SHELTIELUVER

My Mom is a grade school teacher and her spring break is the first week of April. I'd like to go to Florida with her. We'd have to fly out of Gary, IN or South Bend, IN or Midway, Chicago or last resort, O'Hare in Chicago. I was thinking Orlando would be cheap if we stayed in town and not at Disney. I was thinking 4 or 5 nights and maybe going to MGM or Animal Kingdom 'cause I haven't been there yet. Anyone know of any good packages at a decent hotel with a nice swimming pool and attractive grounds with a shuttle to Disney?

LJ8934

Try the hotels in Downtown Disney, or any of the Disney value hotels.

Carling

we often travel down to Orlando, what we do before we leave home (North Florida) is get on the internet, and search for cheap + hotel rooms,+ April + Orlando You will find that most hotels have a ferry service to Disney world and the other big attractionstry the link below

ShanM

Try mouseearvacations.com. They can put together a good package for you to your specifications. MGM is for sure not an entire days worth of entertainment. BUT make reservations for the Fantasmic! dinner seating and watch while you eat dinner! At Animal Kingdom, get in line immediately upon opening for the Safari Tour ride. Can't remember the name but that line can be brutal if you don't get in early. Good luck and have fun!

FineWhine

One thing I would suggest is not ruling out staying at Disney and pricing out their packages too. They have some very good deals, and if you can hit one I'd say go for it.The last time I stayed off property it was because I had a half off deal at a resort that looked gorgous...tons of amenities, free shuttle etc. In person it was pictures done w/smoke and mirrors and the worst part is their shuttle NEVER came and I was left stranded at a park! That was my "never again" moment. It wasn't worth saving a few bucks for that.Now of course there are some that likely are nice...I have heard good things about some of the Villa's for big families but truthfully most everyone I know now stays on property just because you always know what you get with Disney and you literally save hours getting to and from the parks (even when the shuttles do come lol).And given how low so many packages are, they are often close to comparable so my thought is just don't assume you can't afford it and at least search out current deals. And I'd check the major Disney boards that are always a good and current source about hotels on and off property, so you can hear firsthand and not trust a picture! Maybe someone there knows of a better place then the ones I've stayed at off property. The 1st one is just Disney but the rest cover it all. I'll list a few of the biggies...good luck and hope you have a blast!http://mousetrips.com/disneyresorts.html...http://www.disboards.com/http://www.magicalmountain.net/......http://www.imagineears.com/http://www.wdwmagic.com/