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Orlando is the vacation destinations for savers

"Orlando vacation" brings to mind expensive theme parks and costly hotels, but Orlando has a lot more to offer and at much better prices. 

聽might be the center of many Orlando vacations, but there鈥檚 more to Orlando than a famous mouse.

While it聽might seem like a lot of work to keep an Orlando vacation聽affordable, the city聽is actually full of great discounts and money-saving opportunities, but聽not all of them are well-known. From attractions to travel to accommodations, these are five of the best-kept secrets for an unforgettable and affordable Orlando vacation.

1) When to Vacation

Orlando doesn鈥檛 really have an off-season, but if you can travel during non-peak times you can save a lot of money. Value seasons generally happen during the following times:

• Late spring (late April/early May)
• Late summer (late August/September)
• Early winter (early November/early December)
• Late winter (January/early February)

During these times there are fewer crowds and more deals available to visitors, and one thing all these travel dates have in common is that school is in session and holidays aren鈥檛 happening. Holidays, spring break and summer make up the city's聽high season鈥攁nd I don鈥檛 just mean crowd levels鈥攕o avoid this peak period if possible.

2) How to Get There

After you have your vacation dates figured out, start scouring the internet for transportation deals. If you're within driving distance of Central Florida, be sure to fill up one last time before crossing state lines, as gas generally costs more in this southern state. If you opt to fly, don鈥檛 dismiss budget airlines like聽聽which sometimes聽offer round-trip fares for less than $200鈥攁 great聽deal. Even better, you can often get an airline and car rental combo deal at an even steeper discount. 聽

3) Where to Stay

There are an abundance of hotels rooms in Orlando, which means you can get a great rate on accommodations almost any time of the year. Options range from budget-friendly hotels in the Kissimmee area with $50/night rates, to value-based resorts that start around $85/night. The earlier you book your room, the cheaper rate you鈥檒l receive, so聽if you can make your plans four months or more in advance you鈥檒l be better off price-wise.

If you鈥檙e traveling with a larger family or group, or if you simply want room to stretch out,聽. Not only are they economical聽(a typical three-bedroom vacation rental starts around $120 a night)聽you can also save a lot on food as each home comes with a full kitchen.

Pay attention to amenities at all accommodations, as they can really make or break a trip. Competition among hotels is strong, which means free deluxe breakfasts and free shuttles to theme parks like Disney World are often offered. This can save some serious cash, because聽parking at Disney starts at $14/day.

4) How to Play for Free

People often聽overlook the simple ways you can play for free (or almost free) in Orlando. There are many聽gorgeous parks, like the聽, a botanical sanctuary with a butterfly garden, which offers free admission on Mondays from 9am-noon. You can also pay a visit聽, home to Florida鈥檚 oldest resident, 鈥淭he Senator,鈥� a 3,500-year-old, 118-foot-tall bald cypress tree. At聽in Downtown Orlando, you can explore fountains and walking paths, and for a slight fee, go on paddle boat or gondola rides.

Many Orlando museums also offer free or cheap admission. Check out the聽, featuring art from the Renaissance to the Baroque period; the聽, home to an extensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany, American Pottery and 19th and 20th century paintings (admission is $5/adults, children 12 and under free); and聽, which features over 200 Polasek works as well as other mediums. The sculpture garden is free, while museum admission is $5 or less.

To entertain the kids, try visiting聽, and play聽at the聽, where kids can enjoy the free LEGO building stations and nearby playground. One more option ideal for kids are the聽, families can聽visit for as little as $5, and explore over 248 acres of outdoor fun, including crystal-clear springs perfect for swimming and tubing.

5) Where to Eat

Believe it or not, there are a lot of budget-friendly聽places to eat in Orlando鈥攅specially if you鈥檙e traveling with kids. In addition to selecting a place to stay with a kitchen, be sure to check out restaurants with 鈥淜ids Eat Free鈥� programs.

Craving a steak? At聽, kids 12 and under eat free on Tuesday with the purchase of an adult entr茅e.聽Is Italian on the menu? Children under five eat free at聽聽Dine at Crave on Sundays, and your kids will eat free while you indulge on seafood specialties. The best deal may be at Perkin鈥檚 Restaurant, where kids eat free Monday through Friday. Firehouse Subs, Gator鈥檚 Dockside, Papa Gio鈥檚 and Jersey Mike鈥檚 Subs all have kids eat free programs too. 聽

Believe it or not, there are a lot of budget-boosting places to eat in Orlando鈥攅specially if you鈥檙e聽traveling with kids. In addition to selecting a place to stay with a kitchen, be sure to check out聽restaurants with 鈥淜ids Eat Free鈥� programs. Craving a steak? At聽, kids 12 and under eat free聽on Sunday with the purchase of an adult entr茅e. Is Italian on the menu? Children under five eat free at聽, while at聽聽the purchase of one adult entr茅e will score you two kids meals at聽99 cents each Tuesday鈥檚 from 5pm-8pm. At聽, kids 10 and under eat free every聽Tuesday, as parents can get two free kids meals with the purchase of an adult entr茅e. Want something聽a little bit country? Head to聽, where kids eat free every Tuesday. The best deal may be at聽, where kids eat free Monday through Friday. Firehouse Subs, Gator鈥檚 Dockside,聽Papa Gio鈥檚, Eastside Bistro and Jersey Mike鈥檚 Subs all have kids eat free programs too.

This article originally appeared on .