free/cheap things to do in orlando

[mickeymousefan]

Hi all......

We are planning a very budget, off site, non theme park trip in August.

We plan on spending a day at the beach, going to DTD,maybe the petting zoo at FW and eating some meals at WDW resorts.

Does anyone know of any other cheap/free things to do in the Orlando area? We have two DD's ages 4 and 3.

Any suggestions would be appreciated....... :goodvibes

[tednvon]

HI...

A couple of ideas.

Remember all the great Disney hotels are open to anyone. You can have breakfast with Mickey and all his friends at the Contemporary and never buy a ticket to the parks...

A trip to just walk around in the Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Polynesian area is really fun...You can get desserts there for a reasonable price.

Old Town on 192 just east of Disney has a big carnival area with lots of rides for the kids in the back of Old Town

Get in the car and drive to highway 27 and head south. There are still a few orange groves left where you can stop the car and get a great picture of the kids under an orange tree...(don't take the oranges, it is against the law)

Downtown Disney is open to anyone....Fun to walk around the shops and check out the huge LEGO display


Hope this helps a little....Ted

[Ted and Holly]

HI...

A couple of ideas.

Remember all the great Disney hotels are open to anyone. You can have breakfast with Mickey and all his friends at the Contemporary and never buy a ticket to the parks...

A trip to just walk around in the Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Polynesian area is really fun...You can get desserts there for a reasonable price.

Old Town on 192 just east of Disney has a big carnival area with lots of rides for the kids in the back of Old Town

Get in the car and drive to highway 27 and head south. There are still a few orange groves left where you can stop the car and get a great picture of the kids under an orange tree...(don't take the oranges, it is against the law)

Downtown Disney is open to anyone....Fun to walk around the shops and check out the huge LEGO display


Hope this helps a little....Ted

All great ideas. A note of caution if you drive south on US27. DRIVE CAREFULLY! There is a lot of construction and with all of the cut-across access to the road, people are always shooting across in front of you.

Universal Citywalk is another essentially free area. Similar to Downtown Disney, but you do need to pay for parking. I believe they stop charging for parking in the afternoons, but I do not know the details.

Ted

[spiceycat]

eating at restuarant at the hotels can be very, very expensive.

just tell the security guard you are eating at the hotel so he will let you in -then go find the snack bar. go at the shops while you are there. Sometimes they will have a sale.

[baileybelle]

Try these two sites for ideas http://www.touristflorida.com/ and www.floridakiss.com. :earsboy: :earsgirl:

[Lewisc]

I'm not so sure I'd be taking a 4 year old to the monorail resorts, nice castle view, and then try to explain why you're not going into the MK.

There are petting zoos all over the country. I'd probably look to vacation somewhere else.

[yogibigdog]

A fun an inexpensive thing to do if you in downtown Orlando is rent a swan boat on Lake Eola.

From the website:
Highlights:
Lake Eola Park is a popular destination in the downtown area, with many people taking advantage of the beautiful surroundings to walk at lunch or in the evenings. The sidewalk that circles the lake is .9 miles in length, making it easy for visitors to keep track of their walking or running distances. Other activities available to park visitors include renting ($10 for ½ hour) swan-shaped paddle boats, feeding the live swans and other birds inhabiting the park, being paddled around the lake on a romantic gondola cruise (www.gondola.com), seeing a concert or a play in the Walt Disney Amphitheater, watching the children play in the playground, grabbing a bite to eat at The Terrace on Lake Eola or relaxing amid beautiful flower beds and a spectacular view of Orlando’s skyline.
Full website: http://www.cityoforlando.net/fpr/net/t_ParkRec.aspx?Park=062

[bearzabout]

I love just riding the boats around. I would suggest parking at the marketplace and taking the bus to the Polynesian. Allow the kids to play on the beach while you rest in the hammocks. From there, take the resort monorail to the Contemporary then a boat to Fort Wilderness. The lunch buffet is only $9.99. I think they open at noon. Not great food, but it is OK for the price. The free petting zoo should be a hit. Hop the boat to the Wilderness Lodge and to see the geyser and sit in front of the fire. Take the bus back to the Marketplace for cheap but excellent sandwiches for $5 at Earl of Sandwich. To treat the kids, split a volcano for dessert at Rainforest Cafe (make reservations if you can). This would be a great relatively inexpensive day.

Spend an evening at the Boardwalk (they allow free parking). They often have some entertainment at night. Walk around to the Beach Club and share a couple of dinners as well as a dessert at Beaches & Cream.

Go to Citywalk after 6 when parking is free. Share an entree or two at Margaritaville. They often have people making balloon hats for kids.

My suggestions for cheap eats: Sweet Tomatoes near Universal. They have some desserts and frozen yogurt for the kids and great soups and salads for around $9 per adult.

Cici's Pizza's all you can eat $3.99 buffet will surely be a hit with the girls.

For lunch, I love New York China Buffet. For under $7, you can sample a variety of good Chinese dishes. They have lots of chicken dishes, fruit and frozen yogurt for the kids.

Take the girls to see the Animal Kingdom Lodge. There is great animal viewing after about 4:30 PM. Sample some great soups (chicken pepperpot and butternut squash are my favorites) at Mara for only $2.50 per cup.

There are all kinds of cheap things to do in Orlando. The best just might be relaxing by the pool!

[pluto wonder dog]

I would suggest parking at the marketplace and taking the bus to the Polynesian. Allow the kids to play on the beach while you rest in the hammocks.

Just so you know before you make plans. There is a sign posted at the Polynesian that says
"Beach and Pools are for the use of registered Polynesian guest, only"

[tednvon]

HI...I forgot Boardwalk...a must do...some great street magic and comedy acts....Walk all the way around by Beach Club and get some great ice cream at Beaches and Cream...

One of the best walks at Disney is the huge circle from Boardwalk around the Yacht and Beach club and back to Boardwalk....

Ted

[D&DDisney]

Downtown Disney - Take swimsuits and towels for the kids. My kids spent 2 hrs just playing in the fountains there while my husband and I took turns shopping or looking around. The fountains for kids to play in are located near the Christmas store. They will love the "jumping water". :boat:

[Lisa P.]

I second (third?) a visit to the AK Lodge. The kids can play on the playground after they tire of looking at zebras, giraffes and flamingos.

Also, a nice evening walk around the lake between BW/BC/YC can include a stop on the bridge between BW and BC. From there, you can see the higher Epcot fireworks above the trees.

Besides the petting zoo, FW has many playgrounds scattered through the campground and a nice, under-used sandy beach. From this beach and/or marina, you can watch the electrical water pageant at night. This may be seen from the marinas at all of the MK area resorts so check the times that it's showing wherever you plan to be late in the evening. Get ice cream novelties at the Trail's End shop nearby. You could easily spend many hours there cheaply, getting around by using the internal buses for the campground.

If you're in the area of the Peabody Hotel Orlando (http://www.peabodyorlando.com/peabody_orlando.cfm) near the Convention Ctr on Int'l Drive before 11 a.m. or before 5 p.m., stop in to watch the ducks make their way down the red carpet through the lobby. We saw them at the Peabody Hotel Memphis and it's a hoot! In Memphis, the ducks rode the elevator between their rooftop roost where they spend their nights and the lobby fountains where they spend their days. They make quite a show of it and little kids loved it, lining up along the edges of the red carpet as the ducks made their way past.

[TNKBELL]

What a great thread!!! TED.... Do you know of any orange orchards open to the public my family would love to tour and buy some fresh oranges to use and to share with family back home. Any advice would be much appreciated!!!

[Ted and Holly]

What a great thread!!! TED.... Do you know of any orange orchards open to the public my family would love to tour and buy some fresh oranges to use and to share with family back home. Any advice would be much appreciated!!!

I am not sure if I am the Ted you were referring to, but I can tell you that not TOO far down is the Visitor Center for Florida's Natural:
http://www.floridasnatural.com/visitorscenter.htm

I have never been there, but I have driven by it a few times. I can not guarantee that it is worth the drive.

If you were to drive down US27, on the way, you are likely to see more than one fruit stand that will sell fresh oranges. Most of the trees you see in the area are juice oranges though.

Ted

[MiaSRN62]

I agree with spiceycat that eating in the wdw resort restaurants (while fun and a great experience) can be pricey. Her suggestion of a counter service or food court might be a little bit more budget-conscience ?
My suggestion is go to the food courts/counter service at Contemp or, better yet, the Wilderness Lodge. You can grab a bite to eat at Roaring Forks, then head over to the beach area at night and sit on the chairs and watch the fun (but short) Electric Water Pagent parade. Your 2 young dd's will love letting the sand run through their fingers. This is one of the cool freebies at WDW. Here's the schedule for the EWP : http://allearsnet.com/tp/ewp.htm

[kellymonaghan]

Here's an article on free and loqw cost things in Orlando:

Ten Under $10 (http://www.theotherorlando.com/updates/under10.html)

[Iott Family]

Here's an article on free and loqw cost things in Orlando:

Ten Under $10 (http://www.theotherorlando.com/updates/under10.html)


I am sitting here with my personal copy of The Other Orlando so I know what you say but what would you choose of these three choices to do with a family of two adults, a 9 and 7 year old and a 16month old rugrat......

1.) Gatorland
2.) Jungle Advntures
3.) Downtown Disney


Happy :flower: day to you!

[Aimeedyan]

Orlando has some great outlet mall shopping, if you're looking for deals. They hvae good malls, too, I really love the Mall of Millenia. They have great playareas inside, as well, if you want to stop there.

CityWalk has free parking after 6pm and you can walk around there, though I've never found it as exciting as Downtown Disney.

If the hotel you're staying at has a nice pool, you can spend lots of time there!

[kellymonaghan]

I am sitting here with my personal copy of The Other Orlando so I know what you say but what would you choose of these three choices to do with a family of two adults, a 9 and 7 year old and a 16month old rugrat......

1.) Gatorland
2.) Jungle Advntures
3.) Downtown Disney

I'd pick Gatorland. The kids will get a kick out of the gator wrestling show.

If you go to DD, my publisher has posted a downloadable scavenger hunt for Hidden Mickeys
here. (http://www.theotherorlando.com/hunt/) You can make a competition of it for the kids.

Have fun!

[TNKBELL]

Here's an article on free and loqw cost things in Orlando:

Ten Under $10 (http://www.theotherorlando.com/updates/under10.html)
First of all let me just I am honored to be asking you this question!!! Ted and Holly referred me to a great site that sells Florida's Natural products and has a visitor's center. It looks really neat! I would also like to take my Dks to a real orange orchard and wondered if there were any open to the public or one I could arrange a tour at. This would be a great experience for the whole family! Thank you in advance for your advice! :cheer2:

[GEM]

Try www.showcaseofcitrus.com

You can visit the groves and pick your own fruit, plus they have some other fun stuff - and it's really close to Disney World.


By the way, we love Gatorland! We've been several times. In December, it was probably the highlight of the trip for my son (2) and my cousin (8).

[kellymonaghan]

There's also this:P

Florida's Natural Growers Grove House
20160 U.S. Hwy. 27
Lake Wales, FL 33853

Local Phone: 863-679-4110
Toll Free U.S.: 800-237-7805 x4110
Toll Free U.S./Canada: 800-237-7805
Fax: 863-679-6330

E-mail: nblack@citrusworld.com
Website: http://www.floridasnatural.com

[TNKBELL]

Try www.showcaseofcitrus.com

You can visit the groves and pick your own fruit, plus they have some other fun stuff - and it's really close to Disney World.


By the way, we love Gatorland! We've been several times. In December, it was probably the highlight of the trip for my son (2) and my cousin (8).
Thank you GEM!!! That's exactly what I was looking for!! :Pinkbounc

[tednvon]

Hi...for the person who wanted to know about picking your own oranges and walking around in an orange grove, if you head out 192 west to highway 27 and go north a few miles you will see a "pick your own" place on the right side of the highway...

good luck..Ted

[TNKBELL]

Thank you Ted!! I'll check that out too!!

[disneyholic family]

I don't know if anyone else said, but walking around the Boardwalk area in the evening is nice..

There are free street performances, like jugglers and acrobats (and there are street vendors if you want to get an ice cream cone or something like that to enjoy as you walk)

[mickeymousefan]

Thanks for all the great suggestions!!!

[Ted and Holly]

Hi...for the person who wanted to know about picking your own oranges and walking around in an orange grove, if you head out 192 west to highway 27 and go north a few miles you will see a "pick your own" place on the right side of the highway...

good luck..Ted

Is this the place with the school bus coverted to a swamp buggy? I see that all the time. I never see anyone there though.

I think this is the same place that GEM referred to with the link.

EDIT: Most of the "real" orange groves in the area are juice oranges. You are not really going to find a visitor center or anyone who will take the time to give you a tour. I mean, the tour would be "This is a tree. Here is another. Here is where we had to cut down x-number of acres because of cancor. Here is where the hurricane knocked down some trees." The "pick your own" groves will have some trees growing with some decent eating varieties. I drive by the groves in Polk County all the time. The most I have seen is a trucker hauling out the oranges or the bus of pickers showing up. 90% of the time, there is no one near the groves.

Ted

[tednvon]

Ted, Hello,

I have driven by the place many many times and always see the swamp buggy...It really is the only place that advertises pick pick your own that I have seen...But for an inexpensive intertainment option, you never know...might be lots of fun...

One of things that was probably the most fascinating for me last year was to drive south to Haines City, take Rt. 544 East or left about 5 miles to Grenelefe resort and drive through. It is the apex of all 3 hurricanes last year and to see the hundreds of trees down and the power of the storm was really humbling.

take care ...Ted

[Ted and Holly]

Ted, Hello,

I have driven by the place many many times and always see the swamp buggy...It really is the only place that advertises pick pick your own that I have seen...But for an inexpensive intertainment option, you never know...might be lots of fun...

One of things that was probably the most fascinating for me last year was to drive south to Haines City, take Rt. 544 East or left about 5 miles to Grenelefe resort and drive through. It is the apex of all 3 hurricanes last year and to see the hundreds of trees down and the power of the storm was really humbling.

take care ...Ted

Yeah, that area, up to even Poinciana was pretty hard hit. It is pure luck, really, that WDW sustained fairly little damage compared to other area, not really that far away!

Want to see some really sad stuff? Drive a few hours south on 17 to Punta Gorda. The place is still pretty messy and honestly will make you sick to your stomach.

Not that these are fun side-trippy things to do.

Ted

[Pigsty333]

Check out this link to the Gaylord Palm Resort: http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylordpalms/things_to_do/festival.cfm

Here are highlights of it:
Best of Florida SummerFest
Weekends July 2 - September 4, 2005

Spend a cool weekend getaway in Orlando, and experience the state’s newest – and most unique – family festival.

Inside the soaring 4.5-acre atrium at Gaylord PalmsTM Resort, visit the Sunshine State’s only indoor summer festival… where it’s always a comfortable 72 degrees!

Every weekend, Best of Florida SummerFest celebrates all that makes Florida great… its legends, festivals, events, foods, history, music, landscapes and creatures.

Families will find activities around every corner.
Price is $10 per carload.

Wekiva Springs is a great way to do a day. Get a meal from Publix, they do a great chicken, bread, salad pack for $8.99 and spend a day here.


WEKIWA SPRINGS STATE PARK: http://www.abfla.com/parks/WekiwaSprings/wekiwa.html

Wekiwa Springs State Park comprises approximately 7,000 acres of wild scenery that offers an opportunity to see how areas of central Florida looked when the Timucuan Indians speared fish in the spring-fed creeks and stalked the uplands. They left a number of mounds that are still visible today. The main spring pumps approximately 42 million gallons of water each day. Wekiwa Springs State Park opened to the public in 1970. There is kayak rentals and a great water spring to swim in.

Check out www.ICflorida.com
http://www.go2orlando.com

[kbkids]

Try www.showcaseofcitrus.com

You can visit the groves and pick your own fruit, plus they have some other fun stuff - and it's really close to Disney World.





You may want to call ahead on this one. We tried to do this last May - drove out there - and they were closed. Honestly, to us, looked like it may have been permanently closed.

[Zipitydooda]

Hey,
Don't forget Cypress Gardens!! If you want to take the kids on great rides for their ages, Cypress Gardens is great! Very cheap! We stay at a very nice but cheap resort called Grenelefe and get a 900 sq ft condo with a "kids suite" for $45 a night. 18 mins to Cypress Gardens 30 to Disney--right off 27. Our kids are 6 & 3, so we do Cypress Gardens all day and do their water parks, amusements, and shows (for cheap) and then do all the above Disney/Universal stuff after a nap at night.
P.S. Did anyone mention the free fireworks at 9:00 on the bridge at Boardwalk or at 10:00 at the Contemporary? (Check your times)