Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
4
Where to Stay
There seemed to be no end to
Orlando's hotel boom just a few years
back. Almost 4,000 new rooms were added
every year through the year 2000—then
things began to slow down. By 2007 tour-
ism was once again thriving and the city's
existing inventory saw the largest jump in
nearly a decade with roughly 5,000 rooms
added in 2008 alone. The year 2009
brought with it an additional 4,175 rooms,
and just over a thousand more are sched-
uled to open in 2010. New construction,
however, has all but come to a halt—a
reflection of the latest economic down-
turn. All in all, the Orlando area now
boasts more than 116,000 rooms, includ-
ing scores of places located in or near the
major-league tourist draws: Walt Disney
World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and
the rest of International Drive. Disney
alone claims 35 resorts, timeshares, and
“official” hotels.
Beautifully landscaped grounds are the
rule at properties in WDW, neighboring
Lake Buena Vista, Universal Orlando, and
on the mid- and southern portions of
I-Drive. But the beauty of the area is often
offset by the beast of heavier traffic and, at
times, higher prices. No matter what your
budget or crowd tolerance, there is some-
thing for everyone. If you're looking for an
inexpensive or moderately priced motel,
check out the options in Kissimmee
(though that area is no longer limited only
to the budget conscious) and, to a lesser
degree, on the northern end of Interna-
tional Drive.
Once you have decided on your vaca-
tion dates, book your accommodations as
soon as possible, especially if you want to
stay on Disney or Universal property.
Advance reservations are an absolute
necessity if you're planning on staying at
any of the preferred resorts in town,
whether on theme-park property or in
Orlando proper.
HOW TO CHOOSE A HOTEL & SAVE MONEY
All the rates cited in the following pages are what are called “rack rates.” That means
they're typical prices listed in the hotel brochures or the ones that hotel clerks give over
the telephone. You can almost always negotiate a better price by purchasing package
deals, by assuring the clerks they can do better, or by mentioning to the clerk that you
belong to one of several organizations that receive a discount (such as AARP, AAA, the
armed services, or a labor union). The Orlando Magicard can save you plenty of cash as
well (this discount card is available through the Orlando Convention & Visitors Bureau
at www.orlandoinfo.com). Even the type of credit card you use could get you a
5% to
10% discount
at some of the larger chains. Any discount you get will help ease the
impact of local resort taxes, which aren't included in the quoted rates.
These taxes will add
up to 12.5% to your bill, depending on where you're staying.
The
average, undiscounted hotel rate
for the Orlando area is currently about $101
per night double, and that rate in good times can climb up by 5%—even 9% a year. The
lowest rates at WDW are at the Pop Century and the three All-Star resorts, which,
depending on the season, can run from $82 to $160. They're pricier than comparable
rooms in the outside world; though they are small and basic, they are still Disney-owned
and offer the same on-property advantages as Disney's more expensive resorts.
