Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando are among the ideal places people first think about when planning to spend a summer vacation in The City Beautiful. However, ticket prices in the hundreds make it difficult for visitors to gain admission. Fortunately, there are budget-friendly attractions and activities in Orlando that won’t break the bank.
Location: 8401 International Drive
Tickets: Starting at $12
Begin your ICON Park visit at the family-friendly arcade filled with interactive challenges and competition at every corner. Play retro favorites or classic games with a modern twist like Connect 4 Hoops! In the Game Arcade also offers a Mirror Maze, a 7D Dark Ride, and a SpongeBob Virtual Reality experience.
Location: 8387 International Drive
Tickets: Starting from $29 per adult, $24 per child
See your favorite celebrities, historical leaders, and pro athletes at Madame Tussauds Orlando, a wax museum featuring more than 90 lifelike figures in realistic exhibits. Not only can you pose with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, but the exhibit also includes indoor activities such as singing, dancing, slam-dunking, and outer-space missions.
Location: 8449 International Drive
Tickets: Starting from $29 per adult, $24 per child
SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium offers a world of underwater adventure filled with marine life from across the globe. Experience an aquarium with over 5,000 different creatures and surround yourself with schooling fish in Florida’s only 360-degree ocean tunnel. Explore over nine interactive zones while learning how ecosystems work and how animals are protected in the wild.
Location: 8375 International Drive
Tickets: Adults (ages 12 and up) $26.99, Children (ages 4-11) $23.99
Enter a world of mind-bending illusions at the Museum of Illusions Orlando and explore immersive spaces like the Infinity Room and the Tilted Room. With over 50 interactive exhibits that challenge your perception and imagination, the venue is fun for the whole family.
Location: 1486 E Buena Vista Drive
Tickets: Starting at $29.99 for a 1.5-hour, $39.99 for a 2.5-hour
Level 99 is Disney Springs’ latest attraction, featuring over 60 rooms of fast-paced and real-world challenges. Visitors work together in groups of 2-6 to overcome physical, mental, or skill obstacles, aiming to achieve three stars to succeed.
Hollywood Drive-In Golf at Universal CityWalk
Location: 6000 Universal Boulevard
Tickets: Adults 10+ start at $22.99, Children ages 3-9 start at $20.99
Inspired by the 1950s era, Hollywood Drive-In Golf at Universal CityWalk Orlando features two 18-hole courses, stylized as vintage horror flicks and science fiction films. During the day and night, guests can walk through the LED neon edge-lighting, whether they’re passing through a cemetery, under a giant spider, or around an alien robot.
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Location: 3755 W Seminole Boulevard
Tickets: Adults start at $26.95 ($21.95 online), Children ages 3-12 start at $18.95 ($16.95 online)
Spend a day exploring diverse animal exhibits of mammals, reptiles, and birds at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Visitors can experience a wide range of activities, from giraffe feedings to a zip-lining adventure, while learning about wildlife conservation.
Location: 2416 North Mills Avenue
Tickets: $20 for Adults, Children ages 6-17 at $8, Free admission for children 5 and under
Take a stroll through the exhibitions and diverse collections of local and internationally renowned artists at the Orlando Museum of Art (OMA). Guests can browse through a variety of mediums, from American Art from the 18th century to 1945 to Contemporary Art. OMA also hosts “Access for All,” a day where the venue offers free admission, live performances, interactive learning experiences, and activities for all ages on the third Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m..
Location: 312 East Morse Boulevard
Tickets: $20 for Adults, $10 for children ages 2-11
Coast through the lakes and canals of Winter Park on an hour-long guided cruise in a Scenic Boat Tour. Guests will see a variety of local wildlife and scenery, mansions, historic homes, Rollins College, Kraft Azalea Gardens, and the Isle of Sicily.
Location: 1920 North Forest Avenue
Tickets: Adult $15, Children (4-17 years old) $10
Harry P. Leu Gardens is a 50-acre landscape that showcases a variety of plants from around the world. Navigate through smooth, paved pathways and immerse yourself in the full experience of the natural world at the heart of Orlando. Special events and artistic classes are also offered to improve your craft in a green environment.
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
Location: 445 North Park Avenue
Tickets: $8 for Adults, Free admission for children under 12
Explore the renowned collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. Browse through the artist’s late 19th- and early 20th-century American paintings, graphics, and decorative art at the Winter Park venue.
From museums to arcades to attractions, it is possible to have a fun summer vacation in Orlando without emptying your wallet. The theme park capital of the world has more to offer than the magic of Disney World or the wonders of Universal Orlando.
