How to squeeze the best Orlando package?
 

I have about 150K Delta SkyMiles. What is the best option to get an Orlando package for a family of 4. Can one use Delta Vacations package and pay with miles.

Please share your wisdom and experience.
Thanks,

Do you have any hotel points?

Airfare to Orlando is relatively inexpensive, so blowing your SkyMiles on airfare may not be the best option.

Using awards for just about anything in Orlando is a bad idea. However, given you obviously want to do it ...

25K each for four coach seats, leaving you with 50K. You can then transfer whatever miles you need to Hilton to get a free room at the Hilton at Walt Disney World there, 50K miles is enough for 100K Hilton HHonors points, which should be enough to get you your room.

Of course, another option would be to wait for the next set of auctions, and they seem to include a WDW vacation every other auction, so you could bid all your miles on one of those (the WDW auctions are typically for four persons), which includes air fare, hotel, and usually a rental car even.

Beckles brings up a good point about transferring the leftover SkyMiles to Hilton. There are numerous Hilton properties around the Orlando and Disney area.

For a family stay, you might want to use the Hilton points at one of the Embassy Suites properties. At ES you get a two-rooom suite, free breakfast, and free cocktails and snacks in the evening. If you're not familiar with the Hilton program, drop me an e-mail and I'll be happy to give you some detailed advice, as I recently spent a free week at Disney, thanks to the Hilton program.

Whether you use your miles for the trip is up to you, however I would stronglyu reccomend, if you are going to Disney World, to stay at one of the Disney Hotels near the park (ie,one on the monorail, or within walking/boat distence to epcot)

Thanks for your advice. Yes, I'd be interested in getting details reg. your Hilton stay. Drop me an email.

Thanks,

If you are visiting Orlando for the specific purpose of visiting Walt Disney World, you are much better off staying at one of the true "inside the park" hotels, even if it costs a bit more.

If you have or can transfer points into Starwood Preferred Guest, you can get an award for the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin. These are the only inside the park hotels that are not owned and operated by Disney. (I prefer the Swan to the Dolphin, but either one is ok.)

Unlike the other 'outside' hotels in Lake Buena Vista, guests at the Swan & Dolphin are entitled to all the same priviledges as a guest staying at a Disney inside the park hotel. (Length of stay park hopper passes, early admissions, use of the better "inside the park" transportation system, package delivery to your hotel, etc.)

The Hilton and the other hotels in that area, while technically inside the boundaries of WDW, are still not considered "inside the park" hotels.

For more information, visit the extremely useful unofficial Disney guides at http://www.mouseplanet.com

-David

I have stayed at the WDW Hilton (as well as the Grosvenor, and other Downtown Disney resorts) many times. You do indeed recieve the "Inside the park" perks like WDW transportation system, package delivery, late night armbands, but not length of stay passes (you can allways purchase discount admission tickets before you go).