Top 10 Free Things To Do In Orlando You Shouldnt Miss
We all know that Orlando is mostly known for its popular theme parks, but the cost of these can add up very fast. Then what are the free things to do in Orlando? Needless to say, Orlando is a dream destination in Florida filled with a plethora of activities for kids and families. Whether you are visiting Orlando for the first time or have lived here your entire life, there are so many wonderful and affordable things to do in Orlando.
Thankfully there are lots of ways to save money on food or finding affordable accommodations while planning to visit Orlando on a budget. There is also a lot of fun and interesting things to do for free in Orlando. To help you visit Orlando without breaking your bank, Ive rounded up the top 10 things to do in Orlando for free.
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Family Fun At The Orlando Public Library
The library hosts numerous events throughout the year. While some may require a library card, many do not. Family friendly and personal enrichment are library specialties. Of course, those who love Florida too much to leave can also get a library card and come down regularly. The fees are the same for everyone. Hours are Sunday: 1 p.m. 6 p.m., Monday Thursday: 9 a.m. 8 p.m.,Friday Saturday: 9 a.m. 6 p.m.
Window Shop At The Mall At Millenia
For those who want a taste of the finer things in life without footing the bill, go window shopping at the Mall at Millenia in Orlando. This mall boasts everything from Armani Exchange to Louis Vuitton. While window shopping wont cost you a penny, purchasing something from any of these stores will. Spend wisely!
Airman 1st Class Dalton Williams / U.S. Air Force
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Free Things To Do In Orlando
Planning an Orlando vacation can be overwhelming thanks to the endless number of things to do in Orlando. However, visiting the theme parks and hitting the top attractions can put a big dent in your wallet. By taking advantage of the free offerings in Orlando, you can keep yourself on budget while still having a fantastic and memorable vacation.
After years of exploring Orlando , Ive put together this list of the best free things to do in Orlando. These are the activities my family does in Orlando when we are trying to save some money.
Disclosure: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions. Thank you!
Free Tours And Tastings At Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards
If youre more of a wine person, head over to Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards. The winery hosts complimentary vineyard tours and tastings seven days a week. Tours run every 30 minutes with a 15-minute video introduction. Youll then have the opportunity to witness and experience the production process, from growing the grapes to labeling the bottles.
Once you understand what goes into making a superb bottle of wine, you get to taste it! At the tasting table, guests are presented with a wide range of wines to try. As far as free things to do in Orlando for adults go, a free wine tasting sounds phenomenal to me!
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Cheap Things To Do In Florida: Outdoors
MUNSON Coldwater Creek located in Northwest Florida is known as the canoe capital of Florida. It flows through the Blackwater River State Forest and some say it is the swiftest water in Florida. The river is one of the purest sand-bottom rivers in the nation making this park a popular place for swimming fishing camping and paddling. The shallow water is enjoyably cool and makes it an ideal canoeing option for paddlers of all ages. 983-5363. floridastateparks.org.
ST. AUGUSTINE At the southern end of the 18-mile Anastasia Island St. Augustine Beach awaits fishermen reeling for some action. Cast a line from the beach or pier and the least you can do is catch some Florida sunshine. Bait and tackle are available on-site as well as picnic tables playground showers and a volleyball court. It’s an opportunity for fun in the sun and savings. 471-1596.
DAYTONA BEACH Beachgoers can sun splash and beat the heat at Volusia Countys Sun Splash Park. The park features an interactive water fountain decorative walkways a shaded playground volleyball courts and picnic areas. Admission is free to the four-acre facility which also provides 95 off-beach parking spaces and is open from sunrise to sunset. 258-4529.
Orlando Attractions For Kids & Families
- 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.
Meet otters at the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford, Florida. Image courtesy: Central Florida Zoo.
- 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.
Planet Obstacle in Lake Mary. Image courtesy: Planet Obstacle.
- Indoor trampoline and obstacle parks.Planet Obstacle Lake Mary is an indoor park with a Ninja Warrior Course, zip line, rock climbing, trampolines and more. Jump around at RebounderZ, an indoor trampoline center in Apopka, or Altitude Trampoline Park in Sanford.
- Open gym. Many local gymnastics venues offer Open Gym days like Ace Gymnastics, Gymnastics USA, and Orlando Metro in Baldwin Park and Lake Mary.
Ice skating at RDV Ice Den in Maitland. Image courtesy: RDV Ice Den
Image courtesy: SeaLife Aquarium at ICON Park Orlando
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Explore Old Town Kissimmee
Take a stroll back in time at this retro complex of shops, restaurants and entertainment. Designed to look like an old-fashioned small town, theres over 80 speciality shops and restaurants, a handful of bars, live music and a ton of fun.
Set in 18 acres, the tree lined street running through Old Town Kissimmee offers good old fashioned classic fun.
The most popular event is the weekly Saturday Nite Classic Car Cruise, an absolute must for classic car fans.
Old Town Kissimmee offer lots of free events:
Theres something on most evenings, ranging from karaoke nights, free concerts, and a farmers market.
Saturday Nite Classic Car Show & Cruise: A hugely popular parade of old classic cars. Vehicles start arriving from 1pm and you can browse the cars and meet the owners. The cruise is usually around 8 8.30pm, but do check the schedule before you go. Live music starts from 7pm.
Friday Muscle Car Show: The cruise is at 8.30pm and cars begin arriving from 3:00pm. This car show features show-quality muscle and factory-performance cars from 1964 and newer and classics from 1983 and older.
All times are subject to change so do check the schedule before you go. Old Town offers plenty of free and cheap things to do in Kissimmee.
Web: Old Town Kissimmee
Get Tickets To A Magic Game
Yes, the Orlando Magic is the Orlando home basketball team that play in the NBA, but did you know that tickets arent as expensive as you think they might be?
The reason you can get inexpensive Magic tickets?
Unlike other cities where they live and breathe their sports team, Orlando is very much a city for visitors, and many people who do live locally in Orlando are transplants from somewhere else, which means they already come in with their sports fandoms.
Its not to say that Orlando doesnt love and support the Magic, its just that you can get some good deals because they are trying to fill seats oftentimes, rather than it being a race to get tickets.
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Moonlight Walking Tour Of Greenwood Cemetery
*NOTE: Moonlight Walking Tours are currently on hold until further notice. We’ll update this post when tours resume.
While it’s hard to believe these always-popular guided moonlight tours are free, we certainly aren’t complaining! Every month, the City of Orlando offers guided moonlight history walking tours of Greenwood Cemetery. The tour weaves through the 1,000-acre cemetery, briefly visiting the graves of around 100 important figures in Orlando’s history. The tours are offered once a month, and registration opens on Eventbrite one week prior to the scheduled tour date. Tickets go incredibly fast, so be sure to set a reminder on your calendar to RSVP the day registration opens.
Free And Cheap Things To Do In Orlando
When you think of what to do in Orlando, the first thing that usually comes to mind are theme parks! While we love going to the theme parks, the cost starts to add up quite quickly. Here at Reunion Rentals, we love to help you save while on your Orlando vacation. Check out our top 10 recommendations for free and cheap things to do in Orlando!
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Mennello Museum Of American Art
The Mennello Museum of American Art exhibits a permanent collection of paintings by Earl Cunningham, as well as other paintings and sculptures. You can get free access to this museum through the Museums on Us program from the Bank of America on the first full weekend of every month.
Each cardholder of a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch bank card gets one free general admission to the museum. Just present your bankcard and a valid photo ID to get free admission from the program.
Cheap Things To Do In Orlando
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Sometimes you look at how much you spend with the kids, and you think there has to be something fun to do without taking out a second mortgage. We feel your pain . Thats why we came up with this list of twenty cheap things to do in Orlando.
To keep up with latest news on free events and fun activities to do in the Orlando metro area, sign up for the Orlando Parents Family Fun Magazine newsletter and follow us on , and Tiktok.
Check out these resources for saving money on everyday purchases, activities, restaurants and more.
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Sunset Cinema At Cranes Roost Park
Outdoor movie experiences are alive and well at the Sunset Cinema at Cranes Roost Park. The park turns into a movie theater in the evenings, complete with concessions!
Cranes Roost Park is a short 15-minute drive from Orlando. The films shown at the park vary, but all are family-friendly features. Make sure to check out their website to see whats playing before you head over!
Winter Park And The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum
Located in Winter Park, which just radiates Southern Charm, youll find theCharles Hosmer Morse Museum, home to the worlds most extensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany items. Everything from lamps to pottery to stained glass windows to dining sets is displayed.
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Visitors are free Fridays in November through April from 4:00 pm-8:00 pm. Keep in mind that kids 12 and under are always free, while regular adult admission is $6.
In addition to shopping, dining, and museums, youll also find the Winter Park Farmers Market. Open on Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm. Its free to browse, but we have it on good faith that its nearly impossible to pass up on an ice-cold glass of fresh-squeezed Florida Orange Juice.
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Historic Walking Tour Of Winter Park
Architecture and history
Map It: 200 W New England Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789 | Phone: 647-2330 | Website | Museum Hours: 10 am 4 pm Tuesday-Friday, 10 am 2 pm Saturday
The Winter Park History Museum has put together a free self-guided walking tour. You can pick up the brochure at the museum and begin exploring Winter Parks history. Many of the stops along the tour were built before 1930 and add to the historic charm of the city.
Loving Winter Park? Head over to the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art to see the most comprehensive collection of belongings and art from Louis Comfort Tiffany. Enjoy free admission to the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum on Fridays from 4 pm 8 pm.
Free Disney At Disney Springs And Disney Boardwalk
The mouse rarely gives anything away for free, but you can enjoy Disney Springs and the Disney Boardwalk without buying anything theyre offering. Parking can be problematic and costly, but the view is spectacular. The Boardwalk is an old fashioned promenade precisely as youd expect if you stepped back in time, but with every modern amenity. Disney Springs is equally appealing and filled with shopping and excellent dining, but its like a small town. You can appreciate architecture and the quaint appeal of the entire area. Both offer excellent entertainment and lots to see. If youre visiting Disney World or a Disney hotel in Orlando, they even have complimentary transportation.
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Visit Disneys Wilderness Preserve
The Disney Wilderness Preserve is a little further out but it is one of the great free things to do in Central Florida. With more than 11,000 acres this land that was reclaimed from cattle ranch land that was destined for commercial and residential development is beautiful and diverse.
Thanks to some incredible restoration work you can now go and explore 3 miles of trails and check out more than 1000 plants and animal species. This is a great way to enjoy a more relaxed pace and see how many animals you can name!
And this is all at no cost to you making it another of the amazing free things to do in Orlando!
Enjoy The Attractions At Icon Park
ICON Park includes 40 different activities, rides, and places to dine. Free parking is available on-site. Explore these popular attractions:
The SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium
Tour the aquariums many residents, including various species of ocean mammals, sea turtles, and jellyfish.
Tickets: $33.95 for adults and $28.95 for kids 3-12.
The Museum of Illusions
Walk into the wonderful world of illusions, full of mind-bending tricks that you and the family will love.
Tickets: $21.95 for adults, $19.95 for military and Florida residents , and $18.95 for kids 3-12.
The Wheel
Enjoy the sight of the city from on top of Orlandos famous Ferris wheel. Soar 400 feet above the city for unparalleled views.
Tickets: $27.49 for adults and $22.49 when you buy online.
Orlando StarFlyer
This thrilling ride is not for the faint at heart. Visitors can book tickets for this high-flying attraction every day from 10 am to 2 am.
Tickets: $10 per person.
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Charles Hosmer Morse Museum Of American Art
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum houses the worlds most comprehensive collection of works from Louis Comfort Tiffany. So, you can see some really beautiful pieces there.
The museum isnt always free. But it hosts several open houses throughout the year, and admission is free for all visitors on these days. For example, theres a Thanksgiving Weekend Open House. Admission is free, and theres live music too!
The museum has free events all throughout the year, so do have a check on the website.
West Orange Trail Bikes & Blades Co
Stretching from Winter Garden in the south to Apopka in the north, the paved, 22-mile West Orange Trail is one of Central Floridas most scenic paths with ample amenities along the way including playground equipment! You can explore it by bicycle on an hourly, daily and weekly basis with fees starting at $9 per hour when you rent from Winter Gardens West Orange Trail Bikes & Blades Co., about 20 minutes west of our tourism districts. Hotel delivery and group tours are also offered at an additional cost, and child trailer rentals are available for kids who cant keep up with Mom and Dad.
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Ready To Plan Your Thrifty Trip To Orlando
With shimmering night lights, live music, and enough outdoor adventure to make Bear Grylls jealous, free things to do with kids in Orlando are endless.
Stroll through lush gardens, then meander around pottery and art along the Spanish moss-draped Park Ave in Winter Park, or splash in the calm, clear waters of Cocoa Beach.
Families will find that Orlando is the perfect place to plan a budget-conscious getaway.
Spend The Day In Winter Garden
Downtown Winter Garden is ideal for a totally free day outside of Orlando. Stroll Plant Street perusing the shops, take a walk along the West Orange Trail, or attend one of the numerous free events. Fridays on the Plaza features free live music every Friday evening from 7-9pm. A few other favorites include the Saturday Winter Garden Farmer’s Market and seasonal events like the Summer Sidewalk Sale.
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