Free Things to do

[Tinkerhil]

My family is going down to Orlando for Thanksgiving week. While we will be doing Universal, I am looking for ideas for free to really cheap things to do with my kids. they are ages 14, 12, 10. I know I saw something on here a long time ago, my searches have found nothing. Thanks

 

[dakcp2001]

The campground at Disney (fort Wilderness I think) has a campfire, shows and outdoor movie every night, there is a schedule somewhere. You just have to bring S'mores makings, or you can buy them there. So almost free.


You might have more luck posting this on the budget board.

 

[neonurse]

Park at a hotel and take a tour of the monorail hotels.
Go shopping at dtd and get a mickey rice crispy treat from Goofy's candy shop...a must for my boys.
Not free but miniputt is a must for us too.
Go to an orange grove and pick oranges.

thats all I can think of right now but I am sure you'll get lots of suggestions.

 

[DisneyGerry]

Disney Boardwalk or Universal's City Walk--although you have to pay parking at Universal

 

[VAfamily1998]

Go to an orange grove and pick oranges.

Ooooh! Our family loves to do "pick your own" fruits! Do you have a suggestion for any grove in particular?

 

[lpizzuro123]

we love visiting the different Disney hotels to check out their holiday decorations. Just beware, we did this on Thanksgiving day last year (the GF) and they were not letting anyone park there unless they were staying there or has reservations to eat there due to the large volume of people. They suggested parking at the TTA and taking the monorail over. We had the same problem at the Contemporary that Saturday.

Linda

 

[neonurse]

Ooooh! Our family loves to do "pick your own" fruits! Do you have a suggestion for any grove in particular?

I was thinking about going to "Show Case of Citrus" 5010 on highway 27 in Clermont. I think I read about it on another thread.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

The campfire at FW is for guests staying at WDW.

The beach is a great option. Cocoa beach is 50 minutes away and Daytona about 1 1/2 hours or less.

 

[garmich]

My family is going down to Orlando for Thanksgiving week. While we will be doing Universal, I am looking for ideas for free to really cheap things to do with my kids. they are ages 14, 12, 10.

We have two boys 14, 11 who love going to zoos and science museums. So we purchased a family membership at our local science museum. We also purchased a family membership at the National Zoo (through their website). With these 1-year memberships, we are able to go to science museums and zoos throughout the country (and Canada) for FREE.

On our last trip to Orlando, we visited the Orlando Science Center and the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford, FL, all for free. On our next trip, we will visit the Jacksonville Zoo on the way down. And while we're in FL, we will go to the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, FL and the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa. And we will go to the Florida Air Museuem at Sun n' Fun in Lakeland, FL.

The family memberships costs around $60 each depending on where you purchase the membership. I know, it's not "free", but I believe it's a worthwhile investment. This year, we went on several small trips around the country and Canada. In each place that we went to, we were able to go to a zoo or a museum for free.

I see that you are from York, PA. When we were in Hershey back in July, we visitied the Hasco Science Center in Harrisburg and ZooAmerica in Hershey. You may be able to get a family membership at both of these attractions.

 

[jentydoug]

Not sure if you have boys or girl. My boys 5 and 11 love going to Van's Skate park. It's close to Universal. We usually pack their helmet and skate pads and carry on there skateboards or you can rent equipment there. I think it $12 to skate all day now. I usually drop off the husband and the kids and hit the outlet mall across the road since the mall it is in doesn't have many stores.

 

[crgfsu1]

The campfire at FW is for guests staying at WDW.

The beach is a great option. Cocoa beach is 50 minutes away and Daytona about 1 1/2 hours or less.

We stayed offsite earlier this year and were able to go to the campfire. I even called Guest Services and asked. We had no problems. It was fun.

 

[Beckypooh1972]

We like driving over to Cocoa Beach for a day, and last time we toured a few of the Deluxe resorts and that was fun to see. We were on property though so had no trouble getting past the gates. You may have to have an ADR to get past the gate if you are off property. With the new increase in parking fees I've heard they are cracking down on those parking at resorts since they might be trying to get around paying for parking... worth a try though. All they can do is say no.

 

[DisneyGerry]

Last Saturday we went over to Portofino and got a pizza and sat outside and enjoyed the sun down opera singers croon from the balcony of the resort. Very Nice!

 

[isla bonita]

We do a few things that do not cost us anything.

My children love to swim and we spend many a day just hanging by the pool.

We take a walk on the boardwalk, down town disney and celebration.