Exploring Orlando Without Breaking the Bank — Theme Parks Included

Known for its incredible theme parks, the City Beautiful offers endless activities. However, the fun can come with a hefty price tag. Vacation expenses can escalate quickly, but there are ways to cut costs and realize your dream getaway. Here’s how to plan an affordable trip to Orlando.

Tips for Cutting Flight Costs

A major advantage of Orlando being one of the top tourist destinations in the U.S. is that numerous airports offer direct flights to Orlando International Airport (MCO). If you’re based at a major airline hub, think about getting an airline-specific or travel rewards credit card that provides a sign-up bonus to help you earn extra miles or reduce flight costs.

Using Google Flights and other similar travel planning platforms can help you identify the most affordable airlines, flight times, or even seasons to travel. You can take advantage of price prediction tools and set alerts for fare changes.

Budget-Friendly Accommodation Options

You can enjoy accommodations at Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando without overspending. At Walt Disney World, consider staying at a Value resort like Pop Century or Art of Animation for budget-friendly rates and benefits like free park transportation. While more costly, booking Disney Villas can be economical as they include kitchenettes for meal prep, reducing dining expenses. Staying at a Deluxe Disney resort grants you exclusive after-hours access to select parks, minimizing wait times for popular attractions. Nearby, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin and The Swan Reserve provide many Deluxe benefits, but as Marriott hotels, you can utilize Bonvoy points or free nights instead of cash.

Universal Orlando presents excellent budget-friendly accommodations at their Prime Value hotels. The resort features various property tiers: Value, Prime Value, Preferred, and Premier. Although Premier options are pricier, they offer fantastic savings like free Universal Express Unlimited, letting you bypass regular lines at rides and attractions in Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. The rooms and family suites at Universal Endless Summer Resorts — Dockside and Surfside — deliver exceptional value for the price.

Orlando boasts an abundance of vacation rentals available on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. However, the newly launched Evermore Resort provides the benefits of private home rentals without the associated risks, such as last-minute cancellations or cleanliness issues. These accommodations also feature kitchens, enabling you to cut dining costs by cooking at home.

Transportation Options

Orlando boasts the largest rental car market globally, so with some research, you can typically secure a great deal on a vehicle. Be mindful that certain hotels charge for parking, and these nightly fees can accumulate. If you're planning to explore the region, think about renting a car for just part of your visit to save money. The city also provides public transport options like the Lynx bus, the I-Ride Trolley service, and the Brightline train. Both Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World offer free transportation for guests staying on-site, making it sensible to forgo a rental if you're primarily visiting the parks.

Tips for Saving on Theme Parks and Activities

Theme parks frequently offer promotions throughout the year, including multi-day ticket deals or package options that combine tickets with accommodations. For instance, Walt Disney World currently has a four-day, four-park ticket deal starting at $99 per day, and guests can enjoy discounts of up to 30 percent off room rates during the holiday season. Universal Orlando also has ongoing promotions, such as a two days free with a two-park, three-day ticket offer.

Visitors can purchase Disney gift cards from retailers like Target, Sam’s Club, and Costco at discounted prices throughout the year. Using a gift card to pay for your trip or allocate a budget for dining, festival treats, or souvenirs can help you stick to your financial plan. Some websites, including Theme Park Frog, The Orlando Informer, Sam’s Club, and Costco, offer discounts on tickets. While these discounts are usually modest, every bit saved can be redirected to your Dole Whip fund.

Both Universal and Disney feature shopping, dining, and entertainment venues that don’t require an admission fee. If you're at Walt Disney World this summer, don’t miss Disney Dreams That Soar, a new nightly drone show viewable from Disney Springs. Parking is free at this outdoor entertainment area, which boasts several excellent quick-service dining options for budget-conscious visitors. Universal CityWalk offers a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment activities, including mini-golf and a movie theater, just steps from their park entrances. Additionally, there are many completely free things to do in Orlando, ranging from birdwatching to visiting botanical gardens.

Budget-Friendly Dining

Orlando boasts a variety of upscale dining options, but there are also casual quick-service eateries that deliver equally great meals. For delicious food that won’t break the bank, be sure to try some Bib Gourmand award winners. The new Michelin Guide for Florida recognizes not only fine dining but also exceptional food at fantastic prices. This year’s Orlando winners include favorites like Domu and Norigami.

If you’re in a standard hotel room without a kitchen, you can still save money by stocking up on essentials. There's no need for a rental car or a grocery store visit; services like Shipt or Instacart can deliver groceries directly to your hotel. Even without a kitchen, you can order supplies for easy meals like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, granola bars, and my personal favorite — cold brew coffee. Iced coffee is a must-have for me, and by ordering large bottles for my trip, I save quite a bit. Just be aware that some hotel mini-fridges are more like coolers and may not keep dairy products at safe temperatures.

When dining out, there are numerous affordable options at Orlando’s major parks. Instead of opting for table-service restaurants, consider getting most of your meals from quick-service venues to save money. However, there are also reasonably priced table-service options worth checking out. Popular spots at Walt Disney World include Bar Riva at Disney's Riviera Resort, Polite Pig at Disney Springs, and Sebastian’s Bistro at Caribbean Beach Resort, which offers an all-you-care-to-enjoy pre-fixe menu. For larger families or those with bigger appetites, grab a whole pizza at the Boardwalk Pizza window at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort to enjoy on the Boardwalk or back in your room.

At Universal Orlando, guests can find many quick-service dining choices, such as Blaze Pizza at CityWalk, the Leaky Cauldron in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley, and Illumination’s Minion Cafe. The cafeterias at value resorts are also impressive, like The Bayliner Diner, which serves made-to-order meals at reasonable prices at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort.

Itinerary Suggestions

Balancing a busy theme park week is not only budget-friendly but also adds to your relaxation. While there’s nothing quite like racking up steps and enjoying a park from open to close, it can sometimes feel less like a vacation. Most hotel pools in Orlando are fantastic and warrant a day of leisure. Plus, taking time to unwind allows you to partake in on-site activities like the nightly movies at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort or making s’mores and joining the Chip and Dale Singalong at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort.

Additional Money-Saving Tips and Tricks

• When ordering quick-service meals at the theme parks, think about choosing the kid's meal. Generally, the portions are sizable enough for an adult and include your choice of side and drink.
• Stock up on groceries so you can have breakfast outside the parks. If you’re not craving a daily Mickey waffle, a box of granola bars can lead to substantial savings.
• Don’t undervalue a rest day. While you surely want to experience everything on your trip, some of my most cherished family memories have been created on our days off from the parks. Use this time to explore other resorts or catch the Epcot or Magic Kingdom fireworks from outside the parks, or try a transportation method you haven’t experienced yet.
• Although it may seem strange to buy a ticket for an extra event, the shorter wait times and included snacks can make the extra expense worthwhile. The Orlando Informer hosts various meetups at Universal Orlando throughout the year, providing ticket holders with after-hours access, unlimited food, and generally shorter lines for all the major attractions.
• If your schedule is flexible, consider the best time of year to visit and keep an eye out for discounts. “If you have kids in school and prefer not to take them out, mid-to-late August could be the ideal time to visit. The summer vacation crowds will have cleared by then, and Disney often offers late-summer hotel discounts,” suggests Len Testa, co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.