Heading to Orlando? Thinking about what to do? Try something different this trip. Don’t visit a theme park. Pass on Mickey? Can it be done? Why would you do it? Why wouldn’t you?
Tickets to Disney have skyrocketed to $119 per person, depending on the season. Add on the park-hopper option and you’re looking at $450 a day for a family of four just to walk in the door. Buy a few souvenirs, drinks, and some snacks, and you’re easily topping $500 for the day. That’s a quick grand for just a couple of Disney days, but Orlando has so much to offer outside the parks. That same money can buy a whole lotta’ fun around town while including some great meals. Here’s how we recently spent two fabulous line-free days being Parkless in Orlando.
Activity Options: So Many Options, So Little Time
Mario Andretti Indoor Karting and Games
If arcades, go-karts, laser tag, bowling and all things loud and fast are your jam, then this place is for you. Fast, yet kid-friendly, go-karts with multiple tracks give you and your little speedy demon lots of options. Little racers need to be 7 years old and 48 inches tall. Rows of arcade games, bowling, a ropes course, and laser tag ensure you’ll spend more money than you want and stay much longer than planned.
Our cost: $100. Adults $21.95 non-member price for one adult ride and $14.94 non-member price for a junior ride. A la carte pricing for each extra activity you wish to participate in does apply.
https://andrettikarting.com/orlando
Titanic Museum
Have a history buff in your group? Explore and learn new facts about the unsinkable ship and iceberg that brought her down. This exhibit was my daughter’s selection and we all had a great time. Be sure to give yourself an hour and a half to walk through the tastefully crafted exhibit. Upon entering the museum, everyone is given a boarding pass that contains an overview of a potentially doomed passenger. As you read their stories, you can’t help but feel their excitement for the voyage ahead. Be sure to read the wall of survivors and souls lost to see if your “passenger” survived the failed liner. Price $75.00
Our cost: $75.40. Adults – $21.95 and kids were $15.50. Be sure to check Groupon for a coupon.
Top Golf
In the simplest of terms, Top Golf is a tri-level indoor driving range with an awesome bar and restaurant. At prices ranging from $30 to $60 per day, you are sure to find something to fit your budget with weekdays more cost-effective than weekends. The entire complex has a very fun, lively, party-centric vibe. You might want to shy away from nighttime slots if you’re taking little kids. Reservations are recommended for nighttime. The facility is rather hi-tech. Each ball is measured by Top Tracker, a radar that measures the ball’s distance, height, and speed. We had a yummy lunch and stayed for two hours. We spent $150, however, I admit $40 was alcohol. But hey, we were on vacation. Our cost: $150.00
https://topgolf.com/us/orlando
Mini Golf
We enjoy golfing and since my husband is a PGA club pro we take our golf and mini-golf rather seriously. Hands down, our favorite course is Pirates Cove Adventure Golf on I Drive. The light-hearted pirate theme and lush grounds make for Instagram-worthy backdrops and the courses have lots of fun twists and turns.
Our Cost: $50.90. Adults $13.50 and kids $11.95.
http://www.piratescove.net/orlando
Pool time
Don’t be so quick to leave your hotel pool. Most hotel pools in the Orlando area have excellent amenities such as slides, play areas, volleyball nets, or ping pong. If you’re staying on Disney property, be sure to check out the community centers which offer all kinds of crafts and activities to keep kids busy for hours. Many of the Disney hotels host a pool party complete with activity coordinators from 1 to 3 pm. It’s a great time for the kids to interact with other kids while mom and dad get a little sun time.
Our cost: Free.
Gift Shops of I Drive
Yes, they are a bit tacky. And that’s half of the fun – t-shirts in every style and color, Mickey- themed cups and towels a plenty. We gave each kid $30.00 and told them to buy whatever they wanted – in just 15 minutes! Cause yeah, I have a limit to tacky.
Our cost: $60.00
All told…we spent $436 on admission fees, snacks and tacky souvenirs – about the same as one day of entrance fees for Disney. We rode race cars, hit golf balls, had a history lesson at the Titanic Museum and chilled at the pool. I love Disney just as much as the next person, but it was nice to sample some of Orlando’s other attractions. It’s not always about magical Mickey memories – it’s about making magical memories with your family and friends. And sometimes those memories are better without a line, a song or a ride.
For more great ideas check out the Orlando Tourist Board at https://orlandotouristinformationbureau.com
Great article, and that coming from someone who lived in Orlando!
my cousin, who I am very close with lives in Orlando, so we like to visit often, and do non disney or non theme park things. There are lots of cool things to do. I never realized there was top golf there! Thats def on my list for next time.