Need ideas to do Florida Vacation on the CHEAP!

[root*children]

We got those "give a day, get a day" free passes to Disney. And they expire soon!! Since we homeschool, we've got no schedule to stick to, so want to do some fun (and inexpensive things) while we're down there. About half-way to Orlando area is Georgia coast - so I thought on the way there we'd stop and camp at Cumberland Island Nat'l Seashore in Georgia (where there's wild horses and great seashell finding). I thought on the way back, we'd detour through St. Augustine and could easily fill a day there, and camp overnight.

I grew up in Florida, so I feel lame for not knowing what to do on the cheap there! All I can think of is the warm weather free stuff like tubing down the amazing springs, the beach ... all water stuff pretty much!

I thought about maybe going all the way down to the Everglades. We do have a zoo pass and science center pass, which is reciprocal at lots of places (anyone know what the good reciprocal science centers/zoos are in FL?). Any ideas of other fun stuff in Orlando area, or elsewhere in Florida (not the panhandle) that is inexpensive would be great! Oh, also the space center is out, since we *just* went to the one in Huntsville, and I doubt they'd want to go again so soon.

Thanks for any tips!

[Sativarain1]

I'm not sure, I've only been there once and spent most the time on the beaches and at Busch Gardens, but your adventure sounds fun with the wild horses and visiting the Everglades. That would be a great experience for the kids.

[cristina47454]

How long will you be there? How old are your kids? We went several years ago and spent an entire day riding the monorail and seeing the different disney hotels. Those places are like theme parks in themselves! It sounds like you might be asking for non-Disney activities, but even Downtown Disney makes for fun window-shopping. I think Universal has there own version of a downtown area too. Depends on the kids though. Mine were fine going into the Lego store, for example, without feeling like they would explode if they didn't get anything. There were just a lot of fun things to see. Lots of visual stimulation.

[root*children]

yes, that's exactly the kind of ideas I'm looking for! My kids are 10 and 7, both boys, they'd LOVE the lego store We have no timeline at all, can stay as long as we want. What are the hotels like? Is there stuff to do there (at the hotels)?? That sounds like a neat idea. thanks!

[root*children]

oh, the things can be disney and non-disney. We'll obviously go to a disney park one day. Probably Universal one day as well. That's the only big theme parks we're going to, but other things disney related around orlando area are fine. Non-disney is great too, it'd be good to have an even mix - I know Florida has lots to offer in the nature department too

[cristina47454]

If I remember this correctly, the monorail serves The Contemporary, The Polynesian and The Grand Floridian. The loop it makes was lots of fun in and of itself! When we went, we had promised each of the girls one souvenir from Disney (I think we put a $10 limit on it for each), so part of the fun was going to the gift shops to search for their souvenir. (They all have different things). The Grand Floridian (we went in Nov) had a life-size gingerbread house that was being assembled in the lobby. The girls LOVED that, and we peeked into the character meal that was being served. The Polynesian has these four wheeled bicycle/buggies you can rent for a couple of hours and ride around the property on. Seat four people. I remember not being thrilled at paying to rent it (DH's idea), but it WAS super fun. The Contemporary is just a bizarre place. I think I recall that they had like a kids' hangout area with tv screens and video games maybe? All of the hotels have beautiful lobbies and beautiful grounds. If you drive to the Animal Kingdom lodge, there is a safari all around you which is cool (if the animals cooperate) and is just a cool hotel to explore. I think they have seating areas in the lobby where disney shows are playing (they probably all do, but that one stood out to me for some reason) Good ole' Disney. As far as Downtown Disney, it's a "free" boardwalk. The Lego displays are incredible (!) and they have a lot of other cool retail stores too. We may have let the kids go on the carousel.

We were def. on a budget trip, so the stuff I'm talking about is not big dollars by any stretch, unless you get sucked into one of the eating establishments. But even then, there are "cheap"ish ways to incorporate food into the outing. I remember the ice creams being a relative bargain.

The kids were thrilled to just swim in the hotel pool (yes, in November).

Don't know anything about the nature aspect of things. My kids were too little when we went and it was very much a "disney on a dime" trip.

[mountainsun]

You can camp at Disney, although from what I understand, it is not "real" camping, lol, but MUCH cheaper than hotels and very fun.

there is a great museum in Tampa called MOSI - you may be able to get in there with your membership.

Highlands Hammock State Park. There is also good rafting and warm springs up around the central FL area. I would check those out. The drive to the Everglades would be pretty long - I think there is a ton to do up in that area

Have fun!

[cristina47454]

If you google your particular museum membership there will probably be a list of reciprocals. I did that earlier this year when I was thinking of gifting family memberships to cousins that live out of state.