Top tips for exploring Orlando on a budget including free Disney hotspot
With an endless supply of big thrills, wow moments and happy vibes, Orlando is a well-oiled machine when it comes to delivering bundles of fun, fantasy and nostalgia.
From record-breaking roller coasters to awesome animal encounters, the entertainment options are almost off the scale in the place dubbed the theme park capital of the world.
So to help you pick the best itinerary for your budget, we’ve put together some top tips to help you conserve cash and max-out on convenience.
Get organised
Walt Disney World is on most people's bucket lists (Walt Disney World Resort in Florida)Schedule a complimentary holiday planning chat. Make an appointment for a free, one-to-one Vacation Planning Service session with one of Visit Orlando’s holiday experts for advice on building the perfect itinerary.
You can do it over the phone, via email or on live chat, and friendly guides will suggest accommodation, attractions and dining options to suit your travel style and budget. Book at visitorlando.com.
Green comet last seen by Neanderthals 50,000 years ago to fly past earth tonight
Enjoy extra perks
Staying at a park on-site hotel can save time and money with early admission, extended hours and free food and services such as in-room babysitting and transport.
New for 2023, Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando, Disney Springs Area, offers complimentary hot breakfasts, a shuttle service to all four Disney theme parks, evening snacks and drinks.
Purchase online tickets in advance
Booking ahead can be a huge time and money saver. Orlando’s popular attractions offer discount tickets through Visit Orlando, which is powered by bestoforlando.com.
Snap up brands at the best prices
Orlando’s diverse shopping scene offers bargain hunters great value in its outlet centres, Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, Orlando International Premium Outlets and Orlando Vineland Premium Outlet.
Upscale retail parks The Mall at Millenia and The Florida Mall feature discounted designer brands and exclusive merchandise.
Free transport
Many resort hotels, theme parks and tour operators provide complimentary transportation to and from major Orlando destinations, including Orlando International Airport.
Taxis, shuttle vans, private car pick-ups and ride-share services are available at Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB).
Attractions to suit all budgets
Orlando is hailed as the world's theme park capital (©2021 Universal Orlando. All rights reserved.)From mind-bending exhibitions to outdoor adventures, Orlando offers many unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experiences in every price range.
Attractions under $30
At ICON Park, one of its newest budget-friendly entertainment centres, Max Action Arena, features cutting-edge virtual reality technology, axe-throwing and escape rooms, from $25 per attraction, maxactionarena.com.
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A world of aquatic wonders awaits at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium. Step beneath the waves courtesy of a 360-degree ocean tunnel and come face-to-fin with sharks, stingrays and sea turtles. Adults $25, children $21 via bestoforlando.com.
The eye-catching ICON Park Orlando (Handout)See Orlando’s iconic theme parks and natural lakes from 400ft in the air on The Wheel for $27.99pp when booked in advance at iconparkorlando.com.
Interactive exhibits and artefacts can be discovered at this famous I-Drive attraction, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! which celebrates oddities from around the world… and appears to be falling into a massive sinkhole.
Don’t worry, it’s not actually going anywhere. Adults $27.99, children $18.99, under-threes free, ripleys.com.
Attractions under $25
One of Orlando’s premier STEM attractions, Orlando Science Centre offers 11,000 square feet of hands-on educational fun in Loch Haven Park, north of downtown Orlando.
Exhibits include the chance to turn ideas into reality at The Hive: A Makerspace, finding fossils at DinoDigs and KidsTown for young explorers. $24 adults, $22 students and seniors, $18 for children ages two-11, under-twos free, osc.org.
Located at The Florida Mall the Crayola Experience provides a full day of creative fun with dozens of activities, including a colour playground, crayolaexperience.com. Tickets $24.50 via bestoforlando.com.
New to ICON Park, Museum of Illusions packs in more than 50 brain-bending exhibits that are guaranteed to trick your eyes and blow your mind. From $24.99pp, moiorlando.com.
An impressive alligator at Gatorland (Facebook)Attractions under $20
Founded in 1949, Gatorland is one of Orlando’s longest-running attractions – and one of the most affordable.
The vast park is home to thousands of alligators and crocodiles, plus a flight aviary, petting zoo, nature walk and splash pad area. Gator Night Shine tour $19.99pp via bestoforlando.com.
Go for the drive of your life at the multi-level Andretti Indoor Karting and Games. Located just off I-Drive, it also has bowling, a ropes course, laser tag and video games.
Adult races $19.99, juniors $12.99 via bestoforlando.com.
See more than 500 animals, including rare and endangered species, as well as 23 acres of lush natural beauty at Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Sanford, 35 minutes north of the tourist districts.
From $19.95 adults, $15.95 seniors, $13.95 children, under-threes free, centralfloridazoo.org.
The waterfront mansions you’ll see cost considerably more than the narrated Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour itself.
Learn about the area’s history from the tour guides while witnessing the waterways and wildlife of this charming city, 25minutes north of the tourist districts, $16 adults, $8 children, scenicboattours.com.
Laugh your socks off at the improvised comedy sketches, scenes and songs at SAK Comedy Lab in downtown Orlando. Tickets from $5 to $20, sakcomedylab.com.
Attractions under $10
Dive into the natural world of Central Florida’s freshwater springs, where swimming, hiking and amazing flora and fauna – including manatees – await.
Standouts are Blue Spring State Park, De Leon Springs State Park, Rock Springs Run State Preserve at Kelly Park and Wekiwa Springs State Park, all within an hour north of central Orlando.
Entry from $6 per vehicle, picnic facilities, pavilions, camping available. Kayak tour options from adventuresinflorida.com, epicpaddleadventures.com, getupandgokayaking.com.
Meet the cattle barons, citrus farmers, gunslingers and Nasa engineers who put Orlando on the map long before Walt Disney came to town.
Orlando’s Historical Highlights Walking Tour is for Apple and Android devices and guides you past landmarks such as the Orlando Public Library, Lake Eola Park and ChurchStreet Station, $5.99, voicemap.me.
You won’t find a more comprehensive collection of works by American artist Louis Comfort Tiffany than at The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park. $6 adults, $5 seniors, $1 students, under-12s free, morsemuseum.org.
Free attractions
Disney Springs, the open-air dining, shopping and entertainment district at Walt Disney World, is free to visit, with free parking and free live performances, disneysprings.com.
Explore the Lake Nona Sculpture Garden, a 50,000-square-foot outdoor space featuring one of the most recognised sculptures in the world, the Charging Bull by Arturo Di Modica, lakenona.com.
Orlando’s largest premium winery, Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards, Clermont, holds free tastings and tours every day, lakeridgewinery.com.
Book it
Virgin Atlantic Holidays offers seven nights at the Delta by Marriott Orlando Celebration in Orlando including flights from Heathrow from £695pp for two adults and £2,220 for a family of four travelling and sharing a standard room. Price based on May17 departure, virginholidays.co.uk.
TUI offers seven nights at the 3T Rosen Plaza Hotel, Orlando, in a deluxe double room with return flights from Manchester departing May 1 from £738.49pp based on two adults sharing, tui.co.uk.
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