How to Visit Orlando on a Budget — Theme Parks Included

Home to some of the greatest theme parks in the country, there’s no shortage of things to do in the City Beautiful. Unfortunately, all this fun can rack up a high bill pretty quickly. While vacation costs can easily soar higher than fireworks, there are some ways to save money and make your dream trip a reality. Here’s what you need to know to plan a trip to Orlando on a budget.

How to Save Money on Flights

One benefit of Orlando being one of the most visited cities in the country is that many airports have direct flights to Orlando International Airport (MCO). If your home airport is a hub for an airline, consider opening up an airline-specific or travel-friendly credit card with a sign-up bonus to earn more miles or offset the cost of flights.

Utilizing Google Flights and other similar travel planning websites is another way to best decipher what airline, time of day, or even time of year is the most cost-effective to visit. You can utilize price prediction graphs and even set alerts for when fares change.

Affordable Places to Stay

You can stay on property at Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando without breaking the bank. At Walt Disney World, opt for a Value resort, such as Pop Century or Art of Animation, for helpful perks (like free transportation to the parks) at a much lower price point. While they are a more expensive option, booking Disney Villas can end up saving money as they provide guests with kitchenettes so that you can prepare meals yourself (rather than spending money dining out for every meal). Staying at a Deluxe Disney property will also give you exclusive after-hours entry to select parks on certain evenings. During these events, expect little to no wait times on even the most popular attractions. Neighboring properties Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin and The Swan Reserve are just a stone’s throw away from the parks and offer many of the same Deluxe resort benefits, but they are actually Marriott hotels, so you can use Bonvoy points and even free bonus nights toward a stay, rather than paying cash.

Universal Orlando has stellar options for travelers looking to stay on a budget at their Prime Value hotels. The resort offers several tiers of properties: Value, Prime Value, Preferred, and Premier. While the Premier properties will cost the most per night, they do come with some great money-saving perks, like free Universal Express Unlimited, which allows you to skip the regular lines at participating rides and attractions at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. The rooms and family suites at both Universal Endless Summer Resorts — Dockside and Surfside — are an incredible deal for the price.

There’s no shortage of vacation rentals in Orlando on websites like Airbnb, Vrbo, and more. However, the newly opened Evermore Resort also offers all of the perks of renting a private home without the risks that accompany rentals, like last-minute owner cancellations or dirty accommodations. They also come with kitchens, allowing you to save money on dining costs if you prepare food at home.

Transportation Options

Orlando is the largest rental car market in the world, so with enough research, you can generally find a good deal on a car. However, some hotels do charge for parking, and those nightly fees can add up. If you’re looking to explore the area, consider renting a car for only a portion of your stay to cut costs. The city does offer public transit via the Lynx bus, as well as the I-Ride Trolley service and Brightline train. Both Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World offer complimentary theme park transportation for guests staying on property, and if you’re spending most of your trip at the parks, it generally makes the most sense to skip the rental and stay on site.

How to Save on Theme Parks and Activities

Theme parks often run promotions throughout the year, whether it’s multi-day ticket-only offers or bundling tickets along with rooms. For example, Walt Disney World currently has a four-day, four-park ticket promotion from $99 per day, and guests can save up to 30 percent off room rates through the holiday season. Universal Orlando also offers promotions throughout the year, like this two days free with a two-park, three-day ticket deal.

Visitors can also purchase Disney gift cards at retailers like Target, Sam’s Club, and Costco at discounted rates throughout the year. Paying for either the entire trip or just designating a certain budget for dining, festival foods, or souvenirs with a gift card allows you to stay on budget more easily. Some websites offer discounts on tickets, like Theme Park Frog, The Orlando Informer, Sam’s Club, and Costco. While these discounts don’t tend to be very large, any money saved can go straight to your Dole Whip budget.

Both Universal and Disney offer shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations that don’t require an admission fee. If you’re visiting Walt Disney World this summer, be sure to catch Disney Dreams That Soar, a new nightly drone show you can watch from Disney Springs. Parking is free at this outdoor entertainment complex, and you can find several top-notch quick-serve destinations for dining on a budget. Universal CityWalk has dozens of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options from mini-golf to a movie theater just steps from the gates of their parks. And for visitors looking to take a break from the theme parks altogether, there are several totally free things to do in Orlando, from birdwatching to botanical gardens. 

Eating on a Budget

While Orlando is home to plenty of upscale restaurants, there are also quick-serve, casual options that are just as good. For fantastic food on a budget, be sure to check out some of the winners of the Bib Gourmand award. New-to-Florida Michelin Guide not only honors fine dining locations, but high-quality food that can be found at a spectacular value. This year’s winners in Orlando include some of my favorites like Domu and Norigami.

Even if you’re staying in a standard hotel room without a kitchen, you can stock up on some basics to save money. There’s no need for a rental car or a trip to the grocery store, as you can utilize services like Shipt or Instacart to order groceries directly to your accommodations. Even without a kitchen, you can order ingredients for easy-to-prep meals like peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, granola bars, snacks for after a long day at the park, and my favorite — bottles of cold brew coffee. Iced coffee is one of my staples, and by ordering large bottles for a trip, I’m able to save some serious cash. Just keep in mind that some hotel mini fridges are technically coolers and don’t reach cold enough temperatures to safely hold items like dairy products.

When you do want to eat out, there are plenty of great options that won’t break the bank at Orlando’s top parks. Rather than focus on table-service locations, consider ordering the majority of your meals from quick-serve restaurants to save money. That said, there are some reasonably priced table-service options as well. Some favorites at Walt Disney World are Bar Riva at Disney’s Riviera Resort, Polite Pig at Disney Springs, and Sebastian’s Bistro at Caribbean Beach Resort which offers an all-you-care-to-enjoy pre-fixe menu. For larger (or hungrier!) families, pick up a whole pie at the Boardwalk Pizza window at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort to enjoy either on the Boardwalk or back in your room.

Guests staying at Universal Orlando can find many quick-serve options like Blaze Pizza at CityWalk, the Leaky Cauldron inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley, and Illumination’s Minion Cafe. The cafeterias in the value resorts are also impressive, like The Bayliner Diner which cooks up made-to-order food at reasonable prices at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort.

Itinerary Ideas

Breaking up a busy week of theme parks isn’t just good from a budget standpoint — it’s also more relaxing. While there’s nothing like racking up thousands of steps and exploring a park from open to close, sometimes it doesn’t quite feel like a vacation. Most hotel pools in Orlando are truly stellar and deserve a day to enjoy. Additionally, when you kick back and relax, you can enjoy on-site offerings like nightly movies at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort or making s’mores and enjoying the Chip and Dale Singalong at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.

More Money-saving Tips and Tricks

• When ordering quick-service meals inside the theme parks, consider selecting the kid’s meal. In general, the portion sizes are enough for an adult, and they come with your choice of side and beverage.
• Order groceries so that you can have breakfast outside the parks. As long as your heart isn’t set on a daily Mickey waffle, a box of granola bars can net you some serious savings.
• Don’t underestimate a rest day. While you obviously don’t want to miss a thing on your trip, some of the best memories I’ve had with my family are on our days off from the parks. Take the opportunity to explore the other resorts (and watch the Epcot or Magic Kingdom fireworks from outside the parks), or use a form of transportation you haven’t tried before.
• While it may seem counterintuitive to purchase a ticket for an additional event, sometimes the shorter wait times and included snacks can mean that the extra cost pays off. The Orlando Informer hosts several meetups in Universal Orlando throughout the year, allowing ticket holders after-hours access, unlimited food, and generally shorter waits for all the top attractions in the park.
• If your schedule is flexible, consider the time of year you want to visit and be on the lookout for discounts. “If you’ve got kids in school and don’t want to take them out, the best time to visit might be mid-to-late August. Summer vacation crowds will have left by then, and Disney often offers late-summer hotel discounts,” says Len Testa, co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.