Orlando on a Budget

BEST THINGS FOR FREE!

While it is usually the case that ‘you get what you pay for,’ there are a handful of things which don’t cost you a penny in Orlando, and which may be worth building into your holiday plan as a little ‘extra’ when you need a breather from the parks (or you simply want to stop spending money for a while!). We highlight these on an annual basis in our Brit’s Guide, and our current ‘top 10’ of free things to do is as follows:

1. Peabody Duck March: at 11am or 5pm, the Peabody Hotel on International Drive puts out the red carpet for their resident ducks as they arrive or leave their lobby fountain ‘home’.
2. Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards: try a free wine-tasting tour at Lakeridge, in nearby Clermont, from 10am-5pm Mon–Sat, or 11am-5pm Sun.
3. Disney’s Boardwalk Resort: free nightly entertainment includes jugglers, comedy skits and live music. You can also see part of the 9pm IllumiNations fireworks from nearby Epcot.
4. Morse Museum: this superb little museum in Winter Park (just to the north of Orlando) features American paintings, ceramics and representative arts from the 19th and 20th centuries and is free from 4-8pm every Friday Sept-May.
5. SkyVenture: in the heart of the International Drive tourist strip is this huge blue and yellow tower where people pay to go ‘skydiving’ (which is actually great fun). However, if you just want to watch (which can be VERY entertaining), there is no entry fee.
6. Florida Eco-Safaris at Forever Florida: A visit to this wonderful nature preserve makes for the perfect break from the Orlando hustle-bustle. Forever Florida is home to a rare horse-training operation that is happy to let visitors watch-and learn-for free, and the chance to take a (paid-for) horse riding should not be missed.
7. Fort Christmas Historical Park: 20 miles (32km) east of Orlando in the town of Christmas is this replica of an 1837 US Army fort, with exhibits, video presentations and restored homes, and special events at some weekends. 10am-5pm Tues-Sat, 1-5pm Sun.
8. Leu Gardens: again, just north of downtown Orlando, these lovely gardens, with wildlife, nature trails and the 1880s’ Leu House Museum, are free every Monday from 9am-noon.
9. Pianoman Bob Jackson: You don’t have to be a guest at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort to stop by and enjoy the lively sing-alongs every Wednesday-Sunday evening.
10. Old Town, Kissimmee: Free live entertainment every night! Car buffs should definitely make note of the Friday Night Cruise, featuring custom, exotic and specialty cars on show beginning at 5pm, with a parade of cars at 9pm, and the Saturday Night Cruise, the biggest weekly vintage car parade in the US, with classic cars on show beginning at 1pm and a parade at 8.30pm. Every Thursday is Bike Night, displaying an average of 700 bikes.