally acclaimed crooner Michael Andrew and the Atomic Big Band present some of the hippest renditions of holiday favorites in Michael Andrew's Swinging Christmas Show Friday Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 22 at 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at The Plaza Theatre. The evening will kick off with pre-show entertainment in The Plaza's very own Swingerhead Lounge followed by a night of swingin' music, including the Michael Andrew original song, "Mistletoe Mambo," and nutty comedy hijinx for all ages. Tickets are $43 for both adults and children.

Winter Park Playhouse - Ring in the holidays with music from Broadway, film, television and radio, plus the return of crowd favorites, the wacky duo, Eb and Flo. Performances take place Nov. 30 - Dec. 15 on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Winter Park Playhouse.Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for students.

Holiday Shopping

Old Town - Holiday-goers can stroll Old Town's brick-lined streets and browse through a diverse selection of merchandise at more than 75 specialty stores. A variety of rides and attractions are also offered. Every evening from Dec. 3-21, Old Town turns into a flurry of fun with nightly snow showers on the hour from 6-9 p.m. and offers free pictures with Santa Monday - Friday to anyone who brings an unwrapped toy or offers a cash donation.

Orlando Premium Outlets - Savvy shoppers can kick off their three-day Thanksgiving Weekend gift-buying spree with special deals at high-end designer and name brand fashion outlet stores during the Orlando Premium Outlets "Midnight Madness" event beginning at midnight on Black Friday (Nov. 23). Exclusive offers and coupon book vouchers worth hundreds of dollars in additional savings are also available at Orlando Premium Outlets online throughout the holiday season for impressive savings at Ann Taylor, Barneys New York Outlet, Burberry, Coach, Diesel, Fendi, Gap Outlet, Giorgio Armani, Kenneth Cole, Lacoste, MaxMara, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Salvatore Ferragamo, Theory, Tommy Hilfiger and more.

Special Events

Historic Bok Sanctuary - Stunning holiday décor is showcased at the 1930's 20-room classic Mediterranean Revival Pinewood Estate, a National Historic Landmark mansion. The 8-acre estate also features a spectacular winter garden and a 60-bell carillon housed in a 205-foot-tall Gothic bell tower, which rings daily throughout the sanctuary. Historic Bok Sanctuary is open every day of the year from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. General admission is $18 for adults, $9 for children ages 5-12 and free for children ages 4 and younger.

ICE! at Gaylord Palms Resort - Guests will experiences thrills and chills during this walk-through winter wonderland hand-carved by Chinese artists from two million pounds of ice. The interactive, larger-than-life display includes ice monuments, sculptures, ice slides, memorable holiday scenes, a walk-through igloo and a towering gingerbread candy house made from colored ice. The enormous structure that houses ICE! is cooled to 9 degrees and over-sized parkas are loaned to guests to stay warm. An outdoor skating rink, special Christmas show and display of country wreaths add to the resort's holiday activities. ICE! at Gaylord Palms Resort runs Nov. 19 - Jan. 3 and tickets range from $9.99 to $24.99, depending on the type of ticket and day of week.

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art - For the 29th year, the Morse Museum, which is renowned for its comprehensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany jewelry, pottery, and leaded-glass windows; lights up century-old Tiffany windows in downtown Winter Park, just north of downtown Orlando, on Dec. 6 from 6-8 p.m. The spectacular lighting ceremony is complemented by a free outdoor concert featuring the 150-voice Bach Festival Society choir.

SeaWorld Orlando - Guests can create yuletide memories and celebrate the season during "Christmas at SeaWorld." The holiday event features festive decorations, snowfalls and live holiday music from classical musicians and carolers. The event is included in daily park admission, which is $64.95 for adults, $53.95 for children ages 3-9 and free for children ages 2 and under.

Universal Orlando Resort - The world's most famous parade has become a holiday experience for park guests at Universal Studios. The Macy's Holiday Parade features some of the most popular balloons and floats direct from the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The excitement and pageantry of the parade, complete with a festive tree-lighting ceremony by Santa Claus himself, is exhibited each day of the holiday season.

Walt Disney World Resort - Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Disney's Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World includes a series of fun nighttime events for the little ones including holiday shows, fireworks and magic treats with Minnie and Mickey. Holidays Around the World at Epcot features international holiday storytellers, a daily character tree-lighting ceremony and a stunning display of snow-white lights. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights electrifies Disney Hollywood Studios with millions of sparkling lights.

Information courtesy of Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Pirate's Dinner Adventure presents a Swashbuckling Christmas Dinner Show

Pirate’s Dinner Adventure is celebrating the season with an all-new holiday version of its popular nighttime theatrical experience, renowned as the “World’s Most Interactive Dinner Show.” After 10 years of pillaging, pirating, and plundering, this infamous band of buccaneers, cast, and crew will set sail on the merriest Christmas adventure ever seen on the high seas. For a limited time only, November 25 - January 6th, Pirate’s Christmas Dinner Adventure will feature an exciting new holiday story line, spectacular sets, seasonal music, and a shipload of yuletide surprises throughout the show.

The entire Pirate’s Dinner Adventure Theatre in Orlando, FL will be decked out in true pirate fashion with a frosty twist for this swashbuckling holiday celebration. This family-friendly holiday experience kicks off in the pre-show area decked out with snowmen, brightly colored garlands, and holiday trimmings. Turkey and roasted chestnuts add a festive dash to the holiday appetizer buffet. Fresh from the North Pole, St. Nick is on hand for photos. In the museum, a nativity will feature live cuddly barnyard animals available for gentle touching by young lubbers. The Christmas story begins during the pre-show as the evil Magistrate tries to halt the holiday festivities, the princess is captured, and Magee the Elf -- a pirate wannabe -- is called on to save the day.

Jack Frost has come to town as a spectacular wintry scene of a galleon on the high seas greets guests entering the theatre in the round. Anchored in a 300,000-gallon indoor lagoon, and appearing frozen in time, sits an authentic replica of an 18th century Spanish galleon with a 40-foot mast. Giant icebergs surround the ship, icicles hang from her bow to stern, and snow blankets huge sections of the deck. The audience is swept up in a snowy, cold winter’s eve as dramatic lighting bathes the entire scene in a chilling white light.

Led by their own pirate mascot, guests go back in time to the 1800’s as pirates dazzle, thrill, and entertain with spectacularly choreographed swordplay, aerial artistry, and dynamic duals. Magee the elf transforms into a pirate in a thrilling, heroic effort to save both Christmas and the Princess.

Pirate team leaders enlist guests to join the fun in thrilling head-to-head competitions pitting one audience group against another. Over 150 guests each night will find themselves in the middle of the show as they don costumes and join the pirate action. New for the holidays, youngsters will be able to join the March of the Toy Soldiers and help Magee save Christmas. The show ends will a spectacular, pyrotechnics-filled, audience-involving celebration guaranteed to raise the roof.

The merriment continues in the post-show area, where guests can mingle with the swashbuckling stars of this holiday celebration. And after the last performance of the evening, guests can party like a pirate at the Buccaneer Bash Dance party, included with each paid admission. The high-energy DJ disco party features a state-of-the-art sound and special effects system and dancing to a wide variety of music.

Pirate’s Christmas Dinner Adventure serves up a hearty, satisfying four-course feast that includes appetizers, salads, and a dinner with a choice of chicken and pork or shrimp, along with steamed vegetables, roasted potatoes, and Caribbean rice. Dessert is warm apple cobbler a la mode. Complimentary beer, wine, coffee or soft drinks are included during dinner, and vegetarian “Captain Kid’s” meals are available upon request.

Discover Orlando this Spring

Discover Orlando this Spring
Orlando, Florida is a vacation destination worth discovering! This sunny Florida city boasts seven incredible theme parks, three water parks, and more than 80 other attractions. Orlando offers a little bit of everything and something for everyone. From Orlando shopping to Orlando golf, there are plenty of Orlando activities for you and your family. The warm weather, exciting attractions and interesting nightlife provides visitors with the perfect combination of fun and relaxation. Sunny Orlando, Florida appeals to beach lovers and theme park fanatics due to its central location. This spring, your Orlando vacation can be as unique as you are, with one day spent at the beach and the next enjoying wonderful Disney World.

This spring, Disney World launched its Year of a Million Dreams along with Dream Along with Mickey at the Magic Kingdom; the Laugh Floor Comedy Club starring the cast of Monsters Inc.; Finding Nemo the Musical at the Animal Kingdom and three new rides, including Expedition Everest, The Seas with Nemo and Pirates of the Caribbean. There is so much to see and do, you'll want to give yourself enough time to explore it all. Cypress Gardens also has new additions this year. Starliner, a classic wooden coaster, will premiere as well as Bugsville, a children’s area comprised of rides, a special theater and eventually, a large interactive play structure.

There are plenty of other things to do in Orlando. Gatorland, an alligator theme park and wildlife preserve, introduces their “Trainer for a Day” program this spring. It gives guests a glimpse into what it takes to work with dangerous animals. Gatorland is also opening Gator Gully, a water play area where families can cool off after their adventure in the park. The Kennedy Space Center is launching an impressive new attraction this year with their Shuttle Launch Experience. This special effects ride gives the effect of a real space flight. Several other Orlando attractions let visitors experience the unexpected Orlando. This spring, go on a hot air balloon adventure with Thunderhawk Aviation, experience the Miami Everglades or go on a Florida Adventure Tour. All three are great ways to discover something unexpected!

Entertainment in Orlando can be found everywhere, including in great Orlando Shows. The Pirates Dinner Adventure, Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show and The Outta Control Dinner Show are popular with families because of their fantastic combination of entertainment and delicious food. Opera and ballet can be found at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center with productions of Swan Lake, Spartacus and Madame Butterfly.

Deciding to visit Orlando is one of the easiest decisions you’ll ever have to make. The appeal of this vacation destination lies not only in its fabulous array of entertainment but also in the endless possibilities for recreation. Golfing in Orlando is a favorite pastime for visitors. Orlando Golf Courses combine the beautiful landscape of the area with championship layouts that are a golf lovers dream. There are also great spas in Orlando, interesting Orlando Museums to explore and numerous parks, zoos and gardens in Orlando.

This year, make the most of your spring by visiting beautiful Orlando. You’ll discover an experience that will create a lifetime of memories.