For most travelers, Orlando is synonymous with Disney World and other theme parks. July and August are some of the busiest months in Orlando since family with children plan their vacations outside the school year. March and April are also busy months in Orlando but not because of the children’s vacation. This time is all related to the weather. Dry days, clear skies and pleasant temperatures represent the perfect setting for a great vacation.
While, in general, during summer the prices are not as high as during the winter holidays, it’s not common to see room rates under $50 either. According to this article published by the Miami Herald room rates on hotel booking websites range between $29.40 at the Continental Plaza Hotel in Kissimmee and $139 at the posh Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee.
And that’s not all. Along with the drastic cuts in room rates, theme parks and restaurants also offer a lot of discounted deals since the year begun. But the economy is not the only reason this is happening. Late last year the “Orlando Makes Me Smile” campaign was launched by the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau which encourages members to offer discounts to customers. These may come in many forms, including: extra night at a hotel/motel after paying for 2 or 3 nights, free meals for children accompanied by paying adults, or discounts for those who enjoy playing golf. Those are definitely the simplest deals on the market, but theme parks lately have come up with complex offers meant to entice anyone who still has the urge to travel.
Theme parks offer special packages too
The main reason to visit Orlando is the possibility to spend time in one of the theme parks.
SeaWorld Orlando includes the biggest rollercoaster in Orlando as well as water-based attractions. This summer they offer packages which include hotel stays, parks admissions and meal plans.
Walt Disney World is, by far, the most famous recreational area near Orlando. It includes four theme parks, two water parks, hotels, dining and shopping districts, golf courses and many more. And this summer their deals include increasing the length of the stay.
Other interesting parks to check out include: Universal Orlando Resort – includes two theme parks, hotels and a shopping district -, Aquatica – a water park close to SeaWorld – , Discovery Cove – where you can interact with dolphins – , Gatorland , and even a biblical-themed park called Holy Land.
Despite the rocky economy, last year Orlando reported a gain in visitors of 0.3%. There was an increase in the number of international travelers, by 18.9%. However, 2009 has not been a good year so far. During the 4th of July weekend, hotels reported occupancy rates falling 11.8% to 60.6% compared to last year.
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