Shaving amusement park costs by a few mouse whiskers

A single day’s admission to one of the two parks at Florida’s Universal Studios Orlando is $54.75 for those 10 and older; $44.95 for children 3 to 9. Each of the four Disney World parks has similar admission fees. With prices like these for the basic elements of a trip to Orlando, how can families afford to vacation there? It isn’t easy, but there are ways to reduce the tab:

* Consider renting a vacation home. For not much more than you would pay for a good Orlando hotel room, you can rent a multi-bedroom home, sometimes with a swimming pool.

A one-week home rental will permit you to prepare family meals throughout your stay.

EleisureLink.com, (888) 801-8808, www.eleisurelink.com, a Florida tour operator, has one- and two-bedroom villas at the Star Island Resort & Spa, from $79 per night. For other deals on home rentals, check out www.holidayhomesorlando.com and www.vrbo.com.

* Consider an air-and-land package to Orlando. Southwest Airlines often has good deals to Orlando, with lodging at hotels such as the Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista or Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista, both well-located. Most packages have departure dates by Nov. 13. Check www.swavacations.com.

* Seek out natural-food bargains at theme parks.

Most parks have one or more stands that sell large baked potatoes for around $3, which you can adorn with extras for a little bit more; giant smoked turkey legs for around $5; and fresh fruit such as bananas, apples or fruit salad. Each item is more than enough for one adult or two children, and this option, used occasionally, will cut food costs.

* Stock up on discount coupons before you leave. The best of the discounts can be found in the official Orlando Magicard, produced by the Orlando/Orange County Conventions and Visitors Bureau, which can now be printed using your home computer. Go to www.orlandoinfo.com, click on “Visitor Information” at the top of the screen, then on “special offers” and then on “Magicard special offers,” which leads to the printing mechanism. You’ll be glad you obtained the card when you make your first visit to a costly evening attraction that’s available for much less to coupon holders.

* Obtain a one-week Lynx bus pass for $10 before you leave by ordering it online at www.golynx.com. Then limit your transportation expenses in Orlando to that $10 per person. Lynx is the local bus system (normal one-way fare: $1.25) and is much less costly than the better-known Mears shuttle service.

* Buy passes online. If you plan to buy a Four-Day Park Hopper Pass for unlimited admission to all of Disney’s parks, purchase it online at www.disneyworld.com and you’ll save up to $17 per person ($202 versus a normal $219 for adults; $162 versus $176 for children under 10). Similarly, you can buy five days’ admission to Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios and Citywalk for $94.95 by purchasing the Universal Orlando Bonus Pass online at www.universalstudios.com

For those wondering about the impact of Hurricane Charley, which hit Florida on Aug. 13: The hurricane didn’t slow the theme parks for long. They reopened within a day of the storm.