Orlando’s Best FREE Attractions

We all love a BOGOF, right? That extra value can go a long way with the weekly shopping these days, and it’s even better when you can discover that ‘Free’ label elsewhere.

Well, how about when you’re on holiday in Florida? Does that sound like a good deal? Because there are plenty of options and places to enjoy in and around Orlando that won’t cost you a single cent, and this blog is dedicated to highlighting a bunch of them.

We’ve already told you all about the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, which is a fabulous nature opportunity that is completely free to experience just north of Disney, but there are plenty more original opportunities that are equally free to sample.

From Disney to the cute town of Christmas (and yes, it’s a real place!), and from wine tasting to classic car cruises, we’ve compiled an essential list of things that will keep the family amused - and your wallet firmly in your pocket.

Walt Disney World Needs a Ticket – but Disney Springs is Free

Tickets for Disney’s theme parks and water parks are pretty much essential for your Orlando holiday (and don’t forget you can get them on our attractions booking page!), but you CAN still find some parts of the House of Mouse where you don’t need to buy a ticket.

The shopping, dining and entertainment complex of Disney Springs offers plenty of free live entertainment daily, with musicians and other performers. Check out the Waterside Stage in the Marketplace area, and other venues sprinkled throughout the Springs. You can also take in the new Art Walk in the Town Center section.

Another Disney Springs freebie is the boat service that runs from the Marketplace to both Port Orleans Resort and Disney’s Old Key West Resort. The gentle chug along these back-water canals makes for a lovely change of pace, and you can then take a casual wander along the waterside trails, or enjoy a snack or beverage at an array of cafes and marketplaces.

Don’t overlook the Disney Monorail service, either. You can hop on the Resort Monorail from either the Magic Kingdom entrance or the Transportation & Ticket Center, and then hop off at any of the Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Resort and Grand Floridian to enjoy the splendid theming and ambiance of these classic hotels. At Christmas, they are even more magnificent, with a dazzling array of festive decorations and the Grand Floridian’s famous giant Gingerbread House

By the same token, when the Magic Kingdom is busy, take an afternoon break by catching the boat outside the park to Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground where you’ll find a relaxing setting for a gentle stroll or a tour of the Tri-Circle D Ranch with its carriage horses and ponies. Visit during Halloween or Christmas to see the eye-popping way the RV sites decorate their rigs. Get your timing right and you can catch the brilliant annual Halloween and Christmas golf cart parades.

Kissimmee has Plenty to see for Free

If you think this area of the great tourist conurbation is just about shopping and dining, then you need to be reminded of two excellent opportunities to sample local attractions and events for free.

The obvious one to flag up is the weekly highlight at the iconic attraction of Old Town on Highway 192. This is home to one of the most beloved institutions in Central Florida – the Saturday Classic Car Show & Cruise. Vintage US car enthusiasts gather each week to show off their prize possessions, and it makes for a compelling display starting at 1pm, with the cruise taking place at 8.30pm. With live music and other entertainment, it makes for a terrific day out.

Then, when you’d like to catch up on some local history and heritage, head for the official Osceola County Welcome Center (also on Highway 192 at Marker 15; open daily from 10am to 4pm), and take advantage of the free-entry History Museum, which showcases much of the Central Florida countryside and back-story, including the citrus and cattle industries and the advent of tourism.

Downtown Orlando has Plenty to see for Free

Orlando’s city centre, otherwise known as ‘downtown,’ is a fast developing area of shops, restaurants and nightlife with a lot to recommend it, especially as it has its own tourist office - Discover Downtown (Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm) - which can provide self-guided tour maps and other useful info.

It can also point you in the direction of Lake Eola Park, which is a major attraction in its own right and just a few blocks from the Visitor Center. It is only 10 miles north of International Drive and acts as the city’s focal point while also providing its iconic look with its signature fountain and swan paddle-boats.

The park itself runs for a full mile around it, featuring a children’s playground, eye-catching artworks, a walking trail, and lots of local wildlife, including swans and turtles. There is also the Walt Disney Amphitheatre, which features periodic concerts and family films, which are free to residents and visitors alike.

The Suburbs of Orlando Have Some Hidden Free Gems

Orlando boasts several world-class museums, and one of the best can be found in the ritzy city suburb of Winter Park, which is also high on our list of places to explore for great restaurants and boutiques, as well as the classic Scenic Boat Ride.

The Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park is genuinely one of Orlando’s ‘hidden gems,’ and is well worth making time for, as it includes the world’s leading collection of artworks by Louis Comfort Tiffany (yes, of the famous Tiffany & Co jewellers). And if you visit between November and April, the museum is FREE from 4-8pm each Friday. Easily the best value in town!

And then there’s Winter Garden. Currently our favourite place for a relaxing visit, pleasant walks and just somewhere to sit and people-watch, this suburb just 25 minutes north of Disney boasts two charming (free) museums, cycle and walking trails, a kids splash pad, the fab Plant Street Market and plenty of sidewalk cafes. The Saturday morning Farmer’s Market is also an attraction in itself.

Budget Adventures Outside Orlando

If you don’t mind a short drive beyond the obvious tourist areas to discover something new, there are another two locations that offer the possibility of more local experiences without having to dip into your pocket.

Having mentioned the place called Christmas, we should highlight the value of heading east from downtown Orlando and discovering this unusual location as it includes a quaint reproduction of a 19th century fort, built for the Seminole Indian War in 1837. Today, the reconstructed garrison is part of the Fort Christmas Historical Park, with examples of homes and lifestyles of the period, as well as a modern playground for children, and it has free entry daily from 9am to 4pm.

For anyone staying in our villas along Highway 27 in Lake County (like Sunrise Lakes and Clear Creek), Lakeridge Winery on the northern stretch of this key routeway makes for a superb diversion in this rural area, as well as a real surprise in grape-growing terms.

Set on a hilltop with views for miles in each direction, Lakeridge offers daily free tours and tastings (don’t forget your ID for proof of age for the tastings), and it features an array of award-winning wines that might just include your new favourite tipple.

And that’s our ‘What’s Free’ round-up for now. Be sure to check some of them out and we can guarantee a very handy extra experience for YOUR holiday.

Have you tried any of these free attractions, or do you have any of your own? Tell us about them on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages… and don’t forget to interact with us on Pinterest, too!.