Orlando Cheap and Free
See also:Sports in Orlando
Orlando's culture & nightlife
Orlando for families
back to Orlando highlights
In this section: Orlando on the cheap and free Orlando.
Orlando on the cheap
Stay off-site
Disney hotels are undoubtedly the most convenient, but at a price. Competition immediately outside the resort and along I-Drive makes rooms much more affordable. Plus they are better placed for access to other attractions around Orlando. And don't worry, there's hardly a hotel in Orlando that doesn't offer a regular, free shuttle-bus service to and from Disney.
Park the car
Though Orlando is a prime example of urban sprawl and well worth exploring, the Disney resort has fantastic public transportation between parks and hotels plus shuttle buses to and from the airport. You may find the car you've hired for a couple of hundred dollars will just sit in a car park while you explore the parks. Wait until the time to drive to Orlando's other attractions before getting your own transport.
Pack your lunch
All theme parks in Orlando charge high prices for their food and often it's difficult to find exactly what you'd like (especially if you've any dietary requirements beyond burgers, chicken nuggets and Coke). A family of four could save about $30 a day just by bringing a packed lunch to the parks.
Book in advance
You could save heaps of $$ by booking your Disney tickets in advance, often best of all as part of a package. Orlando FlexiTicket. From the Orlando tourist office, this provides discounted entry into Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld, Wet'n'Wild and Busch Gardens. Packages, prices, and conditions vary.
Orlando City Hall
In the heart of downtown, City Hall has two galleries amongst the offices that host temporary exhibitions of renowned local artists. Entry to either is free.
Orlando City Hall, 400 S. Orange Avenue. Open Mon-Fri, 8am - 9pm, Sat-Sun noon-5pm; tel: 407 246 4279.
Florida Audubon Society's Birds of Prey Center
Taking in around 600 injured wild birds a year, the world-famous wildlife preservation society releases about 40 percent of them. Those whose injuries are too extensive to survive in the wild are kept here in captivity, which gives visitors a rare chance to see tiny screech owls, vultures, bald eagles, and red-tailed hawks.
You won't see recuperating birds here at this Center, which is hidden away in a residential area near Sibelia. These birds are kept isolated to give them a better chance of surviving when they're returned to the wild. But you will see the more seriously injured birds of prey of some 32 species, and a camera set up in an eagle's nest allows you to spy on life in an eyrie.
A bird adoption programme is also operated here, to help fund the costs of the centre. Guided tours are available for groups of 10 visitors or more, by reservation. Florida Audubon Society's Birds of Prey Center, 1101 Audubon Way, Orlando; further information: www.audubonofflorida.org
The Mercado
Live music acts entertain visitors nearly every evening. There are also plenty of food and sweet sellers in the courtyard to tempt you to spend your money, but the music and the parking are absolutely free. The Mediterranean-style Mercado is a restaurant and shopping complex, in the 8000 block of Orlando's International Drive.
It also offers several worthwhile attractions, though paid for, such as Titanic - Ship of Dreams and, just outside, is the Hard Rock Vault, housing rock'n'roll memorabilia from the famous Hard Rock Café chain.
Black Point Wildlife Drive
A self-guided auto tour through the salt and freshwater marshes along the Space Coast. The entrance is on SR 406, a mile east of the intersection with SR 402. Manatees, most prevalent in the Spring and Autumn, can best be viewed from the observation area near Haulover Canal Bridge on SR 3.