There are a variety of organizations that offer various types of discounts and travel packages to the WDW Resort, Universal Studios, and other Orlando-area destinations. A travel package might consist of any or all of the following: airfare, hotel accommodations, meals, rental car, and admission to one or more theme parks.

Using the budget checklist, calculate what it will cost you to plan your own vacation, then compare those rates with those offered by comparable travel packages from an airline or one of the following travel organizations.

In addition to contacting the various airlines directly about individual airfares or travel packages, contact organizations such as the AAA, which has a travel department, or the AARP.

Two travel agencies that offer an assortment of different travel packages for people interested in the WDW Resort include:

1. American Express Travel

2. Walt Disney Travel Company

The Entertainment Book

Entertainment Books offer 50 percent off and two-for-one discounts at your favorite places for dining and shopping, at attractions, for sports, and for services like dry cleaning and movie rentals. Entertainment Books also include discounts for hotels and other travel services.

The Entertainment Book is an extremely useful resource for finding restaurants in the Orlando area that are not located on Disney property. The book typically offers sample menus as well as money-saving offers. People with access to a rental car who can travel freely around the Orlando area will get the most out of this discount book.

The Best Times to Visit

During the WDW Resort's peak summer season, spring break, and major holidays you could be sharing your vacation with 40,000 to 65,000 other visitors in each theme park. Throughout the year, Saturday is each theme park's busiest day of the week. Around noon, the park is usually the most crowded. On Sundays and during the week, the park is less crowded. The drawback to visiting the WDW Resort on a weekday is that the parades and shows happen less frequently.

When you arrive at the theme park of your choice pick up a copy of the free guide-maps at the main entrances of each park. These maps offer a detailed map of the park that lists all of the major attractions, restaurants, and amenities (restrooms, public phones, ATM machines, etc.) in many languages.

There will also be a one-sheet flyer the same size as the maps containing the times for all parades and shows. Anytime during the year, if it's raining, you can count on much smaller crowds than usual. Bring along rain gear (avoid umbrellas), or pick up one of the plastic rain ponchos sold throughout the park on rainy days. Expect all parades, outdoor shows, and a few outdoor rides to be canceled or closed on rainy days. Much of the park (including most of the attractions) will, however, be open, and the lines will be far shorter.

For the shortest lines, visit the theme parks during any weekday in the off-season. If you happen to visit on a busy day, go against the crowds. For example, you'll notice that in the morning, most people race toward the most popular rides and attractions, and these same people stake out a prime viewing spot for a parade up to two or three hours before showtime.

Most of the park's most popular parades happen twice each afternoon or evening. During the first parade presentation is the best time to visit all of the most popular attractions. You can catch the second showing of the parade when the crowds are greatly reduced. Likewise, when most people break for lunch or dinner, many of the lines for attractions are shorter.

The very best times of year to visit the parks in Orlando, due to lack of crowds, are:

• The first two weeks of September

• The first two weeks of December

The first two weeks of September and December you'll be able to walk on every ride at every theme park without a wait. The best week out of the four is the first week of December because hurricane season is over, the weather is 75 degrees, and all the holiday decorations are up, making everything seem very magical.

Attendance is considered “average” during the following times of year. If you're planning to travel during one of these times, expect to wait in line for thirty to ninety minutes for the most popular WDW theme park attractions.

• Mid-January until mid-February

• Late April until early June

• Mid-September through November

Busiest Times of Year

All of the Orlando-area theme parks are the busiest during the following times of year. These times are considered “peak” travel periods. The good news is that the theme parks are open longer hours and more parades and shows are held per day, but you can expect long waits for the major theme park attractions, and you'll have to deal with relatively large crowds, even if the weather is bad. These “peak” travel periods are:

• First week of January

• Late February until late April (spring break)

• Mid-June until late August (the summer season)

• Mid-December through New Year's Day

Packed Like Sardines

The following holidays are extremely crowded to the point where you'll feel that you are packed in like sardines: Easter Day, the Fourth of July, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. The Fourth of July will get so busy that the parks are to capacity by 3:00 P.M. At this point they shut the entrance gates to non-resort guests. If you leave a park, you will not be able to return unless you are a resort guest.

The summer season is extremely hot and humid. Summer is the rainy season for Florida and it will rain a couple of times a day. However, it never lasts long because the coastal winds from the east and west keep the clouds moving. Pools, boats, water parks, and fireworks will shut down or be canceled mostly due to lightning.

Hours of Operation

Prior to choosing the exact dates for your trip (if you have flexibility), call your resort and inquire about hours of operation during the dates of your visit. During the “off peak” times, the parks tend to close around 7:00 P.M. or 9:00 P.M. as opposed to 11:00 P.M. or midnight during “peak” periods. The hours of operation for each theme park are also posted at the official Disney World Web site.

Even if the parks will be closing early during off-peak times, you probably won't have to wait in any really long lines to experience attractions, so you'll get to experience a lot more each day. You will, however, have to plan evening and nighttime activities that don't include the theme parks. If you want to stay on Disney property, spending evenings and nights at Downtown Disney and/or Disney's BoardWalk will provide plenty of dining and entertainment options until as late as 2:00 A.M. (throughout the year). If you stay near Universal Studios, CityWalk provides nightly entertainment until 2:00 A.M. as well.

If you're planning your vacation during one of the busy periods, book your reservations as early as possible, especially if you hope to stay at one of the more popular Disney-owned hotels.