It’s the Holy Grail of family vacations.

Unlike that mythical treasure of old, Orlando isn’t hard to find. Still, in an era that’s increasingly expensive on all fronts, it’s difficult for many to afford.

That’s why Orlando ends up being a once-in-a-lifetime trip, as parents scrimp and save to get there before their offspring become too jaded to fully appreciate it.

Leavin’ on a jet plane

With more than 1,500 miles between Bangor and Orlando, family togetherness would be severely tested with multiple days of driving to get there and back (the familial bond will be tried enough by the theme parks themselves). And frankly, with gas over $4 a gallon, would it be truly cheaper to drive?

That leaves flying. Bangor International Airport would seem like the obvious choice for those Bangor and north, but go online and compare prices. Check out flights from Portland, Manchester, N.H., even Boston. Some motels-hotels in the Portland and Manchester areas offer sleep-and-fly packages that include long-term parking and airport-shuttle service as part of one set rate.

In addition to Orlando International Airport, look at flights into Sanford International Airport and Tampa International Airport (an hour away) as well. Unless you’re staying on the grounds of one of the theme parks, you’ll need a rental car, so it really doesn’t matter where you start driving.

So it’s a matter of hitting the right combination of departure and return dates, airports and airlines. There are relative deals to be had (how about a JetBlue three-hour nonstop flight from Portland to Orlando International for $260 round trip?) It just takes patience not to jump on the first decent price to come along.

A room with a view

Another essential is a place to stay. Orlando is long on accommodations of all shapes and price ranges.

Decide what’s important to you in a room. Odds are you’ll be spending much of your time tramping around area attractions, coming back to your room or condo just to pass out. So cleanliness might be more important than gold-trimmed fixtures. You can haul something back from the Golden Arches down the street if the place at which you’re staying doesn’t have a restaurant. A pool would be a nice touch as a place to relax and recharge, but it’s hardly essential, with nice beaches available an hour to 90 minutes away.

Look for special packages offered by “vacation clubs” (aka time share operators). You can pick up a long weekend, along with tickets to area attractions, at deeply discounted prices. The catch is that you and your significant other must agree to take a tour of the property they want to sell to you. Time sharing can be a great way to vacation for many. If it’s not in your budget, you invest a little time for a lot of benefit.

The long and winding road

First, a few hints, although you really can’t properly prepare for the death march that is the Orlando theme parks.

If your kids can catch up afterward, pull them out of school and go. The lines are a whole lot shorter during non-school vacation weeks, although there’s likely to be buses of “students” there at any time (remember when a field trip was visiting the fire station?)

Don’t assume that a sudden downpour means the day is a wash. Unless there are evacuation notices being broadcast, it could still clear off and be sunny.

Your hotel, motel or condo may offer shuttle service to the parks. If not, you’re looking at $10-$12 a day to park close enough that you can see the attraction to which you’re going (sometimes with binoculars). Some parks offer transportation to the gate, some provide a chance for some early-day cardio.

Regardless how well you tan in Maine, slather on the sunscreen. The sun is hotter closer to the equator, therefore the risk of burning goes up. (Don’t ask me to explain the science involved. Just trust me on this.) Also reapply regularly, as “waterproof” sunscreen exists only in some ad writer’s imagination.

Talk with the staff at the place where you’re staying to determine how much food and drink you can bring into the park you’re visiting. Bring as much as you think you can get away with, packed in a cooler bag. With the pricey eats at these attractions, you’ll be glad you did.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. The 80-100 degree heat and walking will take it out of you, especially coming from a state where it’s cooler than that 10 months of the year. Keep filling screwtop bottles at the many water fountains along the way. It may not be designer water, but it will still hit the spot.

Every attraction at every park exits through a similarly themed gift shop. Think long and hard about making any purchases early in the day. That “must-have” item bought in the first hour of a 10-hour slog loses some of its allure.

Unless you’re carrying changes of clothes in waterproof bags, do the water rides last. Then go shopping on the way out, so nothing gets ruined.

And now for some thoughts from a recent Orlando vacation:

M-I-C, K-E-Y

First and foremost is the Magic Kingdom, where it all began in 1971, when Walt Disney raised a whole new Florida industry from the wetland.

When people think of Walt Disney World, they think of images from the Magic Kingdom: Cinderella’s Castle, It’s a Small World, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain. One ride, Pirates of the Caribbean, even spawned a trilogy of hit movies (that’s cultural impact). The regions of the park have good, sturdy names: Frontierland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Fantasyland.

A helpful addition to WDW in recent years is Fastpass. Insert your ticket in the Fastpass kiosk and receive a ticket with a time to return to that attraction, when you can walk on or take your place in a considerably shorter line. In the meantime, grab a bite to eat, collect your bearings, do some planning ahead.

Magic Kingdom skews the youngest of the Disney parks, with the milder rides, especially at Mickey’s Toontown Fair.

It’s also the hoariest of WDW’s major parks, with rides based on such forgotten Disney films as “Swiss Family Robinson” and “Tom Sawyer.”

But, although it’s certainly been updated through the years, the Magic Kingdom isn’t about cutting-edge attractions. It’s about seeing sights fondly remembered from “The Magical World of Disney” or seeing a young child’s face light up as fireworks explode over Cinderella’s Castle. It’s about the magic that is Disney.

Lights, camera, action

For a park that celebrates more the Disney of today, there’s Hollywood Studios. Formerly Disney-MGM Studios, it was the third major park opened at the Orlando complex. Geared for a slightly older crowd, it celebrates individual movies and the filmmaking process in general. The Great Movie Ride carries visitors through classic film scenes. The Lights, Motor, Action Extreme Stunt Show and the Studio Back Lot Tour take viewers behind the curtain for a peek into how movies are made.

Such film staples as the “Indiana Jones” franchise (Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!) and the “Star Wars” franchise (Star Tours) get their own attractions. For the thrill seekers, there’s the plunging Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Coaster, Starring Aerosmith (“Dude screams like a lady.”)

Of course, there’s an animation courtyard for the youngsters, where they can learn about how Walt Disney made his name.

Capping a day at Hollywood Studios is Fantasmic!, a spectacular featuring lasers, lights, dancing fountains and special effects that highlights many Disney favorites through the years.

While it doesn’t pack the nostalgic punch of the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios does provide a more up-to-date entertainment experience.

Double your pleasure

For a pairing with something for everyone, try Universal Studios-Florida and Islands of Adventures.

Start with the more established Universal Studios. For the youngsters, there’s Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast and Shrek 4-D and for the very young, Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone.

Universal has its share of classics, based on older movies: JAWS, Twister … Ride It Out, The Blues Brothers and Beetlejuice’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Graveyard Revue. There’s newer stuff as well: Revenge of the Mummy, Men in Black Alien Attack and the latest, The Simpsons Ride, a thrilling simulator ride lampooning the theme-park culture of Orlando.

Islands of Adventure offers more adventure for bigger kids, especially The Incredible Hulk Coaster, the Dueling Dragons twin coasters, Doctor Doom’s Fear Fall and the Jurassic Park River Adventure. Even the seemingly harmless Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls is the most exciting flume ride in the Orlando area.

To make the day go faster, consider paying more for an Express Plus Pass. Like Disney’s Fastpass, it moves you quickly to the front of the line.

For shopping and dining on the way out or in is Citywalk, either with the kids during the day or for the adults at night. That’s where you find Emeril’s, Hard Rock Cafe and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, among other eateries. In addition, Blue Man Group has become Universal’s entertainers in residence.

Under the sea

With apologies to Disney’s still-developing Animal Kingdom, the best place to mingle with animals in Orlando (without the high-end price of Discovery Cove) is Sea World.

There’s dolphins and penguins and seals, oh my!

At Sea World, the animals are the stars, with more exhibits and shows and fewer rides. The big star is the park’s trademark, the killer whale Shamu. Other species performing include dolphins, sea lions, otters and birds. (Being an Anheuser-Busch park, there’s also Clydesdale horses, but most of them are retired performers from beer ads.)

Sea World has but a few rides, but makes them count. There’s the fast-paced Kraken roller coaster, the water ride Journey to Atlantis (which takes place largely in the dark) and the turbulent simulator ride Wild Arctic.

For a unique dining experience, there’s Sharks Underwater Grill, in which the denizens inside Shark Encounter swim by the diners. It has an expensive menu of mostly seafood entrees, but adults can order cheaper, larger portions of items on the children’s menu.

Its sister park, Busch Gardens in Tampa, may have a better overall collection of animals, but Sea World offers an enjoyable view of life under the sea.

Visit the sites at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/, www.UniversalOrlando.com and www.seaworld.com/