13 Cheap Things to Do In Orlando with Kids
Last Updated on January 22, 2024 by Allison Lancaster
Visiting Orlando with the kids soon? There are so many things to do in Orlando with kids that it can be difficult to decide what to do, you don’t have to break the bank! After our recent trip with our kids, I’m here to help you find the best cheap things to do in Orlando that the whole family will enjoy.
A few years ago, we spent almost 4 weeks in Florida at the end of May-mid-June and it was so wonderful. Florida is one of our favorite places to vacation and we rented the Air BNB that we had a couple of years ago in St. Augustine again this year.
After our 2 weeks there, we actually spent another 5 days on the coast outside of St. Augustine at another Air BNB. Then….we headed to Orlando!
When we decided to head over to Orlando, we knew we would be there for Rebecca’s birthday. There were a lot of things that we wanted to do, but also we only had about 5 days in Orlando so we knew we would have limited time.
If you’re planning a trip to Orlando and you aren’t sure what things to do in Orlando with kids that won’t break the bank, this is for you!
Cheap Things to Do in Orlando With Kids
Magic Kingdom
Ok, this might be obvious but I honestly wasn’t sure this was a good idea since our kids are so young. But Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World resort is filled with great attractions that are slow-moving and fit for kids who are just learning how to walk.
We loved riding the rides together as a family- our favorite was the “It’s a Small World Tea Cups”. A few of you have asked me if Magic Kingdom is worth it for just one day and my answer is “YES!”. We ended up getting there about 30 minutes prior to open which was wonderful.
They actually have a ‘rope drop’ most days where they open the park earlier than the posted hours. This gave us a chance to get in, start riding rides and beat most of the lines.
The longest line we waited in was for the Buzz Lightyear ride but it really was only about a 20 minute wait.
The day that we were at Magic Kingdom was Rebecca’s actual birthday and it was truly magical. Seeing the kids’ faces as they entered the park for the first time took me right back to my childhood. To make it more affordable you can buy the 1-day park pass so that you aren’t skipping out on extra days or spending too much money will inside the park.
We also had lunch at Be Our Guest. Rebecca is a huge Beauty and the Beast fan (as am I!) so we thought this would be a fun birthday lunch. Honestly, this is one of those things I would do once but probably not again.
The food wasn’t super great for the price but the atmosphere was so magical.
In my opinion, it’s worth it just to bring your own lunch and find a shady place to relax while you and the kids eat your lunch.
I do recommend taking your own bottles of water and cooling towels into the park. If you have younger kids, it’s a great idea to either take or rent a double stroller. Levi even rode in the stroller to beat the heat. It was also great to put our drinks and bag on the stroller vs. having to carry it all around.
Visit Sea Life Orlando Aquarium
You need to make a day trip to the Sea Life Orlando Aquarium for the kids to enjoy all the beautiful sea creatures in Florida’s only 360* ocean tunnel. With more than five individual exhibits both you and your children will be excited to see what this great place has to offer!
My personal favorite is the jellyfish wall that is filled with jellyfish that change to all different colors of the moon. This wall will make for a great photo opportunity that you will never forget.
Chocolate Museum and Cafe
I think that we can all agree that chocolate is one of the best foods on the planet. It really should have its own food group. The Chocolate Museum and Cafe is one of the best things to do for the whole family. Learn the history and origins of chocolate and discover how it is harvested from the tropical rainforest.
Marvel at the beautiful sculptures made entirely of chocolate and even tour the gourmet tasting room and try some of the finest chocolates from around the world!
With a family ticket price of under $50 this is truly a cheap thing to do for the whole family to enjoy in Orlando.
Museum of Illusions
Visiting the Museum of Illusions of a unique experience for all ages to enjoy. Take the whole family on an adventure through the illusion rooms. Reservations are required so this is an activity that you will want to book in advance to make sure it’s available on the specific day you are wanting to visit.
The Play Park at The Florida Mall
For those days when it may just be a bit too hot out to go to an outdoor park, The Florida Mall has you covered with the Play Park!
With more than 3,000 square feet of play your children will have the time of their lives running and exploring all this park has to offer. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland and Dr. Seuss the kids will never run out of surprising activities to play with and explore.
Capehart Park
Take the kids out for a picnic by the water at Capehart Park and enjoy the playground, lake, and best of all, the splash pad! With many different splash zones, there is a perfect spot for your kids to find and cool off from the Florida heat.
Find a bench under one of the many gazebos and enjoy your lunch while watching the ducks swim around the water and then head on over to the playground for the kids to run off what’s left of their energy (which I’m sure isn’t much after the water park!)
Crayola Experience
Get the experience of a lifetime for your child with this larger-than-life Crayola experience! Plan on spending at least 3-4 hours in their massive larger than life football field amusement park. Your kids will love running through and seeing everything that Crayola has to offer.
My personal favorite is the Color Playground. It is a two-story climber where your kids can explore shapes and colors and burn off any of that excess energy they may have been harboring.
For more information on tickets, and hours head to https://www.crayolaexperience.com/orlando!
Winter Park History Museum
Winter Park History museum is a great place to go and learn about the rich history of Winter Park and its surrounding areas. Something that both the adults and the kids will enjoy. There are multiple free educational exhibits and outreach programs.
Winter Park History museum rotates through different exhibits so be sure to check what is going to be on display during your stay in Florida so that you know what is going to be available to you and your family.
Casa Feliz
Visit Casa Feliz and explore this restored Spanish home. The grounds are beautiful and the best part is that it is free to visit!
Learn about the original owners of the home and how they opened up their estate to members of the community and how that it still being done today.
Weikwa Springs State Park
Beyond the beautiful beaches, Florida has to offer, they are also known for its breathtaking springs. Just minutes from downtown Orlando, you’ll never even know you’re still in the big city!
With a cost of just $6 per vehicle, this is an extremely affordable activity for you and your family to enjoy. Open every day of the week from 8 am until sundown spending the day at Wekiwa Springs is a fun and cheap thing to do while visiting Orlando.
With lush hammocks relax while the kids play in the sand and enjoy viewing all the wildlife that Wekiwa Spring State Park has to offer.
You could even camp at this beautiful oasis! There are over 60 different campsites to enjoy and make this a multi-day stop during your trip. From fishing, geocaching, hiking, and even horseback riding trails.
Go Manatee Spotting
Known as “Gentle Giants” manatees are a staple part of Florida that you must see! While you can see these creatures all year round, the manatee season is from November through March.
You can visit one of the many state parks available to go see Florida’s gentle giant! Most state parks charge per vehicle so this makes it very affordable for you and your family to enjoy these animals!
These three parks are some of the best places to have a chance to spot manatees:
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
If you want to make a little bit of a splurge on the manatees, you can swim with them at Crystal River for $85 per person. Crystal River is the only place in North America where you can legally swim with these amazing animals.
Disney Springs
Looking for a little Disney magic without the high ticket prices? A stop at Disney springs is just the spot! Filled to the brim with fun, trendy boutiques, unique dining experiences, and frequent live entertainment.
There are always different events, entertainment, and new shopping options available to you here so be sure to check their website before arrival so that you know what to expect https://www.disneysprings.com/.
If you’re looking for other shopping, check out the top outlet malls in Orlando.
Silver Moon Drive-In
Take a flashback to the older days of Drive-In movie theaters with your family. At $21 dollars per car, this is very affordable and an experience your kids will never forget!
SunRail
Take a railroad tour of Orlando and see what all it has to offer you! Children 6 and under ride free with a paying adult.
There are multiple events and activities that take place with SunRail that you and your family can take advantage of.
Orlando truly has some of the best sights and wonderful things to do. So if you’re thinking about bringing your kids with you to your next trip, I hope these tips on things to do in Orlando with kids will be helpful. We can’t wait to go back!
