1. Gatorland

You don’t have to go to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to see wildlife in Orlando! Visit Gatorland! The park is unbelievably affordable, really entertaining, and if you don’t want to spend the entire day there, you don’t have to! You get the chance to get up close and personal with the reptiles, and if you want to do more that day, you can easily make it a half of the day trip. When you’re finding things to do in Orlando, the activities don’t always have to take up a whole day!

2. Believe It or Not! Odditorium

If you’re not too fond of the reptiles at Gatorland, check out Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Odditorium. It’s a museum housing Ripley’s most outrageous collectibles and creepy artifacts. When I went, the tickets were only $20, and I had an amazing time! Who knew you could learn and have so much fun at the same time?

3. WonderWorks

Have you ever been to an upside-down museum? If you answered "no," then it’s time you visited WonderWorks! It’s an amazing attraction, especially for the kids! It has loads of fun facts, weather simulations, 4D rides, cool games, and a glow in the dark high ropes course! It’s educational, tons of fun, and it won’t break your pocketbooks!

4. Outta Control Dinner Show

Connected to WonderWorks is the Outta Control Dinner Show! It’s a comedy magic show that includes hand-tossed pizza, fountain drinks, and popcorn! The whole family will have a blast. My husband laughed more than the 8-year-old next to us! It’s an excellent deal, and an excellent show; you won’t be disappointed!

5. CSI: the Experience

Do you watch crime shows, play Clue, or love the thrill of solving a crime? Me too! That’s why I loved the CSI exhibit! For only $20, you get to be the detective you see on television, and crack the case! There’s a crime scene, a medical examiner, toxicology labs, and much more relating to your case. The CSI exhibit probably won’t be exciting for kids under 12, but if you’re older you’ll definitely have fun!

6. Battleground Orlando

"What if I want more action than an investigation?" you ask. Well at Battleground Orlando, action is all there is! Battleground Orlando is Florida’s largest indoor and outdoor laser tag facility! With 6 fields and lots of scenarios such as, SWAT, Mission Impossible, and Capture the Flag, you can’t ask for more action! The facility even provides free pizza! Food and fun all in one!

7. International Drive

Finally, there’s the amazing International Drive. This 11.5-mile street provides 6 theme parks, over 100 hotels and resorts, more than 485 brand name outlet stores, 6 entertainment complexes and cinemas, and 150 fantastic restaurants! You could spend your whole vacation on International Drive, and still not get to everything you wanted! Among the things to do in Orlando, spending time on International Drive is by far my favorite, because there are tons of options. There’s even a trolley that can take you up and down the street all day to your most favorite restaurants and theaters!

It’s amazing how much there is to do in Orlando without breaking the bank, and pushing through crowded parks! What are your favorite things to do in Orlando? Have you been to any of the places on this list?