Go Frugal in Orlando

The theme-park capital of the world draws nearly 50 million visitors each year. Children young and old flock to Central Florida’s warm year-round temps to experience fantasy at its finest.

But not everyone shells out top-dollar to experience Orlando’s fun in the way of theme parks, water parks, hotels, restaurants, festivals and fairs. There are some family-friendly deals waiting for those who do their homework.


TRAVELERS

• Getting to Orlando
  The Orlando International Airport is conveniently located close to tourist areas south of the city. Public transportation is lacking, so to get around, you’ll need to rent a car (all major rental companies are represented). Most local hotels provide buses to and from the airport.
  
  Southwest Airlines and Allegiant Air regularly offer vacation packages and rates. Allegiant Air flies into Sanford, Fla., which is about 45 minutes north of town, and worth the drive to save money on airfare (if it flies out of your hometown).
• Hotels
  Since Orlando is such a travel destination, deals abound online: Priceline.com is a good place to start if you’d like a 3- or 4-star hotel without paying full value. Hotels.com has specials to Orlando, like their current one up 40% off. The Where Orlando Cityguide suggests Comfort Inn International and Fairfield Inn Orlando I-DR as the best budget hotels. Read online reviews when making your lodging decisions.
• Hostels and other traveler options
  Hostelworld.com allows you to book beds online and read customer reviews. Prices range from $9 to $91 for a vacation home rental. TUG, the Timeshares User Group, is a site with classified listings of weeks available for rent at local condo timeshares. Click here and scroll down to the “for rent” ads.

RESIDENTS

• Recommended neighborhoods
  Orlando was one of the leading markets in the housing boom, so it’s been one of the hardest hit in the crash. Houses worth $300,000 two years ago are now well below $200,000.
  
  Convenient to downtown and I-4, Maitland is a less expensive version of neighboring Winter Park, and it has high demographics and low crime. Lake Mary is a bit northeast from town, but has boomed in recent years with building development and retail stores.
• Tips for house/apartment hunting
  Orlando is a city surrounded by sprawling suburbs. The further you go, the better the deals will be and the newer the housing. Much of the newly completed housing has gone unsold since the market crash, so deals abound in addition to foreclosures.

TRANSPORTATION
Within the Walt Disney World Resort transportation is provided, but if you want to venture outside its borders, you’ll need a car. Taxis will run you $50 for a trip from Disney to downtown Orlando. Even with a car, most attractions and destinations will charge $2-$10 for parking. Also, several toll roads exist; make sure you have change on hand, as some exits are cash only.

TOP DESTINATIONS

CULTURE

• The Main Attraction: Mickey
  Many attractions compete for a tourists’ attention in Orlando, but it’s no contest about which one they all came to see: Magic Kingdom. Prices change (or should I say increase) frequently, and kids over the age of 10 pay adult prices. Take advantage of the free admission on your birthday rule for the best deal; otherwise, hit up Tickets2You.net, an authorized and official full-service ticket provider for Walt Disney World and other theme parks. Pick up tickets at their locations to avoid extra fees.  
  
  If you have some extra cash in your budget, no trip to Orlando is complete without a visit to Gatorland, “the Alligator Capital of the World.” This 110-acre theme park and nature conservatory began in 1949 as a roadside attraction, and is one of the area’s oldest attractions. Purchase tickets online to save $3.00, or print out a coupon to save $2.50 off at the door.
• Free Attractions
  Downtown Disney Marketplace and Universal CityWalk are shopping, eating and entertainment complexes outside of the themeparks. Kids love the interactive fun at the Lego Imagination Center at Downtown Disney. CityWalk offers a movie & meal deal where you can eat at one of their popular restaurants and see a movie at its Universal Cineplex for $21.95. Admission is free to both destinations; parking is free at Downtown Disney but parking at Universal from 6–10 p.m. is $3.
  
  No matter where you are near Disney’s parks, chances are you’ll spot Disney’s nightly fireworks display. For the best up-close views, ride the Disney monorail for free and get off at the Magic Kingdom entrance to watch the show.
   
  Celebration takes its cues from The Truman Show. The town is a Disney-contrived old-fashioned town with modern technology. Take a stroll to admire the historic-themed architecture or play in the interactive fountain.  In the winter you can even walk through fake falling snow. The town offers many free events throughout the year and a farmers market on Sunday mornings.

SPORTS

• See the Pros Play
  During the regular season, Orlando Magic offers cheap seats ($5 upper bowl and $10 lower bowl). For more information about seating availability, call 407-89-MAGIC and ask to speak with a sales representative.
  
  See the Atlanta Braves during their spring training event at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. An admission fee is required: $12.95 for adults; $10 for children.
  
  Look for college ball? The University of Central Florida (UCF) Knights Football is  a popular local team.
• Experience Natural Beauty
  Wekiwa Springs State Park is a natural spring 20 minutes north of Orlando where you can rent canoes and paddle down the Wekiva River, or bike explore trails through the park's 7000 acres. Entrance admission is $5 per car.
  
  East Coast beaches are a quick drive from Orlando (the closest are Cocoa, Daytona, New Smyrna and Canaveral National Seashore). Drive on the beach and pay $5 to park, or park in the free public parking lots.

ENTERTAINMENT

• SAK Comedy Lab is an affordable 200-seat improv comedy theater in downtown Orlando (Wayne Brady is an alumus). Shows run Tuesday through Saturday. Call 407-648-0001 for reservations.
• Local radio stations offer free listener appreciation concerts throughout the summer. WMMO Downtown Concert Series features notable names in rock and pop in front of City Hall Plaza. WLOQ’s Jazz Jams Uptown at Cranes Roost Park is held on a waterfront and outdoor amphitheater at Uptown Altamonte. Both have vendors and food for purchase.
• On select Sundays at 7 p.m., the Orlando Shakespeare Theater offers a free reading series where actors to read great Greek classics.
• Park Ave CDs store regularly plays host to a number of up-and-coming bands who perform acoustic sets and meet-and-greets in their store. These “instores” were named the best free shows by Orlando Weekly. Some past guests include Anberlin, Bloc Party, Gasoline Heart, Of Montreal, John Mayer, Snow Patrol and many more.

HISTORY

• The Orange County Regional History Center offers several special events throughout the year, including a retro game night, where admission is $5 instead of the usual $9.
• The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park Said boasts the world's most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933). Free admission is from 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays, November through April. The museum also has free concerts on Friday nights in November and December.  
• The oldest (European) city in the United States is 45 miles from Orlando. Saint Augustine, Fla., is a fun day-trip for Orlando visitors who want to take in a bit of history and explore the beach. Walk the streets or pay a flat fee to ride the trolley all day.

SHOPPING

• Discount areas/merchants
  Claiming to be the largest fleamarket in the U.S., Fleaworld and Funworld north of Orlando have more than 1,700 vendors selling bargain-priced items. Both have free admission.
  
  Renningers Twin Markets in Mount Dora, Fla., is open every weekend with more than 180 shop sites with antiques, collectibles and flea market items. Admission is free except on Extravaganza weekends.
• Discounts on higher-end shopping
  Prime Outlets is the largest outlet shopping destination in the Southeast, and it’s close to the themeparks. Grab savings of up to 65% at 175 luxury brand-name outlet stores including Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Neiman Marcus Last Call and Victoria’s Secret Outlet.
  
  You can also find impressive savings at the nearby Premium Outlets, which have 150 outlet stores for brands like Ann Taylor, Barneys New York Outlet, Burberry, Coach, Diesel, Fendi, Gap Outlet, Giorgio Armani, Kenneth Cole, Lacoste, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Salvatore Ferragamo, Theory, Tommy Hilfiger. These are often open until 11 p.m.

DINING

• Cheap Eats
  Orlando now has an IKEA store where you can eat for cheap if you’re not interested in buying Swedish furniture. Breakfast is just 99 cents. All-beef hot dogs are just 50 cents.
  
  For a sit-down dining experience, Café Tu Tu Tango on International Drive (I-Drive) offers tapas-style (appetizer-sized) Spanish, Latin and Asian food. Order several and share with your group. Walls feature local artwork and on weekends, you can find local artists creating on the spot as well as live entertainment from roaming musicians, tarot card readers and bellydancers.
  
  Vittorio’s Brazilian Restaurant is also on I-Drive and features an all-you-can-eat buffet of Brazilian food for $10.95. They also offer a free shuttle service from your hotel.
• Restaurant Deals
  Restaurant.com offers nearly 100 discounted dining certificates for restaurants near the attractions, including B.B. King's Blues Club on International Drive.
• Farmer’s Markets
  Farmer’s markets abound in Central Florida. For a fresh taste of local offerings, visit one of these: Orlando Farmer’s Market (includes a Wine & Beer Garden on Sundays) and the smaller Winter Park Farmer’s Market (featured on “Samantha Brown: Passport to Great Weekends”) in the quaint but posh Winter Park, where you can window shop after visiting the market.

NIGHTLIFE

• Cheap drinks
  If you’re looking to combine cheap beer with some fun, check out the recently expanded Fun Spot USA (two locations in Kissimmee and I-Drive) and neighboring Old Town (Kissimmee). Fun Spot has go-kart tracks, a 1960s-vintage Sky Wheel and an S&S Screaming Swing. Old Town has a 150-foot Super Shot drop tower, and a year-round haunted house.
• Tips and deals
  If you’re planning on visiting Pleasure Island, Disney’s cluster of eight nightclubs, think again. The complex closed down last fall. But International Drive picks up the slack with a renovated Pointe Orlando on I-Drive, where you’ll find Adobe Gila’s Margarita Cantina, Glo Lounge Orlando, Howl at the Moon Orlando and POSH Ultra Nightclub. Nearby, The Mercado, a Mediterranean-themed shopping center, has shops, restaurants and free nightly outdoor entertainment.

MORE FRUGAL ORLANDO RESOURCES

• http://www.orlandoinfo.com/ - Orlando Travel & Visitors Bureau
• http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_frugal_force/ - Frugal Force blog from the Orlando Sentinel
• http://orlando.citysearch.com/ - Orlando Metro City Guide
• http://goflorida.about.com/od/planningyourtrip/u/whattodo.htm - Things to Do In Florida By Dawn Henthorn, About.com Guide to Florida Travel
• http://www.orlandoweekly.com/features/story.asp?id=12502 - Orlando Weekly’s BEST OF ORLANDO 2008