traveldk.com

Serving more than 100 cities worldwide, and handling 31 million passengers a year, this is the city’s busiest airport. Forty scheduled airlines use it: the major domestic carriers include Delta, American, Northwest, US Airways, America West, and Southwest. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada, Iberia, and Saudi Arabian Airlines are some of its international carriers. Check the website (see Useful Addresses) for information and maps to make sure you don’t spend more time there than you need to. The airport is located about a 30-minute drive from Walt Disney World – if traffic is good.

Orlando’s second airport, used primarily by international flights, is around an hour’s drive from the Disney resorts. It is far smaller (used by just 1.2 million passengers per year) and promises a less crowded, less hectic start to a vacation.

Situated just three miles (5 km) from the city’s business center, Orlando’s original airport is today used by private charters for both business and pleasure travelers.

Canadians only need some kind of photo ID and proof of residence to travel to the US.

Citizens from the UK, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and many European countries may visit for up to 90 days without a visa if they have a valid passport. Other nationals should apply for a visa from their local US consulate or embassy well before they travel. For the latest information check on-line (www.state.gov).

Two Greyhound bus terminals and four Amtrak rail stations (including Sanford’s Auto train terminal) serve the Orlando area. Tickets are rarely much cheaper than those for equivalent journeys by air.

Consolidators buy bulk airline seats (and occasionally rooms) to sell at cheaper prices. Try 800-FLY-CHEAP (800-359-2432; www.1800flycheap.com). Packagers sell full or partial packages that can include flight, room, rental car, and theme park tickets. Some parks have their own; or try www.vactionpackager.com.

Theme park crowds are thinnest from the second week in September to the third week in November, the first two weeks of December, mid-January to mid-March, and late April through the third week of May. These are the periods when most American children are in school, although weekends are always busy.

Heat and humidity can be oppressive in summer, when temperatures easily hit 90°F (32°C) and lightning is another summer threat. High pollen counts in spring can make life hell for allergy sufferers and hurricane season is from August to November.

USA Tourist (www.usatourist.com) is one of the best multilingual resources. It has information on attractions, hotels, restaurants, and more in English, Spanish, French, Japanese, and German. Search engines are also useful for planning a trip, while MapQuest (www.mapquest.com) can help you plan a route once you’ve arrived.