Alternatives to Disney in Florida
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Alternatives to Disney in Florida
I am taking a three day trip starting on March 9 to visit my brother who lives in Altamonte Springs. Do you guys have any suggestions as to budget-friendly Disney alternatives in the Orlando area and its environs? Previous activities I've already done are:
Disney: Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios
Wonderworks
Wekiwa Springs, kayaking and swimming
Seeing the manatees
Morse Museum
Downtown Disney
Walking around Winter Park and the boat ride
Gatorland
Walking around Sanford
Lake Eola park
Peabody ducks
New Smyrna beach
Sea World
Islands of Adventure
Thank you!
Disney: Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios
Wonderworks
Wekiwa Springs, kayaking and swimming
Seeing the manatees
Morse Museum
Downtown Disney
Walking around Winter Park and the boat ride
Gatorland
Walking around Sanford
Lake Eola park
Peabody ducks
New Smyrna beach
Sea World
Islands of Adventure
Thank you!
#4
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Brevard Zoo is one of my faves, it's near by and their Zip Line course is lots of fun too.
https://brevardzoo.org/
http://www.treetoptrek.com/
Orlando Science Center is terrific.
http://www.osc.org/
Do you have kids with you? Ages?
https://brevardzoo.org/
http://www.treetoptrek.com/
Orlando Science Center is terrific.
http://www.osc.org/
Do you have kids with you? Ages?
#6
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 799
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just last year we had an incredible "old Florida" day doing two things in early March:
1. Eat breakfast at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill that is inside the Ponce de Leon Springs park. It's an old mill that is now a restaurant. There is a grill in the middle of each table and you cook your own breakfast food. It's a blast. You will want to get here very early on the weekend when waits can be 2 hours or longer by mid-morning.
2. Rent a pontoon boat at Hontoon Landing Resort & Marina and spend a half day puttering down the St. Johns River to Blue Springs. We did find that the 4-hour "half day" rental wasn't quite long enough and vowed to do the 8-hour the next time.
I've lived here my whole life and had never done either of these two things. Doing them in one day was great because they're close to each other. You will want to get an early start to do both together.
1. Eat breakfast at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill that is inside the Ponce de Leon Springs park. It's an old mill that is now a restaurant. There is a grill in the middle of each table and you cook your own breakfast food. It's a blast. You will want to get here very early on the weekend when waits can be 2 hours or longer by mid-morning.
2. Rent a pontoon boat at Hontoon Landing Resort & Marina and spend a half day puttering down the St. Johns River to Blue Springs. We did find that the 4-hour "half day" rental wasn't quite long enough and vowed to do the 8-hour the next time.
I've lived here my whole life and had never done either of these two things. Doing them in one day was great because they're close to each other. You will want to get an early start to do both together.
#7
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 799
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did just note that you had already mentioned seeing the manatee in your list...so you've most likely been to Blue Springs. But arriving by boat is another experience entirely. And we have NO boating experience...so you'd be fine I'm sure.
#8
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's about 35 miles to Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards in Clermont. I am not certain if it's still free, though. Have you guys been to Spook Hill in Lake Wales? It only takes a few minutes, but it's crazy. You park your car at the bottom of the hill and it moves up on its own.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A bunch of Major League Baseball teams are in Spring camp around Orlando if you like Baseball . . games are usually pretty easy to get into. As above, Kennedy Space Center is a hop, skip and a jump
#10
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kennedy Space Center is a great idea. Spook Hill is funny if you're already in Lake Wales but not worth a trip on its own
Do you have any interest in Frank Lloyd Wright? Florida Southern College in Lakeland has several FLW structures and a variety of tours, including a self-guided free one: http://www.flsouthern.edu/fllw-visitors.aspx
Do you have any interest in Frank Lloyd Wright? Florida Southern College in Lakeland has several FLW structures and a variety of tours, including a self-guided free one: http://www.flsouthern.edu/fllw-visitors.aspx
#11
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,360
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rivership Barbara Lee
http://stjohnsrivershipco.com/
Bok Tower Gardens
http://boktowergardens.org/
Boggy Creek Airboat Rides
www.bcairboats.com
OR
Twister Airboat Rides & Lone Cabbage Fish Camp
http://www.twisterairboatrides.com/
They are located on SR 520 where it crosses the St. Johns River.
_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie
http://stjohnsrivershipco.com/
Bok Tower Gardens
http://boktowergardens.org/
Boggy Creek Airboat Rides
www.bcairboats.com
OR
Twister Airboat Rides & Lone Cabbage Fish Camp
http://www.twisterairboatrides.com/
They are located on SR 520 where it crosses the St. Johns River.
_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
spiral_e
United States
15
Feb 10th, 2007 07:00 PM