Orlando has a reputation for being brutally expensive — and for theme park days, that reputation is earned. But the full cost picture is more nuanced. There's an enormous range between a $0 morning at a public park and an $800 day at a Disney park, and knowing that range before you book saves real money.
Here's what families actually spend across 47 Orlando activities, organized by cost tier.
Free Activities in Orlando
Orlando has more genuinely free options than most families realize.
- Dr Philips Playground — $0. Well-maintained neighborhood playground near Dr. P. Phillips Community Park. No vendors, so pack water and snacks.
- Community Playground — $0 for the playground. Budget $15–25 if you walk to Winter Park's Park Avenue for coffee after.
- Kissimmee Lakefront Park — $0. Has a splash pad and is one of the best free parks in the Orlando metro. Budget $10–15 if you eat at nearby waterfront restaurants.
- Lake Eola Playground — $0. Budget $10–20 if you rent a swan paddle boat or grab ice cream from a vendor.
- Laureate Park Zipline Playground — $0. Free public park in Lake Nona with a genuine mini zipline.
- Blue Jacket Park — $0. Large park in Baldwin Park. Budget $10–15 for coffee from Baldwin Park Village shops.
- Dr. P. Phillips Community Park — $0. Big Orange County park with playground, athletic fields, and paved paths.
- Shadow Bay Park — $0. Lakeside park in the Turkey Lake corridor. Budget $5–10 if kids want to fish.
- Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens — $0–10 (donations accepted). 18 acres, no food on-site.
- Loch Haven Park — $0 for the park grounds. The lakeside walking and outdoor spaces are free; the three museums on-site each charge separately.
- Dezerland Mall — Free to browse. The vintage car museum is free to walk through. Entertainment at Dezerland Park is paid.
Budget Picks (Under $50 for a Family of 4)
Harry P Leu Gardens — $30–50 total. Adults ~$10–15; children (3–17) ~$3–5; under 3 free. Fifty acres on Lake Rowena. Rated 4.7. One of Orlando's best deals for what you get — go early to beat the heat.
Millie Moo's — $30–50 total. Session pricing ~$8–12 per child; adults often free. Session-based indoor play designed for toddlers and preschoolers. Book in advance — sessions fill. Rated 4.6.
Children's Planet — $30–60 total. Admission typically $10–15 per child. Neighborhood indoor play for south Orlando families.
McKee Botanical Garden — $40–60 total. Adults ~$12–15; children (5–12) ~$5–8; under 5 free. Near Vero Beach — pair with a beach afternoon for a full day. Rated 4.7.
Play Paradise — $40–70 total. Typically $12–18 per child; adults free or discounted. Indoor playground in Winter Park. Rated 4.8.
Terra Play Center — $40–70 total. About $12–18 per child; adults often free. Lake Nona's primary indoor play option. Rated 4.5. Saturday has a session gap after 1PM — plan around it.
Mid-Range Activities ($50–$100 for a Family of 4)
Bok Tower Gardens — $50–80 total. Adults ~$15–20; children (5–12) ~$5–8; under 5 free. A 205-foot Art Deco carillon tower with a 3PM daily bell concert, 1920s mansion, and a children's splash fountain. Rated 4.8. AAA members get discounts.
Wonder Gardens — $50–80 total. Adults ~$14–18; children ~$8–12; under 3 free. In Bonita Springs near Naples. Plan this as part of a Southwest Florida trip, not an Orlando day trip.
Jungle Adventures — $80–120 total. Adults ~$23–28; children (3–11) ~$17–22; under 3 free. Old-school Florida animal park in the town of Christmas, FL. Kids love that address.
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens — $80–120 total. Adults ~$20–24; children ~$14–18. AZA-accredited — reciprocal memberships from other accredited zoos may get you in free. Saturday hours end at 2PM.
Orlando Science Center — $80–120 total. Adults ~$20–25; children ~$15–20; planetarium shows add ~$5–8 per person. Four floors of hands-on exhibits including a fossil excavation lab. Rated 4.6. Annual membership pays off in 2 visits.
Sarasota Jungle Gardens — $70–100 total. Adults ~$17–22; children (3–12) ~$12–15; under 3 free. In Sarasota, 75 miles from Orlando — best paired with a Gulf Coast beach day.
Funtastic Depot — $60–100 total. Admission ~$15–20 per child; adults often free. East Orlando indoor amusement park with rides sized for younger kids. Rated 4.6. Check Groupon before paying full price.
Jungle Zone — $60–100 total. Admission ~$10–18 per child. Outdoor fun center in Tavares. Weekend-only — confirm hours before driving.
Game Park — $60–100 total. A local entertainment center in central Orlando with a strong early 4.7 rating.
Monkey Joe's — $60–100 total. Admission ~$12–18 per child. Inflatable bounce house center at Pointe Orlando on I-Drive.
Planet Obstacle — $80–130 total. Session pricing ~$20–35 per person. Indoor obstacle course park near Davenport vacation home communities. Closed Mondays.
Elev8 Fun Orlando — $80–130 total. Activity bundles ~$20–35 per person; food adds $20–40. Trampolines, mini golf, arcade, and climbing in Sanford. Mini golf + trampoline bundle is the best per-activity value.
Altitude Trampoline Park — $80–130 total. Jump sessions ~$18–25 per person per hour. Grip socks required. Kissimmee location serves the vacation home corridor along US-192.
Nona Adventure Park — $100–200 total. Wakeboarding ~$30–60 per session; paddleboarding and kayaking priced separately. A real water sports park on a Lake Nona lake. Rated 4.7.
Butterfly World — $100–150 total. Adults ~$25–30; children (3–12) ~$20–25; under 3 free. The world's largest butterfly park. In Coconut Creek near Fort Lauderdale — 3+ hours from Orlando.
Splurge-Worthy Experiences (Over $100)
These cost more. They're also the experiences kids remember for years.
Universal Studios Florida — $480–650 total. Two adult tickets (~$109–129 each online), two child tickets (~$104–124 each), parking ($30), food (~$80–100). The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Diagon Alley are worth it for Potter families. Rated 4.7.
Universal Islands of Adventure — $480–650 total. Same ticket range. Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is widely considered the best theme park ride in any park. Arrive at open to ride it without Lightning Lane. Rated 4.7.
Universal Epic Universe — $500–700+ total. Two adult tickets (~$109–139 each), two child tickets (~$104–134 each), parking ($30), food (~$80–100). Opened 2025. Five distinct worlds including Harry Potter Ministry of Magic and Nintendo. Built from scratch — theming density is notably higher than older parks.
Disney's Animal Kingdom — $600–800+ total. Two adult tickets ($109–189 each, date-dependent), two child tickets ($104–184 each), parking ($30), food ($100–130), optional Genie+ ($20–30/person). The Kilimanjaro Safaris puts your family in an open vehicle next to actual giraffes and elephants — no glass, no barriers. Rated 4.7.
Wild Florida Adventure Park — $120–180 total. Airboat tours ~$30–40/adult, ~$25–35/child; wildlife park admission separate (~$20–25/adult). Book online for occasional discounts. Rated 4.7.
Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park — $160–180 for a family of 4. Adults ~$45; kids 7–12 ~$40. Zip lines and aerial courses through a forest canopy near Kissimmee. Rated 4.7.
Dezerland Park Orlando — $120–200 total. Activity packages ~$25–50 per person; food adds $40–60. Buy bundles rather than individual tickets. Monday–Thursday pricing is lower. Rated 4.5.
Fun Spot America Kissimmee — $130–200 total. All-day armbands ~$40–55 per person; food adds $40–60. Kids 3 and under often free with a paying adult. Rated 4.5.
WonderWorks Orlando — $120–160 total. Tickets ~$25–35 per person; combo with laser tag or 4D theater adds $8–15 per person. Buy tickets online for 10–20% off. Groupon frequently has deals. Rated 4.3.
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games — $160–250 total. Go-kart races ~$20–30 per race per person; arcade credits add up; restaurant adds $50–80. Set a firm arcade budget before walking in — the card system makes overspending effortless. Rated 4.3.
Money-Saving Tips in Orlando
- Buy all theme park tickets online, never at the gate. Universal and Disney both charge meaningfully more at the window. Online purchase saves $10–30 per ticket.
- Kids 2 and under are free at Universal and Disney. No exceptions, no caveats — youngest kids ride free.
- ASTC Passport and museum reciprocal programs are underused. Membership at an eligible science museum at home may get you into Orlando Science Center for free or heavily discounted.
- Universal annual passes pay off fast. Two visits in one year makes an annual pass worthwhile, especially for Florida residents.
- Visit off-peak. January–February and September mean dramatically shorter waits, which makes every park day worth more. You get more rides without paying for Lightning Lane or Genie+.
- Bring snacks and a refillable water bottle everywhere. Theme park food runs $15–25 per person per meal. Snacks from a grocery store run $5–10 total.
- Check Groupon before WonderWorks, Funtastic Depot, and similar venues. These mid-tier entertainment spots regularly have 10–25% off available.
- Buy activity bundles at entertainment complexes. At Dezerland and Andretti, per-activity pricing is always worse than package pricing.
What a Typical Family Spends
Budget day (free parks + one affordable paid activity): - Morning at Kissimmee Lakefront Park: $0 - Packed lunch: $0 - Afternoon at Harry P Leu Gardens: $35–50 - Ice cream stop: $15–20 - Day total: $50–70
Mid-range day (museum + entertainment): - Orlando Science Center: $80–120 - Lunch at nearby restaurant: $40–60 - Afternoon at Fun Spot America Kissimmee: $130–200 - Day total: $250–380
Theme park day (one major park, packed snacks): - Universal Islands of Adventure tickets: $420–560 - Parking: $30 - Two meals in-park: $80–120 - Day total: $530–710
A family of four can have a solid two-day Orlando trip for under $400 by mixing free parks with one mid-range paid activity each day. A single theme park day will run $500–700 regardless. Knowing that gap before you book is the difference between a vacation that works financially and one that doesn't.