Florida - Central Florida-Orlando-Disney Vacation Rentals

A trip to Disney World in Orlando is an exciting adventure whether it's your first or 100th visit. Disney World actually encompasses four major theme parks--Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and the Animal Kingdom.

Here's a quick rundown of the four parks and what to look for in each as you plan your trip:

Magic Kingdom. Journey into four lands of enchantment: Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Main Street USA and Fantasyland. Each land radiates in pathways across a total of 107 acres from the iconic Cinderella Castle.

Epcot. It's been called a "permanent world's fair" because of its dedication to the celebration of ongoing human achievement and innovation. It's big--about 300 acres--and many people make trips just to see EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow).

Hollywood Studios. Dedicated to filmmaking and entertainment, Hollywood Studios contains Hollywood Boulevard, Echo Lake, Streets of America, Animation Courtyard, Pixar Place and Sunset Boulevard. It's about 135 acres and doesn't have a defined layout. It instead attempts to recreate the more random layout of a motion picture studio.

Animal Kingdom. The largest of the four parks at about 500 acres, Animal Kingdom is built around animal conservation. It features seven areas: Oasis, Discovery Island, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Rafiki's PlanetWatch, Asia and DinoLand USA (also, Avatar Land is planned). Animal Kingdom isn't just a theme park--it's a zoological park, so be ready to see some real wildlife!

Kids Getting Tired? Head Back to the Vacation Rental and Other Great Tips for Taking Children to Disney World

The great thing about staying in vacation rentals when visiting Disney World is that you can make your accommodations your home away from home. In fact, you can pack much of what you need for your kids and take it with you, saving time and money upon your arrival, and leaving more time and more money for the fun stuff at the park. Here are some tips for making the most of traveling with children to Disney World.

FastPass. Disney World's FastPass lets you reserve spots at popular attractions. You arrange a time slot, and when it arrives, you bypass the long line. Similarly, they have a Rider Swap option, which allows one person to stay behind with a child who's too young or simply doesn't want to ride a particular ride. Then, the person who waited with the child can ride without waiting in line again.

Buy Disney Souvenirs at Home. This one's for very young children--probably under the age of 5 or 6. Instead of paying full price for souvenirs from the park, watch for sales at your local Disney Store, stock up on favorite items, and then give them to your little ones when you're at the park. It will keep them from asking for the more expensive items. Of course, you can always buy them something special at the park and using this tactic will help keep money in your pocket so you can get them something really special when you're there.

Slow Down. Odds are, you're not going to see everything at Disney World, unless you're there for a week. Even then, going slow is the best option, especially if you have very young children. Keep in mind that you're there to make memories, and you don't want everyone's memory to include being tired, worn out and crabby.

Stay Hydrated. This kind of relates to slowing down. Children often forget to drink fluids, or they get so excited that they don't want to. Carry water with you and have it available when they're ready. Be sure to get water every time you stop for a meal or take a break. While sport drinks can be great on a hot day, be selective about which ones and how much you provide to your children. They have nutrients, but they also have calories. Water is almost always the best option. Hydrate your skin as well by taking along spray bottles with battery operated fans. Buy yours outside the park and save a bundle.

Start Early, Take Breaks, Don't Stay Too Late. They key to avoiding the crowds on popular rides is to get to them before everyone else. Prep your kids in advance for getting up early--tweens and teens may grouse about it, but in the end they'll thank you. Getting the "must do" stuff out of the way will help everyone relax and be less stressed. Then, be sure to stop and look at the scenery frequently. Starting early will help you have the time to do so. And be sure not to stay too late. Sure, you may want to be at the Magic Kingdom at night a couple of times, but taking breaks can help. Or, if you get to the park early two days out of three, you can get there a bit later on the third day so you can catch the fireworks. You can also leave the park for a period of time and head back to your vacation rental to catch a nap, then head back later in the afternoon or early evening.

Malls, Flea and Farmer’s Market – Plenty of Shopping Options in Orlando

There are lots of places to shop in Orlando that don't have Disney or Universal in their names. In fact, The Florida Mall is the largest in the region and features big names such as Nordstrom’s, Saks, Aeropastale, A&F and more--260 in all. Mall at Millenia is a high-end mall, beautifully designed and brimming with delicious restaurants. You'll find 150 stores, including Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Gucci, Tiffany and more. You'll also find a US Post Office, Currency Exchange International, valet parking, and concierge service. All that can be a great relief when you're cramming in as much fun into one day as possible. Also, the architecture is quite dramatic and not what you find in your typical mall.

Of course, Orlando has its share of outlet malls as well. There are two Orlando Premium Outlets--one at 8200 Vineland Avenue with 150 shops, and one at 4951 International Drive (formerly Prime Outlets), with 180 shops. Closer to Disney, you'll find Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores (15657 S. Apopka Vineland Rd), which features the Disney Character Outlet, with discounted Disney merchandise.

If you're truly serious about finding deals, and perhaps getting to know Orlando better than by just visiting the malls, then check out the Orlando flea markets. Flea World is huge and is located between Orlando and Sanford, on Highway 17-92 (4211 S. Orlando Drive, Sanford, FL). It's only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You'll find 1,700 booths indoors and outdoors, with the indoor booths air-conditioned. If you need to keep the kids entertained, there's a pavilion featuring circus acts, magic shows, acrobats and exotic animals, which are free, and a small amusement park called Funworld. Of course, all the prices are quite a bit less than Disney or Universal Studios, so it might be a fun, low-key way to close out a trip. The 192 Flea Market Outlet (4301 West Vine Street, Kissimmee, FL) has 400 booths and is the place to go for budget Disney souvenirs. You also find discounted souvenirs at Maingate Flea Market (5407 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee). If you're willing to drive a bit, try the Osceola Flea & Farmers Market between Kissimmee and St. Cloud (2801 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee). You'll find fresh produce, 900 booths and a garage sale section where locals can sell without renting a booth. You might pick up some real finds.

Stay the Whole Week in Your Vacation Rental to Make Time for Universal Studios Orlando

Second in size only to Disney, Universal Studios Orlando can be a trip in itself. Many people combine a few days at Disney with a day or two at Universal Studios, but don't make the mistake of thinking you can see all of it in one day. Ideally, you'll be able to stay in an Orlando vacation rental for a week and take in both.

Universal Studios Orlando is comprised of two theme parks: the Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Within Islands of Adventure is the wildly popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter. There's also an entertainment area, Universal CityWalk, complete with dining and nightlife, and three resorts--Portofino Bay, Hard Rock and Royal Pacific Hotels. It's not nearly as big as Disney, but still requires about three days to take it all in at a pace you'll enjoy. By staying in a vacation rental, you'll save a lot of money versus the onsite hotels, which can get quite expensive. Even if you're not staying onsite, you can still visit the resorts and take advantage of the dining, entertainment and relaxation they offer.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Many say this park sets the new standard for amusement park attractions. Whether you've read the books, seen the movies or just heard of Harry Potter, you're going to love the magical places you can explore--the classrooms and corridors of Hogwarts, the shops of Hogsmeade, Dragon Challenge, a high speed roller coaster, The Flight of the Hippograff, designed for younger riders, and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which takes you on a soaring adventure with magical creatures from the books and movies.

Islands of Adventure isn't just Harry Potter. There's the Amazing Adventure of Spiderman, The Cat in the Hate, Jurassic Park River Adventure and much more.

Universal Studios Florida offers The Simpsons Ride, Shrek 4-D, MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack, Curious George, The Blues Brothers Show and a lot more.

Parking at Universal Studios is in multilevel garages and include a long covered walkway to CityWalk and the theme parks. You can park even closer by paying extra for parking areas nearest the CityWalk, which will also get you as close as possible to the theme parks.

You'll need waterproofing for many of the rides at Islands of Adventure. Be sure to buy cheap plastic ponchos at home and something watertight for your cash, credit cards and tickets. For cameras and other large items, consider tucking a kitchen trash bag into your purse or pocket.

Bring your own drinks too. This is allowed and you'll save money on the more expensive theme park prices.

As with any multi-day visit to a big theme park, be sure to pace yourself. Don't push yourself, your spouse, or your kids to see everything in one day. And if you can't see everything in one trip, don't fret--certainly everyone will want to return very soon!