Budget Orlando

Talked up both my family and my in-laws. Sister-in-law works at Disney, but had used all her single day tickets. She, in turn, talked to friends at work and got us 3 one-day passes to Disney World. MGM, Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. The Rock & Roll Roller Coaster at MGM was the highlight of my trip. I was so high from that ride I couldn't tell you what Aerosmith music was playing.

Quick Tips:

Call Starwood, Marriott and Hilton hotel chains. Spent 1 1/2 hours looking at a Starwood timeshare and got 3 tickets to Seaworld and free breakfast. Reserved a room at Courtyard at WDW for a day through Priceline. The Orlando Science Museum is a great low-priced place to bring the kids. The young relatives loved this place.

Best Way To Get Around:

You could get around Disneyworld, Universal or Seaworld without a car, but to see all of them and to sightsee, you need to rent a car. That was our big outlay for a Dodge Intrepid through Dollar rental. Worth it for carting family members around.

These were $150 rooms. $150. Doesn''t get much on Disney Property. Served a nice breakfast buffet for $7.95. Room was clean and large enough for the three of us. It was within walking distance of the Disney shops and also a group of reasonable restaurants just off site.

If you have older children this is a restaurant that has fine dining at a very reasonable price. For something even more reasonable (under $10.) try Chevy's a Mexican restaurant in the same Crossroads Plaza. With small children their are a couple of chains, which offer children's menus. Eat twice as good as Disney for half the price at Pebbles.

Large, with 10 exhibit halls. Children can touch almost anything in the place including bugs and lizards, which most kids love. When my son was 5 we had to pull him away from this place. He was more entertained here than at Disney World.