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(Excerpted From Fifty Tips for Planning an Affordable Trip to Florida from $70 a Day):

1. In Orlando, contact the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau (tel. 800-643-9492, www.orlandocvb.com) and ask for a "Magicard" providing up to $500 in discounts on meals, some lodging, and at the smaller attractions. Also look for the free Where Orlando in restaurants and hotel lobbies; it contains discount coupons, and its Web site (www.travelfacts.com) has links to hot deals.
2. Be sure to ask for discounts if you belong to a national organization such as AAA, AARP, Costco Wholesale, or USAA, which negotiate special rates for their members. But be wary: Some of these specials may be more expensive than the rental companies' weekly rates or promotional deals, so ask about all possibilities.
3. If there are only one or two of you traveling, reserve the least expensive subcompact or compact (sometimes called economy cars). You'll also save money on fuel and have an easier time parking. But be careful: Some reservations agents may tell you that all their least expensive cars are booked; this may be a ploy to get you to upgrade, so thank them and call another company. On the other hand, if you arrive with a valid reservation with a confirmation number, the agents are obligated to honor the rate you were quoted, even if they have to give you an upgrade. Make them stick to their original quote.
4. The Friday Calendar section of The Orlando Sentinel (www.orlandosentinel.com/) sometimes includes two-for-one dinner special coupons and other discounts on entertainment. It also lists cultural events and concerts throughout Central Florida, some of them free or for a small admission.
5. Stick with the Value Pass over the Park Hopper when buying multiday tickets to the Walt Disney parks in Orlando. Both options permit visits to multiple parks over 4 days, but the Park Hopper pass allows you to visit more than one park during a single day. This can take considerable effort and time, so it's better to stick to the Value Pass, especially if you are traveling with children. And the 4-day Value Pass will save you about $17 per person.
6. Buy a combined pass to Universal Studios Florida, SeaWorld, Wet 'n Wild in Orlando, and Busch Gardens Tampa. You pay one price to get into all three over either a 7- or a 10-day period. The combined passes cost more up front, but you'll save in the long run. You can also save 10% if you purchase tickets on the Internet at Universal's site (www.uescape.com).
7. Look for discount tickets to SeaWorld and Universal Studios Florida on 2-liter bottles of Pepsi products. These discounts are usually available during Halloween Horror Night at Universal.
8. You can save 10% by purchasing your SeaWorld tickets through its Web site (www.SeaWorld.com).
9. Take food and drink with you into the parks. Grocery stores and discount drugstores tend to be a little more expensive in tourist areas, but filling coolers or backpacks with snacks, lunch basics, sodas, bottled water, juices, and other drinks will save you a bundle over the cost inside the parks.
10. Buy your tickets to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay at Tampa Bay Visitor Information Center, across the street from the main entrance (tel. 813/985-3601, www.thcva.com). You'll save a few dollars, and the staff is expert at advising you on how to maximize your time in the park. Many area hotels and motels have packages that include free or discounted admission.
11. Check out the local newspapers for free concerts and other entertainment in municipal parks. The Friday newspapers usually have entertainment sections listing activities for the upcoming weekend. And be sure to pick up copies of the local "alternative" tabloid newspapers; they're free and are packed with entertainment ideas.