Point your mouse here for Orlando deals

Skip the highway rest stops with those garish “Cheap Theme Park Tickets” signs. Ignore the newspaper ads that offer two-for-one discounts to Orlando attractions. Tell your travel agent “thanks, but no thanks,” when he or she offers you a deal on Disney tickets.

Click online instead. Some of the best discounts to the Magic City are available on the Web.

If you’re planning to take a trip to Central Florida – and chances are, if you live somewhere in North America and have kids, you will – then the Internet ought to be your first stop. Before booking your vacation, you owe it to yourself to look online. Because click for click, the Internet is the best source for bargains in Orlando.

For the next few weeks, the Travel Tightwad will tell you how the Internet can save you money on specific destinations. In coming installments, we’ll check out other popular places, and I’ll offer specific insider tips on where find the deals. To get us started, here’s where to point your mouse for Orlando discounts, so to speak:

* Try the newsgroups. These Internet-based discussion forums are pretty easy to use, and they often contain leads on excellent deals. I like the fact that newsgroups are uncensored, so you’ll frequently find people who warn you about deals that didn’t work out, too. If you can’t make your browser’s newsgroup reader work, don’t worry. Try clicking on Google’s newsgroup reader, which also offers an excellent search feature. Once there, I’ve found that some of the best leads for Orlando discounts can be found on rec.travel.marketplace. Also worth a check: rec.parks.theme, rec.arts.disney.parks, and rec.travel.misc.

* Go underground for theme park bargains. Unauthorized theme park websites can offer huge discounts. For example, Mousesavers.com publishes discount codes that can be used for theme park visits, saving you up to 45 percent. Some of the codes are easy to use (for instance, you just have to be an American Express cardholder to take advantage of certain discounts), while others are more restrictive (you have to live in a certain ZIP code). However, don’t ignore the official websites, such as the Disneyworld.com or Universal Studios URLs; they often offer equally appealing discounts for Internet users.

* Get on the list. No one expects you to spend every spare minute searching the Internet for Orlando bargains. So why not let the bargains come to you? There are a number of specialized newsletters that focus on saving money in Orlando, including the Affordable Disney website and its free weekly newsletter. The site, published by John and Donna Gross, who are the authors of an electronic book called “Secrets To An Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation,” contains useful tips for saving money. Other noteworthy newsletters include those published by Orlandohoteldiscounts.com and Go2Orlando.com

Remember, there’s a time for using these resources and a time when the Web just gets in the way. Orlando is a destination that’s still obsessed by pulp (paper coupons, paper brochures, and paper tickets abound) and is somewhat Internet-hostile when it comes right down to it.

The Web is an excellent place to find out about discounts, but in order to take advantage of them, you frequently have to log off the computer and call a central reservations number or a travel agent. At some point in your research, you’ll have a good idea of how much money an Orlando getaway should cost. And that’s when you have to turn to the phone, fax, or even make an in-person visit to a travel counselor. Agents are a terrific resource for brochures, coupons, and special offers, and they won’t begrudge you for checking the Internet first. In fact, if they’re competent, they’ll understand that you’re doing them a favor by educating yourself about Orlando.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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