Affordable idea for one day in Orlando

[mommyto3girls]

We are planning a cruise with our girls this fall-first week of November. We are driving and plan to arrive Saturday around noon or so. We will stay Saturday night and Sunday night and then leave on the cruise Monday. We would like to do something fun on Sunday but cannot justify spending 600-800+ for one day of entertainment after the cost of the cruise and excursions. It happens to be our youngest birthday that Sunday but I'm not sure if that will get us anything. We would consider a timeshare but it would have to be on saturday and we are not staying in orlando friday night so that eliminates many of those and most I have seen are only for one or two tickets anyway. Does anyone know of any that may work in our schedule? A discount on two adult and two kids would be good. Or other theme parks that are affordable or other discount sites we might try? ( It does not have to be Disney) If we can't find something we can always just hit the beach or the pool but would like to find something special especially for my littlest princess if we can.

 

[angierae]

Character meal at a resort, even if you're staying somewhere offsite? To get a little "Disney' into it?

 

[descovy]

Go to Beaches and Cream for the kitchen sink Sundae.

Do downtown Disney

We spent 5 days in Orlando a couple years ago... without going to a theme park! That was my kids' favorite day.

 

[2TxAgs]

We passed the afternoon the day before our cruise at the Wilderness Lodge. Rented the mouseboats for the kids to take around the lake, then we rented bikes and rode the path to Ft. Wilderness. My son saw a bobcat -twice- during our ride. The lobby is large and comfortable to relax in as well.

It was a fun and relatively inexpensive way to spend the day. I'd also spend some time in DTD - ride the boat across the lake, have lunch at Earl of Sandwich, watch the performers and visit the stores.

 

[elaine amj]

We rented a surrey bike and my son fished at POR. Only 1 rod so cheap

for DD's bday, we did the kitchen sink for lunch. no burgers...just ice cream. She still talks about it!

 

[leslie826]

Have dinner at trail's end at fort wilderness. Stay for chip and dales's campfire singalong.

 

[katie111]

Not sure how old your kids are but how about Legoland? We just went with our kids ages 6, 9, & 11 and they LOVED it. Asked my 6 year old "isn't this almost as good as Disney?". His reply was "are you kidding? It's way better!".

They usually gave a deal where if you buy an adult ticket you get a kid ticket free so it's much cheaper than Disney. You could just google it.

 

[mommyto3girls]

Thanks for the idea. We definitely want to go to Downtown Disney. We did not have time last time because we had park tickets every day but the first day and we had to hit up the resort pool. We wanted to do that on Saturday. The kitchen sink sundae isn't gross with all those different flavors going on?

 

[mommyto3girls]

We passed the afternoon the day before our cruise at the Wilderness Lodge. Rented the mouseboats for the kids to take around the lake, then we rented bikes and rode the path to Ft. Wilderness. My son saw a bobcat -twice- during our ride. The lobby is large and comfortable to relax in as well.

It was a fun and relatively inexpensive way to spend the day. I'd also spend some time in DTD - ride the boat across the lake, have lunch at Earl of Sandwich, watch the performers and visit the stores.

Do you have to stay on the WL to rent the mouseboats? Do you remember how much they were to rent and do they hold two per boat?

 

[mommyto3girls]

Not sure how old your kids are but how about Legoland? We just went with our kids ages 6, 9, & 11 and they LOVED it. Asked my 6 year old "isn't this almost as good as Disney?". His reply was "are you kidding? It's way better!".

They usually gave a deal where if you buy an adult ticket you get a kid ticket free so it's much cheaper than Disney. You could just google it.

I thought about legoland. My kids are about those ages-my oldest will be turning 12 the last day of our trip and the youngest will be turning 5 at the beginning. I wasn't sure if there would be enough to keep us busy for the day but your family was it sounds like. I have never been there. We will have to put that down as one to research. Thanks

 

[mommyto3girls]

Have dinner at trail's end at fort wilderness. Stay for chip and dales's campfire singalong.

Another thing that we wanted to do last trip but ran out of time! You do not have to be staying on property for this do you? We will be staying off with some of my points this time. You can buy smore kits there or bring your own is that right?
thanks

 

[dprincessmom]

If you book through the SeaWorld Website with a partner hotel they are doing Kids play free with purchase of adult ticket. For about what the hotel room should cost us, we are doing 3 nights, plus SeaWorld and Aquatica LABOR DAY weekend. Crazy.

If that's not your thing, I agree with Downtown Disney and maybe some resort hopping. If we are in town and not doing a Disney park, we usually end up doing a meal and then riding the monorail.

Just saw the age of the oldest - You could still get one ticket free or they are also doing play and dine free.

 

[mommyto3girls]

If you book through the SeaWorld Website with a partner hotel they are doing Kids play free with purchase of adult ticket. For about what the hotel room should cost us, we are doing 3 nights, plus SeaWorld and Aquatica LABOR DAY weekend. Crazy.

If that's not your thing, I agree with Downtown Disney and maybe some resort hopping. If we are in town and not doing a Disney park, we usually end up doing a meal and then riding the monorail.

Just saw the age of the oldest - You could still get one ticket free or they are also doing play and dine free.

Seaworld would be awesome. My youngest loves dolphins However, we can stay for free because I travel all the time for work and have a ton of points. Also we only have one full day and a partial to work with. I saw the 50$ weekday seaworld tickets and I think we would jump on that except we need it for Sunday

 

[cndij]

Do you happen to have Marriott points? The Marriott World Center is an awesome place to entertain your kids, huge free form pool and now a new Slide Tower with 3 waterslides, its like having your own water park. If you get a high floor room facing the pool you will be able to see Disney Fireworks, from 2 parks. The hotel is directly across I-4 from DTD and you can see parts of it from the hotel balconies. We just got back from a Non Park stay at one of the on property timeshare units and the kids with us were at the pool everyday.

 

[crisi]

If you aren't fixed on Orlando, you could stay at the Cape the night before the cruise and see Cape Canaveral.

 

[mommyto3girls]

Do you happen to have Marriott points? The Marriott World Center is an awesome place to entertain your kids, huge free form pool and now a new Slide Tower with 3 waterslides, its like having your own water park. If you get a high floor room facing the pool you will be able to see Disney Fireworks, from 2 parks. The hotel is directly across I-4 from DTD and you can see parts of it from the hotel balconies. We just got back from a Non Park stay at one of the on property timeshare units and the kids with us were at the pool everyday.

I have quite a few marriott points. i also have three or four free night vouchers but I would need to see if they are in the right category. I will have to check that out. Thanks

 

[mommyto3girls]

If you aren't fixed on Orlando, you could stay at the Cape the night before the cruise and see Cape Canaveral.

We are open, but am not familiar with what we could do in CC other than beaches or kennedy space center. I went there when I was a kid and it was interesting, but am not sure that it would be enjoyable for my kids at this point. Are there must dos that I should know about there?

 

[ready123go]

If you decide to stay on property for the duration there is the Boardwalk. They have performers in the evenings and a couple of shops. Don't know about other times of the day - may be some else could chime in here.

You could do the Boardwalk for your first evening and then go to DD on Sunday. So much to do there, with movies, hot air balloon ride, Disney Quest, Cirque du Soleil and shops.

Sign up to become a CirqueClub member on their website and they will send occasional discount tix info. We went one year for half price.

 

[missbrooke06]

We are open, but am not familiar with what we could do in CC other than beaches or kennedy space center. I went there when I was a kid and it was interesting, but am not sure that it would be enjoyable for my kids at this point. Are there must dos that I should know about there?

Ron Jon's! My dad's aunt and uncle lived on Merritt Island so we always stayed a night in the area and RJ is a must. It's a blast even if you aren't a surfer.

 

[It'sOffToDisneyWeGo]

Character meal at a resort, even if you're staying somewhere offsite? To get a little "Disney' into it?
When we have not visted Disney we have also done a character meal, Whispering Canyon or 'Ohana. My kids also enjoying doing a DTD day and The Boardwalk. The Kitchen sink at Beaches and Cream is still talked about.