Showing posts with label Orlando. Show all posts

Tips On Enjoying Orlando When It’s Raining

If you're visiting Orlando on holiday or have just invested in a home for sale in Orlando, you should always be ready with a plan B when making plans in case it starts to rain. Whether it’s a short, summer storm or extended rainfall that lasts for days, rain can fall in Florida during any season, but that doesn’t mean that it has to ruin your day. Here are some of the best places to visit on a rainy day in Orlando.

Sea Life Orlando
If you or your young ones had your heart set on a trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to see some up-close and personal wildlife, only to find it pouring buckets outside, there’s a great alternative at Sea Life Orlando at I-Drive 360. Travel + Leisure magazine recommends Sea Life’s 360-degree underwater tunnel with views of sharks and stingrays swimming overhead. Spending the day with many sea creatures large and small, families can enjoy the various themed habitats, some of them featuring bubble-tanks you can poke your head through for unique and close views!

Topgolf Orlando 

Nothing is worse than having a group of friends meet up for a day of golf, only to see clouds in the forecast. Aside from featuring some incredible golf courses, Orlando also hosts Topgolf, a fantastic indoor golf centre that features much more than putting greens and a clubhouse. In addition to being able to track stats and shot accuracy, Topgolf’s six-person, climate-controlled hitting bays are an excellent option for get-togethers. If anyone gets tired of playing, they can also watch one of the hundreds of high-definition TVs, spend time at the full-service restaurant and bar, enjoy the free Wi-Fi, or soak up some sun on the rooftop terrace with a fire pit.

WonderWorks 

A rainy day doesn’t have to ruin a fun-filled day for kids, either. Instead of visiting an outdoor theme park and risking running into closed rides and wet lines, take the party inside at the epic indoor amusement park, WonderWorks. With unique entertainment such as virtual roller coasters, challenging indoor obstacle courses, interactive, virtual reality sports games, and even a gigantic laser tag maze, there’s no doubt that kids young and old will enjoy a fun-filled day without suffering a single drop of water on their heads.  It's also home of the Out Of Control Magic Show which is great fun and which we did a few years ago.

Kennedy Space Center 

If you want a true Orlando experience rich with a fascinating history and a plethora of interesting factoids, the Kennedy Space Center is the place to go. Aside from being NASA’s launch headquarters, this historical goldmine puts visitors face-to-face with gigantic rockets, in the chair of a real flight simulator, in the presence of legendary veteran astronauts, and even features an immersive and informative IMAX show. If you’ve ever wanted to know anything about the space program or have a space junky in your family, this is definitely the place to go, rain or shine.  Check out the astronaut talks, highly recommended!

iFly Orlando 

One great way to combat a rainy day is to take to the skies…indoors! iFly Orlando allows both kids and adults to feel the thrill of skydiving no matter what the forecast says. Educators and guides will show everything from live demonstrations in their state-of-the-art wind tunnel to lab activities and interactive presentations to make for a seriously fun day of both learning and flying. No matter what age you are, this incredibly fun experience is something you’ll treasure for days, months, and years to come!  Both Mr W and our son Jake did this a few years ago and had so much fun.

Andretti Indoor Karting & Games 
It’s no fun driving in the rain, but what is fun is the world’s longest indoor go-kart track. Even better than high-speed thrills, Orlando Insider Vacations describes Andretti Indoor Karting & Games as having a ton of activities to help you escape rainy days in Orlando. Aside from go-karts, Andretti Indoor Karting & Games offers virtual reality games, a laser tag field, a 7D ride, indoor zip lining, a giant arcade, and even boutique upscale bowling lanes. There’s literally something for everybody, and it’s an excellent way to spend a rainy day with a large group. 

When living in nearly any city in Florida, it seems like rain is never far around the corner, but that doesn’t mean that there is any shortage of fun to be had in a unique and sprawling city like Orlando. Even when 'The Sunshine State' is full of clouds, there are plenty of ways to spend the day with a warm smile on your face! Whether you just need to kill a few hours or wait of a series of storms, hopefully, this list can point you in the right direction for a fun time with friends, family, and guests of any and every age.

*Collaborative post
Posted by at 9 comments
Labels: , ,

10 Coupons You Need To Sign Up For Before Visiting Orlando

Today I have a guest post from Emma who blogs at EmmaDrew.Info all about ways to make money, save money and live the life you want. Emma loves to visit Orlando and today wants to share some money saving tips with you. You can also find Emma on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Youtube. Over to Emma.....

Emma Drew 

If you have an upcoming trip to Orlando on the cards, did you know there are loads of websites to sign up to get amazing discounts? Today, I have a fantastic list to share with you full of lots of Orlando coupons! These can range from free food to money off at your favourite shopping attractions.

Before I share my 10 coupons recommendations, I have a small list of tips to consider before signing up!

Sign up for the discounts in advance

Signing up for these discounts in advance will save you a lot of time. Also while some vouchers arrive instantly via email, some take a couple of days to arrive so my personal recommendation is signing up around 2-4 days before you leave. This will allow time for you to receive all your coupons on time but before they’ll expire.

Sign up using a new free email address

If you don’t, you will be bombarded with promotional emails after your visit!

Mention birthdays in your signup

A lot of these companies I’ll be sharing have some fantastic birthday freebies so be sure to use the details of anyone visiting who will be celebrating their birthday during your trip. (You’ll see further on in this blog post about Landry's Select Club to get your free $25 in your birthday month!)

Plan out your spending money


Deciding on how much spending money to take to Florida can be difficult to figure out. Orlando and travelling can be very expensive but using the following coupons will really help you to save money during your trip!

Now here’s my list of 10 coupons to get you saving up lots of dollars! These are a variety of apps and websites that offer great coupons and offers.
  1. Landry’s Select Club - The Landry's Select Club is amazing, and I strongly recommend signing up. They have a physical card as well as an app you can use if the card doesn't arrive in time, or doesn't quite make it from America.
  2. Groupon Orlando 
  3. Living Social Orlando - A browse through Groupon Orlando and Living Social Orlando before your visit is a great idea if you are looking to save money on your tip. You can find all sorts from activities to meals out.
  4. The Coupons App
  5. Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores - Coupon booklet (free coupons worth $400)
  6. Premium Outlets - (become a VIP member for your voucher for a free Savings Passport)
  7. Orlando Deals - The Visit Orlando website has a long list of discounts available across a range of activities and restaurants. Whether you want an Off Road experience or a relaxing spa experience, they have a lot of coupons.
  8. SavingStar
  9. SnipSnap
  10. GasBuddy - find the cheapest petrol

Be sure to share this post with anyone heading to Orlando!
Posted by at 3 comments
Labels: , ,

Staying In A Luxury Villa In Orlando With Contempo Homes

As a travel blogger, I have to make a confession, I've actually never stayed in a villa. I really don't know why either, so when Contempo Homes invited us to try out their villas in Orlando Florida I could hardly say no, I mean, would you?


Contempo Homes have a range of accommodation from 3 star to 5 star accommodation in the Orlando area. Each villa is privately owned and furnished to the owners' specification and then rented out by the company. The villas are in a range of communities through the Orlando area including Tuscan Hils, Highlands Reserves and Championsgate.




The villa we were reviewing was based in Providence Golf Resort. This private gated community is set within 2,200 acres of well-manicured lawns, beautiful lakes and palm tree-lined roads. In addition to the beautiful golf course, Providence also offers an exclusive clubhouse just a short walk from most homes. 

The villa in the Rosemount Woods area of the Providence Golf Resort was built on one level and had 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, as well as a garage and drive, lounge and dining area with kitchen, laundry room and it's own private pool.










Bedroom 1 and bedroom 2 uses a shared bathroom with toilet, sink and shower. The decor is classic white walls and neutral tones and both these rooms have single beds. Everything was immaculate and clean. Complimentary toiletries were provided for a couple of days as well as towels. If you are staying longer I would suggest you bring your own toiletries.






Bedroom 3 has its own sink, shower and toilet ensuite. 








Bedroom 4 again has it's own shower, sink and toilet too.


Each bedroom has wardrobe space as well as a TV with cable TV channels. We used the Chromecast on the TV to watch Netflix, so just sign in with your Netflix account to use.





The lounge area is beautifully decorated with a dining table just off the lounge and an open plan kitchen behind the seating area.









The kitchen area had everything you would need to cook a simple meal. There was a full oven, microwave, coffee machine, blender, toaster and kettle. The fridge freezer was large and contained an ice machine too.



 It is always useful to have a washing machine and dryer especially to freshen up your clothes in the Orlando heat and the villa had both as well as an iron and ironing board.  We used the washing machine and it was excellent. One small point there was no washing line but we improvised and put our clothes in the garage to dry. It was so nice to be able to do our washing and come home without a load of clothes to wash.

The welcome pack was really useful. As well as it containing that important information we all need - the Wi-Fi code, it also contained how to operate the appliances, information for check out, and local area attractions and restaurants and emergency information.


A major plus point of this villa was the pool area. The pool area had a table and chairs for dining as well as sun loungers. It was so nice to relax in the pool after a day enjoying the theme parks. 


Safety is obviously important to the villa owner and there was a fence around the pool to keep little ones from wandering in unsupervised. Of course, never leave your kids unattended near water. The pool had a netting around it to get mosquitoes out and we found it really effective. 


What we both liked about the villa was the space. In fact, it is probably just as big as our flat at home! Having more than one bathroom was a huge plus point too as Mr W does like to hog the bathroom at home. This makes it easy to get ready if you are going out early to get to the theme parks. The garage was also a bonus to keep our rental care safe, although this is a gated community and we felt very safe at all times too.

If you are on a tight budget staying in a villa can keep the costs down on food if you cook and prepare your own, and if you have a restricted diet it can often be easier to cook your own meals. The nearest Publix supermarket is about 6 miles away and stocks a wide selection of food and drink. We didn't find it particularly cheap but it's convenient for sure.

The villa is in a good location if you want to explore the Orlando area, being 30 minutes drive to the Magic Kingdom and 40 minutes drive to Universal Studios. You do need a car to stay here and there aren't any restaurants within walking distance except for the restaurant at the Providence golf club which we didn't use. There is also a clubhouse here with an outdoor pool.

After our stay here I can say we are definite converts to staying in a villa. Here is a video we made for the couples travel blog and YouTube channel I create with my husband.  



 Staying in a villa from Contempo Homes gives you the luxury of space with the amenities and the convenience of a self-catering holiday and the added bonus of a pool all to yourself. It can also be surprisingly affordable. For our dates in September 2018, the price was £130 a night. Would we stay again? Most certainly. We loved it! Highly recommended.

Contempo Homes
http://www.contempovacationhomes.com/
Phone: +1 (863) 424 2226
Email: frontdesk@contempogroup.com

*We were given a complimentary stay for a review, all opinions are my own

Posted by at 18 comments
Labels: , , ,

101 Money Saving Tips For Orlando Florida

Orlando is our happy place and with a twenty-one-year-old son who loves the theme parks, it's a trip we take every couple of years, as we love to visit Orlando. We are always on the lookout for cheap money-saving tips (like visiting the free springs near Orlando) and saving money in certain areas means we can spend it on luxuries such as cocktails, nice meals out or cool experiences. 

A trip to Orlando isn't cheap from the UK, and with flights alone starting at £400 and doubling in high season, you can see it can be a costly vacation. However, over the years I have learnt some tips and tricks to save money and here I am sharing them with you. You can certainly do Orlando on a budget, that's for sure so check out my Orlando vacation saving tips below.

 If you have any tips yourself on how you save money on your Orlando vacation please let me know and why not pin this post, or bookmark it for your next trip?

 Flights
The Magic Kingdom

1. Use a comparison site like Skyscanner or Kayak to book your flights.  Two airlines that seem cheaper than BA or Virgin Atlantic are Norwegian Air and Thomas Cook. Compare the differences between the in-flight entertainment and food options and see if it's worth the cheaper price. Here is our video of Virgin Atlantic's economy flight to MCO Orlando. 

2. Avoid peak times like school holidays, Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving if you can, as flights and accommodation will be more expensive. 

3. Flights midweek can often be cheaper than the weekend, so if your dates are flexible then try flying out and coming back midweek. 

4. If you have been searching for flights online but then you want to book, go invisible. Saving your cookies on your browser may bump the prices up so if you go invisible (called Incognito on Chrome, or InPrivate browsing on Internet Explorer) your flight prices may come down by clearing your cookies as Lotty Earns says here.

 5. Sign up to airline loyalty schemes if you are a fan of a particular airline. If you are a frequent flyer the points soon add up. We've managed to get upper-class flights on Virgin Atlantic at half the normal price.  

6. Check out if there are any discounts on cashback sites before you book your flight. Topcashback and Quidco may give you a percentage back on the cost. Sign up with my Quidco link and you get £5 and I do too. Thanks! There are often discounts for hotels, car hire and more on cashback sites.

7. STOW IT's Airport Storage is a fraction of the cost of traditional long term airport parking. Their Airport Storage facilities offer 24/7 staff, gated entry, lights, and security cameras. Many of their facilities are located within 5 miles of major airports so that you can park long term close to the airport.

 8. If you need a transfer from the airport Mears run transfers at a reasonable cost. Also, Lyft and Uber are available and are cheaper than a traditional taxi.

ESTA
Universal Studios

9. The majority of people from the UK will need an ESTA to travel to the US and the current price of this is $14. Be sure to go to the official site to apply as other sites will charge you more and you can do it yourself. It is valid for two years.

10. Use a credit card without a foreign transaction fee such as the Halifax Clarity credit card to pay your ESTA wherever possible. You will be paying in dollars for the ESTA and some credit and debit cards will charge you on top of a foreign transaction fee otherwise.

Currency
Hollywood Studios

11. When getting your currency, always get it in advance if you can, and never at the airport. The exchange rates are awful if you get your currency at the airport.

12. Check out the online tool from Money Saving Expert called Travel Money Max to get the best rates on your currency. We also then compare it to the exchange rate at John Lewis as we find it's often the best rate on the high street. 

 13. Getting a prepaid card like FairFX can save you money if you load it when the exchange rate is good. It gives you the rate on the day, and then you can use it to budget for your holiday. Use my link to get £10 on the card free if you load £500 and I get £10 too, thank you.

Before you go
Flights Of Passage Animal Kingdom 

14. If you are buying travel products and accessories such as adaptors, travel cushions, ponchos and suncream have a look in your local reputable bargain shops such as BM Bargains or Poundland. They will be much cheaper than buying at the airport or in your resort hotel. Don't forget to check the UVA and UVB ratings on the back of the sun cream for the protection it offers, and go for a high level of SPF as the Florida sun is strong. We never use lower than an SPF 30.

15. Booking a hotel and flight yourself often has considerable savings on a package holiday. If you are new to this get a holiday brochure for ideas and replicate the package you like. Book using a credit card for extra protection.  If you are nervous of a DIY holiday consider a package with ATOL protected companies such as TUI, On the Beach and Ocean Florida. Sometimes you can get amazing deals last minute too.

 16. Check out in advance your mobile roaming charges for the US. I have a Three UK sim and their Feel At Home service allows you to use your phone with the same data plan as in the UK. For more about saving money on your phone calls in the USA, check out this post on Money Saving Expert. 

Off-Site Accommodation

Sonesta ES Suites International Drive

17. If money is tight and you are doing Orlando on a budget, staying on International Drive is a good bet for cheap hotels within walking distance of restaurants, bars and International Drive attractions like Icon 360 and Pointe Orlando. Check out the Avanti Hotel or the Rosen Inn hotels for budget option hotels that seem to get decent reviews. 

18. If you have a big family, consider a condo apartment or a villa to save on booking two or more rooms. You can also cook your own food to save money on eating out all the time. We've stayed at Sonesta ES Suites and Vista Cay and can recommend both. Check out this post on Kissimmee vacation rentals to see what you can get for your money. 

19. If you are looking to book a hotel, check out the popular budget chains such as Homewood Suites which give free breakfast and happy hours with complimentary snacks and drinks. 

 20. Have breakfast in your room, many hotel rooms have a fridge and small kitchen so have some cereal and save on the pricey breakfast in the parks.

 21. Check out a comparison site like Trivago for the best accommodation prices, then go to the hotel direct to see if they can match the price.

Disney and Universal Hotels

Cabana Bay

22. Disney and Universal hotels have a range of activities like free movies by the pool, so make the most of these if are staying here. One cool thing is the free animation class at the Art Of Animation hotel. Every day in the lobby (usually three times a day) you can take this class for free.

23. If you are looking to stay in Disney accommodation, there are often offers at certain times of the year for a package with free Disney Dining. You have to book park tickets and accommodation at the same time.

24. You could consider renting Disney Vacation Points to get a bargain on your Disney accommodation. 

25. The Chip and Dale campfire singalong is free. Bring your own marshmallows and sticks or buy at the Fort Wilderness Resort. Stay for movies by the campfire later.

26. Before visiting Universal Studios, check out this guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, for some up-to-date tips.

27. Did you know you can go on a tour of Jiko or Boma restaurants in Animal Kingdom Lodge for free? The culinary tour with a few tidbits is from around 4 pm to 4.15pm.  You don't have to be staying there either, check with the hotel which days it is running. Thanks to the Disney Food Blog for this tip.

28. You can pool hop if you stay at one of the Univeral hotels. With a lazy river at Cabana Bay and underwater music and a beach at the Hard Rock Hotel pool, it's worth it. If you stay at a Disney All-Star hotel you can pool hop too to another All-Star hotel. Guests at Port Orleans Riverside may use the pools at Port Orleans French Quarter.

29. Use free transportation such as water taxis and buses if you stay in a Disney or Universal resort. 

Disney World Tips
Club Cool Epcot

 30. A multi-day ticket is usually very good value, compared to the day ticket price if you are visiting more than once. There are often good deals for UK tourists if you buy your ticket in the UK. Check out sites like Attraction Tickets Direct and Florida Escapes. 

 31. Skip the park hopper option on the ticket to save money at Disney World.

 32. Take snacks and lunch into the parks to save on the pricey park food. There may be certain rules though so check out the relevant website first. Here is a guide to taking food into Disneyworld Florida,

33. Don't buy bottled water, you can ask for a cup of iced water free in all the kiosks and restaurants in the parks. Or take your own water bottle in and have it refilled.

 34. Buy a refillable Disney bottle. You pay for the souvenir bottle then refills of soft drinks tea and coffee are a much lower price. Share this to save even more money.

35. Eat all your meals at quick service restaurants if money really is tight.

36. Try the free soft drinks at Club Cool at Epcot. Although they are only samples you can try as much as you want.

37. The cheapest character meals are often at breakfast. So if your kids definitely want to have a character meal, shop around to see which is the best value and which characters you will see.

 38. Take your own autograph book into the parks, you can buy them cheap from places like Poundland and Primark in the UK and outlet centres in Orlando. It will save a lot of money than buying in the parks.

 39. The pressed penny machines only cost a small amount and make a lovely little souvenir in both Disney and Universal parks.

40. Hunt around for Hidden Mickeys in the Disney Parks to keep the kids amused for free.

41. You could always take a trip out of the parks to have food and then return to save money. Just check if it's worth the time and the savings involved.

 42. The Disney photo pass is expensive but why not ask the photographers to take a photo with your camera as well?  Also, use the Instagram walls in Disney for a photo that doesn't cost anything and you can use to brighten up your IG 

 Transportation

The Hogwarts Express Universal Studios

43. You can self-park at Disney Springs for free, why not do this and take the free shuttles to the Disney parks to save money on parking?

44. If you are a guest staying at a Disney Resort hotel, you receive complimentary standard parking at Disney theme parks for the length of your resort stay.

45. If you pay for parking at a Disney theme park you pay once per day even if you go to another Disney park. So keep your parking ticket.

46. Why not sing for your parking at Disney? There is anecdotal evidence on the Disney forums like The Dibb that this works. Obviously, a Disney song would be preferable and cute kids are optional. Tell me if it works!

47. If your hotel has free shuttle buses to the Disney or Universal parks it can save you a fortune on parking throughout a 2 week holiday.

48. The IRide trolley can be a reasonable way of getting around International Drive, especially if you are travelling on your own or as a couple. Compare the cost to Uber and see if it's worth getting a weekly ticket for even more savings. Also, they have discount coupons on their site. Lynx buses are another way to get around and get to the parks. Buy a pass for a number of days to save money too.

49. Car hire - It ’s worth 'prepaying' your first tank of fuel for your rental car as the rental companies will charge about 1/3 more than the current fuel prices. Also, try the Gas Buddy app for the cheapest gas (petrol to us Brits).

50. If you hire a car, many don't have Sat Nav, so to avoid paying for this use your phone as a navigation device through Google Maps. Use the free Wi-Fi at your hotel, for example, to plan the route then when you are out and about it won't cost you more on roaming charges.

 51. If you haven't got a smartphone or don't want to use Google Maps, consider hiring a Sat Nav from eBay before you go which will always be cheaper than hiring a Sat Nav with your car hire company.

52. Check out the law for car seats in Orlando. You can save money by taking your own or buy one there but if you rent it from a car hire company it will often be more expensive. Way up the pros and cons. 

 53. Consider pre-paying for car hire in advance, so you are not pressurised into buying extra insurance and upgrades you don't need. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is essential to cover you for any damage to you and others and won't be included in the car hire so don't forget to include this. 

Universal Parks
Universal Studios

54. Buy a refillable Universal bottle. If you pay for the souvenir bottle then refills are a much lower price than it is in Disney parks.

 55. Consider a Universal Dining plan meal deal.

55. Go to Universal Studios and Islands Of Adventure after 6pm for free parking. Especially worth it if you have multi-day tickets and you want to do your favourite ride again with often a smaller queue. 

 56. Don't buy fast passes when it's not essential  If it's busy why not do the single rider queue? It can cut the queuing time immensely although you will miss some of the theming of the queue. 

57. Another way to save money on fast passes is to get to the parks early and do the big and popular rides first. If you are staying in a Universal hotel like Cabana Bay you can get in an hour earlier, if you are not, still get there before the official opening time as they often open it earlier.

 58. At busy times it's worth staying at a Universal resort that offers free fast passes. With up to 5 people who can sleep in the room and fast passes ranging from $40 to $150 you can see it can be worth it to skip the queues at busy times. Not all the Universal resort hotels do though so check out this comparison. 

Restaurants
Hard Rock Cafe City Walk

59. Appetizers are large in restaurants so unless it's super posh you will be fine to share. Just don't forget to tip.

60. Kids' meals can be really big, why not order one for yourself or get your kids to share one? 

61. Kids can eat free at several restaurants.

62. There is also a specific kids eat free card that you do pay for but can save you a fortune, so check out the benefits online. 

63. Some restaurants have 'Happy Hours' where there are deals on food as well as alcohol. Check out Bahama Breeze, Applebees and Millers Ale House for example.

 64. Eat a table service meal at lunch instead of dinner as often lunch is cheaper (but not always).

 65. Sign up to the restaurant's email list up to two weeks before you go. You may get offers for your stay. Olive Garden, Maggianos and Millers Ale House are three such places that do that.

 66. The Landry's Select card is a loyalty card that can save you money. It costs you $25 to sign up which you get loaded onto the card and you can get off your first meal. You get priority seating at places like T Rex and Bubba Gumps and Rainforest Cafe and if it's your birthday month you get a $25 bonus.  

67. Certain times of the year Olive Garden has a deal where you buy one meal and take one away. Perfect if you are self-catering and can pop it in a fridge to reheat the next day.

Other Saving Money Tips
Volcano Bay

68. Look out for coupon books for discounts in supermarkets like Wallmart, shopping malls and in your hotel. Often you can get free appetizers, 10% discounts on meals and money off attractions in these.

 69. Dollar tree is a really cheap supermarket, like Poundland but everything is, as it says, a dollar.

70. Buy your Disney merchandise at outlets, not in the parks or buy in Primark before you go and give kids the gifts when you are there.

71. If you are celebrating a birthday, get all the freebies you can get. Go to guest services in Disney to get a free badge, mention it in any restaurant and they may give you a free dessert, mention it in any hotel you stay in and you may get a free treat in your room. It's worth a mention!

 72. If you are booking any tours in advance search for discount codes online. Sites such as Viator often have discount codes at certain times of the year. Check their social media pages. 

 73. Give your children an allowance for the holiday for souvenirs. This helps them manage their own money and really think about buying any extras. Reinforce that once their money is gone, it's gone.

74. Check Groupon Orlando and Travelzoo Orlando for deals, discounts and offers. If the website will only accept a US address to register, use the address of your accommodation.

 75. Order snacks off Amazon Prime to arrive at your hotel to avoid spending on expensive treats. 

76. In the evening, especially at the weekend, it's worth visiting Disney's Boardwalk.  There are free performing musicians and entertainers and you can get a great view of the fireworks at Epcot.

77. Take a trip to Old Town in Kissimmee. It has an old-fashioned fun fair, shops and restaurants, and on Saturday they have a classic car show that is free.

 Disney Springs
Lego Store Disney Springs

 78. Disney Springs is great to walk around and you don't pay for parking. Just be careful not to spend too much!

 79. If you kids love Lego they can spend a good half hour or longer building lego in the shop there for free. They have car building exercises and then race the model cars.

80. There are two splash zones and kids can have fun running through the fountains. Bring towels to dry off.

81. There are lots of free live concerts at Disney Springs, especially in the evening. Check out the entertainment schedule. 

82. Find a bench and sit listening to the musicians outside the House Of Blues for free.

 83. Have a meal with free entertainment at Raglan Road. They have Irish dancers and singers every day.

84. The T-REX restaurant has a 'Paleo Zone', where you can dig for hidden dinosaur fossils, pan for treasure and learn more about dinosaurs through interactive displays.

Greater Orlando

85. Orlando is not just Disney and Universal. Check out the attraction and money-saving offers on Visit Orlando.

86. Walk around Celebration. Disney created this community as their idea of small-town America. It's worth a stroll for a relaxing afternoon.

 87. Leu Gardens is a cheap day out, a 50-acre botanical garden close to downtown Orlando it also has a museum and a historical home.

 88. Ocala National Forest has over 600 lakes rivers and springs where visitors can swim, snorkel and dive all year around.

 89. If you are a member of the US Military you can get discounts on park tickets and hotels. 

90. If you are a senior citizen you can get discounts at a range of attractions, it's always worth asking, although you may have to show proof of your age. 

 91. Some attractions may give a student discount so take your NUS Extra Card with the ISIC logo on.  If you register on the ISIC website with your NUS Extra Card you can access a range of international discounts such as 15% off Universal Studio's gate price and 25% off Legoland resort tickets.

92. There are free movies under the stars in Orlando, check out the Old Town movie night. Winter Park and Movieola at Lake Eola also offer these in the Summer.

93. In Winter Park about 25 minutes from downtown Orlando, Mead Botanical Garden features scheduled hikes and educational activities.

94. Winter Park also has the Crooked Can brewery company where on a Sunday you can do a tour of the brewery for 5 dollars. Book in advance on their website.

95. The West Orange trail is a 20-mile trail and runs from Winter Garden near Walt Disney World to Apopka, approximately 30 minutes north of downtown Orlando. Hiking and biking is free and you can rent bikes if you haven't brought them.

96. Casa Feliz, a restored Spanish home and museum in Winter Park, hosts live music performances on Sunday afternoons from noon to 3 p.m. The event is free to the public, and children are welcome.

97. You can tour Orlando Brewing the original craft brewery for free starting at 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and parking is free. The brewery is next to downtown Orlando’s Amtrak train station.

98. The Lakeridge Winery offers free tours and tastings lasting about 45 mins. The tour takes you through the vineyard and production area of the 80-acre vineyard.

99. An hour's drive from the Orlando theme parks is Cocoa Beach. Famous for surfing and being close to Kennedy Space Centre you don't have to spend anything if you come here for the day. Cocoa Beach Westgate pier is a good vantage point to watch any rocket lunch from Kennedy Space Centre.

100. Buy your tickets in advance at Busch Gardens. If you buy 3 days in advance you get the best discount but even if you book it on the day online you still get a saving. Also, you can get a free bus but you need to book it in advance. Check out this post on what to do in Busch Gardens.

101. Take your own buggy or buy a cheap lightweight one when you are there if you have young kids. With renting a stroller costing $15 a day at Universal and Disney parks, this tip can certainly save money.

photos of Pandora Flights of Passage, Disneyworld Florida, Cabana Bay and Universal Studios

Pin for later

 Phew! So this is my list of 101 ways to save money in Orlando Florida. Tell me, do you have any tips on how to save money in Orlando?
Posted by at 31 comments
Labels: , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)