Things you do in Orlando besides theme parks?

[DawnM]

Just curious.

We have always done just Disney, with the exception of Legoland two days a couple of years ago when it first opened.

This upcoming trip we will have a a couple of days without tickets to any theme parks and are looking at other options that might be of interest.

Any waterparks that are less $$ but would still be fun for teens?

Any gaming places like DQ but less $$ that are still clean?

What else? It can be anything as we are open to ideas. Just keep in mind I have all BOYS and two are teens.

Thanks,

Dawn

 

[luvmy3]

We did an airboat ride, combined with Kennedy Space Center, but there were just airboat rides you could do.
It was great, we saw alot of alligators and even a bald eagle. My kids really really liked this.
We had planned to travel to a beach where you could find shark teeth on the sand (don't remember the exact name) but unfortunately we never got to. We will do it the next time we visit though.
We did Wonder Works too.

 

[DawnM]

Thanks.

We did look at possibly going to Kennedy Space Center.

I just found $50 weekday only tickets to Seaworld, so I may be getting those as that is a pretty good price. I know I said no Amusement Parks, but that was due to cost only, not that we don't want to do them.

I will keep digging and looking at suggestions.

Dawn

 

[TiggerInNY]

I live on the East Coast just South of Kennedy Space Center and if you have boys (I do too) they will LOVE Kennedy. They have a new Atlantis exhibit. It's the last of the Space Shuttles and I hear it's awesome. You won't be disappointed. There are also the airboat rides which are really fun. My DH and 2 DS (16 & 13) went on one. Lots of stuff to do in Orlando and the surrounding area. Good luck to you.

 

[Mickey527]

sign up for Groupons in Orlando. I get tons of stuff to do like mini golf, air boat rides, a safari type mud run on a truck, we & wild, and soe restaraunts. You can also do a search for the area and other things will come up. I get an email every day with different offers. I live in Ct but if I plan a trip I check out what they are offering just in case.
I am also a member of Myrtle Beach and here in CT.

 

[Rose23]

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...Coast_River_Tours-Merritt_Island_Florida.html
* this tour is fabulous, relaxing and enjoyable for young and old ($29 per person)
__
Orlando Science Center
http://www.osc.org/
__
Orlando Magic NBA Game
http://www.nba.com/magic/
__

Enjoy!

 

[MinnieForMe]

If you have any aviation lovers and don't mind driving about 30 minutes, I can highly recommend Fantasy of Flight. They now have some type of obstacle course/climbing adventure and zipline too! Our son did some real "barnstorming" in a biplane. He's an aviation lover and thought it was an experience of a lifetime!

This year we are doing an airboat tour in Orlando and a Giraffe Ranch in Dade City (?).

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

Just curious.

We have always done just Disney, with the exception of Legoland two days a couple of years ago when it first opened.

This upcoming trip we will have a a couple of days without tickets to any theme parks and are looking at other options that might be of interest.

Any waterparks that are less $$ but would still be fun for teens?

Any gaming places like DQ but less $$ that are still clean?

What else? It can be anything as we are open to ideas. Just keep in mind I have all BOYS and two are teens.

Thanks,

Dawn

If you already have or are going to be buying Disney tickets you can add the water park fun and more feature to each ticket for $58 (for the entire ticket, not per day) and it gives you entry into both water parks and Disney Quest for as many visits as you have days on your tickets.

So if you have 4 day tickets and the water park option that would give you 4 visits to either water park or Disney Quest or all 3 with an extra day to revisit one.

That is the cheapest way to add some fun days to a trip.

We have also gone to Cirque Du Soleil and Blue Man Group. Both great shows.

There is also a Wonder Works and comedy show in Orlando right in the same building.

 

[DawnM]

That is what we normally do.

This year is going to be very different.

A friend who works for ESPN here in town gave us one day passes to Disney.

We already had 3 day passes for Universal from Costco (expire 2015 so we plan to do only one or 2 days this trip.)

And we are doing a special $8 ticket deal at Legoland.

SOOOOO......this will be a very inexpensive trip (Dh's work is paying for our gas too!~)

I just need a one day non-Disney add on for a day.

Dawn

If you already have or are going to be buying Disney tickets you can add the water park fun and more feature to each ticket for $58 (for the entire ticket, not per day) and it gives you entry into both water parks and Disney Quest for as many visits as you have days on your tickets.

So if you have 4 day tickets and the water park option that would give you 4 visits to either water park or Disney Quest or all 3 with an extra day to revisit one.

That is the cheapest way to add some fun days to a trip.

We have also gone to Cirque Du Soleil and Blue Man Group. Both great shows.

There is also a Wonder Works and comedy show in Orlando right in the same building.

 

[danygirl]

Daytona beach is fun and free!

 

[VirataMama4]

And we are doing a special $8 ticket deal at Legoland.

Dawn

What is the $8 ticket deal???

 

[DawnM]

They are offering Monday Homeschool days every Mon (but holidays). You do have to prove you homeschool (through the State verification for your state.)

It is $8 per student and $25 for the adult. So the 4 of us will be around $50 total (Dh will be at a work conference.)

What is the $8 ticket deal???

 

[tarheel618]

You could do WonderWorks. Or maybe spend part of the day at downtown disney and ride the boats to the hotels and tour them?

 

[DawnM]

Thanks for all the ideas. I am going to run them by the boys.

 

[VirataMama4]

They are offering Monday Homeschool days every Mon (but holidays). You do have to prove you homeschool (through the State verification for your state.)

It is $8 per student and $25 for the adult. So the 4 of us will be around $50 total (Dh will be at a work conference.)

So exciting, another great benefit of homeschooling! Now to find my homeschooling letter from the state.

Thank you!

 

[DawnM]

You also do need to book in advance. They are not available at the door.

I booked today for our Oct trip.

http://florida.legoland.com/en/buy_tickets/Groups/education/Home-School-Days/

So exciting, another great benefit of homeschooling! Now to find my homeschooling letter from the state.

Thank you!

 

[DPickering]

Fantasy of Flight. Amazing vintage airplane museum.

 

[kirstenb1]

Sea World has a water park called Aquatica. It is fantastic!!! Plenty of lounge chairs with umbrellas (for us really pale types), and the rides were a nice assortment; plenty for teenagers. I think your kids would like it.

 

[DawnM]

Those aren't any cheaper than purchasing one day Disney waterpark passes. I think if I can't find something for quite a bit less we would rather do Disney waterparks.

Sea World has a water park called Aquatica. It is fantastic!!! Plenty of lounge chairs with umbrellas (for us really pale types), and the rides were a nice assortment; plenty for teenagers. I think your kids would like it.

 

[hearts8701]

Here are some things my teenage boys enjoy in Kissimmee minutes for disney
Congo golf mini golf cheaper than disney http://www.congoriver.com/IE6/
Fun spot carnival type of rides Fun Spot has 4 go kart tracks 18 Family and Thrill rides There is also a large arcade free admission http://www.funspotattractions.com/
Kissimmee GoKarts http://www.kissimmeegokarts.com/
Old Town similar to fun spot some rides the teens will enjoy such as zip line or super shot (too scary for me) car cruises on Saturday night nice little car show also free admission
http://myoldtownusa.com/