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Car rentals are different in Orlando–rates are much higher, insurance requirements are more convoluted and parking and gas prices are expensive. Whether or not you need a rental car depends largely on where you want to go and how much you want to spend.

Get a rental car if:
You plan on visiting a lot of different Orlando destinations. If you want to go to a Disney theme park in the morning, then go off-site to miniature golf in the afternoon, then head to the outlets to shop, then a rental car is the fastest and easiest way to get around the city.
You choose a private luxury home or condo. One of the nicest perks of renting an executive or luxury home is private, free parking. Since you can park right at your door you won’t have any difficulty locating a parking spot, and you won’t have to trek a mile with a grumpy toddler when you get home each evening.

Skip the rental car if:
You are staying on Disney property, and plan to go to mostly Disney owned properties. Disney has an excellent transportation system, and while a rental car may be a convenience, it is not a necessity. Skip the car and take the monorail, bus or boat instead.

You are staying in a large resort and plan on heading to major destinations. Most hotels offer shuttles to the major theme parks and water parks. You can get a ride–free–to Disney, Universal, Sea World and more if you stay in one of Orlando’s big resorts.

After your resort or condo, dining is the biggest part of an Orlando vacation budget. If you can trim your dining costs, you can significantly cut the cost of your entire vacation. There are a few things you can do to cut your dining costs without sacrificing any of the fun of your vacation.

Have one meal in your room: You can cut your budget by quite a bit by simply dining once a day in your room. For many families, the easiest meal of the day for this is breakfast—you can stock some pastries, cereals and more and grab a quick bite before you go. Having breakfast in your room also allows you to get a jumpstart on your day—a traditional table service meal will take you much longer and generally make you miss the park opening. Look for a room with a refrigerator—or get a home or condo with a full kitchen to make this option even easier.
Have lunch instead of dinner: Many of the theme park restaurants offer the same menu at lunch and dinner, so booking a lunch can yield you the same great meal at a significantly reduced price. Some Disney restaurants, like Le Cellier at Epcot may be easier to reserve at lunch; dinner reservations are notoriously difficult to come by.
Pack snacks to go: If you drive to Orlando, pack some snacks from your local grocery store. The pre-portioned snacks made for school lunches are perfect for keeping in your room and cutting your costs. While you can’t bring a lot of food or entire meals into the theme parks, you can enjoy snacks on the monorail or transportation, and can bring small, single items for kids or toddlers along with you.

Why do you need to know about construction and refurbishments in the Orlando theme parks? To improve your vacation experience and avoid disappointment.

Knowing which attractions are closed or experiencing delays will help you plan your trip—if you go to Epcot simply because you can’t miss Test Track, you’ll be disappointed to find it closed this summer. On the other hand, you could miss out entirely on the new Turtle Trek at Sea World if you don’t realize it has finally opened this week. Save yourself some time and worry by checking the list below for the latest construction and refurbishment news.
Disney World
Jan. 8-April 27, 2012: Tutto Italia Ristorante at Epcot
Jan. 9-May 27, 2012: Big Thunder Mountain at the Magic Kingdom
April 16-May 20, 2012: Liberty Square Riverboat at the Magic Kingdom
April 16-Nov. 1, 2012: Test Track at Epcot
April 29-May 2, 2012: Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
June 27-28, 2012: Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at the Magic Kingdom
July 9-Aug. 4, 2012: Cape May Café at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
Universal Orlando:
Despicable Me/Minion Mayhem new attraction under construction, ongoing
Wet n’Wild:
New Kid zone under construction ,ongoing with summer opening
Sea World:
Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin is under construction, opening 2013
Turtle Trek construction is complete, opening today

It is not unusual to see a large, multi-generational family group visiting the Orlando area. With so much to see and do and plenty of inexpensive travel options, Orlando is an idea gathering spot for a large scale family vacation. There are a few things you can do to make your large group fun for every member for the family.

Communicate ahead of time: Even if some family members are Disney experts, and others have never been to the parks, get together ahead of time to talk about the trip. Create a quick blog, email list or other way of keeping in touch, and agree on the big stuff in advance. Even something as simple as deciding which park to go to on which day can be done ahead of time, and will save you plenty of time and possible frustration once you arrive.
Make reservations: Make dining reservations in advance. This is a good idea for any size group, but absolutely essential for large gatherings of 6 or more. The restaurant will be better equipped to accommodate you if you let them know your group size well in advance. Include everyone in your group count, even infants who won’t be dining – they’ll still take up space at the table.
Rent a house: Consider bypassing a hotel in favor of a large executive home. You can keep everyone in one central location, share the work at mealtimes and have your own private pool. From a practical standpoint, you’ll cut your accommodations cost, since a single home rental is likely less expensive than several hotel rooms.
Split up: You may want to all head to the same park at the same time, but Grandma may not want to join you on Splash Mountain…don’t be afraid to split your group up so you can all enjoy different attractions. You can always meet up again for a meal or show later. You don’t have to break into age groups. If all the thrill riders want to head to Space Mountain while the little kids – and kids at heart—ride Dumbo, you can meet back up again later.

Heading to a theme park is great fun—but the lines and crowds can quickly put a damper on your good time. Avoid the theme parks in the middle of the day, and you’ll miss the worst crowds. When you arrive super early or stay extra late, you can avoid the worst conditions and be sure you have a great time. What can you do with that extra time in the middle of the day? Here’s a few ideas:

Swim at your resort: Head back to your resort and hit the pool. Even if you just splash around a bit, then relax in the sunshine, you’ll have fun and not have to worry about waiting in line. If you are staying at an onsite resort or a monorail resort, you can head to the parks in the morning, then quickly return to the resort when things get crowded.
Choose an activity: Disney offers plenty of fun recreation activities throughout the day. From rent a bike at the Wilderness Lodge, go fishing at the Port Orleans or go horseback ridning at Fort Wilderness. You do not have to be staying at a specific resort to enjoy some of the recreation options (though pool hopping is not allowed).
Get a massage or spa treatment: Head to the Grand Floridian for an afternoon of relaxation and enjoy a massage and treatment or two while everyone else battles for a spot in line a the Magic Kingdom. You can book a massage, manicure, pedicure or facial—or a combination of treatments—at the Grand Floridian Spa, and then head ac to the parks refreshed for the evening.
Visit a resort for a meal: If the lines are unbearably long, then the theme park restaurants will likely be crowded as well. Bypass them entirely by booking a table at a resort restaurant. You can book a lunch or even a very early dinner—some begin seating at 4pm. Consider the Whispering Canyon, Grand Floridian Café or Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a great meal in a fun setting.