Budget Friendly Orlando Summer Activities :: 50 free & cheap things to do in Orlando

We’ve updated our Budget Friendly Summer Activities list, just in time for summer!

The heat is blazing and the end of school countdowns are ticking away. While this season is notorious for lazy days, ice cream cones and cannonballs into the pool, it’s often met with parental hesitation in fear of constantly hearing the infamous “I’m bored” declarations from their tiny humans. So here we go, mamas! In an effort to keep the kiddos happy and you smiling, OMB has sought out some Budget Friendly Orlando Summer Activities, free or minimal fee, and compiled them for you in one go-to boredom buster list!

Arts & Cinema

• Regal Cinemas $1 Movies – Throughout the summer, Regal Cinemas hosts the Summer Movie Express where $1 kid movies are every Tuesday and Wednesday morning through the summer at participating theatres.
• Popcorn Flicks – The City of Winter Park and The Enzian have teamed up to host an outdoor movie night on the second Thursday of each month on Park Ave’s Central Park. This event is free to the public and sure to be a hit, especially with several ice cream shops just across the street!
• Museums On Us Weekends – If you are a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch card holder, then you have free access to certain museums on the first weekend of each month! Click here to find the museums closest to you.
• Summer Nights – The city of Altamonte Springs hosts Summer Nights!

  Cool down on hot summer nights at the Outdoor Pool. Enjoy night swimming, music, pool toys and deck games. All ages welcome. Children ages 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

• Fort Wilderness Campground Cinema & S’Mores Sign-A-Long – Enjoy a unique night of free camp themed fun filled with songs, a movie, and a meet-and-greet with Chip and Dale all in the fantastic campsite of Disney’s Fort Wilderness.

Recreation

• Check out our bucket list of over 30 places to take the kids (anytime of year!)
• Splash Pads – There are so many in Central Florida that are free or very inexpensive! You could visit a new one every week and not see them all this summer.
• Parks & Nature Trails – Florida is a beautiful state! So get out and explore it’s natural beauty in one of the many nature trails and parks! It’s the best free fun around!
  • Lake County
  • Orange County
    • Hiking & Camping Information
    • Parks & Recreation Information
  • Osceola County
  • Seminole County
    • Hiking Information
    • Parks & Recreation Information
  • Volusia County
• Natural Springs – Natural springs usually provide you with the chance to do some nature walking and then cool down in the gorgeous spring water. The Florida Springs site provides you with the location of each spring in Florida and very detailed information about each one. Or, read what some of our contributors have to say about De Leon Springs State Park and Blue Spring State Park.
• FREE Bowling for Kids at Aloma Bowl
• Farmer’s Markets – If you’re looking for a fun weekend outing for your family, visit one of the many farmers markets we have here in Central Florida! There are several to choose from and at least one happening every day of the week. My personal favorite is the “cheese guy” (you’ll thank me later), and the kettle corn. You’re sure to enjoy the community, healthy foods, and some of the most interesting individuals in the area.

Crafts & Educational Fun

• Hardware Store Kid Clinics – Check out your local Lowe’s for their Build & Grow Kid’s Clinic or Home Depot for their Kid’s Workshop. Each event is held once a month a designated Saturday and is free.
• Michaels Kids Club – For just $2 a child, creative minds can make something new and exciting by attending one of the Michaels Kids Club craft workshops. These classes are geared for children ages 3 and up, and be sure to check their website for dates and times at the location nearest you.
• Joann’s Classes – From sewing to tie-dye to cake decorating, Joann’s offers a variety of classes at multiple times throughout the summer with prices ranging from $5 – $45 depending on what skill you would like to learn. Each location has their own Kid’s Classes, so be sure to check with the location nearest you.
• The Crayola Experience – Discover the magic of color at the Crayola Experience in The Florida Mall. When you’re here, you’re always encouraged to let your creativity run free, to color outside the lines, and to play, explore, and learn. The Crayola Experience features 25 one-of-a-kind attractions, our very own Café Crayola, and the Crayola Store with a large selection of colorful souvenirs. Enjoy a day of family fun and see how colors, chemistry, and digital technology can create an exciting adventure of colorful memories. Buy your tickets ahead of time to save a little money, or grab an annual pass to go back as many times as you want. Be sure to check their calendar and events page to see what’s happening today!
• Vacation Bible Schools – Week-long summer activities that are usually free to attendees held at various churches around Central Florida that generally involve music, moral/religious lessons, crafts and snacks all revolving around a specific theme.

AND Just for Fun!

• Keg Social in Waterford Lakes offers $5 arcade cards (1 hour cards) Monday through Friday from 2-6p! Our kids love going there to play in the arcade!
• Dezerland Park has so many things to do! From the arcade, toxic blast, race cars and the auto museum- you can’t go wrong!

Dezerland Park Daily Promotions

• Movie Car Monday: Car enthusiasts and movie lovers alike won’t want to miss this deal! Each week the Orlando Auto Museum will feature a new car in the Hollywood Cars of Stars exhibit and guests can enjoy 50% off tickets to all day to explore the museum for themselves.
• Tuesday 2 for $22: Grab a friend or make it a date night and head to Dezerland Park on Tuesdays and enjoy any two attractions for $22. Attractions include Orlando Auto Museum, Pinball Palace and Toxic Blast.
• War Zone Wednesday: Save on Dezerland’s newest attraction, Toxic Blast, and get 45 minutes of action with unlimited “gellet” hoppers for only $25. ($10 discount)
• Thursday College Night: Calling all college students! From 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, students can enjoy a 50% discount on Go-Karting, Pinball Palace, The Orlando Auto Museum and Toxic Blast Arena, plus 25% off 30 minutes of axe throwing at Axcelsior and Verse Orlando’s augmented reality experiences. To make the deal even sweeter, Dezerland is offering an extended Happy Hour throughout the night. Guests must present a valid college ID and must be 21 years or older to purchase alcohol.
• Friday Family Fun Day: Grab the kids and come down for Friday Family Fun Day, with 25% discount at Pinball Palace, The Orlando Auto Museum, Toxic Blast, Axecelsior and Verse Orlando for families of four or more.
• Sip & Play Sunday: The fun doesn’t stop on Sundays at Dezerland Park! Each week, guests can take advantage of 50% off and Happy Hour at Pinball Palace from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Weekly Promotions

In addition to the daily specials, Dezerland Park will also offer weekly promotions including:

• Stub & Save: Show your Cinemark ticket stub at Axecelsior and get $5 off 30 minutes of axe throwing.
• Pinball Palace Happy Hour: Enjoy beer specials while playing your favorite games at Pinball Palace every Monday through Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Rainy Day offers: It never rains inside Dezerland Park! Whenever it’s raining on I-Drive, guests can come enjoy the indoor attractions, including the Orlando Auto Museum, Pinball Palace and Toxic Blast for 25% off.

Cheap or Free Kids Meals

Need a quick and easy dinner after all this summer fun!? Check out our guide to over 30 different Orlando restaurants that offer free or cheap meals for your kiddos!

Be sure to check and double check times and locations. We’d hate for you to make the trek with your family, only to have an event cancelled.

Know of something free (or almost free!) and fun that you don’t see on the list? We’d love to hear about your budget-friendly summer activities in the comment section below!

2015 Budget Friendly Summer Activities by Lisa Curzon.
Updated 5/29/16 by Orlando Moms Blog
Updated 6/15/17 by Orlando Moms Blog
Updated 7/16/18 by Orlando Moms Blog
Updated 6/13/19 by Orlando Moms Blog
Updated 5/1/23 by Orlando Mom Collective

Updated 4/17/24 by Orlando Mom Collective