Save Money on a Luxury Orlando Vacation

Vacationing in Orlando can be a pricey proposition, particularly for those who like to travel in style. Here are a few insights that can save you money without sacrificing luxury.

Work with a Virtuoso Travel Advisor

Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes

A savvy Virtuoso travel advisor such as Glass Slipper Concierge/Sanborn’s Travel who specializes in Orlando can help determine the more affordable, off-peak times to travel and guide you to specific room categories within the most elegant resorts that offer the most significant value. Best of all, they leverage their relationships with preferred travel partners in the Orlando area—Waldorf Astoria Orlando, The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, Four Seasons Resort Orlando, and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando—to ensure VIP treatment and the highest level of customer service throughout your stay. To sweeten the deal for you are complimentary Virtuoso perks of daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade if available on check-in, and a value-added amenity such as a spa treatment, lunch for two, or resort credit.

This Quality Over Quantity

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Captain’s Deck Suite

I find luxury-minded travelers prefer quality over quantity. It’s much more rewarding to invest the most substantial portion of your travel budget to luxury accommodations offering great amenities and a convenient location than to stay longer at a less desirable hotel. Think about the idea of cutting your length of stay by a day or two to opt for that particular resort located on the monorail, or perhaps a suite that includes club level amenities and spectacular fireworks views. And don’t forget to sprinkle in a few “wow” experiences—a private fireworks cruise or VIP Tour, an evening safari experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, or dinner at Victoria & Albert’s. Just a few of the many ways you can make your unforgettable memories even more memorable.

Time is Money

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Concierge Lounge

Yes, it’s an old cliché, but for luxury seekers, time always means money. Pre-planning for an Orlando vacation is a must, so it’s essential to use the services of a travel advisor who offers customized itinerary planning services, such as Glass Slipper Concierge, to get the most from your vacation with the least amount of stress. Also, consider a stay in a Club Level room that comes with the use of a private lounge serving complimentary breakfast, snacks, appetizers, and drinks. It’s easy to see how spending a bit more for your room will save on dining costs in the long run, but saving precious time by grabbing breakfast in the lounge on the way to the parks instead of long waits at a restaurant is priceless!

Luxury Travelers Love a Discount

Promotions are as readily available at luxury resorts as they are at value ones and can save from 10-20% on the cost of your room or suite. Throughout the year, Disney, Universal, and Virtuoso Hotels offer great promotions such as room discounts, free dining, a 4th night free, and more. Professional travel advisors who specialize in Orlando are always on top of the discount game and will continue to seek out and apply money-saving promotional offers right up until the time of travel.

Save on a Splurge

The most exclusive Orlando treat is splurging on a private theme park VIP Tour available at Walt Disney World_® Resort, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld Orlando. Each destination offers its own brand of luxury experience, but most importantly, all include expedited entry to attractions, cutting down considerably on wait times (once again, “time is money”). Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t save money as well. Planning your vacation for a non-peak time of year can save you up to $175 an hour for one of these remarkable tours, but only if you avoid holiday travel and peak times. Considering Walt Disney World Resort requires a 7-hour minimum for their tours, timing your visit intelligently will save you a small fortune of over $1,200 per day!

Free Day Camp and Kids Dine Free

Four Seasons Resort Orlando

A stay at Four Seasons Resort Orlando comes with not only some of the most luxurious digs in town, but also the Kids For All Seasons complimentary day camp for children ages 4 to 12. Drop off the children at your leisure and have relaxation time all to yourself for zero cost. As a bonus, kids ages five and under eat for free at all Four Seasons restaurants with just a few exclusions. And for those guests who love the idea of a private pool cabana, here they are $100 less than most other luxury resorts in the area.

Let Us Help You in Planning an Extraordinary Luxury Disney Vacation!
The expert travel advisors at Glass Slipper Concierge® will work with you to create the perfectly planned Disney trip of a lifetime, making sure nothing is left to chance. Please submit an online consultation request to begin.

Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Disney Vacations. She is Chief Executive Concierge at Glass Slipper Concierge®, a travel agency specializing in selling Disney vacations, and has appeared as a leading Disney expert on two Travel Channel specials, Disney Splurge! and Disney Royalty. She has also been cited numerous times in national news articles, in such notable publications as The New York Times, Travel Weekly, and Forbes Traveler as an expert on the Walt Disney World® Resort. Visit her Luxury Travel & Life blog at CaraGoldsbury.com.