Free & cheap things to do during fall in Orlando with kids

The beauty of fall in Orlando is that it’s usually warm enough to splash around at a water park, but still festive with a lineup of fall events. The autumn season in Orlando brings many free and cheap events like outdoor movies, free days at museums and plenty of fun experiences. We have a little something for everyone on this list of 50+ free and cheap things to do in Orlando.

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Free or cheap things in Orlando this fall

Photo courtesy of Visit Orlando

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 it’s 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.
Morse Museum in Winter Park opens its doors for FREE every Friday night, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
The Orange County Regional History Center has a wide variety of creative exhibits and programs designed for children.
The Cornell Fine Arts Museum offers an intimate and unique experience in Winter Park with more than 5,000 works ranging from antiquity to contemporary. And, it’s always free!
Orlando Repertory Theater presents performances based on classical and contemporary children’s literature.
Free entry to Orlando museums with the Museums On Us program at Orlando Science Center, Orlando Museum of Art, Mennello Museum of American Art and Orange County Regional History Center. Show your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card the first weekend of every month for free entry.
The Orange County Library System hosts fun events, interactive presentations and free story time for various age groups.
Stop by your local farmers’ market. Two of our favorite markets are Winter Park on Saturday mornings and downtown Orlando on Sundays.

FREE DISNEY EXPERIENCES

At Disney’s Fort Wilderness, everyone is invited to come on down for old-fashioned fun with a campfire sing-a-long with Chip ‘n’ Dale followed by a free Disney Movie under the stars. Bring your own s’mores ingredients to roast by the fire.
Disney Springs is a fun-filled escape, brimming with unique boutiques, culinary surprises and lively entertainment. Parking is free, and it’s free to walk around and explore.
LEGO Imagination Center lets kids explore their creativity by building with colorful bricks. Plus, on select days throughout the month, the Lego Store offers free special events for the LEGO fanatic in your family.
Disney’s BoardWalk is a quarter-mile of shops offering free live entertainment in the evenings.

MOVIES

Round up the crew for a cozy evening of family-friendly flicks under the stars. There are many free outdoor movies lined up for the fall season.
Picture Show at Altamonte offers movies for $1 every Tuesday and $1.75 every day.

PARKS & NATURE

Central Florida Springs 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.
Wekiva Island offers free admission during the week.
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 opens its gates for a special story time event for little ones starting at 10 a.m. on the first Monday of the month.
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.
Bike and nature trails. It’s free to journey through the trails of Central Florida: Orange County trails, Seminole County trails, Lake County trails and Volusia County trails.
The beach. A year-round destination! 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.
Black Hammock Adventures has free live gator and bird exhibits and one of the best locations to watch 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.
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.

ATTRACTIONS

Gatorland provides affordable-priced family fun with thousands of alligators, crocodiles, an aviary, breeding marsh with observation tower, petting zoo, nature walk and more. 50% off admission for Florida Residents through Nov. 31.
Wild Florida is offering FREE entry every day (except Sunday) the rest of the year. Nature lovers can catch a glimpse of alligators, eagles, turkeys, wild boars, roseate spoonbills and other native creatures.
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. FREE story time event every Wednesday in Nov.
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.
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.
SeaLife Aquarium Orlando features a 360-degree ocean tunnel, more than 5,000 creatures, a hands-on touch pool experience and more. Check out Toddler Tuesdays if you have a little one.
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.
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.

COOL INDOOR PLAY AREAS

Planet Obstacle Lake Mary is an indoor park with a Ninja Warrior Course, zip line, rock climbing, trampolines and more.
Lucky Monkey Altamonte is the perfect spot for a play date with little ones featuring interactive toys and bounce houses.
O2B Kids Altamonte features a variety of colorful rooms all under one roof for you child to move, play and learn.
Amaya Papaya in Casselberry is a safe zone for kids 0-6 to learn, socialize and play.
Monkey Joe’s has two locations, Pointe Orlando and Winter Park, for your kids to jump the energy out on inflatable slides, bounce houses and obstacles.
Open gym. Many gymnastics locations offer Open Gym days. Call one of your local gyms for more information or check one of these venue’s offerings: Orlando Metro, Gymnastics USA, Legendary Athletics.
RDV Sportsplex Ice Den in Maitland is a family-friendly ice rink that is open for public skating seven days a week.