Cheap things to do with kids in Orlando

There is so much more to Orlando than Disney. If you search beyond the theme park district, you will discover plenty of cheap things to do with kids in Orlando. We’ve curated a long list of  kids’ activities in Orlando that are free or cheap (less than $25 each).

Whether you are looking for playdate destinations with little ones or exciting adventures for older kids, we have plenty of ideas for fun and inexpensive things to do in Orlando.

ATTRACTIONS

• Gatorland provides affordable-priced family fun with thousands of alligators, crocodiles, an aviary, breeding marsh with observation tower, petting zoo, nature walk, educational wildlife programs and more.

• Central Florida Zoo is home to more than 500 animals and has a splash pad for your little ones to cool off after a day of animal adventures.
• Crayola Experience Orlando has more than 70,000 square feet of colorful hands-on activities for your kids to explore. You can save a few dollars on admission if you purchase your tickets in advance online.
• Indoor play areas. On rainy days, check out Gymboree in Orlando, Amaya Papaya in Casselberry, Lucky Monkey in Altamonte Springs or RebounderZ, an indoor trampoline center in Apopka.
• Open gym. Many local gymnastics venues offer Open Gym days. Call one of your local gyms for more information or check out Orlando Metro in Baldwin Park or Gymnastics USA.

• RDV Sportsplex Ice Den in Maitland is a family-friendly ice rink that is open for public skating seven days a week.
• Miniature golf. Hawaiian Rumble Adventure Golf challenges golfers with a Hawaiian-themed course featuring a waterfall, volcano and musical fountain. Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf has two swash-buckling 18-hole miniature golf courses with price varying by location.
•  The LEGO Store at Disney Springs  lets kids explore their creativity by building with colorful bricks at hands-on play tables. Plus, on select days throughout the month, the Lego Store offers free special events for the LEGO fanatic in your family.

• SeaLife Aquarium Orlando features a 360-degree ocean tunnel, more than 5,000 creatures, a hands-on touch pool experience and more. Purchase tickets online and in advance for the best deal.
• The Orlando Eye towers above the entire I-Drive 360 complex for amazing views.
• Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Orlando Odditorium invites visitors to explore the weirder side of things, from art to interactive exhibits in 16 galleries of the odd and unusual from around the world.
• WonderWorks is a fun amusement park for the mind featuring more than 100 interactive exhibits for all ages.
• Free Disney experiences. Disney Springs is fun-filled escape, brimming with unique boutiques, culinary surprises and lively entertainment. Parking is free, and it’s free to walk around and explore. Disney’s BoardWalk is a quarter-mile of shops offering free live entertainment in the evenings. As the sun goes down, gather around for old-fashioned fun at Disney Resorts. Roast marshmallows next to a crackling fire and then cozy up for an outdoor family-friendly movie. This experience is free to all Disney guests.
• Old Town Car Cruises. Hot rods, street rods, antiques and muscle cars roll down the street at Old Town in Kissimmee a few nights every week.

MOVIES

• Free outdoor movies. Round up the crew for a cozy evening of family-friendly flicks under the stars. There are many free movie options in Orlando throughout the year. During the summer months, Movieola at Lake Eola offers a free family-friendly outdoor movie on select Fridays.
• Picture Show at Altamonte offers movies for $1 every Tuesday and $1.75 every day.

ARTS & CULTURE

• Orlando Science Center features dynamic zones with hands-on exhibits that present little learners with iconic experiences, exciting discoveries and opportunities for creativity, collaboration and problem solving. Your kids will spend hours exploring the brand new KidsTown.
• Ride the SunRail for a fun tour of Orlando and its surrounding cities. Kids under 6 ride for free with a paying adult.
• Mennello Museum offers free admission to the galleries, craft stations and mini-tours every second Sunday of the month.
• The Orange County Regional History Center offers a wide variety of creative exhibits and programs designed for children.
• Free entry to Orlando museums. Take the kids on a cultural journey for free with the Museums On Us program. Just show your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card the first weekend of every month and you’ll get free admission to the Orlando Science Center, Orlando Museum of Art, Mennello Museum of American Art and Orange County Regional History Center.
• The Orange County Library System hosts fun events, interactive presentations and free story time for various age groups.
• Music with Mar visits a few locations throughout Central Florida to introduce music and movement to little ones.

PARKS & NATURE

• Central Florida Springs, Florida’s natural cooling system, is a fun place to visit year round. In the summer, take a dip in the refreshing water. In the winter, go on a picnic or a canoe trip. Admission is around $6 per person or $2 per person, depending on the park. At De Leon Springs, you can cook your own pancakes at the Sugar Mill Restaurant, and then stay for the day to take a dip in the swimming area or rent canoes.

• Bok Tower Gardens, a picturesque park atop one of Florida’s tallest hills, is crowned with a Gothic bell tower that rings daily with carillon music. Enjoy the tranquil and expansive gardens, museum and Pine Ridge Trail.
• Big Tree Park in Sanford features 11 acres of natural vegetation, wetlands and is the home to a 2,000-year-old Bald Cypress Tree, “Lady Liberty.”
• Leu Gardens offers free entry and a special story time event for little ones starting at 10 a.m. on the first Monday of select months. Stroll through the lush gardens or bring a blanket to relax in the shade while the kids play.
• Lake Eola Park is a 43-acre recreational area in the heart of downtown Orlando. The kids will love the large playground with activities for every age. Picnic along the shore, feed the resident swans and take a stroll around the lake. Head down to the lake with this handy guide detailing the different types of swans and see if you can tell what kind of swan each is.
• Bike and nature trails. It’s free to journey through the trails of Central Florida: Orange County trails, Lake County trails and Volusia County trails.
• The beach. Some of the best beaches in Florida are just a day trip away. Pack the car with toys, an umbrella and a cooler of snacks for a day trip to Cocoa or New Smyrna Beach.
• Find a park near you. Central Florida is home to many beautiful parks and recreational facilities. One of the easiest ways to find parks closet to you is to log on to Yelp to explore your options and read reviews. You can also search on Seminole or Orange counties’ websites.
• Splash pads and pools. Cool off at one of Central Florida’s free (or small-fee) splash pads. Or take a dip in one of the City of Orlando’s four year-round pools: College Park Pool, Dover Shores Pool, James R. Smith Pool or Wadeview Pool.
• Black Hammock Adventures has free live gator and bird exhibits, free live music every weekend and one of the best locations for the sunset in Central Florida. You can also sign up for an airboat tour of Lake Jessup, which boasts the densest population of alligators in the state of Florida.

• Lukas Nursery & Butterfly Encounter is home to one of the largest native butterfly conservatories in the state of Florida. Peak season for an up-close experience is April – Sept.
• Visit a farm. Oak Haven is a you-pick farm in Sorrento where you can spend hours plucking strawberries (season is January – April). There’s also a country store, zip line, hayride and playground. Blueberries are ripe for the picking starting in March or April at Southern Hill Farms in Clermont.
• Winter Park Boat Tour takes you on a tour through the beautiful canals and lush landscape of Winter Park’s waterways on a tranquil Scenic Boat Tour.

READ MORE:

• 30 Orlando attractions under $30
• Top 10 free things to do in Orlando