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The Orlando/Orange County CVB’s (see Orlando/Orange Co. Convention & Visitors Bureau) Magicard offers $500 worth of discounts on accommodation, car rentals, attractions, meals, shopping, and more. It also offers deals that combine rooms with attraction and theme park tickets. Each card is valid for up to six people, and it’s free. Allow four weeks for delivery.

Many hotels and motels offer freebies such as continental breakfasts, evening hors d’oeuvres, and newspapers. Their coupon racks are stuffed with two-for-one and other special deals on meals and attractions. For those without a car, most hotels have free or lowfee shuttle services to the parks.

The Sunday travel sections in many major US newspapers lure people to Orlando with offers of coupons, cheap fares, and package deals. Once here, read the Orlando Sentinel (especially Friday’s Calendar section), as well as the free papers available on street corners and in hotel lobbies, all of which feature lots of discounts and offers. (see Brochure Racks).

Travelers can save big by booking a room with a kitchen, kitchenette, or even just a microwave and refrigerator. Apart from Walt Disney World properties, most accommodation is close to supermarkets or delicatessens, some of which deliver for a small fee.

Theme-park prices for refreshments are 30–50 per cent higher than what people pay outside the parks. The parks prohibit coolers (containers for keeping food and drink cool), but guests can bring their own bottled water and snacks. Some parks have fountains, but the water in Central Florida does not taste particularly sweet.

It’s often unnecessary to eat three big meals a day, particularly in the hottest months of the year. If you want to skip, or go light on, lunch, you can eat well – and cheaply – before and after your theme-park visit by having a low-priced, allyou-can-eat, buffet breakfast and an early-bird dinner (see Tips on Eating & Drinking).

Orlando is chock-full of fast-food outlets. The city also has an abundance of very well-priced Family Restaurants. Most have kids’ menus, which can be even cheaper at lunchtime.

The cultural crowd isn’t left out of the discount mix. The city’s CVB (see Orlando/Orange Co. Convention & Visitors Bureau) regularly has half-price tickets, including those for opera, ballet, music, and theater. The tickets are for same-day performances, and while information is available by phone, the tickets must be picked up in person.

People who really want to stay at Disney World, but can’t afford the prices, can find the cheapest rates at the All-Star resorts (see Disney’s Value Resorts). Rack rates (those anyone can get without a discount) are extraordinarily reasonable and kids also stay free. But be warned: rooms at these “value” resorts are very cramped.

Never buy gas for a rental car from the car hire company itself. Some of their offers sound enticing, especially those offering cheaper gas if you buy up front rather than when the car is returned. Most of the time, fuel prices are cheaper – sometimes much cheaper – around town.