ORLANDO, Fla. – With record-setting gas prices and increasing costs for major attractions, we’re all trying to have some fun on a budget.
Visit Orlando is a great resource to find unique attractions in and around Central Florida.
[TRENDING: Orlando’s first transgender homecoming queen graduates high school | Moviegoers, get 2 for 1 at this Drive-in theater in Ocala | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
Here are five things you and your family can do for under $25:
1. Elev8 FUN
This is anything but a retail store inside the Seminole Towne Center. Elev8 Fun is a two-story entertainment center with everything from laser tag to go-kart racing; bowling to virtual reality games. The attraction also includes a restaurant and bar with plenty of screens to keep watch of a sporting events while the kids, or adults, are playing.
Elev8 Fun has a variety of packages and specials that include multiple gameplay opportunities for the price of one.
2. Drive-in movie
Most kids today don’t even know what a drive-in is. What better way to experience the traditional way to view a movie on the big screen than from your car?
There is a handful of them within driving distance, including the Ocala Drive-In. The Ocala Drive-In charges $6 for adults, $3 for kids 6-12 years old. Movies are free for kids 5 and under. The theater plays new releases and two movies on each screen, so you’re encouraged to stay for the second flick (you don’t have to pay for the second movie on the same screen).
Great 2-for-1 deal here! You can find a list of drive-in theaters nearby by clicking here.
3. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
It’s a bit of a drive out west, but may be so worth it for some.
For more than 70 years, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park has been a summer haven for Floridians. The center of the park features a spring that offers up a full day’s worth of fun whether you’re soaking in the sun or splashing through the cool waters.
Visitors can enjoy the iconic mermaid show but also take in the cool, clear water, kayak down a spring run and so much more.
According to its website, Weeki Wachee Springs holds more than 117 million gallons of water at a consistent 74 degrees and it is home to the deepest freshwater cave system in the county.
4. The Wheel at ICON Park
It’s changed Orlando’s cityscape and has become a symbol of The City Beautiful. We’re talking about The Wheel at ICON Park.
The large observation wheel opened in 2015, giving visitors a bird’s eye view of Orlando 400 feet in the air. The capsules move at a slow 1 mph allowing guests to enjoy beverages during the ride.
From Monday through Thursday, one of Orlando’s most iconic attractions is also one of its most affordable with the Mid-Week Wheel Deal VIP package costing just $19.99 per person, complete with a ride on The Wheel plus 50% off a printed photo package, 10% off retail purchases (excluding photos) at The Wheelhouse Gift Shop, and 10% off a purchase at The Wheelhouse Market food hall. Providing a 20-minute, air-conditioned ride with spectacular views from 400 feet up, The Wheel is considered an Insta-worthy rite of passage for many visitors — don’t miss this prime selfie opportunity!
5. Dezerland Park
Dezerland Park is a massive indoor entertainment space that includes everything from karting, gaming and bowling.
A unique attraction Dezerland Park offers the world’s largest car. The car measures out to 100 feet and 1.5 inches long. That’s longer than three standard school buses. The long car is now one of more than 2,000 vehicles at Dezerland Park’s Auto Museum. The attraction encourages visitors to sign the hood of the car.