Help plan my Non Disney Orlando trip

[mom4graceandlogan]

OK, Dissers, I need your help! My best friend and I are taking the kids without the husbands to Orlando 3rd week of July. It is an annual moms/kids trip and we decided to try Orlando on a budget and do the things we don't get around to while at Disney. We have both been frequently and each have family trips planned in the near future. We are looking for fun inexpensive ideas.

We are both already good at budgets. So we don't really need advice on packing lunches, drinking water etc. We already do that. We are gonna make the trip a game to see how to get the most bang for our buck. So we are looking for advice on attractions coupons, any great groupon or restaurant.com deals you have gotten that were great deals, free things etc. We will probably eat out 3-4 times, rest of meals at a condo and we have a car.

We are looking for 2 bedroom accomodations under 150 a night including tax, Kids are 2 boys 2 girls ages 4-12. We are considering splurging on LEGOLAND. We would like to putt putt one night, maybe catch another classic Orlando attraction, go to downtown Disney, see the Nature Conservation in Celebration. Maybe check out citiwalk and see a movie.
A water park would be great if we could find a deal. I am an annual passholder at Disney.


So tell me where should we go and how can we get a deal?

 

[Darcy03231]

For accomadations check out www.vbro.com, www.vacationrentals.com, www.vacationhomes.com. I've rented from all three sites and never had an issue.

Seaworld has a Fun Card that allows unlimited admission through December 31st. I believe it's $90 for adults and $80 for children.

 

[Wests4Disney]

When I am planning a vacation, I sign up for the Groupon e-mails for that city. Just check the expiration dates and usage periods.

Good luck! We have enjoyed doing some of the alternative activities, like Wonderworks, and entertainment dinners.

 

[medicjch]

You might want to add the Orlando Science center to the list of things to do. It wasn't very expensive to get in, and my kids loved it. We usually do a non-Disney week in central Florida every year and they always want to go back. Also a round of mini golf at one of the Disney courses and then wandering the boardwalk area or downtown Disney can get you a bit of the Disney "fix" without going to the parks.

 

[cheerky]

OK, Dissers, I need your help! My best friend and I are taking the kids without the husbands to Orlando 3rd week of July. It is an annual moms/kids trip and we decided to try Orlando on a budget and do the things we don't get around to while at Disney. We have both been frequently and each have family trips planned in the near future. We are looking for fun inexpensive ideas.

We are both already good at budgets. So we don't really need advice on packing lunches, drinking water etc. We already do that. We are gonna make the trip a game to see how to get the most bang for our buck. So we are looking for advice on attractions coupons, any great groupon or restaurant.com deals you have gotten that were great deals, free things etc. We will probably eat out 3-4 times, rest of meals at a condo and we have a car.

We are looking for 2 bedroom accomodations under 150 a night including tax, Kids are 2 boys 2 girls ages 4-12. We are considering splurging on LEGOLAND. We would like to putt putt one night, maybe catch another classic Orlando attraction, go to downtown Disney, see the Nature Conservation in Celebration. Maybe check out citiwalk and see a movie.
A water park would be great if we could find a deal. I am an annual passholder at Disney.

So tell me where should we go and how can we get a deal?

Regal Palms has fairly inexpensive townhouses. You can search for rates on bookit.com. The property is a little far from Disney but that is a non-issue if you aren't planning to do disney. We are big fans of Seaworld. Check their website for deals. Sometimes you can add aquatica for very little $$. I've read some good reviews about Gatorland as well! Have fun!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

A SeaWorld/Aquatica length-of-stay combo pass is only $119 per adult, and a great value.

Or, the Disney waterpark & more annual pass at $135 per adult gives you unlimited access to Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Disney Quest, Winter Summerland mini golf, and Fantasia Gardens mini golf for a full year. Great for a summer trip.

We have found good deals on Livingsocial and Groupon in the past for airboat rides, bowling packages, mini golf, and food. Sign up for their daily emails.

Gatorland is very affordable, and I believe the Orlando Entertainment Book has a BOGO admission offer in this year's edition. The Entertainment Book also has a host of BOGO mini golf offers (Pirates Cove, Congo River, etc.).

For under $50 per adult, you can get length of stay admission to Wet n Wild.

The Half Off Depot http://www.halfoffdepot.com/orlando/all/entertainment often has good offers. Showcase of Citrus is one that looks like its worth considering.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

We LOVED Legoland (boys were 11 and 13). I got 2 day passes from UT and we spent 2 full days there (they closed at 5 or 6), and enjoyed every minute.

Right NOW a 2 day pass from UT is a few cents less than the online one day price direct from Legoland ($79).

We stayed at Bonnet Creek (my parents are Wyndham owners), and there was plenty there to have a couple of relaxing resort days - the lazy river, a kids splash area, pools, mini-golf. BC is not easily accessible to restaurants and such; since it's totally surrounded by Disney property, you run into traffic trying to get places close by. But it's great if you plan to cook on site and not do too much dining out.

 

[alyssa810]

Here's another vote for signing up for Groupon and Living Social for deals! We went to Jungle Adventure in Christmas, FL (which was about an hour drive) but a really cool place. I think they're in the entertainment book too - which you can get for a really deep discount now since they're going out of business - might be worth picking up for the restaurant coupons too.

Speaking of Legoland, they're are cello packs at Wal-mart that have a buy 1 adult, child gets in free coupons on them, and they're good for all the Legoland parks (we just used one for CA last weekend). The packs sold at our local Wal-Mart for about $3.

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

Thanks for the ideas so far. I forgot about the entertainment book because I knew they were going out of business. We are considering Gatorland so I will search for coupons for that. I will also sign up for livingsocial. Thanks for the great ideas!

 

[JessB320]

City Walk has a dinner and a movie deal, $21.95 for both dinner at one of several location ( Latin quarter , margaritaville, and a bunch of other popular places are on the list) then an Amc movie ticket. Awesome price for adults. We did it a couple times last trip

 

[teedisney]

We get Lego magazine and every month there are free admittance coupons on them. It's free so sign your kids up!

 

[powellrj]

You might sign up for odeals daily, they are like a groupon type deal that sends out emails everyday!