Things to do / Travel Guide
Central Florida is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, so there is intense competition in the tourist industry. This results in a full range of pricing, from budget to high-end, for most activities, attractions, and accommodations. The only exceptions to the range in prices are the admission fees to the major theme parks, which are expensive.
In the Orlando area, if you stay and eat at a distance from the theme parks, in places like Kissimmee, you will likely spend less. Staying and eating at the theme park resorts will cost you much more. In the Atlantic and Gulf Coast areas, location again determines general pricing levels, as the closer to the water you are, the higher the cost.
Theme Park Prices in Orlando, Florida
As far as attractions go, the theme parks are expensive, with Disney World leading the pack. “Basic” trip necessities, like food, water, film, hats, and other apparel, will really cost you a lot of money at the theme parks. Coming prepared with enough “supplies” can thus save you a significant amount of money. The parks have lockers and generally do not stop people from bringing in water and snacks.
One way to save on the price of admission to some theme parks is by buying ticket packages in advance of your visit online. This is especially true for Universal Studios, which offers significant savings via advance online purchase. Another way to save on the admission fees is to purchase multi-day passes to the theme parks. If you have the time and patience, you can choose to sit through one of the many time-share property tours, where the salespeople will reward you with free attraction tickets if you make it through the entire, sometimes hours-long, presentation.
Some of the entertainment areas, like Universal's CityWalk, Downtown Disney, and Pleasure Island, do not have admission fees. There are also some other interesting free attractions in the region. One is Main Street in Kissimmee, which is an outdoor entertainment and shopping complex. There are also frequent classic car shows and other events on Main Street. Another special free attraction is the Manatee Viewing Center in Tampa, located by a power plant which produces warm water that attracts the manatees. You can see these special animals here from November 1st-April 15th.
On the flip side of the coin, the region also has some expensive activities, in the form of hot air ballooning, skydiving, and alligator hunting. Notably, many of the clubs and restaurants in the theme parks tend to be expensive as well.
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