OrlandoVacation.com conducted a survey to find out how families plan for their vacations. Over 60 families participated in the survey, and these were their responses. With some tips and suggestions from OrlandoVacation.com, we hope that your next family vacation is a fun one!

Lodging

What kinD of lodging do you typically stay at?

Most vacation homes and hotels sites do a good job of showing accurate pictures of their rooms.

More space for family

Vaction homes

Restaurant on-site

52%35%

90%

First of the year29%

8% 5%

How do you pick your vacation dates?

60%School/Work

Calendars

Kids have complete control

Family vacations and time spent together help a family's unity, stability, and ability to adapt. Children who experience these types of bonds at an early age saw positive cognitive and emotional development, and healthy social attachment.

8%Weather

3%Holidays

29%Cost

(o�-season)

2%18%19%

10%

Decide without their input

How much influence do your children have over your choice of vacation destinations?

Lori Falcon acowboyswife.comElizabeth Thielke busymom.netMaria Moser change-diapers.comJessica Fuqua momfuse.comJyl Pattee momitforward.comAmy Bellgardt momspark.netErin Kotecki Vest queenofspainblog.comSarah Braesch sarahandthegoonsquad.comSarah Visbeek sarahviz.comHeather Solsbery sprittibee.comLuschka van Onselen diaryofafirstchild.comAmy LeForge earnestparenting.com

Special Thanks

CHILDREN

What are your goals for your family vacation?

www.orlandovacation.com

Christine Young fromdatestodiapers.comTrisha Haas momdot.comBridgette Duplantis thenotsoblog.comBeth Davis theplussizemommy.comTJ Sugden measuringflower.comJo-Lynne Shane musingsofahousewife.comCindy Richards travelingmom.comJamie Reeves blondemomblog.comKerry Sauriol crunchycarpets.comStefanie Fauquet MommyMusings.comJanessa Solem thriftyniftymommy.comMaricris Guadagna zenforyou.dalefg.net

Last minute planners

Couple ofweeks before

55%Couple of months before

3%13%

Some input, but I have a final say 83%

yyyyy

Decide where to go based on some form of recommendation

100% said they will go to a review site before making final decisions

58%

Decisions How do you decide where to go?

Hotel/Motel

Vacation home

Family/Friends

Other

PROS PROS

What kinD of lodging do you typically stay at?

HOW IMPORTANT is cleanLINess of your lodging?

HOW IMPORTANT ARE ACCURATE LODGING IMAGES?

VERY IMPORTANT VERY IMPORTANT

97%

Tip!Book early. The idea of last minute travel deals is long gone. In fact, we suggest everyone book early and then spot check the place where they booked their vacation to see if the price went down. If the price does change (lower) then we suggest you call the company and ask them to lower the price to reflect the new price they are advertising.

hotels vs

CONS CONSSmall rooms No daily maid service

TIP!School schedu

les are given at the

beginning of each schoo

l year. Or you

can always call the administration of

fice

for more information. Work schedules

can be planned ahead of

time. Plan

your vacation early for

better deals

and guaranteed availabi

lity.

15%

Relaxation EducationFunExperience New Things

47%

FamilyTime

7%

TIP!One of the best places to go for reviews is Tripadvisor.com. Take advantage of their forum sections for more specific inquiries.

ResourceRamon B. Zabriskie, and Bryan P. McCormick, “The Influences of Family Leisure Patterns on Perceptions of Family Functioning,” Family Relations 50, No. 3 (July 2001): 281-289.

Shuttle service

Great swimming pools

No cleaning required

Full kitchen

Multiple bedrooms

More privacy

Multiple full baths

Internet (Wifi)

No kitchen

One bathroom

No shuttle service

Internet accessibility not guaranteed

VACATION HOME TIP!You can save a lot of money with a vacation home.The cost of a vacation home near Disney World is about the same as 3 or 4 star hotel rooms. However, in a vacation home you can fit up to 10 people in a 4 bedroom house.

Also, vacation homes have full kitchenswhich can save both time and money. The savings from only eating breakfast in the home could be $200 or more for a family of 4 on a 5 day vacation.

An uncommon thing to check for is bedbugs. Lift the sheets and the mattress and check along the creases and folds of the bed for evidences of the bug.