Orlando has 4 Disney World theme parks and 2 Disney Water Parks, 2 Universal theme parks, Sea World, Legoland Florida, plenty of tourist attractions at International Drive, 2 outlet malls, Amway Center for basketball fans, and so much more.
All of the Orlando attractions or Orlando tourist attractions are so close to each other that I would suggest staying in Orlando for 2 weeks and visiting not just Disney World but I know it gets pricey so here are 15 Ways to Save on an Orlando Vacation.
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15 WAYS TO SAVE ON AN ORLANDO VACATION:
1. Visit Orlando Off-Season and Book Early
The best time to visit Orlando is February and Septemeber. If those months don’t work for you, sometime in Mid January to Early March or September to early December (not including Thanksgiving week) to not only avoid the crowd at the theme parks but also to save on hotels and flights.
For those who can’t skip school, visit late July to Early-Mid August instead. Don’t forget to book early!
2. Save on an Orlando Vacation by checking out various airports and carriers
There are 2 airports in Orlando – Orlando International Airport and Orlando Sanford International Airport.
There may also be various airports from where you’re flying from, so check the various options when checking for flights online on top of the different airplane carriers you can choose from to find the cheapest deal on flights to Orlando.
3. Save on Airport Parking
Parking your car at the airport can be costly if you multiply the days you will be gone during your vacation.
Consider looking at other options like Uber, Lyft, hiring a shuttle service, or asking a family or a friend to drive you to the airport.
4. Book a Disney Property when Visiting Disney World
Since Disney World offer different types of resorts depending on your budget, you can stay at a Disney property for less than $100/night if you book early.
This comes with a free shuttle to and from the airport and also a free shuttle to and from the theme park.
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5. Save on Disney World tickets by not purchasing directly
You can save about $20 per person when purchasing Disney World tickets via Get Away Today.
As an example for February 22 tickets:
- Adults ticket: 4 Park Magic Tickets via Get Away Today is only $345 but if I purchase directly via Disney World’s website, it’s $362.10.
- Child tickets: 4 Park Magic Tickets via Get Away Today is only $325 but if I purchase directly via Disney World’s website, it’s $340.80.
Please note that kids 2 and under are free at Disney World.
6. More Days at Disney World means Cheaper Tickets
The more days you visit Disney World, the daily ticket rate gets cheaper. Since there are 4 theme parks, try to get at least 4 days.
If you’re wondering if it’s worth visiting all 4, I would say yes. I also wondered about this before visiting, but now that I’ve seen and experienced all 4 Disney World theme parks, I must say you’d have to see them all.
Please also note that you don’t need to use all 4 tickets consecutively. You have a few days to use them.
If you purchase the 4-day Disney World Park Hopper Plus, you can visit all 4 theme parks plus 4 days of fun to do the water parks (Blizzard Beach & Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon), ESPN Zone’s Wide World of Sports Complex, two mini golf courses and/or one round of golf at the Disney Oaks Golf Club.
7. Don’t buy your Theme Park tickets at the Gate
Don’t buy theme park tickets like to Universal Orlando and Sea World Orlando at the gate, you can save more by purchasing it online. Check LEGOLAND Florida discount tickets, we’ve listed 13 deals available to save big on tickets.
8. Pack all your Essentials to Save on an Orlando Vacation
Forgot to pack your sunscreen? Hat? Some medicines? I did. Put together your Disney World Packing List before packing so you don’t need to get it in Orlando or at the theme park where it can get really pricey.
9. Stay within your Luggage Limit
Some flights will only let you bring a hand carry with a $25 charge for a check-in luggage.
Look into this not only when booking your flight but also when you’re packing your luggage for your Orlando vacation.
Make sure to also be aware of the hand carry size your airline is allowing you as they may ask you to gate check and pay if it’s beyond their allowed capacity.
10. Bring a Stroller or Rent a Stroller at Orlando Theme Parks
Traveling to Orlando with Young Kids? You may wanna bring your stroller to save on the cost of renting a stroller at the theme park.
1 of the ways to save on an Orlando vacation that we really look deep into because the 1-day rental may not be too bad but if you are visiting multiple theme parks, the cost can stack up.
11. Get a Go City All-Inclusive Pass to Save on Legoland Tickets, Kennedy Space Center and other Orlando Attractions
Get an Go City Orlando All-Inclusive Pass and save on Orlando attractions (choice of 2-day, 3-day, 5-day pass) that can be used within 2 weeks at 28 Orlando and other nearby Florida attractions which includes Legoland Florida and Kennedy Space Center. Check out all the 28 attractions you can visit using Go City.
28 Orlando and Neary Florida Attractions:
Using Go City you can visit any of there 28 attractions:
Legoland Florida, Kennedy Space Center, Orlando Eye, WonderWorks, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Fun Spot America Theme Park, Titanic: the Artifact Exhibit, Gray Line Orlando Tour, Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, Congo River Adventure Golf, Gatorland: the Alligator Capital of the World, Boggy Creek Airboat Tour, Forever Florida Coach Tour, Green Meadows Petting Farm, American Police Hall of Fame, Starlite Cruise Tour, Florida Aquarium, Dolphin Racer Speedboat Cruise, Museum of Science & Industry, Daytona Speedway All Access Track Tour, Lion Country Safari, Gator Park Airboat Tours, Biscayne Bay Sightseeing Tour, Ft. Lauderdale Glass Bottom Boat and Snorkeling Trip, Hop On Hop Off Big Bus Miami Tour, Miami Seaquarium, Duck Tours South Beach, Sawgrass Recreation Park, and Everglades Tour from Miami.
More Details about the Orlando Go Card.
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12. Buy Disney Souvenirs at the Outlet Stores
If you love shopping or wish to purchase Disney souvenirs, you may want to do it at the outlet stores in Orlando to save big.
There’s Orlando International Premium Outlets that is closer to Universal Orlando Theme Park and International Drive (where a lot of tourist attractions are located) and there’s also Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets that is closer to Disney World.
Both outlet malls have a Disney Character Warehouse.
13. Eat Outside the Theme Park to Save on an Orlando Vacation
If you’re bringing a car, you can save on an Orlando vacation by not eating at the theme parks all the time.
For some days where we were too tired to stay at the theme parks pass dinner time – we ate dinner outside.
Not only was this cost-effective, but it was also a nice break from eating theme park food.
14. Check some Free Things to do in Orlando
Take a stroll to visit shops at Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk and enjoy the beauty of Lake Eola in Downtown Orlando – all for free.
15. Plan some breaks in between during your Orlando Vacation
You planned and save up for your Orlando vacation only to get sick when you get there.
Try not to fill up your itinerary with back to back attractions and tire yourself out especially if you’re visiting Orlando with the kids.
Chances are, someone will get sick from fatigue. We did actually. Try to break your vacation with days where you can just rest at your hotel or take naps.
You also have to take note of the time difference if you’re coming from the West Coast because being up so early and staying at the theme parks all day will surely tire you out.
Check our Ultimate 2 Week Orlando Itinerary where I adjusted it to have more breaks including going on a cruise in the middle of the 2 week Orlando vacation.
Learned a lot from our 15 Ways to Save on an Orlando Vacation? Check more Florida Travel Tips below to be better prepared for your Orlando vacation:
- Legoland Florida VS Legoland California
- 10 Tips for Planning a Disney World Vacation
- 10 Tips for Visiting Kennedy Space Center
- Kennedy Space Center Discount Tickets
- Where to Stay in Downtown Orlando
- The Ultimate 2 Week Orlando Itinerary
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Great tips for ways to save money on your Orlando, FL vacation! Orlando has been one of our favorite places to visit. We have been to Disney multiple times, Universal once and Lego Land once. We have been to Sea World several times. One of the most affordable trips we ever did was renting a huge house and just doing (1) day at Disney and (1) day at Sea World. We prepared our meals for the most part at home and enjoyed the pools and other free attractions like Disney Springs.
My brother and his family recently visited Disney Orlando from England. They rented a stroller the first day but soon realized it was cheaper to pop down out and buy a cheap umbrella stroller because they were going to be there a week. The price of parking certainly caught me by surprize when we went, and I’ll definitely factor that into hotel pricings next time we go. So much fun!
I love these tips because traveling can be so pricey it is nice to save in every way that you can. I love the idea of using Lyft or Uber, I never used those services before and for traveling to the airport, it sound like it would be very helpful so I will keep them in mind from now on.
I never ever buy tickets at the gate. That is one of the biggest rackets out there. Great tips!