The Major Airlines -- There are over 37 scheduled airlines and several more charter companies serving the more than 26 million passengers who land in Orlando each year. Delta (tel. 800/221-1212; www.delta.com) provides nearly 20% of the flights to and from Orlando International Airport, offering service from roughly 150 cities.

Other carriers include Air Canada (tel. 888/247-2262; www.aircanada.ca), America West (tel. 800/235-9292; www.americawest.com), American (tel. 800/433-7300; www.americanair.com), British Airways (tel. 800/247-9297; www.british-airways.com), Continental (tel. 800/525-0280; www.continental.com), Northwest (tel. 800/225-2525; www.nwa.com), United Airlines (tel. 800-241-6522; www.united.com), and US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322; www.usairways.com) to name a few.

Several so-called no-frills airlines (those offering lower fares but providing few or no amenities) fly to Orlando as well. The biggest is Southwest Airlines (tel. 800/435-9792; www.southwest.com), which has flights from many U.S. cities to Orlando and Tampa. Spirit Air (tel. 800/772-7117; www.spiritair.com) is another no-frills choice. JetBlue Airways (tel. 800/538-2583; www.jetblue.com) is a low-cost carrier that operates out of a number of U.S. cities, and offers direct flights to Orlando out of New York City. The latter has child-pleasing video screens that offer 24 TV channels and is a huge favorite with Frommer's editors.

The newest no-frills airline is really the stepsister of Delta: Song Airlines (tel. 800/359-7664; www.flysong.com). As of 2004, the airline had personal video monitors -- for child-distracting satellite TV and video games -- installed on all of its jets.

Orlando's Airport -- Orlando International Airport (tel. 407/825-2001; www.state.fl.us/goaa) offers direct or nonstop service from 60 U.S. cities and two dozen international destinations. Rated one of the top airports in the country, it's a thoroughly modern and user-friendly facility with restaurants, shops, a 446-room on-premises Hyatt Regency Hotel, and centrally located information kiosks. All major car-rental companies are located at or near the airport.

An Alternative -- Orlando Sanford International Airport (tel. 407/585-4000; www.orlandosanfordairport.com) is much smaller than the main airport, but it has grown a bit in recent years, thanks mainly to a small fleet of international carriers including Air 2000, Britannia, and Aeropostal. The airport has Avis, Alamo, Dollar, and Hertz rental-car desks on-site and shuttles to Budget and Enterprise. Mears Transportation shuttles also serve it.

Airport Transportation -- Orlando International is 25 miles east of Walt Disney World and 20 miles south of downtown. At rush hour (7-9am and 4-6pm), the drive can be torture and take up to an hour or more; at other times, it's about 30 to 40 minutes depending on your exact destination. Mears Transportation Group (tel. 407/423-5566; www.mearstransportation.com) has vans that shuttle passengers from the airport (you catch them at ground level) to the Disney resorts and official hotels, as well as most other Orlando properties. Their air-conditioned vehicles operate around the clock, departing every 15 to 25 minutes in either direction. Rates vary by destination. Round-trip fare for adults is $25 ($18 for kids 4-11) between the airport and downtown Orlando or International Drive; $29 ($21 for kids 4-11) for Walt Disney World/Lake Buena Vista or West U.S. 192. Children 3 and under ride free.

QuickTransportation/Orlando (tel. 888/784-2522 or 407/354-2456; www.quicktransportation.com) is a bit more personal. Their folks greet you at baggage claim with a sign bearing your name. They're more expensive than Mears, but they're coming for you. And they're only going to your resort. This is a good option for four or more people. Rates run from $80 (up to seven people, round-trip) to I-Drive/Universal Studios and $130 for the Disney empire.

Tiffany Towncar (tel. 888/838-2161 or 407/370-2196; www.tiffanytowncar.com) offers a $95 round-trip rate for up to five people in a van from Orlando International to Disney ($70 to International Dr. or Universal).

Driving To Walt Disney World -- To get from the airport to the attractions, take the North exit out of the airport to Highway 528 West. Follow signs to I-4; it takes about 30 to 40 minutes to get to Walt Disney World if the traffic isn't too heavy (however you can double that if it is rush hour or if there's an accident). When you get to I-4, follow the signs west toward the attractions.

Note: It's always a good idea when you make reservations to ask about transportation options between the airport and your hotel. Also be sure to ask how far you have to travel to pick up and drop off a rental car. Some lots are miles from the airport, and you could potentially spend lots of time waiting in line and catching shuttles before you actually get to the airport on your day of departure.

Flying For Less: Tips For Getting The Best Airfare -- There's no shortage of discounted and promotional fares to Orlando. November, December, and January (excluding holidays) often bring fare wars that can result in savings of 50% or more, but, in a slower economy, specials may be available more often. Watch for ads in your local newspaper and on TV, call the airlines, or check out their websites. Here are some other ways to keep your airfare costs down:

Passengers who can book their tickets long in advance, who can stay over Saturday night, or who fly midweek or at less-trafficked hours may pay a fraction of the full fare. If your schedule is flexible, say so, and ask if you can secure a cheaper fare by changing your flight plans.

No-frills airlines have reduced their price advantage, but some charter flights still go to Florida, especially during the winter season and particularly from Canada. They often cost less than regularly scheduled flights, but they tend to be very complicated. It's best to go to a good travel agent and ask them to find one for you.

Search the Internet for cheap fares.

Consolidators, also known as bucket shops, are great sources for international tickets, although they usually can't beat the Internet on fares within North America. Start by looking in Sunday newspaper travel sections; U.S. travelers should focus on the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Miami Herald. Beware: Bucket shop tickets are usually nonrefundable or rigged with stiff cancellation penalties, often as high as 50% to 75% of the ticket price, and some put you on charter airlines, which may leave at inconvenient times and experience delays. One reliable consolidator is FlyCheap (tel. 800/FLY-CHEAP; www.1800flycheap.com), which is owned by package-holiday megalith MyTravel and has especially good access to fares for sunny destinations.

Join frequent-flier clubs. Accrue enough miles, and you'll be rewarded with free flights and elite status. It's free, and you'll get the best choice of seats, faster response to phone inquiries, and prompter service if your luggage is stolen, your flight is canceled or delayed, or if you want to change your seat. You don't need to fly to build frequent-flier miles -- frequent-flier credit cards can provide thousands of miles for doing your everyday shopping.

For many more tips about air travel, including a rundown of the major frequent-flier credit cards, pick up a copy of Frommer's Fly Safe, Fly Smart (Wiley Publishing, Inc.).